But your lifetime warranty has been extended
Our throwaway culture is partly to blame
1. The life of our goods tends to decrease
According to a Norwegian study,the lifespan of our goods is decreasing annually. Such as, washing machines have decreased from 19.2 to 10.6 years, while ovens have decreased from 23.6 to 14.3 years (Smith, 2025). Our throwaway culture is partly to blame, with a DIY and fix mentality replaced by a desire for the latest features, but thereS a lot more to it than that.
Innovation, lower (relatively) prices, and “planned obsolescence” are at the heart of the process. Innovation has led us to replace tube TVs with flat and larger ones; the prices (relative to income) of household appliances fell so much that they turned radios and the washing machine into mass consumer goods.
However, “planned obsolescence” – a corporate policy associated with greater and faster turnover – is key in the design and economics of modern goods, including automobiles. The difference in service life before and after 1980 is dramatic.
Compare old cars (still drivable) with new ones – the actual service life of the new ones is already under a decade.
Here is a detailed analysis:
1. Cars before 1980 (Iron Age):
- Expected service life: 15-20+ years or 250,000 – 400,000+ km for a well-maintained vehicle.
- Design philosophy: “Built to last”. Priority is strength, maintainability and simplicity.
- Key Features:
- Chassis/Coupe: Thick, corrosion-resistant steel. Many models had a frame construction (separate chassis and body), which allowed parts to be interchanged.
- Mechanics: Simple, naturally aspirated gasoline engines with low power, which are not stressed much. The gears and differentials were extremely durable.
- Electronics: There were practically none. Carburetor, contact ignition, common wires. There was nothing to damage from complex systems.
- corrosion: This was the main “killer” of cars. The mechanical iron lasted for decades, but the body was crumbling with rust.
Specific examples:
- Volvo 240 (1974 production): Legendary for its longevity. Average life over 20 years, many specimens exceed 500,000 km.
- Mercedes-Benz W123 (1976-1985 production): Called “the most reliable car in history.” In Africa and the Middle East they are still used as taxis with 1-2 million km each.
- Soviet / Eastern Block cars (Lada, Volga, Trabant): Primitive, but incredibly repairable. Their life was limited by part quality and corrosion,but mechanically they could last almost forever.
- American Land Yachts (Cadillac, Chevrolet 70s): Large, with simple V8 engines. Today,collector cars are valued precisely because of their strength.
2. Cars after 2000 (especially after 2010) – The era of “electronics and efficiency”:
- Expected service life: Manufacturers design for 10-15 years or 200,000 – 250,000 km under normal use. This does not mean that the car dies after that, but massive…