GM to cut powertrain warranty to 60,000 miles

ScottG wrote:

Lessmore wrote:
I would say that the biggest single expense and failure on older cars are not mechanical, but electrical...ie; sensors, etc.

And we have a Prius that I have mixed feeling about. It has 55K of problem free miles on it but it rattles all over (esp when cold) and is uninspiring to drive. I personally hate it but the statistical numbers on it are very good.
The point is manufacturing industries have come up with vastly improved ways to track defects that are more accurate than being based on our opinions.

We just traded in our 2007 Toyota Matrix, bought new. It had 50,500 or so miles on it. Mechanically...still fine. But, electronically a number of sensors, the engine management computer (not sure of the exact name) were replaced and some other electrical issues plagued this car.

The last one was a speedometer sensor that also affected the drivability quite badly...some electronic link I understand. Part alone cost $ 465.

Years ago, before all the electronic gizmos....a basic car like this, would of been kept. Because it was relatively simple. No sophisticated and less than robust, electronic parts...like say my first car, a '61 VW Beetle. The '61 VW was very simple. Basic electrics, basic mechanicals, basic suspension and they were well put together and it's fit and finish was good.

But electronics are sensitive things and when exposed to the noise, vibration, heat, shock, extreme cold (winters) of the car environment...these parts seem to be effected more than mechanical parts.

We just traded our Toyota in. We could take it no more.

BTW, it's not just Toyota. It's all newer cars...with their host of electronics, computer systems, miles of wiring, etc. I realize why sophistication is built in...it has to be to meet modern emissions and safety regulations...federal demands for eking out the best MPG that can be.

But like all things in this world of ours...it does have costs.