They Just Don't Make Em' Like They Used To!

[jamespowers]

For that money, I'd be more willing to try out Indy's shoes and boots. I can see myself getting a pair if someone here would elaborate on the construction and leather quality.

If I had a gift card for that brand I would have used it.

Regards,

J

 

[Jovan]

Hmm... that's a good suggestion. He should offer gift cards or certificates as an old fashioned ticket stub or something.

 

[lindylady]

I'm going to go with clothes on this one! All my "new" clothes from the mall last 2 years, maybe 3, before I start seeing little pulls and snags. I've got dresses from the 30s, 50s, and 60s that are made so well they almost look new! And they are completely wearable (I got married in my dress from 1938!) No tugs, snags, holes, or loose strings. The material seems to be thicker, sewn together more sturdily. It's like they didn't skimp on anything! When I buy clothes today the material is always so thin, loose strings appear after 2 or 3 wearings, and fabric is always skimped on -- I don't think I own a top or sweater from today that properly goes all the way down to my wrists!!

I agree! It doesn't matter which store you purchase your clothes from, because quality on all levels has diminished. I have some clothes I bought years ago from lower priced department stores that far surpass the design and quality of items that I have purchased last week at more expensive shops. Manufacturers today see clothes as a disposable commodity. Why should they make good clothes when the idea is for the consumer to wear them for a few months, throw them out, and buy new ones? Personally, I would rather spend a bit more on clothes that will last a while, rather than throw my money away after 2 wears, but the clothing industry won't give me that option. Even the clothes at very pricey stores have diminished in quality. And don't even get me started on the fit!

 

[Dapper Dan]

"And don't even get me started on the fit!"

I hear ya there. It's impossible to find clothes that fit me at all. I wind up having to take everything in to a tailor, which gets pricey. I'm tall and thin, so unless I feel like spending $300 a shirt from the high-fashion guys, I have to settle for shirts that are sometimes literally twice as wide as I am. It's like trying to wear a blanket! Apparently the American man has really let himself go, because I don't think these shirts would fit right unless you weighed over 250 pounds.

 

[lindylady]

Women's blouses are just as bad. I'm also tall, but I'm broad in the shoulders, so I have to buy a larger size. What I hate is how the rest of the blouse will balloon around the torso like a tent. Either that, or the whole thing will just be a tight, ill-fitting mess. If the $300 shirt fits you, chances are you'll be happy for the first couple of wears. That is, if you don't send it through the wash lol It's a lose-lose situation.

 

[Jovan]

Dan: Try Charles Tyrwhitt or Brooks Brothers slim fit shirts. J. Crew, despite, having gone down in quality in the last decade, still makes decent "tailored-fit" shirts as well.

 

[Dapper Dan]

Thanks for the tip, Jovan. I buy J. Crew shirts occasionally and I own one Brooks Brothers shirt, but I haven't done the slim fit option yet.

 

[Stinchcomb]

Well, not perhaps all things are worse than "they used to make". I have a 1952 Chevrolet. Regular maintenance (every 2000 miles) includes changing the oil, adjusting the valves, lubricating the distributor, adjusting the brakes, and lubricating assorted fittings, hinges, etc. Engine valves require grinding every 20 -30k miles and it was expected that at about 60k miles, the engine would need to have new rings installed and the babbit bearings reworked. Rust is the enemy of vintage cars and without care, you will ultimately just own a pile of iron oxide. This car has power nothing, and driving it involves real physical work.

My 2004 pickup specifies oil changes at 6k intervals and minimal service at 30k intervals. The engine will easily last 200k miles with regular care. Rust is largely not a problem unless you regularly drive on salted roads. This vehicle has power everything and can be driven coast to coast with one finger.

At least with automobiles, it's true they don't make 'em like they used to...thank goodness.

I was wondering if anyone knew that. I think vehicles are one of the few product that has improved over the years, even though styling has something to be disired. The good and bad thing about the old iron is when it was in a wreck you just rinse off the steel dash and sale it to the next person.

 

[jamespowers]

I was wondering if anyone knew that. I think vehicles are one of the few product that has improved over the years, even though styling has something to be disired. The good and bad thing about the old iron is when it was in a wreck you just rinse off the steel dash and sale it to the next person.

Oh geez, here I go again. :eusa_doh:
I suppose it depends on how old you are talking about. All of my vehicles are from the mid fifties and they all have over 100,000 miles on them without ever being overhauled. [huh] I use the 57 Chevy daily and have never had to adjust anything that was overly complicated. Keep them tuned and change the oil and you are ready to go. I don't understand people having tons of problems with them. That is not my experience. [huh]
As for metal, I think I'll take that over tin canism that is produced today. Even honest crash tests show that among even modern cars, the heavier and bigger the vehicle, the better chance you have of survival. Think Suburban versus Saturn.

