Mechanical Engineer Answers Car Questions From Twitter | Tech Support | WIRED

[@dundee2858]

I really wished they asked him some more technical questions cause they got a literal Ivey league professor to explain commen sense stuff. Half of these questions are solved in a single google search

[@ScottMurrayBestFamilyCars]

He has to dumb things down otherwise most people's eyes glaze over.

[@longdang3379]

U can say the same thing about the videos they did with the surgeons and doctors on here. They are all basic questions but its just that more people know about their cars better than their own bodies

[@sawarebel]

And people care about their more cars than care about their bodies)@@longdang3379

[@alexlarson2466]

@@longdang3379 People may understand some mechanical aspects, but most people don't understand mechanical engineering, which involves applied calculus, differential equations and quite a lot of advanced physics. Source, I'm a mechE

[@retrac3147]

I’d say much more than half tbh

[@brklynbomber]

I love how we've all collectively decided to just keep calling it Twitter...

[@arthurwintersight7868]

Did twitter's name change or something? I know they changed the logo to an x, but as far as I'm aware it's still twitter.

[@anonymousshoe842]

​@@arthurwintersight7868the name was changed to "X"

[@arthurwintersight7868]

@@anonymousshoe842 - Lies. 🙂

[@darkomac3663]

I think the official name is "X formerly known as Twitter "

[@LURLINE_]

elon is a brat and we shouldn't bend to his whim just because he owns Twitter lol

[@excalibur05]

I think people can’t differentiate between a mechanic and mechanical engineer

[@rrraven369]

I would believe this to be true in America lmao. Here in Turkey, even your grandma would know the difference.

[@robster7787]

Ehhh its a mixed bag. I was a mechanic before I became a mechanical engineer. So I kinda know how to think like a mechanic when designing things.

[@fernandoaburto7040]

People really think it's just a mechanic with an engineering degree

[@seanmiley6294]

Mechanics correct the deficiencies of design engineers

[@superstarr310]

I feel like you just made that up. Nobody is confusing an engineer and a technician lmao

[@chumleyk]

7:56 also survivor bias. You don't see the millions of older cars anymore because they broke and crushed. So you just see the ones people looked after.

[@jseen9568]

Also, the amount of parts that have been replaced in most 70s cars that are still running. People don't really think about "Oh I replaced this 10 years ago" or "I upgraded the XX a few years ago". All of that adds up. in reality, a car lasting over 100k miles in the 70s was unheard of. Some older people still will tell you to get rid of a car over 100k miles. However today, if a car DOESN'T make it well into the 100k mile range, it's a dud.

[@shane864]

People that think 70's cars are more reliable than cars today are absolute morons to be polite about it. Cars today are absolutely massively better engineered in every conceivable way.

[@conorf8091]

@@shane864nah, my golf 4 will outlive 90% of cars built this year 100%

[@prodbysen]

​@@conorf8091bro a golf 4 is not a 70s car

[@tubbs2132]

On modern oil and fuel there are many engines built in the 60s/70s that will last longer than at least a good chunk of what's built today. The best engines of today are better than the best engines of that time period, but there are some standouts.

[@scottwurzbacher7641]

there was not enough variety of questions in this episode, it was mostly about EV and autonomous vehicles.

[@zacfuller7574]

almost like it’s on purpose😂

[@ukrainium_92]

It’s propaganda if you ask me. Like they want everyone to drive an electric car when there are way better ways to make the earth cleaner such as huge countries like China polluting so much that cars are irrelevant. Or why no one is looking into something like Porsches clean efuel. Instead people are pushing for self driving cars so now actual people are going to be idiots over time because they can’t do anything. It’s already happened with Tesla drivers getting to comfortable driving with auto pilot that normal cars are like trying to speak a different language you don’t know.

[@leviswranglers2813]

Gotta keep pushing the message.

[@hubertlysiak7023]

they cant make the difference between a mechanics and a mechanical engineer

[@The_DASHER]

​@@leviswranglers2813 what message

[@fishingfan1500]

Don't know why people hate on the MX5/Miata, they aren't supposed to be a fast car, they're supposed to be a well handling *fun* drop top. Look at a 60's British sports car... SMH

[@MrWillT]

People who need to overcompensate, perhaps? 🫢

[@wackrapsatire]

nobody whos a car guy/girl would hate on the miata. What else gives you n/a, stick shift, lightness, quirkyness, playfulness, great looks, roadster in summer or winter at a reasonable price and running costs afordable for the average middle class person? Yeah, nobody So those who hate compensate (true!) their inferiority complexes

[@lomfmur]

Literally any 10-20 year old GM product with a LS and Tremec, and that's a lot of cars. Not like 30k for 350-450hp is a bad deal@@wackrapsatire

[@fishingfan1500]

@@lomfmur but do you hate the MX5/Miata?

[@deviouslaw]

Literally any gm of the last 20 years is a lightweight roadster?? Learned something new. ​@@lomfmur

[@blastaFinn]

You can clearly see that he loves his job. Awesome!

[@DrewpyAnimations]

Apples

[@ryboi1337]

​@@DrewpyAnimationsoranges

[@rukus9585]

Really? I got the sense he despises it. Maybe even ashamed of it.

[@kellylyons1038]

I wish i could love my job 😭

[@grandmasterapple6355]

Agreed

[@Bort_86]

I think the perception that 70s cars lasted longer has a lot to do with survivorship bias. As an European, there were quite a few cars that didn’t last in the 70s, early Golfs, Alfasud, Lancia Beta, Fiats that started to rust on the dealer lot..

[@douglasberg2881]

Yeah. when did you last see a 70's car on the streets, being used as a daily. They rusted away long ago. Exhaust system was replaced every other service because rust....

[@tass.1127]

I grew up in the 1980's. all those cars were junk until they got EFI in mid late 80's. We would get stuck EVERYWHERE with vapor lock on carbs and all kinds of things. @@douglasberg2881

[@drzoidberg9758]

Scrappage schemes have had a huge hand in the thinning of the 2nd hand car market, a huge shame really due to the amount that were just left to rot on abandoned airfields and such

[@rainsilent]

70s cars is survivorship bias. 80s and 90s cars not so much so long as they were well engineered and built. 2000s and later a majority of the vehicle is made with a limited cycle use in mind meaning that parts are only designed to last so long. Usually long enough to last somewhere in the 5-10 year ballpark. Why? Because a majority of car buyers hold onto a car for 5-6 years, give or take. Engineering a car to last longer is just throwing money away for the car companies for no real reason.

