Old cars vs New cars
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brucelucenta
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New Lexus retractable hard top.
Well, that is actually a hard to answer question.
Let me tell you a little story.
In the mid 90's we got a new car -- I could tell you more details, which to people who love cars would think are important, but as you'll see soon, not so much in this case.
So, it was December or January, I can't remember anymore, but it was the Winter right after we got the car, which was by then about 6-7 months old, and just after a snow fall, maybe an inch or two, which usually doesn't bother folks around here.
We crossed an intersection, along with lots of other cars, make a U-turn, and go to a diner. We get seated, order food, and then, as we were all talking waiting for the food, we were also looking out the window, as people do when they are bored and we had a very good view of the intersection we had just driven thru with no problems, as had well, I dunno, at least a few hundred before we did and a few more after we parked.
Cars are passing by, traffic light is changing from red to green and back.
Then, an old car very similar to Ford LTD above, possibly from the 60's, possibly some other make and model, we don't know, but not a convertible, crossed the same intersection at the speed everyone else was driving.
The car somehow lost control, spun out and crashed against a few more cars and ended up on the sidewalk.
Meanwhile, a bunch of cars braked really hard to avoid crashing, and some of them were able to not only brake, but also steer out of the trouble zone.
Anyone that knows me can tell you that I have *always* been a proponent of safety equipment and active safety equipment in automobiles, but that day I was completely unable to speak for a minute or two and dozens of people inside the restaurant saying "Wow!" at the same time makes up for a really loud "Wow!".
There may be dozens of reasons why it happened, from worn out tire(s) to power steering systems that do not give enough feedback to the driver and/or fail to vary the assist according to road conditions, to suspensions that used to, back then, be tuned for comfort (the stereotypical "living room sofa driving down the road" or "cream puff"). And it's not that we can condem designers/engineers back then, it took them a couple of decades to not only find out such things could predispose the car occupants to an accident or a more serious accident, it then took them some time to fix the problem as similar things in the real world go.
So, with all that in mind, glad you asked: me and the hubby do not change cars at the drop of a hat, like some people who always have to have a car that is less than 2 years old, but when we change cars, we try to get a brand new one, with all the safety features that we can afford.
Some may claim that a steering wheel that stiffens up as the speed goes up or the car detects slippery road are not as "comfortable" as that 1972 Ford LTD. Same thing for suspensions that keep the tires always in contact with the road and are tuned for stability instead of "floating" over the potholes. Or any other number of things.
But we're still here, and we're also under the average number of crashes for the average population in US.
So I guess you should put us in the "we like new cars better" category.
YMMV.
Cheers,
-- Paulo.
Let me tell you a little story.
In the mid 90's we got a new car -- I could tell you more details, which to people who love cars would think are important, but as you'll see soon, not so much in this case.
So, it was December or January, I can't remember anymore, but it was the Winter right after we got the car, which was by then about 6-7 months old, and just after a snow fall, maybe an inch or two, which usually doesn't bother folks around here.
We crossed an intersection, along with lots of other cars, make a U-turn, and go to a diner. We get seated, order food, and then, as we were all talking waiting for the food, we were also looking out the window, as people do when they are bored and we had a very good view of the intersection we had just driven thru with no problems, as had well, I dunno, at least a few hundred before we did and a few more after we parked.
Cars are passing by, traffic light is changing from red to green and back.
Then, an old car very similar to Ford LTD above, possibly from the 60's, possibly some other make and model, we don't know, but not a convertible, crossed the same intersection at the speed everyone else was driving.
The car somehow lost control, spun out and crashed against a few more cars and ended up on the sidewalk.
Meanwhile, a bunch of cars braked really hard to avoid crashing, and some of them were able to not only brake, but also steer out of the trouble zone.
Anyone that knows me can tell you that I have *always* been a proponent of safety equipment and active safety equipment in automobiles, but that day I was completely unable to speak for a minute or two and dozens of people inside the restaurant saying "Wow!" at the same time makes up for a really loud "Wow!".
There may be dozens of reasons why it happened, from worn out tire(s) to power steering systems that do not give enough feedback to the driver and/or fail to vary the assist according to road conditions, to suspensions that used to, back then, be tuned for comfort (the stereotypical "living room sofa driving down the road" or "cream puff"). And it's not that we can condem designers/engineers back then, it took them a couple of decades to not only find out such things could predispose the car occupants to an accident or a more serious accident, it then took them some time to fix the problem as similar things in the real world go.
So, with all that in mind, glad you asked: me and the hubby do not change cars at the drop of a hat, like some people who always have to have a car that is less than 2 years old, but when we change cars, we try to get a brand new one, with all the safety features that we can afford.
Some may claim that a steering wheel that stiffens up as the speed goes up or the car detects slippery road are not as "comfortable" as that 1972 Ford LTD. Same thing for suspensions that keep the tires always in contact with the road and are tuned for stability instead of "floating" over the potholes. Or any other number of things.
