They tell you valuable things about occupant protection and crash avoidance, but they do not promise that the vehicle will be inexpensive to repair. A modern car can perform brilliantly in a severe crash and still produce a painful bill after a parking-lot collision.
Modern windshields carry more technology and cost much more to replace than the simple panes many drivers remember. That does not automatically make the glass more fragile, but it makes every crack feel considerably more painful.
One second the roof looked normal, and the next there was a deafening bang followed by broken glass. Now the dealer says it’s an insurance issue, while you’re wondering why a factory-installed roof wouldn’t fall under the warranty.
Some SUVs look like they’re ready to climb a mountain or cross a desert. Then you drive one and realize it’s mostly built for school runs, Costco trips, and looking rugged in traffic.
A factory-installed touchscreen can be legal, attractive, and convenient while still demanding too much of a driver’s eyes and concentration. The real issue is not whether the screen came standard, but whether essential tasks can be completed quickly without losing awareness of the road.
The 1970s gave us some seriously stylish luxury cars. Back then, many of these looked expensive, exotic, or just out of reach. Today, a surprising number of them can still be bought for the price of a modern family crossover.