[@worldisafrick]

@@douglasberg2881 I see them every day. Where do you live that you don't see classic cars? 2002s, GTVs, old Chevy/Ford trucks, they all make great dailies.

[@mondvogel6124]

appreciate his patience and willingness to explain even super basic questions

[@_mickmccarthy]

MX-5/Miata owner here, always happy to see them getting called out for being awesome!

[@MrAminalCrackers]

It's really awesome that more girls are getting into the car scene!

[@_mickmccarthy]

@@MrAminalCrackers How do you mean?

[@MrTmenzo]

They're boring

[@MrTmenzo]

​@_mickmccarthy Miata is known to some as woman vehicles

[@_mickmccarthy]

@MrTmenzo 😂 Amazing, yeah I guess it's not surprising that there are men out there that are so insecure they feel the need to have a "manly" car.

[@peanutbutterisfu]

As a professional auto technician of 20+ years and shop owner now the biggest problem is the owners never changing their oil and waiting till their car does move to bring it in. Not talking about EV’s

[@WoodworkingforAnyone]

Especially these GDi engines

[@IndyAvocadoKid]

FWIW, 10,000 mile synthetic oil change recommendations are probably to blame for that, says the old car guy who’s never had any problems because of 4000 mile oil changes even with synthetic😂jk but liquid crud and maybe even small teeny tiny metal particles don’t help lubricate a car engine for 10,000 miles despite magical modern synthetic oil🤔😒🙄

[@stefthorman8548]

They should've gotten an toyoto, or honda, "change oil every 4k miles"​ @@IndyAvocadoKid

[@lordthicknipples-gt2oq]

Those 15,000 mile oil changes are crazy, the oil must be so good. After all, it lasts the entire life of the engine!

[@ChrisSmith-mi2zo]

And manufacturers telling you to go f yourself if you want to do even basic maintenance without taking it to a dealer. An oil change on something like a BMW is an hour-long process of jumping through ridiculous hoops that have no purpose, with proprietary tools and computer processes, meanwhile on more conventional cars an oil change only takes one wrench and 15 minutes. I have to imagine getting underneath a Bentley probably just gives you a gold-plated padlock and a middle finger.

[@raymorin7726]

Drove a ford with lane assist it was the most terrifying drive of my life, at no time did i feel in control of the car. Anytime you moved slightly in your lane you'd feel the car start to fight you, in winter this is a scary feeling.

[@thespadestable]

There's an off command. Turn it off, and you won't have to worry about it.

[@raymorin7726]

@@thespadestable was a rental thankfully

[@kenyoung976]

I experienced this in a 2018 Subaru Forester. I hated that.

[@tobias-brandt]

There are two basic types: one that "bounces" you back every time you come near a line and one that tries to always keep you in the middle. As long as you have to keep your hands on the steering anyway the second one is just working against you all the time.

[@Badboythatsgenuine]

Most people who have asked these questions aren't real car guys/gals. They are just people who are caught up with what's new and modern by today's standards. Most people proclaiming to be car guys/gals are people who just like a iPhone on wheels... That's just my two cents

[@traviskitteh]

Real question, is it even possible to buy a new car that isn't an "iPhone on wheels," besides the Morgan "Three-Wheeler?" I don't think the Big three even make a car without an infotainment system.

[@xavmanisdabestest]

don't think this is a hot take, no one claimed to be car guys when asking questions. it's just the general public mostly

[@burtburtist]

its ok to be aware that trends are a thing and people don't put that much thought into everything. good take.

[@fabian2006]

Basically a paid comercial by Ford and Tesla for stupid people

[@ethanacton408]

A lot of these were very simple questions that need no more than 10 minutes of searching on google. I hope you actually give this highly educated professional actually questions that cant be solved with a few serches

[@thedubwhisperer2157]

The trouble is that billions seem to believe everything on the internet, whether true or not.

[@hubertlysiak7023]

fr and they only talked about cars

[@ethanacton408]

@hubertlysiak7023 the video is called "answers car questions" not sure what you expected

[@daniloribeiro5372]

Complex questions requires complex answers.

[@fabian2006]

Basically a paid comercial by Ford and Tesla for stupid people

[@Zeke2p9]

Remember guys. When we reach Level 5 autonomous vehicles your car will drive back to the dealership when you miss your passenger subscription. (Leasing and buying cars will not be an option.)

[@redemptionjack4657]

Level 5 will never happen. self driving engineers have stated that themselves.

[@Zeke2p9]

@@redemptionjack4657 Thank God

[@redemptionjack4657]

@@Zeke2p9 I know the second they said auot pilot I calmed down immedatly.

[@Jessev741]

@@redemptionjack4657 lol "never". good luck with that

[@redemptionjack4657]

@Jessev741 If you disagree with me, I can get links to quite a few engineers and MIT engineers who have said Level 5 will never happen.

[@itsnotnotjonathan]

People can't even follow the lines on the road; flying cars will not be a thing until every driver is disciplined. That's something you can't fix in an R&D lab. Also, managing the logistics of sky "roads" would be a nightmare. 😂

[@AngryLink]

Flying cars would probably have to be paired with some massively centralized AR system that each car has to "see" where the lines are in the sky. It'd be an insane undertaking to start this kind of thing.

[@TSERJI]

@@AngryLink They wouldn't necessarily have to "see" any lines or any other cars. The GPS coordinates of the "air roads" could be pre-programmed into the car's flight computer, so the car should theoretically be able to fly 100% autonomously. Just like commercial airliners do today

[@mrmonday42]

The idea is that there wouldn't be a person driving, they would be fully autonomous

[@jvwMUSIC]

lets forget about driving them or even regulating them. imagine commuting with the fuel/energy costs of a plane or helicopter. imagine parking but everyone has the equivalent of a personal helicopter.