But we're still here, and we're also under the average number of crashes for the average population in US.
So I guess you should put us in the "we like new cars better" category.
YMMV.
Cheers,
-- Paulo.
Newer cars have more safety features, but they lack in styling. Today's cars all look alike, and don't have any character at all. Boxy cars look better than today's curvy cars! The only place modern cars deserve to go to is the crusher! In fact, all modern cars deserve to go to the crusher!
"Newer cars have more safety features, but they lack in styling. Today's cars all look alike, and don't have any character at all. Boxy cars look better than today's curvy cars! The only place modern cars deserve to go to is the crusher! In fact, all modern cars deserve to go to the crusher!"
ROFL!!!
*Really*?!?
I guess it just depends on who you ask, doesn't it?
People who grew up around 1972 Fords can probably just take a look at that car and tell you maker model and year. So can people who love cars.
But ask a current teenager who grew up with "new"/"modern" cars and they can't tell you if it's a 1972 Ford LTD or a 1960 Dodge.
To you, it may seem strange or absurd. To many it's the reverse, a co-worker of my husband's had a pre-teen that could rattle make model and year of any current car but had no idea what "old" cars were, to him they looked all the same except for color.
To some other people, they can look at cars and see tail fins or some kinds of chrome or even the way some details change by decade and tell you what decade the car was, but nothing else.
"Style" is relative -- every 10 years it will change and it may or may not come back in another 20.
Safety, not so much.
A friend of mine was in a car crash in the mid-80's. He was lucky to survive, but spent 6 months in a hospital. When he came back to grad school, one day someone got him talking about the accident. He basically said "y'know when you hit your toe on the bed frame and it hurts like hell?", and everyone around the table went "yeah...", then he said, "now when I stub my toe it hurts just the same as it used to, but to me it doesn't hurt like hell anymore, it's just a mild annoyance compared to breaking lots of bones and staying 6 months in the hospital."
Another friend also suffered an accident in a car very similar to the one you posted, in the late 70's. Didn't break as many bones, but also spent 3 months in the hospital. His girlfriend was also in a different accident, in the same time frame, a mild accident by comparison, but the windshield broke and she was in the passenger seat -- her advice is that if you ever notice that the driver is going to crash, refrain from screaming and close your eyes or you may end up with glass inside your mouth and eyes. While this is *still* possible with laminated safety glass, it was much more common with old windshields that glass would end up everywhere.
So, forgive us Sean if we don't share your opinion -- you are welcome to your opinion, you have a right to it and to express it.
But you did not come here and ask "who likes old cars?", a fact that makes me respect you a bit more, you did in fact ask for our opinions and which we preferred.
And I respect your opinion and your taste -- you prefer old cars.
There's no need for justification, it is what you like.
So, perhaps you don't need to make up reasons or excuses, certainly nothing so frail as "it had more style", given that lots of people will disagree which was more stylish. Style and fashion change often and regularly make a full circle and come back again.
If you stick around for any length of time in this site, you'll find out many people here suffered accidents that would 20-30 years ago have sent them to the hospital for an extended stay, and they just walked out of the scene of the accident, some with a few bruises, but nothing major.
Personally, I consider that a massive improvement, but I tend to like my friends alive, healthy and well, thank you.
Cheers,
-- Paulo.
PS: we now have way more cars on the road and people driving than in 1950's, but they had way more people *dying* from car crashes back then than we have now. I appreciate the improvement.
ROFL!!!
*Really*?!?
I guess it just depends on who you ask, doesn't it?
People who grew up around 1972 Fords can probably just take a look at that car and tell you maker model and year. So can people who love cars.
But ask a current teenager who grew up with "new"/"modern" cars and they can't tell you if it's a 1972 Ford LTD or a 1960 Dodge.
To you, it may seem strange or absurd. To many it's the reverse, a co-worker of my husband's had a pre-teen that could rattle make model and year of any current car but had no idea what "old" cars were, to him they looked all the same except for color.
To some other people, they can look at cars and see tail fins or some kinds of chrome or even the way some details change by decade and tell you what decade the car was, but nothing else.
"Style" is relative -- every 10 years it will change and it may or may not come back in another 20.
Safety, not so much.
A friend of mine was in a car crash in the mid-80's. He was lucky to survive, but spent 6 months in a hospital. When he came back to grad school, one day someone got him talking about the accident. He basically said "y'know when you hit your toe on the bed frame and it hurts like hell?", and everyone around the table went "yeah...", then he said, "now when I stub my toe it hurts just the same as it used to, but to me it doesn't hurt like hell anymore, it's just a mild annoyance compared to breaking lots of bones and staying 6 months in the hospital."
