Fuel Economy, Hypermiling, EcoModding News and Forum - EcoModder.com - View Single Post - Is technology getting less reliable or is it just me?

JSH · 01-29-2023, 11:33 PM

Going by the statistics - cars are getting steadily more reliable.

From personal experience modern cars are far better than cars from even a few decades ago. My 2005 and 2009 were near flawless - just routine maintenance by the book except for the coolant 3-way valve that feeds the thermos. The 2014 TDI was a bit of a lemon but that is due to the dieselgate emissions fix. I took a gamble - it didn't work out but I sold the car for more than I paid so that isn't' too bad.

Computers - my $250 Chromebook from 2014 still works. I did replace it a few years ago when Google stopped providing security updates. Now it is just a garage computer for looking up things that can get dirty.

Same with tablets. My wife just got a new iPad so I'm using her old iPad Mini 4 in the plant at work to look up BOMs and assembly drawings. It still works fine but I won't use a device for regular use that doesn't get updates. If I drop it and destroy it at work - no harm done. It is from 2015 and got 7 years of updates.

Same with her old original iPhone SE. It dates to 2016 - it stopped getting updates at iOS 15 so it got passed on to my father who doesn't even text so there is no danger from lack of security patches. She now has an iPhone SE 2 - which I'm confident will work fine until it stops getting updates after 5 years.

Speaking of phones - 5 years ago they were super delicate and cracked with the slightest drop. I dropped my company iPhone XR off a motorcycle at 35 mph and it still worked and only had minor scratches on the screen.

I prefer Android to Apple products but I have to give it to Apple - they support their phones for 5 years minimum which makes them cheaper in the long run vs an Android phone that might only get 2 years of updates. I actually just traded a Google Pixel 5A for the new 6A because with the Christmas sale price and Google trade it was a direct spot. I paid $0 to trade in a 1 year old phone for a new one and the Pixel 6A will get 5 years of updates. Here's hoping other manufacturers step up and support their products.

So no - my electronics haven't broken. The problem is eventually they are no longer supported by the manufacturer. My phone batteries have also lasted years but I don't abuse them. You won't see my phone battery getting below 30%.

01-29-2023, 11:33 PM	#12 (permalink)
JSH AKA - Jason Join Date: May 2009 Location: PDX Posts: 3,599 Adventure Seeker - '04 Chevy Astro - Campervan 90 day: 17.3 mpg (US) Thanks: 325 Thanked 2,146 Times in 1,453 Posts	Going by the statistics - cars are getting steadily more reliable. From personal experience modern cars are far better than cars from even a few decades ago. My 2005 and 2009 were near flawless - just routine maintenance by the book except for the coolant 3-way valve that feeds the thermos. The 2014 TDI was a bit of a lemon but that is due to the dieselgate emissions fix. I took a gamble - it didn't work out but I sold the car for more than I paid so that isn't' too bad. Computers - my $250 Chromebook from 2014 still works. I did replace it a few years ago when Google stopped providing security updates. Now it is just a garage computer for looking up things that can get dirty. Same with tablets. My wife just got a new iPad so I'm using her old iPad Mini 4 in the plant at work to look up BOMs and assembly drawings. It still works fine but I won't use a device for regular use that doesn't get updates. If I drop it and destroy it at work - no harm done. It is from 2015 and got 7 years of updates. Same with her old original iPhone SE. It dates to 2016 - it stopped getting updates at iOS 15 so it got passed on to my father who doesn't even text so there is no danger from lack of security patches. She now has an iPhone SE 2 - which I'm confident will work fine until it stops getting updates after 5 years. Speaking of phones - 5 years ago they were super delicate and cracked with the slightest drop. I dropped my company iPhone XR off a motorcycle at 35 mph and it still worked and only had minor scratches on the screen. I prefer Android to Apple products but I have to give it to Apple - they support their phones for 5 years minimum which makes them cheaper in the long run vs an Android phone that might only get 2 years of updates. I actually just traded a Google Pixel 5A for the new 6A because with the Christmas sale price and Google trade it was a direct spot. I paid $0 to trade in a 1 year old phone for a new one and the Pixel 6A will get 5 years of updates. Here's hoping other manufacturers step up and support their products. So no - my electronics haven't broken. The problem is eventually they are no longer supported by the manufacturer. My phone batteries have also lasted years but I don't abuse them. You won't see my phone battery getting below 30%.