[@ScottMurrayBestFamilyCars]

We have flying cars. They're called helicopters.

[@ManuelPerez-vy9xj]

As I see it, a major problem of flying cars is that EVERY traffic accident could be a fatality. Too many people have accidents at ground level. What's going to happen when the sky is full accidents waiting to happen.

[@ashreen4330]

Then only allow autonomous flying cars with system that tracks them like planes. This way collision would be almost impossible since all cars would know each other position.

[@jonathancunningham8739]

Auto Pilot not self driving self driving is not possible auot pilot is that is what many tech experts are now saying.@@ashreen4330

[@Bibyte]

@@ashreen4330 Than we will have "Roads, but more dangerous and expensive" Forget about crashes, lots of people can't change their engine oil or tyres.

[@IndyAvocadoKid]

@@ashreen4330technically you’re correct, but the real reason flying cars will never be a real thing is because nobody can afford a high tech computerized flying car that costs $500,000 😂jk but it’s the financials that’s the problem, unless you can get a 60 year flying car loan😂jk

[@TJlolbagger]

​@@IndyAvocadoKid😂jk😂jk😂jk

[@nykon4693]

LMAO at the Miata question. I just picked up an NC MX 5 and get laughed at by everyone as a hairdresser. Can people also start hating on the NSX to drive down those prices as well. Thanks in advance lollll

[@maestroh2986]

Why do people laugh at Miata's, they're awesome. I have a Z4 and get nothing but great reactions. But there isn't much difference.

[@nykon4693]

@maestroh2986 it's all love. Drivers will always enjoy what they can throw around

[@ferrugemj18]

If you don`t know why Miatas are cool you`re not a car guy.

[@fstap]

Glad you picked the correct answer for Ferrari vs Porsche 💯

[@timmyp34]

Jeremy Clarkson convinced me also, a Ferarri is mostly unusable. Of course Miata Is Always The Answer

[@Cpt_Pong]

6:27 I actually am terribly disappointed, that his answer wasn’t just “Well the way I see it is, when build a drift Maschine, why not do it with style”… but smart guy with great answers!

[@amperformance7998]

Yeah, he was perfectly set up for that response, but I can't say I would catch every single pop culture reference.

[@Inferryu]

Considering the way the question was written, this was quite probably the proper answer, disappointing indeed.

[@davinlaroche3029]

One more question. Why are newer cars much more poorly engineered? For example, maintenance items like lightbulbs, filters and such being so much more difficult to access. Even engine timing chains at the rear of the engine, necessitating engine removal for replacement. My dad was told by someone in the assembly industry that vehicles are engineered to be quickly assembled so as to cut costs, but some of these things just seem stupid.

[@Turbo_TechnoLogic]

It's the age of stupidity. Mainly that's why.

[@Yea_sure111]

Companies realized that if they can sell you a money pit vehicle you’ll give them a lot more money. Very sad to see that this works for cheap companies while saab went out of business because their cars were too reliable and nobody had to spend money to fix them

[@Monaleenian]

It’s because the accessibility of lightbulbs and filters are low priorities for consumers when deciding what car to buy and manufacturers are aware of this and so optimise for other features.

[@steveww07]

@@Monaleenian yes

[@Dallas867]

Think about one thing an older vehicle can achieve that a newer vehicle can’t. Acceleration, top speed, comfort, efficiency, towing capacity, SAFETY. New cars do everything better. Saying newer cars are engineered worse because you need to remove a couple more bolts to access something is what is actually stupid, and you should appreciate that there are people working to constantly improve them.

[@ThatEFFINGGuy395]

Miata daily driver here. Miatas have always been cool, fun to drive cars. It's just that most people are now just starting to realize it lol.

[@aquaticnstuff7666]

how many miles jw, I have a prelude daily driver

[@ThatEFFINGGuy395]

@@aquaticnstuff7666 160k lol

[@miguelsilva5418]

This was awesome. I hope we get him back soon! Dude looks like he actually knows his thing, and it's always great to see someone showing why they are at the level they are.

[@mccanlessdesign]

Still daily-driving a '91 Accord coupe with 320K - just the nicest car to drive. Soon to get its third paint job - only thing it needs.

[@benruss4130]

1993 Accord with 350k here,

[@mccanlessdesign]

@@benruss4130 Brother-man! Couple years ago, I also had a V-12 MB coupe, and a '59 MB rally car - and the Accord was still nicer and my go-to to drive around town! Were you original owner of the '93 (my brother bought mine new)? I've found a guy on EBay that puts together complete AC retrofit kits - so I'll do that before hot weather - hard to get the banned refrigerant anymore!

[@benruss4130]

@@mccanlessdesign nah, a friend bought it in Canada and then brought it to the US. My approach with the AC has been don't fix what ain't broken and it's working so far.

[@sachamm]

The average car in the 1970s lasted ~100,000 miles. Today, the average car lasts... 200,000 miles. It's not true that older tech is better. It is true that older is easier to maintain in some ways.

[@jvwMUSIC]

not to mention survivorship bias. even discounting all the poorly designed vehicles that haven't stuck around, all the classic cars that are around today are because someone either stashed it away or is constantly doing upkeep.

[@willofthemaker]

Seriously. It is clear when you think about just how rare it is to see cars broken down on the side of the road these days.

[@zebrahunter6956]

Thank you

[@hi-ld4gg]

​@@jvwMUSIC yep, old cars need a stupidly high amount of upkeep compared to modern cars

[@mfennell70]

I'm assuming the questioner was not alive in the 70s. How many Vegas do you see today? Pintos? Chevettes? Lots of disposable garbage.

[@williamparker2922]

personally you just can't replace the drive feel of a manual miata. no way to replace that drivers feel with an electric alternative.

[@jessem9880]

youve never driven an electric torque monster then lol plus the weight is super low so it feels glued to the ground/ barely any body roll

[@enoraskye6020]

Another thing to remember with older cars vs newer cars, there is more in a newer car that can "total" it, meaning cost of repair exceeds value of the vehicle. Crumple zones and air bags being huge sfety features that save lives, are also much more costly to repair or replace. Air bags can go off at fairly low speed that may not result in a lot of physical damage, but having them go off will most likely total a car that is more than a few years old.

