The Tragedy of Modern Cars

 

Over the past 100 years, cars have changed quite dramatically. They've become faster, safer, and  fitted with more gadgets than your phone. They even can think for you too. With the advancements in car technology, it does seem possible that one day cars will be able to drive better than we can. But is that really a good thing?

 

Back in the 1900's, cars were very different. They were still used as transportation from Point A to Point B like today's cars, but they didn't drive like today's cars. They had a handle to start the engine instead of a key that could break your arm if you're not careful. The controls were incredibly complicated that you actually had to work in order to drive them. Even though they only had a top speed of around 45 mph, they guzzled fuel at a rate of 13 mpg.

 

On the plus side, cars from the olden days were way more fun to drive. They made you pay attention to the road and with their persnickety controls, they felt very unpredictable. Plus, with no safety features at all, they could kill you if you weren't careful. So they gave you an adrenaline rush that you just don't get in a modern car. That's probably why so many people love to buy classic cars. Sure, they don't handle very well, suck up gas, and break down all the time. But the personality of classic cars is so extreme, that all the problems just get ignored.

 

That's the problem with today's cars. Very few have any personality. If you pay a lot of money for a high performance car, you will get more personality than a cheap modern car, but all the safety features and technology sort of spoil the drive. Only when you turn the safety controls off does the car finally come alive. Chances are cars will keep getting safer and smarter. That's just how the times roll. But you will have to wait and look hard and probably pay a ton of money in order to find a modern car that will give you the adrenaline of a classic car.