Regards,

J

 

[Stinchcomb]

Well today’s cars go 100,000 miles before even needing a tune-up. Nearly 300,000 if well maintained before needing an overhaul. That's from personal experience. Although it is much more expensive and difficult to repair new cars, and requires too may specialty tools and computers for the average Joe to work on them. It's nice on the old iron to be able to change plugs, adjust carbs, and fan belts, etc, without having to pull the engine.lol

A funny/embarrassing story. I had a 2000 Crown Victory that had just crossed the 100,000 mark. So I figured I give it it's first tune-up as scheduled in the manual. I was embarrassed to find out after asking for them at the parts store. That these new cars don't have plug wires anymore. They have individual coil packs mounted on each plug. So the tune-up consisted of new plugs and an air filter.

I know what the maintains schedule looks like on the old cars. I had a 53 Chevy that neeeded regular maintainance items about every 3000 miles, and it's more than just an oil change.

 

[jamespowers]

Well today’s cars go 100,000 miles before even needing a tune-up. Nearly 300,000 if well maintained before needing an overhaul. That's from personal experience. Although it is much more expensive and difficult to repair new cars, and requires too may specialty tools and computers for the average Joe to work on them. It's nice on the old iron to be able to change plugs, adjust carbs, and fan belts, etc, without having to pull the engine.lol

A funny/embarrassing story. I had a 2000 Crown Victory that had just crossed the 100,000 mark. So I figured I give it it's first tune-up as scheduled in the manual. I was embarrassed to find out after asking for them at the parts store. That these new cars don't have plug wires anymore. They have individual coil packs mounted on each plug. So the tune-up consisted of new plugs and an air filter.

I know what the maintains schedule looks like on the old cars. I had a 53 Chevy that neeeded regular maintainance items about every 3000 miles, and it's more than just an oil change.

I'll live with changing oil and frequent tune ups. Although you could fix that by going with the Petronics set up if you don't want to deal with points and all that.
Cost of maintenance is a pretty big factor. When the warranty expires, parts are expensive as all get out now. Replacing parts is a major job as you described. Ever try to replace a heater core in a modern GMC truck? :eusa_doh: You have to tear apart the whole dash to get to it. Having a mechanic do it for you will cost near a thousand bucks. I just replaced the original one in my 57 last year. It was the original and was even date stamped april 1957. That was quite a while of service. I got my money's worth there.
Bottom line is that you have to like to tinker with classic vehicles before you decide to own one. Then again, I have know a few people who bought brand new lemons that should have known how to tinker with new vehicles.

Regards,

J

 

[Stinchcomb]

Your right

If you don't mind tinkering the old cars are easy and cheap. If you just want to get in and drive and not worry about how it works, than in most cases a new car is the way to go. I currentl have an 99 Volvo and 05 Jeep Wrangler that go, or will go in the laters case, to the shop when in need of repair. I have a 89 Grand Wagoneer that I had fuel injection installed on it, and now I can't work on it either without a computer, so I'll be going back to the carb soon, so that I can control how well it runs or doesn't run and be able to work on in my garage with American standard tools and no computers.

 

[Orgetorix]

be able to work on in my garage with American standard tools and no computers.

Here, here! I have a 95 Chrysler, and trying to do anything on it is the most maddening thing--every time, I have to take a wild guess as to whether this particular nut is going to be standard or metric.

 

[Stinchcomb]

Hey Orgetorix

Nice topper. I assume that is a pic of you.

I've been told I look a lot like Bruce Willis.

 

[Jovan]

Pics or it didn't happen.

As far as gas emissions go, I'm sorry to say this, but I'd take one of those butt-ugly hybrid cars over older, cooler looking ones. That's one area where new vehicles are seriously improved.

 

[Fletch]

It seems a lot of companies that were once well known for their quality have gone down the pipes, figuratively speaking. Companies like Florsheim, Johnston and Murphy, Burton, etc. seem to concentrate more on just selling a bunch of product rather than making them of good quality.

Works like this, I think:
1. Recognized brand, huffing & puffing under rising labor & materials costs, gets sucked up by large conglomerate with fingers in many pies.
2. LargeCo immediately offshores more & more workforce and sources lower-cost materials.
3. LargeCo, being large, needs to constantly expand their share of the mass market and generate new demand. Thus old favorites get shunted aside in favor of product that follows marketer-approved industry trends.
4. Recognized brand's image suffers or is junked completely in favor of rosier LargeCo annual reports.

It's the old story: marketers would rather market to each other than to the end user.

Thankfully there are still companies that make quality goods, but they're few and far in between now and a bit expensive for many people.

Maybe, just maybe, if some big brands were still independently owned (hah! ), they'd be able to do this. But the product wouldn't necessarily be made in USA - altho it probably wouldn't be made by a low bidder in the Far East.