Quoted:
Hot rodding was a thing for a few generations before the 80s "malaise" period . It's almost like we're in a new malaise period of different parameters. Computers have made power easy but cars as a whole are largely disposable. Planned obsolescence. On top of that you have the unelected bureaucracy laying down so much red tape as to make any efforts become unaffordable . Cash for clunkers took out a lot of candidates and drove used prices up . Market forces vs bureaucracy.  Interesting to contrast the Carter/Reagan years vs present . I thought these ecoboost engines were interesting at first ...they just seem like little grenades now . The inline sixes coming back out ...but they're doing weird stuff with the timing belts . I just long for simpler times.