Just can't get a good basic truck, like the old days!

[ultrarunner]

My 2019 Acadia had that S/S "feature", no way to turn it off. Found a gadget online that plugs into one of the battery cables permanently disabling it. From what I understand, it tricks the car into thinking the battery is low. Little over $100, money well spent.

I dunno. Probably not something you'd want to do if it's still under warranty, mine was bought used and is out of warranty. State is discontinuing vehicle safety & emissions inspections as of Jan '26, so no need to worry there. Does your state check for stuff like this? Ours just plugs into the OBD port and checks for any fail codes.

California still smog checks back to 1976 and the cost nearly doubled recently.

Jay Leno has a Sacramento Bill to bring back the rolling exemption so we will no longer be stuck on 1976.

Very few stations that can test older vehicles remain in some areas of the state.

 

[ultrarunner]

What about fleet utility purchases?

True they all have auto, pwr brakes and steering with A/C

The new trucks I see still have roll up windows and rubber floor mats and mostly mat black trim… with steel wheels.

 

[paulsharvey]

What about fleet utility purchases?

True they all have auto, pwr brakes and steering with A/C

The new trucks I see still have roll up windows and rubber floor mats and mostly mat black trim… with steel wheels.

The majority of fleet and/or utility or government vehicles I've seen over last 5 years, have power windows. I just dont think there is any cost savings by going with manual windows

 

[bdhsfz6]

The majority of fleet and/or utility or government vehicles I've seen over last 5 years, have power windows. I just dont think there is any cost savings by going with manual windows

The last vehicle I saw with crank windows was a 1992 Yugo.

 

[ultrarunner]

I may be out of date as the last fleet I saw awaiting delivery was 2019.

Rows of white pickups with grey interior… no radio and no bright trim work.

Crank windows all but extinct but here is an update…

Crank Windows Are Back

The crank window is back. After leaving production in January, you'll soon be able to buy a car with crank windows again thanks to the Slate Truck.

www.motor1.com

 

[RobertN]

I just dont think there is any cost savings by going with manual windows

Economy of scale to support two platforms? Cheaper in the long run to only support one platform?

 

[rontaki]

The last vehicle I saw with crank windows was a 1992 Yugo.

Yugo, I'll stay.

 

[ultrarunner]

Economy of scale to support two platforms? Cheaper in the long run to only support one platform?

Several of my coworkers in Germany own the same model BMW as mine and all have crank windows as standard in Germany.

I ordered a US model for Munich factory pickup and only power windows to North America.

All my power window regulators have failed at least once… as have the power regulators in my friend’s BMWs here in Oakland.

Not a single friend in Germany has experienced trouble with the BMW manual crank regulators.

The power window failures were enough for several of my friends here to say no more BMW…

When I worked at the dealership there would be an occasional GM power window motor replaced on older vehicles…

 

[rontaki]

California still smog checks back to 1976 and the cost nearly doubled recently.

Jay Leno has a Sacramento Bill to bring back the rolling exemption so we will no longer be stuck on 1976.

Very few stations that can test older vehicles remain in some areas of the state.

They cringe when I show up for a test in my '86 Vanagon - that has a Subaru engine in it. Fortunately it also has the CARB exemption sticker for the conversion.
I think the first Vanagon with a Subaru engine conversion had the license plate "URABUS". That's Subaru backwards.
With the Subie engine in my Vanagon, it can almost keep up with it's own shadow.

I didn't bother to install the updated tach which changes the redline graphics to reflect the much higher rev limit of the Subie engine. It's a cheap thrill to watch the needle go deep into the indicated over-rev zone, knowing the motor is really within its operating range.

 

[rontaki]

Several of my coworkers in Germany own the same model BMW as mine and all have crank windows as standard in Germany.

I ordered a US model for Munich factory pickup and only power windows to North America.

All my power window regulators have failed at least once… as have the power regulators in my friend’s BMWs here in Oakland.

Not a single friend in Germany has experienced trouble with the BMW manual crank regulators.

The power window failures were enough for several of my friends here to say no more BMW…

When I worked at the dealership there would be an occasional GM power window motor replaced on older vehicles…

BMW=Break My Window - - regulator?