Ford doesn't want you to fix your own vehicle.

[Stormhawk31]

I heard the other day that there are several States now that are trying to prohibit pre-2005 cars from being registered and driven on their roads AT ALL. Also, several States, New York being one (no surprise there), are trying to ban tools, CNC machines, 3D printers, etc.

They REALLY ARE trying to turn us from independent, self-reliant people into dependent, State-reliant people who simply obey rather than think. That's what all of this is about. Take away our easily repaired and maintained cars, and you take away a huge chunk of our liberty. And all the software that makes today's cars laptops on wheels is ultimately intended for them to be able to shut your car down if you're noncompliant.

It's all bad news.

 

[Blmpkn]

I heard the other day that there are several States now that are trying to prohibit pre-2005 cars from being registered and driven on their roads AT ALL.

I've been saying this is going to happen for years.

Ugh.

 

[PetroleumJunkie412]

I heard the other day that there are several States now that are trying to prohibit pre-2005 cars from being registered and driven on their roads AT ALL. Also, several States, New York being one (no surprise there), are trying to ban tools, CNC machines, 3D printers, etc.

They REALLY ARE trying to turn us from independent, self-reliant people into dependent, State-reliant people who simply obey rather than think. That's what all of this is about. Take away our easily repaired and maintained cars, and you take away a huge chunk of our liberty. And all the software that makes today's cars laptops on wheels is ultimately intended for them to be able to shut your car down if you're noncompliant.

It's all bad news.

"You will own nothing and be happy" was not a request.

 

[ekrampitzjr]

I heard the other day that there are several States now that are trying to prohibit pre-2005 cars from being registered and driven on their roads AT ALL. Also, several States, New York being one (no surprise there), are trying to ban tools, CNC machines, 3D printers, etc.

They REALLY ARE trying to turn us from independent, self-reliant people into dependent, State-reliant people who simply obey rather than think. That's what all of this is about. Take away our easily repaired and maintained cars, and you take away a huge chunk of our liberty. And all the software that makes today's cars laptops on wheels is ultimately intended for them to be able to shut your car down if you're noncompliant.

It's all bad news.

There have been a lot of panicky rumors about any such prohibitions. So far, I haven't been able to find any serious proposals for legislation in any US state to ban older cars from use. That's not to say we shouldn't be vigilant.

Legislation in various states and policies by various auto insurers place limits on use for vehicles registered as antique or classic, that is, with the special state plates. Those often include annual mileage caps. No state has moved to limit use of older cars with normal plates and registrations; those simply have to pass whatever inspections are required. The dirty little secret is that many owners of older cars get antique/classic license plates to game the system by getting the exemption from emissions and safety checks for an '80s or '90s beater.

 

[cbxer55]

I mean, in my state, there are no safety or smog checks. You should see some of the wrecks people drive here. There are new vehicles that are in worse shape than my 28 year old Ranger. And it's not bad at all, few dents here and there. Battle scars. People drive cars with missing fenders, bumpers, glass, lights, and don't seem to get tickets for doing so. Came upon a early 00 Mustang one day, entire windshield was clear tape over a bunch of cracks. Couldn't even see the driver through the tape.

 

[Li'l Work Truck]

I mean, in my state, there are no safety or smog checks. You should see some of the wrecks people drive here. There are new vehicles that are in worse shape than my 28 year old Ranger. And it's not bad at all, few dents here and there. Battle scars. People drive cars with missing fenders, bumpers, glass, lights, and don't seem to get tickets for doing so. Came upon a early 00 Mustang one day, entire windshield was clear tape over a bunch of cracks. Couldn't even see the driver through the tape.

Sounds like South Carolina. I literally saw a guy use a LOG as a rear bumper. Even carved BUICK into it.

It ended up on FAILblog a long time ago.

 

[Jim Oaks]

I swear it seems like I see a new Ford recall every day. Ford doesn't want you to fix your own vehicle, yet they've recalled over 12 million vehicles this year.

 

[Lefty]

Apparently, Ford, GM, and Roger Penske (who owns 200 new car dealerships) met with the White House on the 3rd wanting legislation that would prevent people from being able to repair their own vehicles.

President Trump discussed what the auto manufacturers wanted and that a guy got sentenced to 7-years for fixing a vehicle. Some of the media is acting like he doesn't know what he's talking about and that it never happened, but it did. A simple search will give you this:

"Former President Donald Trump recently revealed that he pardoned Troy Lake, a 65-year-old Wyoming diesel mechanic, who had been sentenced to seven years in federal prison for removing emissions control devices from diesel engines in school buses, ambulances, and fire trucks.

Lake’s prosecution under the Clean Air Act stemmed from his work in rural Wyoming, where extreme winter weather often causes emissions equipment to fail. To keep these critical vehicles operational, he removed or bypassed emissions controls so the engines could run. While the modifications were intended to prevent breakdowns and keep public services running, they violated federal environmental laws. Lake was convicted of conspiracy to violate the Clean Air Act and served about seven months in prison before Trump’s pardon Daily Headlines. The case became a political flashpoint, with critics calling it an example of federal regulatory overreach targeting working men for keeping essential equipment running"

I'm not here to argue whether the guy was right or wrong, just clarifying who the President was referring to.

I've been annoyed with Ford because they lead the industry in recalls, and in my opinion build a cheap product, but pay huge bonuses to their executives for profit goals. I think Increased profits + Increased recalls = bad math.

The more complex and unreliable new vehicles become, the more I don't want one.

I found this guys video talking about this recent meeting and right to repair:

Older Rangers have always reminded me of model As: an Everyman's vehicle, rugged, reliable, easy and cheap to maintain, modify, and repair. They're a dying breed, the last of their kind, I guess.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

I swear it seems like I see a new Ford recall every day. Ford doesn't want you to fix your own vehicle, yet they've recalled over 12 million vehicles this year.

The CEO went off on a weird tangent too about not wanting vehicle owners to do warranty work.

I think most owners would generally rather have someone else fix it for free...

 

[Li'l Work Truck]

Dear Ford:

We are not beta testers. Build better products.

Sincerely,

Everyone

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

Dear Ford:

We are not beta testers. Build better products.

Sincerely,

Everyone

Speak for yourself, I have my own R&D lab centered around my Ranger over here.

 

[Li'l Work Truck]

Dear Ford:

We are not beta testers. Build better products.

Sincerely,

Everyone but @85_Ranger4x4

 

[sgtsandman]

Older Rangers have always reminded me of model As: an Everyman's vehicle, rugged, reliable, easy and cheap to maintain, modify, and repair. They're a dying breed, the last of their kind, I guess.

Due to various reasons, I don't think any manufacturer makes a good, reliable product anymore. Some of it is money/profit driven, but is is more than that. Since politics and other things would be rearing it head here, so I'm going to just stop now.

 

[PetroleumJunkie412]

Dear Ford:

We are not beta testers. Build better products.

Sincerely,

Everyone but @85_Ranger4x4

Ahem.

 

[Lefty]

Due to various reasons, I don't think any manufacturer makes a good, reliable product anymore. Some of it is money/profit driven, but is is more than that. Since politics and other things would be rearing it head here, so I'm going to just stop now.

Many of us already know the story of little pickups, their great success, and why they have become a disappearing breed. We all know especially the Ford Motor Company's penchant for taking a pretty good thing, fussing with it, making that thing larger and larger, adding on more accessories and trim packages, until the very spirit of the original product has long since been gone.