417 Comments
User's avatar
⭠ Return to thread
Sko Hayes's avatar

They built high mileage cars, but they were pieces of crap compared to the Japanese cars of that time.

My dad bought a Pontiac Astra, what a POS. I bought a Dodge Colt late in the 70s, but it was made in Japan by Mitsubishi (great little car, too).

Expand full comment
Leo Walter's avatar

I bought a Ford Pinto new, in 1972. Worse piece of junk I ever drove. So after a few years of dealing with rust and assorted mechanical issues, I bought a 4WD Subaru and ended my problems for the next 10 years.

Expand full comment
Sko Hayes's avatar

I want a Subaru so badly. My BIL has a Forrester, but I want an Outback. Do you know how hard it is to find a used Subaru SUV out here in rural America? I looked some up a few months ago, the closest I found was in Colorado Springs at a Subaru dealer (5 hour drive).

Expand full comment
buns-n-butter's avatar

They're like gold. When I gave my Subaru to our daughter as a gift instead of using it as a trade in on my truck my wife was not happy with me.

Expand full comment
Sko Hayes's avatar

The family heirloom, exactly!

Expand full comment
buns-n-butter's avatar

Three years in and it runs great with no hint of the dreaded leaking gasket disease.

Expand full comment
User's avatar
Comment removed
Sep 20, 2023
Comment removed
Expand full comment
buns-n-butter's avatar

I think that that era produced some of the most beautiful cars ever. Those clean simple lines are so much better than the baroque styling of the late fifties and early sixties to my eyes. They really did run like crap though.

Expand full comment
Jed Rothwell's avatar

I thought they were ugly. Anyway, cars look alike today because they have to meet mileage standards, so they have to be aerodynamic. Also they have to meet safety standards with crumple zones and whatnot, which tends to make them look alike. There are not many ways to solve engineering problems.

Passenger airplanes in the 1920s and 30s were distinctive looking. Now they all look pretty much alike, because they as aerodynamic as possible. The last one that looked distinctive to me was the Lockheed Constellation. It was a thing of beauty, unlike 1970s automobiles.

Expand full comment
User's avatar
Comment removed
Sep 20, 2023
Comment removed
Expand full comment
Jed Rothwell's avatar

I think they were ugly because they were dysfunctional. They were not aerodynamic. They were not safe. They were difficult to drive. I think a machine that works well, looks good. The two qualities go hand in hand.

Expand full comment