Originally Posted by
tjspiel
Yes, I remember manual chokes, replacing spark plugs and points every year, and maybe a rotor cap too. The good old days when you pumped the accelerator before starting the car, especially in the winter. Hopefully you didn't flood it.
Cars have gotten way more complex, but at the same time they're more reliable and require less regular maintenance.
That made me laugh - you're entirely correct. I remember as a kid that each of our cars had different "cold weather" starting routine.You may remember those kinds of ("Pump twice, crank the starter once, pump one more time, then crank it for real.") Cold weather starting was always an iffy proposition.
I am not sure that I believe that the inflation adjusted TCO of ownership has gone up over the years (modulo the price of gasoline). Our '94 Camry wagon has had nohing more than oil changes and minor repairs and has 265K. I suspect that it would have cost me a lot more (inflation adjusted) dollars to get my old slant six Valiant to 265K miles - including I don't know how many engine re-builds.
A little off-topic, but your post re-minded of cold winter mornings sitting in a car in my youth wondering when/if the darn thing would start. Every one of my cars started every time we turned the key this winter - and we expect that now.