Disagree. Fuel injection CRUSHES carburetors and that is just the beginning. My V-8 has oil pressurized cylinder rings instead of spring tension. My duel overhead cam valves produce much more top end power because they breath (my old 350 died below 4000 rpm). My old 350 (fuel injected) had tons of low end torque and as good or better durability than my 5.0 V-8 but the 5.0 is a rocket over 4000 rpm (mountain climbs on interstates in heavy traffic in third gear with the camper). I am past 100,000 miles and no new tech failures just an old tech failure, fractured starter shaft. No going back for me. Love: FUEL INJECTION, dual overhead cams, variable valve timing, oil spray piston coolers, oil pressurized piston rings, anti-lock brakes, unleaded gasoline, in-tank fuel filters, stainless steel exhaust system, six and ten speed automatic transmissions, front wheel drive (in the snow), seat belts, side-impact safety bars, safety glass, radial tires, oxygen sensors, limiting automatic transmission gear selection (cutting out six or 5+6, or 4+5+6), galvanized sheet metal...
The old tech limited slip rear end is still better than traction control but that is the only one that comes to mind. I have both and traction control feathers all 4 wheels to be slipping while the limited slip rear end gives a yank to get me going. Though, I dislike cylinder deactivation and engine start:stop. The computer does learn my driving style and follows along and so it all works for me.
Leaded gasoline was a very poor fuel and the oil companies delayed removing lead as long as possible (Amoco Oil Co. did not use lead because it was a very poor fuel). Today's evil would be ethanol which is better than lead but that is not saying much. I run as much Exxon gasoline as possible to get rid of ethanol emulsion in my fuel tank because they add an emulsion breaker.
Actually, car companies (or oil companies) did not care much about me in the old days. They knew exhaust systems rotted out but did nothing. A lot of improvements came from competition and regulation. I think a lot of people are voting to go back to the old Pinto days. I have not replaced an exhaust system since lead was removed (regulation) and they switched to stainless steel (competition). Leaded gasoline made an acid in the exhaust system and fouled spark plugs (and poisoned children).
I love my transmission: the manual says do not touch, look, or go near the transmission for 150,000 miles whether I haul a trailer or not while the old 350 transmission was serviced every 30,000 miles (the mechanic would sometimes forget to tighten the bolts
). Synthetic oil and better seals.
I have not had a rust through hole on galvanized sheet metal despite lots of road salt.