Auto Modify

[Eric.B]

I'm running 1.19.3, the newest update. Everything has been running smoothly, and I like all the new features that were added in, and I haven't had a crash in atleast 2 versions

Good to hear!

The problem with upgrading now is that it takes too long to redesign parts. If I create an engine, and then wait 4-5 years, that engine's rating will be almost useless.

So the ratings are declining while designing in late game? I have not noticed that. If so then this is a bug.

I don't really see the point of an age penalty in a lot of cases, as well. Let's say I build a 5.7L V8 with 400hp, 400lb/ft of torque. A good 10 years later, that engine should still be good, because that will always be a great output.
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If the game were more in depth (like Automation) I could see a use for an age penalty, like using a cast iron engine head, then when you're able to use aluminum, the rating drops, but because the game doesn't go that in depth, the age penalty doesn't really make sense. If anything, the ratings should rise over time.

The reasons for the age penalty is:

1) It's realistic. Very few people go into a dealership looking to buy old technology/vehicle designs. I don't believe there are many people going to a dealerships now looking for new car with a hand-cranked car and a carburetor. (Excluding lawn mowers of course.)

2) Prevents someone from building an engine/chassis/gearbox/vehicle in 1900 and then using it for the rest of the game. This used to happen before the age penalty was introduced. It doesn't matter how much the ratings declined, you could still sell a 1900 model in 2010 if the AI bankrupt or you bought them out.

3) Just because we don't have a 7-figure budget like Automation doesn't mean things like "cast iron heads" etc are not simulated. They're just abstracted through things like the material slider. In any case you designed something in 1930s with top sliders, you're using cast iron, if it's 1970 and you're using top sliders, you're making something aluminum.

It is more expensive to modify the engines, and it usually throws me into a 1 turn deficit because I click it so much until it just doesn't raise the stats at all, but I don't see the point of having to redesign a part entirely.

Sounds to me more like spamming of the modification system. Thus why it's taking up all your time. It's not designed to be used over and over and over all at once. It's more to prolong the life of the component. A once per year thing. Perhaps I should put some sort of time limit on it.

For example, you can release a partwith only so much reliability, then over time as issues pop up, the reliability rating should rise as your engineers fix the issues.

This is what the modification system is for. Your engineers making new, improved versions of older parts.

It wouldn't make sense to drop the reliability over time, unless you're using an engine designed in 1920 in 1980, then it would make sense.[quote]

The reason for the drop is that technology changes over time. New technology (or improvements on old technology) typically makes older technology less reliable. A 1980s fuel injector is the same part as a 1990s fuel injector, however the 1990s injector is much more reliable.

These changes are not automatically applied to old engines. We want you to build/modify/redesign your engines, creating new versions of them even if they're in the same family. Much how it's done in real life.

[quote]But I like keeping things simple and sticking to a few tried and tested parts. Much like how Ford has had the 5.0L V8 for just about a decade now, and Toyota has had the 5.7L V8 for nearly a decade or so, and they're just about the most reliable pickup engines out there.

Age penalty is designed for this. We give you 15 years penalty free. After that you need to use the modification system or redesign to extend its life. Using your Ford engine as an example, the 302 Windsor came out roughly 1968. Around 1978 it got an aluminum intake, 1981 Some versions got a 351W camshaft. In 1985 they got roller tappets and steel camshafts and 1986 they got fuel injection and fast-burn cylinder heads. The engine was phased out of production in the late 90s and finally ended in 2000. So 32 years. If you used the modification system on each of those years mentioned above, you'd have no years in age penalty (Should also note the Boss 302 is not the same engine. Very few parts are interchangeable between the two. And 2011 302 and on are actually Ford Modular engines which are a different design from the early 90s.)

This doesn't mean the Ford engine wasn't old and outdated and "low ratings" (by our game standards) in the 1990s. Just that both GM and Chrysler were doing the same things. There was practically no foreign competition in the mid/full size truck, SUV, Cheap v8 Sports Cars, categories in the US at the time. So they got away with it. Now all three companies design new engines at a much more rapid pace because they have to keep up with other companies.

On the topic of Toyota, I'm not too familiar with their engines/history as the only Japanese vehicles I really had to work with were Mitsubishi. (Unless I was sourcing parts for Niche European cars, for instance a 80s Rolls Royce Silver Phantom uses the same brake pads as a Toyota R22) From a quick glance, the 5.7L has only been around since 2007. So well within our 15 year age penalty for components. Also upon further inspection of Toyota's v8's it proves my point above about Ford/GM/Dodge... Toyota does overlap it's products some, but the families are pretty much redesigned every 20 years. And the individual engine designs in those families are only used for 12 years.

Also, what's up with pickups never having enough torque? In real life, an F-150 can tow about 8,000 pounds, and I push out 500lb/ft trucks that can tow 32,000 pounds but when I go to make the truck, the power rating is only like 3.5 stars, and it says "Engine could use more torque." That does get a bit annoying, especially if you're creating different classes of truck.

F150 getting 3.5 stars sounds about right. How would you compare it to a Ford Pinto and a Ford F650?