Quote:
Originally Posted by TylerH860
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?
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The biggest variable in clutch life is the person with his/her feet on the pedals. 50 years ago when my Dad was teaching me proper use of a clutch, he did not consider me clutch competent until I could get the car rolling and foot off the clutch pedal without touching the gas pedal. The key lesson was to not generate HEAT. As with many things, heat DESTROYS a clutch.
This doesn't mean that I drive that way. What it means is that I learned how to use a clutch without generating excess heat. If you don't overheat the clutch and drive the car competently, most vehicles clutches will last forever. The clutches of 25 years ago are basically no different than today's.
NOW, I am speaking generally. There are super cheapy built cars on the left side of the bell curve and super or specialty cars on the right side of the bell curve. Most cars in the MIDDLE of the bell curve have the POTENTIAL for the clutch to outlast the engine, with the right person working the pedals.
Since very few young people today are ever taught to operate a clutch properly, it stands to reason that such a person would not achieve long clutch life and would probably not like driving one in the first place.
My Dad taught me to drive, but in order to get my drivers license at fourteen, I had to take Drivers Education. The car at school that they taught in was a '62 Dodge with a slant six and a three on the tree. They wouldn't have DREAMED of teaching kids to drive in an automatic.
Times change.