[@stupidas9466]

Problem with your theory is that an older car can be written off with very little damage. Almost any accident requiring repairs and bodywork will write off an older vehicle due to the cost of labour alone. "Safety features", computer modules, etc don't even need to be considered.

[@Gonecheenin]

​@stupidas9466 I have had to argue with a few different insurance companies over this. One company wanted to total my Jeep over $1700 in damage- I told them to go pound salt and fixed it myself.

[@AisuruMirai]

Have you ever watched videos of classic cars in crash tests? They total themselves just fine without airbags.

[@Gonecheenin]

@AisuruMirai That's a funny comment since modern vehicles have engineered in crumple zones to make them collapse easier since older cars were built so strong the vehicle often survived better than the occupants did.

[@FordHoard]

Yep. Older cars hold up better in low speed accidents or fender benders than new cars.

[@Mafuskas]

This man is an excellent speaker and presenter. I really enjoyed listening to him, even when he explained things I already knew.

[@fabian2006]

Basically a paid comercial by Ford and Tesla for stupid people

[@chrisosborne4731]

7:56 Another thing to consider is survivorship bias. The adage of "things are not built like they used to" often evokes this bias when in reality the surviving technology makes up a tiny fraction of the total. That said, I do agree that modern cars are nearly impossible to maintenance yourself due to increasing complexity and increasing complexity can result in more ways for things to go wrong.

[@leeprice133]

Yeah, the fact is that the *vast* majority of 2022 cars are still on the road. The vast majority of 1970s cars were rusting in a scrap heap decades ago.

[@tomlxyz]

​@@leeprice1332022 is just two years ago

[@JoshWhitford91]

On the point of manufacturer accountability, if an airplane crashes while under autopilot, its still the pilot's responsibility. "Pilot in command" is the phrase they use regardless of if the autopilot is on or not. Imo the same rules should apply to self driving cars. One person in that car should always be acting as "pilot in command".

[@spookyweeb5563]

pilots are trained for many thousands of hours. 200 could be considered a long time when it comes to cars.

[@CapinWinky]

The funny thing about this is that Teslas are level 2, but all news coverage is talking about every Tesla crash like a cross between a robot uprising and Elon personally trying to kill people for sport.

[@nmgg6928]

Auto pilot in planes does not mean the plane is flying itself. Once the plane hits cruising altitude auto pilot just takes over watching more menial settings and information while the pilot is still engaged with making sure of and directing safe flight with the major systems

[@KindredBrujah]

Right, but you will literally not be able to take over in time to do anything in most circumstances with a self-driving car. If there are a bunch of warning lights or so on, then sure. Aeroplane pilots are generally not grabbing the wheel to swerve the plane around an obstacle, so the autopilot isn't designed to account for that.

[@PabloGonzalez-hv3td]

​@@nmgg6928Many different levels of autopilot / automation in aircraft. Down to landing itself.

[@thebastm8]

Love it! Let's have more episodes of this! 10:48 So happy to see this topic being discussed. Wrote my master's thesis on this subject with Polestar - it's a true rabbit-hole that we unfortunately still lack a lot of research in.

[@averyjohnson8605]

Another thing that people need to consider if they plan on doing road trips with electric vehicles is that there are far more gas stations than there are charging stations and that you actually need to plan out your route more heavily in advance because of this. You don't want to get stuck in the middle of nowhere Utah on a mountain somewhere with no charging station nearby. Especially if the weather is bad. It can also take several hours to fully charge your vehicle which can be a severe issue if you're facing an emergency situation. Also not everywhere is safe, people aren't always good. So do you really want to spend several hours in a unfamiliar and potentially dangerous location waiting for your car to charge? These are questions you have to ask if you plan to travel far distances with an electric vehicle. For many, it's easier, more comfortable, and safer to purchase a hybrid car that can help save on gas and be a bit more environmentally friendly when traveling long distances.

[@ankitmishra5242]

Being an engineer, I love when an engineer speaks about something so enthusiastically

[@JSchroederee]

I also would like to point out that a very low percentage of 70s cars have survived. Their question about how long modern cars can be maintained when they become classics is valid. Modern Parts are more difficult to repair than in the past. However, most new cars will last more miles/years with less maintenance than a car in the 70s did

[@user-yd7me7ns1o]

CVT transmissions will put that to the test. 50,000-100,000 miles with prefect maintenance records. Automatic 7-12 speeds also aren't prefect. Manual transmissions are a thing of the past.

[@JSchroederee]

@user-yd7me7ns1o I mean my parents' lumina back in the day had automatic transmission failure at 80kmi and my brother's stratus failed at 20kmi. And those were simple old school

[@thisissparta9]

@@user-yd7me7ns1o Automatic transmission reliability isn't tied to the number of available gears it has. ZF 8 gear transmissions are far more reliable than older Getrag 6 gear transmissions for example. It all comes down to how the engineers managed to design the gearbox internals and also how often the gearbox is serviced with frequent oil changes and replacing the occasional failing electrical solenoid.

[@TheUndeadslayer221]

That software bit is technically a lie; Once a car has software, an update isn't usually necessarily. Louis Rossman explained it better. Adding internet to cars was a grave mistake.

[@sblack53]

13:06 long-haul trucking should absolutely not be a thing anymore, use electric trains with wires to carry goods and then have the containers transferred to short haul trucks for last mile delivery if the recipient doesn’t have a spur off the main line. This is the best of all outcomes as it both mitigates oil consumption and battery production.

[@raystinger6261]

7:56 - Here's the question most people wanted to see on this video. And he gave a very reasonable answer without ever mentioning about "planned obsolescence" or "consumer engineering". It's actually very straightforward!

