[Svip]

Modern cars are very locked-in with computer systems. So fixing many aspects of modern cars is no longer possible for most car owners like it used to be.

This seems like a neat site for people with older cars. Although, if you are owning a vintage car, then surely one should know a bit about maintaining that car without having to resort to such a site, but personally, it's nice to know it is there.

I mean, its articles on break systems, suspension and steering are useless to me, because I own old Citroëns, but it's nice to know there is a site to go to if I am curious, because I definitely intend to own more older cars (they tend to be more interesting than modern cars).

[johngalt]

I'm not sure how true this is anymore. An OBD scanner makes the computer work for you. Modifications are certainly more difficult, but repair is easier IMHO. It is vastly easier to go replace the one bad fuel injector on a 2005 than rebuild a carb on a 1983.

[Svip]

Of course it's easier to replace than rebuild. I doubt I would be keen on rebuilding a fuel injector, even an old one. But replacing a carburettor on a 1983 is trivial.

[dsfyu404ed]

If you're doing basic diagnosis and repair it's pretty easy.

~/ examine problem | pull codes | Google codes | cross reference with original symptoms | perform repair

Older cars are much easier to physically work on, mostly because there's less removing parts to get to what you need to fix.

[mindcrime]

Modern cars are very locked-in with computer systems. So fixing many aspects of modern cars is no longer possible for most car owners like it used to be.

So true. And so frustrating. I grew up in a household where my dad built and raced stock cars, and was always building hot rods for street racing (sssshhhh, don't tell) and so I grew up working on cars, and for a big chunk of my life I did my own repair work. But as you say, newer cars are so much more challenging. It's not just the computerized bits either, it's the tighter clearances / less space in the engine compartment, the way you often have to disassemble half the car to even get access to the think you need to touch, the specialized tools you need for some jobs, etc.

Coincidentally my truck (a 2000 Ford Expedition) died Wed. morning. I am thinking about just going on Craigslist, finding an old 1974 Chevy C10 pickup, or something of that ilk, and buying that. I can do everything on a truck like that myself, all the way down to pulling and rebuilding the engine if need be.

because I definitely intend to own more older cars (they tend to be more interesting than modern cars).

They certainly can be, in their own way. I mean, I like both, but old cars definitely have a certain special appeal to them.