You really can’t take cars away from the face of America. With some 276 million cars registered in the year 2019, it’s expected that there would be more today than those numbers as the trends show. That also tells you there are more cars than there are families in America which makes the dream declared by no less than Henry Ford a stunning reality.
But the idea of more than one car for each family may not be holding up for longer. A KPMG study shows that due to the rise in popularity of ride-sharing companies, many families may opt for a single car to travel. Yes, the sharing economy could dampen the need to own more than one car for family use. Then there’s congestion. When you’re living in a congested city, taking an Uber may make more sense than having to waste time finding parking for your vehicle.
Plus, there’s the practicality of it all. When you drive a new car, you lose 11 percent to depreciation the moment you drive it off the seller’s lot.
The good news is you may not have to buy a new one anytime sooner. Indeed, there are specific technologies that make today’s car run for longer, longer than it used to decades ago. When before high mileage meant a car etched with 100,000 miles on the gauge. Today, that could stretch to 200,000 or more.
Better Timing
Technology had a lot to do with the way cars today last longer. And top of that list is deploying timing chains instead of timing belts. Both these two serve to introduce proper timing in the engine controls.
Take note that mechanical precision requires timing and synchronized action of the crankshaft and the camshaft. Without synchronous action, the pistons, valves, and other engine components could be damaged. In turn, you get a blown engine.
A decade ago, it’s not uncommon for car owners to replace their vehicle’s timing belt. As the material is made of rubber, it can get worn out over time. While reinforced rubber is durable, years of use will make it lose its elasticity. When that happens it will stretch over the engine’s pulleys. Plus, rubber has a nasty habit of drying out, leading to the sudden breaking of the belt.
Timing belts can last up from 65,000 to 100,000 miles. The disadvantage is replacing the timing belt can be a steep price that could run into hundreds, if not thousands of dollars. So, many car owners would rather ditch the vehicle when it reaches its 100,000 miles mark allowing buyers to deal with the issue at hand.
But that’s all in the past now. Timing chains are the go-to sync devices now. Like a bicycle chain, the timing chain is made of metal lasting far longer than any timing belt. Some carmakers even claim timing chains outlive the vehicles they’re in.
Better Electronics
Of course, if you want your car to last, you will still have to clean it. You still need to have it car washed. Additionally, you may have to reinforce the exterior of your car to protect it from dirt and the destructive effects of the weather.
To boot, this is why ceramic car coating could be the best solution you can put up to protect your car’s exterior from dirt and grime. By adding this new layer, your car’s brilliant paint job remains largely untouched. What’s more, it can protect your automobile from chemical stains and the sun’s harmful UV rays, not to mention enhance its aesthetics by giving it a candy-like gloss.
Better engine sync is not the only thing that’s making our car run longer. These days, the interior of your car is also equipped with better systems too. Though many may disagree with the way our cars have become electrified, these spot-on systems improve the overall operation of the vehicle. That’s because it can reduce drastically the possible breakdown of mechanical parts allowing the engine to function seamlessly.
That’s another reason why electric cars so common today are expected to last even longer than fossil fuel cars. It might not be long when we’re seeing cars running even when they’re clocking in 300,000 miles.
Better Manufacturing Processes
With the advent of machine learning, AI, and robotics, the car manufacturing process has been even more streamlined. For one, Artificial Intelligence means there is a greater ability to prevent breakdowns and analyze mechanical failures.
As the manufacturing process relied less and less on humans, the existence of human errors is taken out of the picture. Even the best human workers get tired which can lead to possible mistakes.
However, robots doing assembly work can now come up with not only faster builds but also error-free results. In the long run, you drive cars that are built to precision lasting far longer than before. And that should make every driver in America proud.