[@Mr.Engine993]

It is and it is the first answer that should be given. Computerization and increasing complexity reduce the longevity of cars. That said, planned obsolescence is real, most obvious on smartphones, but everywhere in general

[@IansUToob57]

My '64 Dart hit 300,000 miles, and was still running when I sold it in 1982. Imagine that. :D

[@IndyAvocadoKid]

Heh, old all metal car with no electronics plus no computer aided design to make sure some things fail 6 months out of warranty so repairs are needed😂jk but cars were really overbuilt in the old days, no computer aided design meant engineers just had to guess when a part might fail, now they pretty much know when a part will fail…🤔🙄😒

[@adamf663]

My father's mercury comet needed an engine overhaul at 900 miles. Small samples aren't statistically meaningful.

[@adamf663]

@@IndyAvocadoKid as long as you didn't mind replacing the point and plugs every 15k miles and adjusting them every 5k miles.

[@SophiaAphrodite]

HOw many miles per rebuild? No engines or transmissions made then last that long without a rebuild. NONE OF THEM. SO be sure to be honest and not make things up.

[@lordthicknipples-gt2oq]

​@@SophiaAphroditeJust because you don't want to believe it, that doesn't mean it isn't true. My car had 289,122 miles on the odometer when the engine chucked a rod out the block. Original engine and transmission. It would've lasted longer if I didn't beat on it so hard; and that's nothing, a lot of semi trucks have made it to 1 million miles without an engine rebuild. If your cars aren't lasting over 200,000 miles, consider more frequent oil changes and being a little nicer to the car.

[@tommyjones6866]

GREAT answer to the Trolley Problem question. The Trolley Problem proposes an extreme hypothetical in which either answer results in definitive loss of life. Just reject the premise. Follow "duty of care" and "mitigating damages" that are already in place. Do your best to just stop the car.

[@kwellerfolds]

Didn't realize John Lithgow moonlights as an Engineer!

[@rukus9585]

That's his day job, actually. He moonlights as an actor.

[@ScottMurrayBestFamilyCars]

Do not go gentle into that good night. Rage, Rage against the dying of the light...

[@WoodworkingforAnyone]

Same color hair and that's it

[@Stranger--]

"Human driving errors, to the programming erros" very well said

[@Justin-hz8bh]

I like this guy; invite him back for a part II at some point. Also would like to ask him how to mechanical engineers come up with a part to solve a problem. What influences the design?

[@hubertlysiak7023]

good question

[@maxmouse3]

I was waiting for this one, very cool! Can't wait for a part 2 also! 💪🏻

[@danbufford8848]

The miata was always cool.... its been the most raced vehicle in the world for decades. Its literally the most loved and enjoyed racecar ever.

[@hominahominahomina1]

I want at least two more videos about this topic!

[@Napert]

9:12 A software tester walks into a bar. Runs into a bar. Crawls into a bar. Dances into a bar. Flies into a bar. Jumps into a bar. And orders: a beer. 2 beers. 0 beers. 99999999 beers. a lizard in a beer glass. -1 beer. "qwertyuiop" beers. Testing complete. A real customer walks into the bar and asks where the bathroom is. The bar goes up in flames.

[@lc8759]

So many of the underlying issues show just how amazing human brains are. So much engineering just to create a parallel system!

[@AhuraMzd]

Omg his very passionate , positive vibe , what kind of professor is this ? How come I never get this kind of professor when I’m studying !!!!?

[@70stastic]

Finally, an honest assessment of the longevity of vintage cars. The '70s are an ideal time for long lived cars as many low-maintenance components were introduced. Electronic ignition, reliable drivetrains, and many other refinements were standardized throughout the 1970s. The plastics in modern cars are short-lived and the computer modules are overcomplicated and not robust enough to last. Old cars just keep going with basic maintenance and occasional small repairs with basic hand tools

[@fabian2006]

Basically a paid comercial by Ford and Tesla for stupid people

[@TW748]

I still find it amazing that an average person with some experience can drive a car in a snow storm, encounter things never seen before and know how to react to nearly any situation, but all the computers in the world would be absolutely crippled by that exact situation. The human brain for the win!

[@knrz2562]

Man vs machine!

[@timothybaker3303]

how is that amazing though? it's only because of your ignorance, no offense. computers are so basic at the lowest levels of engineering (AND and OR gates made of transistors) that is flat out remarkable that computers can do any of what they can do... technology is increasing at an exponentionally exponential rate. the transistors will get there (yall beter start kissing some robot overlord but)

[@Z3NITH_]

@@timothybaker3303 Your comment makes no sense and individual transistors have nothing to do with the system of relations that is machine learning.

[@hi-ld4gg]

Because you can't program for every situation. With actual artificial intelligence, not just LLMs, that'll be a thing

[@geordi-gabrielrenauddumoul449]

​@@timothybaker3303Bro don't talk when you don't know what you are talking about. Computers are the most complex man made machines

[@xtruekingmeliodasx]

5:08 tf you mean. Miata’s have always been cool if you were a true car enthusiast

[@dielaughing73]

Yeah just because most people didn't know it, doesn't mean it hasn't always been true

[@einundsiebenziger5488]

Miatas* (plural, no apostrophe)

[@matthewgonzalez5820]

@@einundsiebenziger5488 bro don’t be a nerd

[@John_Hoover]

One thing he left out is electric vehicles are HORRIBLY inefficient in cold climates. Gas/diesel powered vehicles are really the only option in some areas.

[@redemptionjack4657]

As well as bio fuel and propane, those are also good.

[@Lawrence330]

Slight correction: electric cars are more efficient. Gas/diesel engines rarely crack 30% efficiency, and even the best stationary plants can only achieve mid-50% efficiencies. Electric motors typically see efficiencies in the 90s, though small charging and discharging losses occur. Since this comment was about heat, however: Electric heat, i.e. turning electricity into warmth via resistive heaters is technically 100% efficient, all of the energy is converted into heat. It's just wasteful. Heat pumps, such as the one in the Model Y, can provide 2-5x the heat energy for a given electrical input, however, rendering this argument moot. The real limiting factor with electric cars continues to be energy density of the battery, which is generally equivalent to about 3 gallons of gasoline. Engineering Explained has a couple of great videos explaining the math if you're curious to learn more.

