My RX-7 and Hornet don't have cupholders, or power steering, or power locks. The Hornet doesn't have power windows either (low and behold the power windows in the RX-7 don't work right now!!!!). When it hit -9* here the EFI cars wouldn't start but the manual choke RX-7 and Hornet did. I really dislike electronic doo-dads in cars.
NYG95GA
SuperDork
1/15/10 9:19 a.m.
After over 20 years as a locksmith by trade, I had opened literally thousands of cars. I had my own shop for 9 years, and kept 3-4 vans on the road and a couple more guys busy in the shop. Things were good. Then it started with the PATS/VATS/Transponder/Cable activated locks etc., and I just had enough of it. I ended up selling the shop and getting out of the automotive end altogether, largely because of the over-proliferation of gizmos on modern cars. It got to the point where we couldn't keep up with the newer fancy tools and support tech to maintain the car unlocking business.
Hell, my MX6 doesn't have cupholders.
Sounds great huh?
Well, here's the crap that the 20 year old Japanese coupe DOES have:
Electronically adjustable suspension
Oscillating air vents (don't you have to pay like $60k+ to get those these days?)
Built in subwoofer under the passenger seat (ballin!)
7-way adjustable seats. ARRRRRRGGGGGGGGG
Strizzo
SuperDork
1/15/10 12:50 p.m.
i just bought a new-to-me xterra last weekend (traded the ms3) and while looking around under the hood, found out that while there is a dipstick tube for the trans, its sealed up tight, with no dipstick. so how the hell am i supposed to check the trans fluid? do i have to take it to the dealer and ask them to pull out the transmission fluid level tester SST?
this is also the first auto trans vehicle i've owned since the grand marquis i drove when i turned 16.
my dad used to have a cadillac sts that had the electronic opening front doors. i'm just glad i wasn't around when the valets screwed up and left his car running, it ran out of gas, and then the battery died. it ended up having to be towed to the dealer to be fixed.
TJ
Dork
1/15/10 1:20 p.m.
Three cheers for simple cars that can be made right in your driveway or garage with simple tools!
My Corvair does not have cup holders, but it does have two little indentation in the glove box so you can set your drinks there when you are at the drive in.
Not a lot of fancy options, but it does have 3 ashtrays!! (one in the front, and one on each side in the rear)
Ohh, and no: power steering, power brakes, power locks, power windows, or water pump.
> The chance of failure in any system is directly related to the number of components in that system.
4eyes
Reader
1/18/10 11:15 p.m.
I would rather have no power anything, and have the design/production money spent on a drivetrain that would work flawlessly for 300,000+ miles/
^ All this is why the newest vehicle in my fleet is a 1996 F-150 XL with no options.
My '58 Pontiac has power.. nothing and is just fine to drive. A 20 Amp generator supplies all my electrical needs. The engine has one belt that drives two items, water pump and generator.
I -love- simplicity.
Shawn