A PSA for ATS-Automotive Disaster Looms and it's relatively Unknown-A Possible Solution

So, yea, this is just a basic public service announcement about a looming problem with the Automotive industry and consumers.

It isn't that people are stupid; it's just that, well, who has the time to pay attention to "everything". There's a serious problem with the Automotive industry and their offerings, today and going forward that everyone needs to know about.

The problem is that because of ever more stringent EPA rules, the car and light truck makers have had to make serious changes to their products in order to reduce emissions enough to meet these tightening restrictions. And this against the backdrop of the likes of GM and Ford going all -in on battery electric vehicles no one can or wants to afford. And of course, there's the inevitable inflation problem. The result is that there's going to be a serious gap in years between vehicles you can afford and want to buy vs. vehicles being offered that are basically junk from the jump.

I offer two examples of what the new EPA req's have done to new vehicles.

First, there's the problem of Low Tension Piston Rings, specifically the "oil" or "exhaust" ring, i.e., the third ring from the top. In order to meet EPA regs, the automakers have gone to low tension rings that ultimately result in total engine failure. To get an understanding of this see:


Understand, this isn't just a Toyota problem; it's across the board. I have yet to identify what year they started doing this, but I am guessing at some point after 2012. You may have noticed a huge failure rate for Hyundai and Kia vehicles related to this issue.

Second example is that in 2023 Toyota, (I follow them) is downsizing their engines such that they are putting turbos and increasing engine pressures to up the horse power in their 4 & 6 cylinder engines such that the full size Tundra V-8 has been replaced with a turbo charged V-6. And of course there's the problem with the price, some $55,000.00. Just be aware of the fact that no, these engines won't last the old standard 500K miles of the older Tundra V-8's. If you're lucky you may get 100K out of one of these turbo charged engines before you encounter epic fail. There's a reason you don't see many older model turbo BMW's on the highway. I have nothing against turbocharged engines, it's just that most all who follow the industry know that the addition of turbo chargers adds a whole new level of maintenance issues and heat and pressure issues that typically cause these engines to become very expensive to maintain and keep running past a certain point.

At some point between now and 2035 the battey problem with the BEV's will be fixed by the USE of the CATL Sodium-Ion battery which goes into mass production later this year. See:www.nextbigfuture.com...
What with EPA regs killing the internal combustion engine, and the CATL battery significantly reducing the cost of building BEV''s (battery electric vehicles), it's hoped that "affordable" and "reliable long life" automobiles will be back on the market.

What to do in the meantime?
See:


For those of you too time constrained to watch a video, the "solution" at least for the time being is one of these 6 recommended vehicles:
2000~2005 Buick Le Sabre with 3.8 engine
1999~2006 Chevy Silverado/GMC Sierra trucks with the 4.8/5.3 LS based engine
2004~2009 Lexus RX 350 SUV
1998~2012 Ford Crown Victoria
1996~2000 Lexus LS 400
2001~2007 Toyota Highlander

Now, I am sure that there are other, more modern vehicles that will last the test of time sufficient to bridge the "gap" years, but these vehicles can be had for $10,000.00 or less, parts are plentiful and they aren't compromised by EPA regs and fixes.

Feel free to offer any other models you might personally like.
Thanks

a reply to: TonyS

Thanks so much for posting this info - it really is a public service to those of us who don't have a high 'awareness level' in regards to car engines and such!

Could I ask your opinion of pre- 2019 Toyota Prius's? My daughter has a 2019 Prius C, and I'm not sure mine is (my husband does the car buying), but it is one size up from the "C" and the year is somewhere between 2012 and 2016..

We are not big on driving - so pretty much back and forth to work and errands around town for my daughter, and my car leaves our garage about once a week, since COVID lockdowns made me agoraphobic..

I 'feel' like these are pretty good cars but would value a general opinion from someone who really knows about these sorts of things..

a reply to: lostgirl

If I understand correctly the cars that were suggested were because of a specific design form of their engines. It is really interesting to me how that particular approach to the engine design 'migrated' into extinction. We know the evolutionary "force" that brought the design change about was the EPA specific metrics which their committees put forth.

There really are a couple of mysteries to be solved about these metrics (for my part) but in the end its the consumer, once again, that suffers the real consequences. Profit-making automobile manufacturers do not. They comply and deliver a product which brings the consumer back to buy another car more quickly. I am not a policy analyst, but I would love to see one on the economic impact of this decision over time. It won't be done, mind you. Revenue is all that matters.

a reply to: lostgirl

I have no direct experience with the Toyota Prius. I did find this:
www.carproblemzoo.com...

It seems the biggest issues have been electrical (recall), brakes and coolant issues. I would guess that your experience may vary but I would strongly suggest you do the following and often:

Get a jug of the proper Toyota Coolant from your dealer and check the coolant level at a minimum once a month. My Tacoma needs regular addition of coolant; I have no idea why.

Get regular service at the Toyota dealer. All these vehicles are basically computers and the dealers access the onboard computers to assess problems with the vehicles.

Based upon your driving habits and the short range of trips I'd guess your Prius models will serve you well over the years with a minimum of problems.

Based upon my limited research, the Prius should serve you well for a minimum 180K miles if properly maintained. It's reviewed as highly reliable. Don't worry, be happy.

a reply to: Maxmars

its the consumer, once again, that suffers the real consequences.

And how! That has been the issue of my concern. Whereas before, it was possible to find vehicles that would be reliable out 20 years or more and capable of 500K miles, the cars/trucks being built today may well be hard pressed to last the note.

And of course, there's the "price" problem. Many commentators I've followed are very concerned that the "average" Joe and Joanne will be priced right out of the new vehicle market altogether. Only the wealthy can afford a Tesla or any of the current electric models.

It is hoped of course that as is the case with any new technology, the price will come down in 5 to 7 years. But the problem we now face is that bridging that gap. It doesn't appear to me that any of the 2022/23 model year internal combustion powered vehicles are designed to make that leap.

a reply to: TonyS

I love my 2000-2006 Toyota Corolla
A very faithful beast.

It is at about 170k miles and I am hoping for many more.

originally posted by: TonyS
At some point between now and 2035 the battey problem with the BEV's will be fixed by the USE of the CATL Sodium-Ion battery which goes into mass production later this year. See:www.nextbigfuture.com...

Thanks for this! I've been thinking about buying an older car next time - or even buying a kit car of some kind, one that has ZERO electronics, just an old fashioned ICE based car that is fun to drive.

My question though is - what ever happened to John Goodenough's radical new solid-state glass sodium based battery?

a reply to: tanstaafl

They haven't worked out the bugs of mass production of solid state though I think VW is working on it.