[@Redstoner2b2t]

ah yes the energy density = efficiency, classic

[@fireblow44]

​​@@Lawrence330you, you just missed the whole point of the original comment didn't you? He was talking about COLD CLIMATE. Not electrical heat. Not efficiency in general. But instead about electrical efficiency in a cold climate.

[@richardryley3660]

Gas and diesel lose efficiency in cold climates too. You don't notice it as much because 1) gas vehicles waste a lot of energy turning fuel into heat anyway, so it gets to the ideal operating temperature much faster, and 2) you can use that heat to keep the passengers warm without having to use even more energy. Drivers also need to do more to precondition an EV in cold weather. It's not automatic like preheating an ICE engine.

[@oneworldfamily]

Someone in one of my neighbouring streets, here in Sheffield, UK, has a Delorean. Sometimes I'll divert my running route just so i can run past it. Makes me feel happy seeing it ☺️

[@jsquared1013]

I'm surprised he didn't mention the key feature of the Miata, that it's LIGHTWEIGHT! Yes, the 50/50 weight distribution is correct, but there are other cars with similar weight distribution and chassis dynamics (C5 and later Corvettes, BMW M3, etc) but the Miata's defining factor is how light it is. It is generally about 1,000 lbs lighter than a normal car. Roughly 35% lighter, in percentage terms. That has a HUGE effect on the responsiveness of the controls, and the feedback the car gives the driver. A further benefit is that it can get away with smaller tires and smaller brakes and etc, since the lighter weight means less wear on those components, making consumables less expensive. Anyone that's a proper "car enthusiast" has always known how good the Miata is.

[@TheAmbientUniverse]

"Why are Miatas cool now" is the least car enthusiast question I've ever heard. They've always been cool.

[@jessem9880]

must be 20 or younger to think thats true, if u drove a 94 miata new you wouldve gotten roasted beyond belief

[@meade6291]

A better answer for the longevity of 70s vs new cars question: 70s cars don't outlast modern cars. A 70s car, on average, lasted 100k miles before a serious breakdown. Modern cars are expected to last 200k. You have fallen victim to a survivorship bias. There are always outliers. Those are the 70s cars you see, or they've had major rebuilds.

[@ChristianStout]

The question askers sound like they've never left San Francisco.

[@Xyy2387]

Miatas have always been cool. It's a road legal go-kart and we dig it.

[@Magnarmis]

Before we even watch my guess is that older engines don't have nearly as tight of tolerances. This causes far more energy to be lost as heat. However the engine can keep running with larger margins of wear and tear.

[@randomprojectsusa5196]

My 94 ranger just ticked over 150k miles and still going strong. Almost all original parts!

[@brajandzoganovic8565]

I like it how you still call it twitter

[@UltraProchy]

Elon, as the marketing and branding expert he is, surely realizes how badly X works as a name. Surely he wouldnt want to destroy a decade old brand basically carved into internet history. Surely he has enough smart people with a spine around him to tell him that is not a good idea. I know its more of a youtube algorithm thing to have twitter in the name but i hope the editor does it a bit out of spite as well, because i for sure would.

[@Bulldogg6404]

One of my recent jokes I've been telling: "I visited the new Twitter website the other day, but I wasn't able to close it. Clicking the big X just took me back to the homepage!"

[@ryboi1337]

Mfs really malding over a name even after all these months 💀. Call it whatever you want. Use it or don't. No one cares

[@rukus9585]

@@UltraProchy Don't call me Shirley.

[@TaalK100]

I will never stop calling it twitter😂

[@eternalbeing3339]

Someone with brains. Mechanical engineers get paid very well, and it is for a reason.

[@rukus9585]

debatable

[@jonathancunningham8739]

Yeah his info seems really out of date.@@rukus9585

[@absolutelyretardedskeletor]

​@@rukus9585agree

[@itwoznotme]

you aint worked as an engineer then.

[@Mr.Engine993]

7:56 there is also planned obsolescence that can be noticed in any kind of product, warranty ends and everything breaks down so that you have to buy a new one, that makes them more money

[@SiqueScarface]

7:55 This is also due to Selection Bias. Countless 1970ies vehicles are no longer existent and long taken apart in a scap yard. Only the few vehicles with exceptional build quality and careful owners maintaining them are still on the road. What we see today is those few high quality, high maintenance vehicles, not the millions of rust buckets carelessly driven and barely kept road legal.

[@Rhynri]

The better answer for solar powered EVs is that modern cars are huge and relatively inefficient. If you have a super efficient car design you can add solar and get useful range, like Aptera is doing.

[@cody4516]

100% I hope aptera carves out a niche in the market and solar tech continues to improve. Really like the concept

[@Rhynri]

@@cody4516 that’s my hope as well. I’d really like to see more car designs that truly leverage the strengths of EVs are aren’t afraid to break the paradigm.

[@ouch1011]

This still isn’t true. The Aptera has much less useful surface area for solar panels, so even though it’s more efficient, it probably wouldn’t get enough solar energy to even run the AC system. Not to mention the Aptera is basically useless as a car. It’s more like a motorcycle. Single passenger vehicle at best.

[@davidmilhouscarter8198]

0:51 Engineering Explained made a video on solar powered cars. Basically, the energy cannot be replenished quick enough.

[@KenanTurkiye]

5:28 that 50/50 weight balance is like your favorite sneakers that give you amazing feeling, comfort, grip and you want to wear them everywhere, to your wedding, in the shower, when swimming and on and on :))

[@ericgelinow]

A spoiler has the job of throwing further away, the dirty, drag inducing air vortexes immediately behind a vehicle, it’s also explains why on hatchbacks, the spoiler is high up and why on sedans it is on the lip of the trunk lid. What was being described in the video was also a wing, just an inverted one for the reasons described. People unfortunately, commingle both spoiler and wing, and they serve a different purpose. There’s also a very limited angle of attack on a spoiler, because after a certain point, it is in Wayne territory, and a completely different function

[@invox9490]

I really think we should develop better interchangeable batteries. That would deal away with all the charging times that are keeping this techonology to expanding faster and further.

