Cars have a come a long way in the last two decades or so. Where before they have had may one computer for managing sensors and providing readings to help determine diagnostics and optimum running, today a typical vehicle has dozens of computers and controlling sensors. And that's not a good thing.
Just about everywhere one looks, vehicular computers are failing. They simply aren't designed for the durability needed. The simple fact is, cars need parts that can take a tremendous beating and keep going. And even among those parts, it's well known that there is a quality difference between good cars and those that barely last their warranty period. However, now there's a bigger problems. Cars are easily being hacked as well. The nightmare of movies is becoming a reality, both with autonomous vehicles and those driven by drivers but controlled by circuits now.
The most annoying thing about this new technology problem is the fact that it's being sold as an improvement, costing twice or three times what vehicle did years before, but performing half as well. And there's no alternatives. All new vehicles are being controlled and operated with flimsy computer systems that consistently fail.
So, unlike what the millions of dollars spent on automotive marketing want me to believe and follow, I'm still keeping my old Toyota truck going. It squeaks and groans, makes worn noises, and it's dented and looks rough on all the edges. It's been through almost a dozen set of tires, plenty of consumables and hundreds of pints of engine oil, but that old Toyota reputation is holding out. More importantly, the computer-less system is repairable with simple mechanics and part assembly. There's no nonsense having to purge code and deal with ghosts in the programming, corruption in executions, and variable ranges that are too picky for normal vehicle driving over time.
Cars wear and the parts change their behavior over time. That doesn't mean they can't operate any longer, but it does mean that the variations of acceptable performance widens over time. However, computers don't adjust for these issues; they work in a world of strict commands and limits. Even the best of computers can't anticipate the simple random microscopic changes that come with a variety of operating conditions, from temperature to differences in how people drive in the first place. Your regular combustion engine doesn't get hung up on these details; it just runs until the parts fail or need replacing with maintenance. And then it runs again.
That's why I'm keeping my old truck for another decade if I can. No computers, no intolerant sensors and it just goddamn runs when I need it to.
