4 ms·
Sometimes being less rugged is a feature. Modern cars are designed to have the front crumple to absorb energy in a collision, reducing the impact on the passen
by flatulent1 16y ago
Sometimes being less rugged is a feature. Modern cars are designed to have the front crumple to absorb energy in a collision, reducing the impact on the passenger area.
A dashboard that's soft and light may be easier on the head and save gas, but it sure is annoying the way they dry out and crack from mere heat and sunshine.
Modern engines last longer, but I think that's mainly due to the process the Japanese developed for easily producing hard steel (amounted to a simple additive). Engines aren't worn out at 100,000 miles any more.
- jacquesm 16y agoYes, the crumple zone in a 60 year old car is you. So best not to get in to an accident, but that goes for any vehicle, including modern ones. Sudden deceleration is a real problem, all the crumple zones do is change that from 1 ms to 15 ms. (that's a huge difference in terms of impact on your body, but still). The dashboard in a Jeep is steel, but don't worry, in most accidents you'll be thrown clear of the vehicle on to the street, with a little bad luck in front of other traffic. Chances of you hitting the dashboard are much slimmer than you hitting the pavement. You don't want to roll one either... Materials science has come a long way since the 40's, I don't think you can compress the 60+ years of research resulting in our current engine life in to 'a simple additive', and it was definitely not just the Japanese that worked on this. They do deserve a lot of credit for ceramics to metal bonding processes, but there too there was plenty of international collaboration.
- billswift 16y agoAnd not just materials either. Some of the longer life is due to tighter machining and better finish, largely thanks to CNC automation.