Take even a mid level car you now have computers for the power seats, body control modules, ecu, windows, abs, traction control, etc.
On most modern cars you need a dealer only tool to program it to the car if you need a replacement computer. At this point you are looking at $600 for something like a bCM in a new car. I have seen BCMs fail at 6 months. That same car in 10 years you will probably be able to get the BCM at a junkyard for lets say $250 if you can find them.. Then spend $100 for the dealer to program it if they even have the programmer at that point.. But lets say 15 to 20 years when there are less and less functional units and less and less dealers with old programmers...
Even worse is if different trim levels call for different computers... You could have four or five different units for the same year model.
Say you buy a gtr 2010.. I am not 100% on the production numbers but I assume less then 3000 a year since last year was like 2000. With all the lcd displays and computers in the car it will be near impossible to keep the car running in 50 years like the classics of today...
If they didn't make a 'million" Accords id put money on people have trouble finding TCMs for a reasonable price.
I had a co worker spend $1500 for a ECM on a European car.
On most modern cars you need a dealer only tool to program it to the car if you need a replacement computer. At this point you are looking at $600 for something like a bCM in a new car. I have seen BCMs fail at 6 months. That same car in 10 years you will probably be able to get the BCM at a junkyard for lets say $250 if you can find them.. Then spend $100 for the dealer to program it if they even have the programmer at that point.. But lets say 15 to 20 years when there are less and less functional units and less and less dealers with old programmers...
Even worse is if different trim levels call for different computers... You could have four or five different units for the same year model.
Say you buy a gtr 2010.. I am not 100% on the production numbers but I assume less then 3000 a year since last year was like 2000. With all the lcd displays and computers in the car it will be near impossible to keep the car running in 50 years like the classics of today...
If they didn't make a 'million" Accords id put money on people have trouble finding TCMs for a reasonable price.
I had a co worker spend $1500 for a ECM on a European car.
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