Another friend also suffered an accident in a car very similar to the one you posted, in the late 70's. Didn't break as many bones, but also spent 3 months in the hospital. His girlfriend was also in a different accident, in the same time frame, a mild accident by comparison, but the windshield broke and she was in the passenger seat -- her advice is that if you ever notice that the driver is going to crash, refrain from screaming and close your eyes or you may end up with glass inside your mouth and eyes. While this is *still* possible with laminated safety glass, it was much more common with old windshields that glass would end up everywhere.
So, forgive us Sean if we don't share your opinion -- you are welcome to your opinion, you have a right to it and to express it.
But you did not come here and ask "who likes old cars?", a fact that makes me respect you a bit more, you did in fact ask for our opinions and which we preferred.
And I respect your opinion and your taste -- you prefer old cars.
There's no need for justification, it is what you like.
So, perhaps you don't need to make up reasons or excuses, certainly nothing so frail as "it had more style", given that lots of people will disagree which was more stylish. Style and fashion change often and regularly make a full circle and come back again.
If you stick around for any length of time in this site, you'll find out many people here suffered accidents that would 20-30 years ago have sent them to the hospital for an extended stay, and they just walked out of the scene of the accident, some with a few bruises, but nothing major.
Personally, I consider that a massive improvement, but I tend to like my friends alive, healthy and well, thank you.
Cheers,
-- Paulo.
PS: we now have way more cars on the road and people driving than in 1950's, but they had way more people *dying* from car crashes back then than we have now. I appreciate the improvement.
I like looking at classic cars, but I'll stick to modern cars for driving.
Both
I wouldn't sell the two older cars we have sitting in the garage. But they have NONE of the safety features the newer ones have.
There is something to be said for all cars.
I wouldn't sell the two older cars we have sitting in the garage. But they have NONE of the safety features the newer ones have.
There is something to be said for all cars.
Safety device for old AND new cars------The DRIVER.If you have a BAD driver in ANY car ---its Dangerous-Safe driver-any car is safer!I like my new 2016 Toyota Highlander Hybrid.It is a "computer on wheels" but like it nonetheless.I haven't had much experience driving older cars-so I can't comment.
norgeway
Well-known member
If I won the lotto
I would never think of owning a new car, Then I could afford to drive a Desoto or a 300G everyday, dang the gas...Give me Full Time Chrysler Power Steering ANYDAY, If I ever want to drive a lumber wagon I will, I want effortless one finger control.
I would never think of owning a new car, Then I could afford to drive a Desoto or a 300G everyday, dang the gas...Give me Full Time Chrysler Power Steering ANYDAY, If I ever want to drive a lumber wagon I will, I want effortless one finger control.
My favorite vintage cars are from the late 1950s, especially GM cars. I like the fins/wings as well as the design of dashboard controls. And the acres of chrome, of course.
Neither of these beauties would come close to fitting in one of today's grocery store parking spaces.
As with vintage appliances, I'm glad there are people out there who have the passion (and inclination) to restore these cars.
Having said all that, I wouldn't trade the reliability, safety and creature comforts of today's cars as my daily driver. Sure would be great to take the '59 droptop Caddy out for a drive on Sundays, though!
Neither of these beauties would come close to fitting in one of today's grocery store parking spaces.
As with vintage appliances, I'm glad there are people out there who have the passion (and inclination) to restore these cars.
Having said all that, I wouldn't trade the reliability, safety and creature comforts of today's cars as my daily driver. Sure would be great to take the '59 droptop Caddy out for a drive on Sundays, though!
Safety and style
I live in a city and state which is frequently tied with the worst places in Florida for drivers causing bad accidents through bullheadedness.
"I ain't gonna and you cain't make me" is an actual phrase here in Wyoming.
Nobody who has driven here longer than one day enters the intersection the moment the light turns green - there's one or two cars who will be running the red light in the other two directions.
Everyone who has lived here for longer than a day knows that only limped-wristed pussy-boys wear safety belts.
The most important control in the whole car or pick'up truck is the hand-held cell phone.
So - much as I love vintage cars - the sad statistics we get to read in the papers every day here make it clear: The 1998 cars and later just have enormously higher survival rates.
I live in a city and state which is frequently tied with the worst places in Florida for drivers causing bad accidents through bullheadedness.
"I ain't gonna and you cain't make me" is an actual phrase here in Wyoming.
Nobody who has driven here longer than one day enters the intersection the moment the light turns green - there's one or two cars who will be running the red light in the other two directions.
Everyone who has lived here for longer than a day knows that only limped-wristed pussy-boys wear safety belts.
The most important control in the whole car or pick'up truck is the hand-held cell phone.
So - much as I love vintage cars - the sad statistics we get to read in the papers every day here make it clear: The 1998 cars and later just have enormously higher survival rates.
Love my Sube, but if money grew on trees . . .
. . . I would treat myself to a meticulously restored Studebaker Avanti.
