Thread: 2014 CTS
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Old 03-27-2013, 08:54 PM
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SwampYankee SwampYankee is offline
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Join Date: Sep 2006
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Quote:
Originally Posted by TylerH860 View Post
What do you think Mercedes did with their older cars to make the clutch last so long say on the 240D or Larry's 300E? Is it just because newer cars make more power and wear it out faster? Its not unusual to see 300k or more out of an original clutch on these oldies. Why are modern M/T cars on borrowed time by 120k or lower?
Bean counters and engineered obsolescence. They've only got to make it through the first owner to 40-50k so it can be certified pre-owned sold to the second owner who puts the next 50-60k on it. Why engineer to build something that will last to 200K+ when, on average, that vehicle will likely be on its 3rd or 4th owner at that point and the dealer and manufacturer aren't getting anything at that point?

Truly "building the best" hasn't been the goal for a long time.
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1980 300TD-China Blue/Blue MBTex-2nd Owner, 107K (Alt Blau) OBK #15
'06 Chevy Tahoe Z71 (for the wife & 4 kids, current mule) '03 Honda Odyssey (son #1's ride, reluctantly) '99 GMC Suburban (255K+ miles, semi-retired mule) 21' SeaRay Seville (summer escape pod)
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