Why have cars become so complex?

-In the last century, cars were very simple, usually reliable, easy to modify to your tastes, and more connected to the road. Now, it is very hard to find a new car that has a simple mechanical linkage to the throttle, brakes, steering yadayadayada.... I've driven cars that have zero driving aids and a brand new cars that have some stupid facebook status thing. I just don't get it, isn't half the reasons why more crashes happen are because of driver error because they want that new Volvo that can literally stop itself in traffic? Those systems are going to make people not drive as well because of a false sense of security since 80% of people on the road that I encounter are terrible compared to me despite the fact that I only have a permit. And these systems could become mandatory on new cars as soon as 5 years, which will make the initial costs and future maintenance costs go WAY up.



I prefer to drive a simpler car because I have to be more attentive (that'll make me a better driver) and I prefer the feel of a car that's simple, since I usually don't like everything computerized in a car. I also want to modify the car by adding wheels, maybe a new suspension and put a loud *** stereo in it, which if you do to most modern cars, they'll cause the car to become weird and unreliable, not to mention you'll void your new car warranty.



How do you guys feel about this and when I buy a car with my own money in a few years, should I get an older Subaru low-mileage or something?Because people that don't get enjoyment out of driving find that stuff to be a luxury. And because the media tells them to like it.
Not all driving aids are bad, but they should be optional. Things like Antilock brakes, traction control, "accident avoidance", airbags, etc. should all be strictly options, because not everyone wants them. Most of these were designed with good intentions, but then the government stepped in and, as par for the course, screwed things up.



With that said, I haven't found a vehicle I can't fix, with no education in the subject. No matter how many sensors and systems they put on a car, the engine still runs the same way. It still needs fuel, air and a source of ignition. Clutches are clutches (except with twin clutch sequential type gearboxes). Axles are axles. Brakes are brakes.



As for your take on drivers, I completely agree. I live in Colorado, where it does snow somewhat often in the winter, and I drive a mustang. Not just any mustang, a cobra. Sure, it has antilock brakes, but that's about it. No traction control (except my right foot), manual transmission, power steering (but it still has a steering shaft), there's a cable connected from my pedal to my throttle, oh, and did I mention it's a 330+hp V8? And on ultra-high performance tires, not even snow tires? Yet I get around better than people in 4x4 SUVs and cars with snow tires...



I modify my car as well, and honestly there isn't a car out there that you can't modify without some creativity.
Chinese and Japanese engineers determined to take over the world with cheap and inferior products. Plus if the average person can't fix their car because it looks like NASA technology under the hood, then dealers and mechanics can charge you $90 per hour and 300% mark up on parts made in China that fail out of the box or within a few days.
There is more profit in building cars with lots of gizmo's (more to breakdown) and it stops the average DIYer maintaining their own cars. A few years ago I had a good old Ford Cortina and changed the engine/gearbox clutch etc as well maintain the brakes etc with little mechanical knowledge. Castrol GTX was the standard oil for all cars. Now days you need an engineering degree and a whole host of specialised tools just to get to the spark plugs. Even topping up the engine oil has now become complicated because you need to know the exact oil out of thousands of different types available!