• AA5B@lemmy.world
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    3 months ago

    How about those crumple zones? Feel safe in your passenger cage? Hope you’re shorter than the dashboard in case of a rollover. Don’t have to worry about getting hit by those airbags, do you? Imagine that steering column spearing through your chest

    New cars aren’t just about the latest infotainment, gadgets, and design. There have been huge improvements in pollution control and safety. There has also been huge improvements in efficiency, even if they’re masked by the increased weight of safety improvements, increased performance, and generally much larger size. So far a lot of that increased complexity is well worth it - I’ll never have another car without anti-lock brakes

    • droans@lemmy.world
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      3 months ago

      That’s the only reason I bought a modern car.

      My parents would always buy cheap beaters. They had a car from the 90s they only recently got rid of because the transmission was shot. My first car was an '05 Caravan I drove for almost two years and got rid of in 2018.

      I swallowed the pill after seeing cars get absolutely crushed to the point where the jaws of life were necessary yet passengers could just walk out.

      I remember someone posted a picture of their brand new sedan. It was involved in a serious accident and sandwiched between two large pickup trucks. The entire car was squished down until it was smaller than the passenger compartment. The driver was able to walk away with minor injuries and the paramedics weren’t even surprised.

      I don’t give a shit about the fancy features. I just want something that is reliable and safe.

    • 0x0@programming.dev
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      3 months ago

      New cars aren’t just about the latest infotainment, gadgets, and design.

      They mostly are, companies don’t care to innovate anymore, only to sell.

      There have been huge improvements in pollution control and safety.

      Safety? Some, sure. Pollution? The only reason governments regulate is because car companies want to sell you a new car every year. Ooops, big bad government whom we happen to have in our pocket wants Euro5 now…

      …even if they’re masked by the increased weight of safety improvements, increased performance, and generally much larger size.

      More weight/size = more raw materials, is it really that good for the environment?

      If companies and governments are so keep on being green (they’re not) they’d ensure cars are easily repairable and upgradable. And they’d keep supporting older models - design a more efficient engine to replace the one in the older car why won’t they?

      • AA5B@lemmy.world
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        3 months ago

        More weight/size = more raw materials, is it really that good for the environment?

        If a vehicle doubles in size, vastly improves performance, and still has similar efficiency, yes, that’s a win. If it improves safety enough to save tens of thousands of lives every year, yes it’s worth it.