Is it really a desire for "ever-higher fuel economy?"
I would have no problem driving a 10mpg car that had character, didn't look like every other car on the road, or had some sort of unique value to it. But regulations are arbitrarily increasing fuel economy requirements which drives every car to use smaller engines, less powerful engines, and end up looking like a half-used cough drop.
I think if manufacturers didn't have to waste time with that they would be willing to invest more in things people actually care about, rust resistance being one of them.
I would have no problem driving a 10mpg car that had character, didn't look like every other car on the road, or had some sort of unique value to it. But regulations are arbitrarily increasing fuel economy requirements which drives every car to use smaller engines, less powerful engines, and end up looking like a half-used cough drop.
I think if manufacturers didn't have to waste time with that they would be willing to invest more in things people actually care about, rust resistance being one of them.