Then, again, I love Lava Lamps, too.
. . . I would treat myself to a meticulously restored Studebaker Avanti.
Then, again, I love Lava Lamps, too.
beekeyknee
Well-known member
Panthera
I thought you were going to say the most important control in the car was the cigarette lighter and ashtray. As far as cars go, I think older cars were cool and stylish and new cars are safer and boring. I believe there are too many distractions in new cars. The radio alone is distracting. When phones and other gadgets are added to the mix, it becomes dangerous.
I thought you were going to say the most important control in the car was the cigarette lighter and ashtray. As far as cars go, I think older cars were cool and stylish and new cars are safer and boring. I believe there are too many distractions in new cars. The radio alone is distracting. When phones and other gadgets are added to the mix, it becomes dangerous.
Then, again, I love Lava Lamps, too.
Perhaps W. Germany vases too? lol
Perhaps W. Germany vases too? lol
While I do appreciate the many safety features in new cars, I like old cars better as far a styling goes and to a certain extant the way they drive. Out of the 23 cars I've owned since 1969 I've had a 55' Cadillac Coupe deVille, 64' Chevrolet Impala SS and a 67' Buick Skylark. The Skylark was my favorite car out of all 23. It was just the right size, being an intermediate, it wasn't too big or too small. It was easy to handle, rode smoothly, best power steering ever, great 2 speed Buick auto trans and it consistently got 19 mpg for a heavy V8 that could get up and go. I learned to drive in old boats like these and I have a great fondness for them.
But I can also recall the terrible accidents that I used to see in the 50's and 60's when the occupants weren't wearing seatbelts and they were speared by the steering column in a head-on or thrown thru the windshield, or the engine was sitting in their laps. My parents used to tell us to not to look when we came upon a scene like this, and of course, kids being kids we did just what we were told not to do.
But that being said, I can honestly say that I can't think of one new car that I can't live without. After owning 23 different cars, the thrill is gone for a new car. However, should I ever strike it rich, I'd love to own either a 51' Cadillac Convertible or Coupe de VIlle, 51' Chevrolet Bel Air convertible or HT, 51' Buick HT or another 67' Skylark.
But since this is not likely to happen I'll stick with my trusty, dependable 07' Honda Civic, which has been the most dependable car I've ever owned, had it since new, 54.800 miles and it feels like a part of me when I drive it. To satisfy my craving for vintage autos I have been a subscriber to Hemmings Classic Cars and before that Hemming Special Interest Autos. I look forward to every issue, brings back lots of great memories and its a whole lot less expensive than actally owning one of these classic works of art.
Eddie
But I can also recall the terrible accidents that I used to see in the 50's and 60's when the occupants weren't wearing seatbelts and they were speared by the steering column in a head-on or thrown thru the windshield, or the engine was sitting in their laps. My parents used to tell us to not to look when we came upon a scene like this, and of course, kids being kids we did just what we were told not to do.
But that being said, I can honestly say that I can't think of one new car that I can't live without. After owning 23 different cars, the thrill is gone for a new car. However, should I ever strike it rich, I'd love to own either a 51' Cadillac Convertible or Coupe de VIlle, 51' Chevrolet Bel Air convertible or HT, 51' Buick HT or another 67' Skylark.
But since this is not likely to happen I'll stick with my trusty, dependable 07' Honda Civic, which has been the most dependable car I've ever owned, had it since new, 54.800 miles and it feels like a part of me when I drive it. To satisfy my craving for vintage autos I have been a subscriber to Hemmings Classic Cars and before that Hemming Special Interest Autos. I look forward to every issue, brings back lots of great memories and its a whole lot less expensive than actally owning one of these classic works of art.
Eddie
gusherb
Well-known member
I like the performance, handling, and fuel economy of modern cars. For old cars I like the styling and big displacement engines.
I would not daily drive an old car for safety alone. I need to be able to maneuver, brake and accelerate quick to keep those bastards on the road from killing me. A loud horn is a must too! Just yesterday someone without even attempting to look tried to pull out of a parking lot on a curvy road right into me as I came around the corner, without that horn I would've had to swerve into oncoming traffic!
I would not daily drive an old car for safety alone. I need to be able to maneuver, brake and accelerate quick to keep those bastards on the road from killing me. A loud horn is a must too! Just yesterday someone without even attempting to look tried to pull out of a parking lot on a curvy road right into me as I came around the corner, without that horn I would've had to swerve into oncoming traffic!
No matter what I drive, I use JDDI*
Automotive safety technology available on every properly maintained mechanically sound vehicle. The world would be a much better place if EVERYONE used JDDI*!
*Just Drive, Damn It.
Automotive safety technology available on every properly maintained mechanically sound vehicle. The world would be a much better place if EVERYONE used JDDI*!
*Just Drive, Damn It.
