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Living the Lie
In a perfect world as car shoppers we would like to carry the belief that when it comes to buying a fine automobile that there is some truth to the adage “You Get What You Pay For”. In other words, if you are willing to spend top dollar for a popular model of car that it will be made of not just high-quality engineering and high-quality assembly, but also high-quality parts.
Alas and alack and all that―we do not live in a perfect world.
Not Built for the Long Haul
That was the message in a TikTok post by a car technician under the handle rastamanbuilds in recent news today as he does a ‘Show and Tell’ using a Dodge Charger as a good example of how today’s expensive models are purposely manufactured with plastic parts that are designed to fail.
Related article: Toyota Tacoma Fatal Design Flaw Revealed
The point the RastaBuilds host hammers in is the incredulity of the fact many of those plastic parts are in constant contact with very hot metal parts that results in heating and expansion that weakens plastic parts until failure does and will occur.
These plastic parts that once were all metal include (but are not limited to):
- Oil filter assemblies
- Intake manifolds
- Valve covers
- Fuel systems
- Fuel lines
Imagine if you will the reality of a plastic line splitting resulting in a spray of flammable fuel making its way to an extremely hot exhaust manifold.
The host states that
“This is not designed for the long haul. This is not designed for problem-free or low ownership cost. It’s not designed for that…This is designed for low cost in manufacturing to maximize the profit margin.”
On a darker note, he also points out that these parts are made to last just long enough to outlast the warranty, so that consumers will be footing the bill for repairs.
“This is the gift that keeps on giving,” he quips as he makes his living from repairs due to the auto manufacturer’s insistence on building cars to self-destruct in the name of cost-saving measures in manufacturing, amid claims that they are meeting fuel standards to make cars lighter and thereby more fuel-efficient by using more plastic parts.
The Link to Follow for the TikTok Video
That said, here is the TikTok post that is as enjoyable to listen to as it is disturbing to understand the truth of what auto manufacturers are doing to the public.
Timothy Boyer is an automotive reporter based in Cincinnati. Experienced with early car restorations, he regularly restores older vehicles with engine modifications for improved performance. Follow Tim on “Zen and the Art of DIY Car Repair” website, the Zen Mechanic blog and on Twitter at @TimBoyerWrites and Facebook for daily news and topics related to new and used cars and trucks.
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Image source: Deposit Photos
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