I don't think there is such a thing as planned obsolescence, but that suits folks that like conspiracy theories. I think what happens is that pricing pressure is relentless from consumers, and companies build to a target price point, while preserving their margin. Every company has a margin percentage to make, so at the end of the day they add up all the costs of the production and put a percentage atop that so they can make a profit and stay in business. If the company feels the product is too costly at retail, they will look at ways to take some cost out - and you can only do that two ways 1) Cut out materials 2) Cut labor costs. Reduce either one of those too much and you wind up with sub-par performance on your product and dis-satisfied customers. They are, for the most part, trying to find balance between price and quality. For example, if they determine that 90% of their end users will see a 10-year life span on a car as acceptable, then there is no need to engineer the unit to last 20 years to satisfy the remaining 10 %. Likewise on components - you don't need a transmission that will last 30,000 hours of use if the engine is only going 15,000 hours.
Now in the realm of cars there are certain makers that toss that price/margin out the window and use the best of everything, price be damned. Aston Martin, Bentley, Rolls Royce, Ferrari, Lamborghini, etc., and not even their entry level cars are less than $ 150K. That's how Hancock & Moore builds leather sofas, or Rolex a watch....they don't skimp on the build or the labor and products like these are not made for everyone. So while they are more costly you DO get the best components and build for your money. Most people, by far, don't care about high-end builds and want a solid utility/everyday product that is respectable, reliable and affordable. That's the mainstream consumer.
I think the current crop of modern automobiles are just wonderful. They are so much better than in years past in all aspects - from safety to drive quality to reliability to efficiency across all the makers. How many here remember points, plugs and condensers and setting your timing with a dwell meter, or cleaning the points with a business card to get it to run (I will tell you a funny story about that at the end of this post*)? Or fussy carbs that flooded and needed float bowls replaced? ABS brakes, Dynamic Stability Control and Traction Control have really helped make cars safe - along with airbags. Plus our cars run clean now, with low emissions - heck, my diesel delivery truck now puts out water as the exhaust, nor more diesel fumes! You want to know what I think the very best car on the market is for most people? A basic Honda Accord. For $ 30K +/- you get a fantastic automobile that is loaded with features and performance, and is decent to drive. And its made in the USA so its actually a domestic! So you can have your import AND made in America with buying an Accord.
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* I met my future wife 34 years ago in Ft Lauderdale FL just having a casual conversation on the beach on a Sunday afternoon. After a bit, she said she had to go and 'hoped her car would start'. I asked her what she was driving and she said 'A Triumph Spitfire'. Being a British Leyland car guy, I know why the car didn't want to start - dirty points nine times out of ten. So I offered to escort her to the parking lot to make sure it would run and she got in, turned the key and it wouldn't start. I popped the bonnet, pulled out a white business card I had in my billfold, pulled the Distributor Cap and cleaned the points with the business card - it fired right up pretty as you please. She was amazed and I asked if that act of kindness warranted a dinner date, and she agreed....the rest is history. So if that old Triumph had electronic ignition like we do today, I'd have been out of luck.
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