If cars had evolved like computers...

You hear that babble all the time:
"If the automobile had evolved like the personal computer, and over the same time period, that today you'd be able to purchase a Rolls Royce for $1.00 that gets 1 million miles per gallon with enough horsepower to run the ship the Queen Elizabeth 2." I beleive noted author Christopher Evans started that notion.

Of course, if the car actually had evolved like the computer, we'd likely have the Big Four auto makers...

Apple - The very pinnacle of design and luxury in a modern automobile. Your Apple car only runs on the most expensive gasoline, which is only available at select gas stations. Apple cars are completely silent. They only drive on some roads, but are allowed to exceed the maximum posted speed limits. After 5 years, your Apple car becomes obsolete and has no trade-in value.

IBM - The IBM car, while not as luxurious as the Apple, is still well designed and nicely styled. Many after-market upgrades and accessories are available. IBM cars are nearly silent, run on almost all roads, and take higher-grade gasoline. However, with normal use, the steering wheel dissolves and must be replaced every 3 months. Under heavy operating loads, your IBM car will suffer performance loss, overheat, and sometimes, stop.

Dell - Dell cars are not luxurious, and not very pleasing to the eye. Dell cars run on most roads and take low-grade gasoline, but every year you need to replace the entire drivetrain. While Dell offers 30 different "models" of cars, they are all based on the same two cars, they just have different names. Infrequently, your Dell car will suffer complete engine failure and come to a grinding halt for no appearent reason.

Gateway - Slow, noisy, ugly, but very affordable, your Gateway car comes every conceivable extra known to man, and then some. Attempts to remove any of these extras render the car completely useless. Gateway cars operate on any petroleum-based liquid and will operate on most roads. At freeway speeds, Gateway cars have been known to burst into flames, spin out of control and crash.

Sounds about right to me.