No airworthiness concerns

[mikea]

No worries that the driver-in-command has to be sure the car is roadworthy.

 

[fgcason]

If cars had to be maintained to 1/100th of aviation standards, it would be totally safe for kids to play in the middle of the road.

 

[Ken Ibold]

If cars had to be maintained to 1/100th of aviation standards, it would be totally safe for kids to play in the middle of the road.

And cars would cost $450,000 and last for 40 years...

 

[ScottM]

And cars would cost $450,000 and last for 40 years...

Average price of a new car is $28,400
http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/pubs/consumer/autos/aut11.shtm

Average life span of a car, 12 year
http://www.flhsmv.gov/dmv/usedcar.html

So that is 28,400/12 = $2,367/year

With Ken estimate a 'aero' rated car would be

$11,250/year

So for less than a 5x increase in cost we could guarantee children everywhere would be safe around the roads. Why would anyone not be in favor of that?

 

[Ted]

If cars had to be maintained to 1/100th of aviation standards, it would be totally safe for kids to play in the middle of the road.

No it wouldn't, because your brakes can work perfectly but the driver can still be looking elsewhere and not see the kids.

And cars would cost $450,000 and last for 40 years...

I buy used cars with 50-100k miles on them for somewhere under $10,000 and I expect them to last to 200,000 miles, or until they are wrecked, whichever comes first. So far (knock on wood) no wrecks yet.

 

[mikea]

...I buy used cars with 50-100k miles on them for somewhere under $10,000 and I expect them to last to 200,000 miles, or until they are wrecked, whichever comes first. So far (knock on wood) no wrecks yet.

That's good news, Mine are 89,000 miles (original owner), 146,000 "newest" and 189,000. I'm figuring the last one may be due for the graveyard but I might squeeze another year out of it.

I thought I could hold it down to 2 vehicles but the last two serve as a high-availability pair. I would be toast without one of those running.

 

[Ted]

That's good news, Mine are 89,000 miles (original owner), 146,000 "newest" and 189,000. I'm figuring the last one may be due for the graveyard but I might squeeze another year out of it.

I thought I could hold it down to 2 vehicles but the last two serve as a high-availability pair. I would be toast without one of those running.

200,000 seems to be a pretty reasonable expected life out of the cars. I also know people who've gone significantly longer on their cars. If you keep on fixing things, they'll go forever (literally), but how long do you want to fix things for?

If you don't depend on them to go on long trips where the possibility of breaking down would really suck, then there's nothing wrong with keeping it and just driving it until something explodes.