Re: [T3] Snow in PDX

[John Jaranson <jaransonT3@comcast.net>]

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> Little has changed.  Its just hidden sometimes with plastic trim.
> Worst are the Korean cars and the Hondas, most 1997 and earlier have at
> least one rust hole in them.  Jeeps are absolutely terrible... as are 
> many
> of the Fords  (sorry John).  Problem is twofold, corrosion protection 
> costs
> money and people wont buy the better protected car if they have to pay 
> for
> what it costs to add the protection.  Secondly, carmakes want us to 
> buy new
> cars, if they rust out faster we buy new ones faster.

Not really.   With the proliferation of leasing (at least in America), 
I would guess that the average time that the car is owned by the first 
owner is less than 5 years.  The vast majority of people buying new 
cars are not buying them because they wore out their last new car.  
Their life situation changes, they upgrade to the next higher model, 
they want the newest style, etc, etc.

> Keith
>
> > Do new cars suffer from that fate? I thought the rust
> > issue had pretty much been solved by now with
> > electrostatic coatings, galvanization, new paint
> > polymers and other things I don't know a thing about?

I think it is time for a little dose of reality.  I put this together a 
few years ago when we had a  similar discussion.  I think it is 
appropriate to repost it.  Yeah, It looks like car prices of sky 
rocketed, but when you look at it based on average income it really has 
not been that big of an increase.  And considering how much more car 
you are getting for the money, the price has gone way down.  You really 
just can't compare a modern car to our beloved Type 3s.

The reality is that Ford, or any other manufacturer, couldn't build a 
car as simple as the Type 3 anymore.  Safety and emissions regulations 
would allow it and no one would buy it.  Why are the base models of 
most manufacturer's making better than 120 h?....because the consumers 
(at least in America) demand it.

And corrosion resistance is significantly better.  Ford tests 
everything to 10 years/100,000 miles for corrosion, as do most of the 
rest of the auto manufacturer's.  The improvement is not only in 
materials but also in design.  Including inner fender splash shields 
(imagine how many Type 3 front fenders would have been saved with this 
simple addition.....), using e-coat and galvanized sheet metal, better 
sealants, better joint designs that don't trap water and dirt, etc, 
etc, etc.  I can't image a new Type 3 making it through even half of 
the high mileage durabilty tests that Ford puts its vehicles through.  
Ford offers a 5 year/unlimited rust-through warranty.  All 
manufacturer's offer something similar over and above the standard 
warranty.  VW today offers a 12 year/unlimited mileage rust-through 
warranty.

Look at the comparison below.  Hard to argue that cars today aren't a 
better value than they were in 1968.

All that being said, I still love driving my Type 3 and would rather 
drive it than a modern car, but it is not because it is a better car or 
a safer car.  It is just because it is a Type 3.

Later,
John Jaranson
'66 Square (Sophy)
'71 Fasty (Jane - darkside project in waiting)
various parts.....don't we all.
http://mywebpages.comcast.net/jaransonT3/jaransonT3/
http://mywebpages.comcast.net/jaransonT3/2004Invasion/
http://mywebpages.comcast.net/jaransonT3/notavwclub/


****************
Being in the auto industry I thought it would be interesting to do a 
little comparison.  I took my 1968 Road & Track road test of the 69 
Squareback and compared it with the 2000 Ford Focus wagon.  Here are 
the tabulated results.

                                				Ford                   			VW
Item                            				Focus Wagon   		Squareback
Year of Production				2000           			1968
Ave. Household Income			$48,816  (1)			$8,632
Price as Tested				$17,815  				$2,771
Price/Income (%)				36%                     		32%

Engine                        		  		DOHC Inline 4 			OHV Flat 4
   Displacement (liters) 			1.988    				1.584
   HP                           				130       				65
   HP/liter                    				 65      				41
   Torque (ft-lb) 					135 @ 4500rpm 		87 @ 2800rpm
   Compression Ratio		 	9.6:1        				 7.7:1

Performance
   0-60mph (sec) 				9.3    				20.8
   1/4 mile (sec)  				16.9      				22.3
   1/4 mile (mph) 				81     				62
   Top speed (mph) 				105 (2)  				82

Safety
   Seatbelts 					3-point F/R    			3-point F/lap R
        							w/ F pretensioners  		na
   Airbags                     			Driver/Pass/Side 		na
   Brakes                     		         		ABS Disk F/Drum R		Disk F/ 
Drum R
                                				w/vacuum assist

Comfort and Convenience
   Steering                     			Power assisted R&P		Worm & Roller
   Windows                      			Power       			Manual
   Door Locks                  	 		Remote Keyless Power 	Manual key
   Mirrors                      			Power Dvr/Pass   		Fixed Dvr
   Air Conditioning        			as tested     			na
   Sound system                 			AM/FM/CD        			AM
   Cupholders                   			3              				0

Other
   Transmission                 			4-spd Electronic Auto	3-spd Auto
   Fuel Economy(mpg)    			26                      			24.5
   Range (mile)            			315		      			260
   Seating Capacity             		5	            		   	4
   Seat Width (in)          			F 21.3 / R 49.3   		F 19 / R 50.5
   Cargo Volume (ft3)  			37.4         				24.9
   Oil change interval (miles)  		5,000                   		3,000
   1st Schedule Maint. (miles) (3)	100,000        	         		3,000 (4)
   Curb Weight (lbs) (as tested)        	2740                    		2555
   Warranty                     			3 yrs/36,000miles  		2 
yrs/24,000miles

Notes:  (1) Extrapolated from 1987-1998 data
        (2) Electronically limited
        (3) Excluding oil changes
        (4) Valve adjustment

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