[@fabian2006]

Basically a paid comercial by Ford and Tesla for stupid people

[@fabian2006]

Basically a paid comercial by Ford and Tesla for stupid people

[@roguedogx]

1:32 actually did the math for this at one point and found that if you want to make a solar powered car you could use in traffic I believe the math mean that you'd need about 4 square meters of solar panels to move something that weighs about 500 kg with driver at an acceptable rate in daily traffic. to make something like that do highway speeds you'd need a super smooth body and basically no frontal area. possible, but very very hard to pull off, and that's before you get to regulations.

[@michaelsantopolo]

it’s being done in San Diego right now by Aptera. But not in the conventional way you may be thinking. Check em out.

[@roguedogx]

@@michaelsantopolo fully aware of aptera. While their system is impressive it's not designed for continuous use. Yes it can charge to the number of miles per day most people commute under ideal conditions, it still can't really drive indefinitely on solar alone. It's still a car that will most likely need charging, but it is extremely efficient so that is nice and impressive.

People are not aware how much energy is needed to fuel a car.

[@Scotty-vs4lf]

@ or they think solar is more powerful than it really is

[@theresabu3000]

I think things will change - you'll soon get parking lots that have a solar roof and charging ability. But also hopefully more diverse traffic modes - as cities invest in public transportation, bicycle lanes... So we are less dependent on cars in the future. But I still think the Aptera is viable - for not far or infrequent longer trips. Car is maybe not the right word though - because it's a small aerodynamic three wheeler.

[@SpiritofTexas1590]

Not going to mention pre determined obsolescence, huh? Manufacturing something to wear out at a specific time to increase sales.

[@georgerogers1166]

Always been the case.

[@SpiritofTexas1590]

@georgerogers1166 No, it hasn't it really only started with the light bulb funny enough.

[@georgerogers1166]

@@SpiritofTexas1590 Candles had the same issue.

[@SpiritofTexas1590]

@georgerogers1166 you're gonna have to explain that in more depth to make sense. Mine is the first documented event of a mass-produced item having planned obsolescence incorporated into its design

[@IndyAvocadoKid]

@@SpiritofTexas1590heh, lights bulbs lasted too long back then, one even became a legend because it’s over a century old now😂

[@chris24hdez]

They may be more durable, but having seen the safety tests, reconsideration is advisable.

[@brie1987]

Answering the thumbnail question: Miata’s have always been cool. I wanted one when they came out.

[@RealBelisariusCawl]

My initial hypothesis as to the question posed by the title is a significant amount of survivorship bias.

[@ADMINM-ld7vu]

That’s very true! I bet if you look at it statistically, old cars don’t really last longer than new ones, we just think they do

[@RealBelisariusCawl]

@@ADMINM-ld7vu there’s something to be said for the reliability of analog tech - computers are finicky as we all know - but although that may play a PART in their longevity, I still wager survivorship bias is the majority of the reason. 👍

[@kifferbuddies8622]

the maintainably actually also has a big impact on the ecological footprint. Modern cars are often "repaired" by replacing a whole module consisting of many parts instead of only the broken part. That creates more waste but is more costefficent for the manufacturer but also more expensive for consumers. Why? Because companies love money.

[@Nun195]

Yes, but cars and their parts are highly recyclable, most pieces of a car don’t end up in a land fill.

[@fabian2006]

Basically a paid comercial by Ford and Tesla for stupid people

[@ChrisSmith-mi2zo]

​@@Nun195No, they end up in junkyards where rain washes all kinds of elements and carcinogens into water supplies. Same reason that modern brake pads don't contain as much metal as they used to, or why lead-free ammunition is required for hunting in some areas. Plus all the emissions involved in recycling materials like plastic, which is often comparable to the amounts released in the manufacture of new components anyway.

[@X-3K]

bro is showing us his time machine like it's not causing a paradox

[@red62]

I was looking at that thing too!!

[@black_flag2136]

The best idea for solar panel is not charging the high voltage battery and use solar panel to run Air conditioning and charging 12v battery!

[@vaclav_fejt]

The MX-5 has always been cool. British roadster concept with Japanese reliablility.

[@Loucfr]

1970s cars are not outlasting new cars. People took care of their cars back then. Now people go 20k miles without an oil change and run around with leaking all sorts of fluids, busted bushings, ball joints, and mounts for years.

[@Rockstar-vs1nb]

i think a diesel-electric drive conversion for the Toyota Landcruiser would make an obcene amount of money in Australia. it could save on fuel and improve performance both on and off road.

[@aygwm]

So you can get stuck in the outback with a flatlined battery and perish? No thanks…

[@Rockstar-vs1nb]

@@aygwm that would depend on how well the install is done. with either a massive integrated battery similar to the tesla or an array of car/truck batteries. with it being a dedicated diesel electric drive it would have a high quality alternator to make sure there is minimal chance of failure.

[@toyota420xp]

A Subaru Outback has a hole drilled all the way through the roof rack on either side and just that added one MPG to the car

[@nycfan4756]

I worked at car dealerships in the early 70’s. After 2 years the majority of car bodies would be rusted out. You had to have cars tuned up every 6 months and the exhaust systems had to be replaced regularly. The cars back then compared to those today were pieces of junk.

[@thejonathandoan]

15:24 I think the biggest reason we're not all driving electric cars yet is because of the automotive industry itself - there's still tons of gasoline-powered cars out there. There are many industries involved: gasoline, oil, engines, engine components, gas stations, mechanics, etc. Each industry has tons of money invested over so many years. They don't want their income to go away!!

[@m1key_92]

Also there are people who love gasoline powered cars because of the sound, they like working on their cars, they like modifying them aesthetically and functionally

[@DownWithBureaucracy]

One issue with flying drone cars: the noise. Take a small to medium drone that can maybe carry a decent sized camera, and consider how much noise it makes. Scale that up to carry even a single adult person, let alone multiple people plus cargo, and you get a lot more noise and a much larger power requirement. Not impossible, but another barrier to be overcome first

[@einundsiebenziger5488]

Not to overcome but to scrap the idea entirely. Imagine just ten percent of road cars being replaced by taxi drones and the increase of deadly accidents as an aerial vehicle crashing most likely won't result in a simple fender bender.

[@unclecreepy4185]

If the Miata (or any car) has a 50/50 weight ratio to start, how does the weight of a large driver (and perhaps full tank of gas) affect the ratio? Or is it negligible? Or something like a 53/47 ratio feels the same as a 50/50 ratio?

[@WoodEe-zq6qv]

I can't speak to other cars but the Miata's 50/50 weight distribution is calculated with fluids in the car and with a driver in the seat. To minimize the effect of the gas tank losing weight as it is emptied, the tank is put in the middle of the car (roughly). On some cars a driver's weight may be negligible, but another reason the Miata is such a good car is because it's very light weight so the driver's weight does matter. What Mazda did to balance the car for the driver was put the intake manifold, coolant reservoir and battery in the passenger side.

[@unclecreepy4185]

Thank you for that answer.

[@dampaul13]

In most cases, it doesn't really matter, as the manufacturer takes more of this into account. In extreme cases, like with Manthey Racing (a tuning company now owned by Porsche), they will take into account your weight, if you plan to have a passenger, driving style, track/track conditions, etc. before making adjustments to aspects to get the most out of your Porsche.

[@xpendabull]

The more I learn about self driving cars the more I realize you can't outsmart human stupidity.

[@positronicfeed]

You can't explain to anyone why Miatas are cool now, because Miatas have always been cool.

[@chandupadissanayaka9964]

I loved the questions about the mechanical side of cars.

[@robster7787]

You really didn’t need a Stanford Mechanical Engineer to answer these basic questions. Any M.E. with a P.E. Certificate can answer these.

[@jonathancunningham8739]

Most car companies at the moment seem to have given up on side cameras if the camera breaks good bye safety honestly a stupid idea.

[@hi-ld4gg]

Glad someone said this

[@jonathancunningham8739]

@hi-ld4gg Glade you agree and I am glade to find some one else who sees the danger of side view cameras.

[@hubertlysiak7023]

why would it break

[@suzuplaza]

The Volkswagen XL1 had it and it had over 260 mpgs

[@Bibyte]

@@hubertlysiak7023 What's easier to stop working? A stationary body of plastic and mirror or a whole electrical mechanism of cameras and screens?

[@deadatlast]

It sounds like self driving cars need at least level 3 automation systems to be safe. Otherwise drivers just aren't paying enough attention and they become hazards on the road.

[@JiorujiDerako]

It's also a marketing thing. Too many people ignore the warnings about what _level_ of self-driving their cars have, and too many companies would rather not specify "but only if your hands are on the wheel at all times" in the brochure, so you end up with people thinking they _can_ just let the car drive itself while they zone out, because that's what the marketing implied was possible. And unfortunately the marketing is often misleading on purpose because they know full honesty won't be as appealing.

[@SaintBuick]

It's been shown that more driving aids encourage worse driving.

[@wackrapsatire]

self driving cars are wet bladerunner-type technocracy dreams for middle aged men. Never gonna happen large scale.

[@jonathancunningham8739]

Honestly self driving cars are to us what flying cars were in the 1950's they won't happen anytime soon and Waymo is facing tons of legal issue honestly self driving is all but dead at the moment.

[@ouch1011]

The cars are perfectly safe, it’s the drivers that are unsafe. Put the blame in the correct place.

[@marinlos]

I'm happy to see he's an Ubuntu Linux user 😁👍🏼 3:00

[@jnieto490]

Im a car enthusiast so im not the biggest fan of soulless EVs but for the everyday commuter in a city or suburb I think EVs are perfect but diesel is still great for long distance towing and maybe ICE vehicles can stay a small niche for enthusiast 🤷‍♂️

[@Alorio-Gori]

Really love this Prof !

[@msmoniz]

Some supposed "car enthusiasts" asking why a Miata is a cool car in a very pejorative way, don't even realize how much ignorance they are revealing about themselves and their lack of knowledge about what makes an objectively great car (especially when it comes to handling and driver/machine connection). They clearly are not car enthusiasts, but just speed junkies.

[@ivoartursskrivelis2123]

Not going to lie, the question "why isn't everyone driving electric cars" kind of got on my nerves. Not everyone wants a silent, boring computer on wheels with no character. The fact that you can't do much to EV's tuning wise or just changing parts or fixing issues without a degree in electronics etc. And have to bring it to dealership or wait for software update. Like the lack of hands on that you can have with EV makes me feel like I don't even own it but am just renting it. For that reason alone I'll always chose a regular car over EV. There's plenty of people for whom car is more than just means of transportation.

[@ukrainium_92]

If people really wanted to make cars “green” they would: - make a efuel to keep current gas running cars on the road but have them cleaner - push that you have a right to repair your own car without it being so hard to operate on so you don’t need to scrap it - realize that you can never replace diesel (because there is no research in efuel) - and think for two seconds about the grid

[@suzuplaza]

remember tesla can charge you thousands of dollars to "unlock" a sports settings to have a faster top speed. It was always there in the car you just have to pay to unlock it.

[@busetgadapet]

@@suzuplaza yeah tesla is THE ONLY ev manufactur

[@WoodworkingforAnyone]

​@@ukrainium_92biodiesel has been around for a long time.

[@IndyAvocadoKid]

@@ukrainium_92good points, plus making EVs that don’t cost over $40,000 would be good too, because that used to be sports car money not long ago, when EVs were economy/commuter type vehicles, not nitro fueled dragsters…

[@unclecreepy4185]

I’m not going to pretend to know all the laws or the future of what regulations will be, but to me, if a driverless car does something to warrant a ticket or otherwise injures someone,, the owner of the car should be responsible the same way an owner of a dog that does something to warrant a ticket or otherwise injured someone is responsible. You can’t give a dog a ticket, but animals are considered properly and the owner is responsible. So a car would be someone’s property they’re responsible for. The fact that Mercedes wants to take responsibility for crashes doesn’t mean all manufacturers have to take on that responsibility.

[@crash86ed]

Should Boeing be responsible for the 737 MAX 8 crashes?

[@leojei]

This being a general car video is better than most EV feasibility study videos done by news outlet out there.

[@elemenopi55]

miatas have always been very popular to certain crowds ("people who own that car love that car").