Old cars vs New cars

[48bencix]

New but nostalgic design

This is my 2014 Ford Mustang.

It looks a lot like the original 1960's Mustangs and really drives well. I like rear wheel drive and most cars have front wheel drive. Rear wheel drive used to be the cheapest system. Then front wheel drive came along and was made almost universal. Now rear wheel drive is mainly for expensive cars, Mercedes, BMW, Camaros, Mustangs. The Mustang has the Shaker Stereo and a CD player.

Other interior design features are retro also. I like that the radio still has a volume knob and tuning knob. But you can link your phone and use voice commands also.

I had a 1968 Pontiac GTO convertible many years ago, but I like having the convenience of freedom from repairs that a newer car provides.

 

[daveamkrayoguy]

No Whiplash Injuries for Me!

Driving in heavy bumper-to-bumper/stop-and-go traffic made me appreciate the sea of headrests in my car, behind where everybody has to sit!

(Whew, Thank God!)

-- Dave

 

[petek]

I lost  most of my interest in cars after the GM downsizing of 1977. They were never the same after that and I'm so glad I bit the bullet and bought my brand new 75 Electra at the time because word was out by then that 76 would be the last year. So it was either now or never..  Post 77 model year cars do little to excite me. 

 

[wayupnorth]

Unfortunately where I live, I have to own a 4WD vehicle. Those that have experienced a winter in this neck of the woods would agree. I have an "81 Corvette that has rear wheel drive that I would gladly sell for the right price. The novelty has worn off.

 

[combo52]

1964 Dodge 440

Wow Kevin That Dodge looks great, If you are going to own an older car get one that is well built and designed like most Chrysler products from the late 50s onward.

 

[norgeway]

In 1996

I drove my 62 Plymouth Fury from Lenoir NC to St Louis Mo, a 12 hour trip, there and back I used less than a quart of oil and got better than 18 mpg , driving 70 and better most of the way...a good old wide block 318 and a pushbutton Torqueflite is a hard combination to beat.

 

[stan]

The crash test that

Louis posted scared me! LOL
At least enough to have it on my mind the whole time I was driving today. As I drove around (50 Plymouth) not wearing a seat belt..
As I have thousands of times (car doesn't have them)...I realized that my driving habits are completely out mooted, and I haven't been fully aware!
I've adjusted to the car, and I've have these subconscious habits...not following as close as everyone else is, I'm anticipating stops....judging the speed of oncoming traffic, and not pulling out cuz I can't get out fast enough...Guess Ive been subconsciously aware of the limitations, but today I started paying closer attention. I also started to pay attention to how other people were driving, and for a moment, I felt that the world has jumped head, while I wasn't paying attention!
Just wanted to share these sudden self observations, and thank those who mentioned the safety issues.

 

[askolover]

Panthera

Tony received minor bruises from the airbags and a seatbelt burn on his shoulder and neck!  The Microsoft Sync system in the car was linked with his cell phone and the car automatically began dialing through his phone list to notify us of an accident after it called 911...all by itself.

 

[brucelucenta]

As far as I am concerned, Toyota is the only car I would ever buy again. I have had bad luck with every vehicle made in Detroit that I have owned and would not buy another. The two Toyota's I have had in the last 20 years have been the best and most trouble free vehicles I have ever had. Old cars are cool to look at, but not so much to drive on a daily basis.

 

[vacerator]

"made in Detroit"

means different things today. Jeep Grand Cherokee's are assembled in Detroit of parts sourced globally.

Toyota's are assembled in Kentucky with globally sourced parts.
A Toyota Matrix and Pontiac Vibe were the same identical car mechanically.

Toyota ans Nissan both have suburban Detroit design and engineering offices in Farmington Hills, and Plymouth respectively.

Toyota has had as many recalls as GM has. Mazda 6's were built in Flat Rock Michigan until 2011. Good car.

In the 70's and 80's, more of the cars were made in Detroit and vicinity. Dearborn, Flint, Lansing, Pontiac, Saginaw, etc. Aside from rusting prematurely, they weren't that bad. Ford's Windsor engine plant ran a slew of bad 400 V8 heads that would leak by about 40,000 miles necessitating a valve job.

Cars are machines. Machines break Not even Lexus or Mercedes builds a perfect car. Eventually, they all have problems.
That said, buy what ever the heck you want. Most people lease and never have to worry about problems, but they always have a payment.

 

[cfz2882]

prefer older

My active duty cars are 1977,1981,1982,1985,1998,2003,2007-all "old" by today's standard,and the 4 earlier ones "malaise era A few things I dislike about recent cars:
-"global"parts
-throttle by wire
-plastic headlights
-plastic engine cladding
-plastic cooling system parts
-"piped in"(or even fake) engine sound-WTF ?!
-more prone to hail damage than "old skool" cars

 

[cadman]

Stan, I hear ya. The past two years I've been daily-driving my '59 Catalina, no seat belts, 4-wheel drums, 389, AM radio playing the oldies during my commute. It's a unique experience. I did upgrade to a power booster with dual chambers for safety, but they're still drums and you need to plan accordingly.

This year I've enjoyed my 1988 Olds so much (Touring Sedan, FE3 suspension and buckets) that the Pontiac only comes out on Fridays. To me that seems like a modern car, until I ride in something recent. Huge A and B posts, intrusive headrests, uncomfortable seats and complete isolation. It really takes the fun out of driving, or riding as a passenger for that matter.

 

[maytag85]

You can daily drive a two, or four door sedan that would have been used as a car back in the day. The only old cars I wouldn't daily drive would be muscle cars (sports cars).

 

[stan]

Cory

It's beautiful.
My aunt had a 59 Bonneville . Very unique dash on those. I remember the "passing gear" as she called It!
Miles ahead of the 50 Plymouth! Bet it rides like a dream,

 

[stan]

Just remembered

As the Bonnevile didn't have AC.. She had this swamp cooler thing that sat over the transmission hump. It plugged into the cigarette lighter, and she filled it with ice. It had a fan switch and blew out cool air.
I've never seen one since, and don't know what they were called. Anyone know?

 

[norgeway]

Im a Chrysler guy, but still LOVE old Pontiacs and Olds.

2 of my Aunts had 53 Olds and My Aunt Jean and Uncle Henry had a 61 Catalina, a 63 Super 88, a 64 Cutlass, a 68 Delta 88,a 70 Delta 88 custom, and a 72 Cutlass, so I grew up with those cars, We had a 48 Plymouth, a 53 Plymouth a 60 Ford Galaxie, a 66 Cutlass a 71 Delta 88 custom..455...I remember that one well, it would FLY!

 

[panthera]

B. Danielson

I hear you. So hear you - your list:

-"global"parts (Makes me want to throw up when the car makers play their 'we're soooo American' game.

-throttle by wire (It is getting better, to be honest, but then - how could it get worse?)

-plastic headlights (And this is safer when you hit a pedestrian at 40mph exactly how? Like drowing in 30 feet of water instead of 300 is better?)

-plastic engine cladding (Would, again, be OK if it were a good quality plastic, not recycled ABS)

-plastic cooling system parts (Because 250F coolant is no problem to have spraying all over the place, right?)

-"piped in"(or even fake) engine sound-WTF ?! :<span style="font-size: 12pt;">) (Sigh. I know. It's false advertising like those guys in the '70s who wore those gold neckchains with the numbers '9 1/2 or even 10'. Divide by two and you're still probably being overly generous.....</span>

 -more prone to hail damage than "old skool" cars (I live in Cheyenne. Hail capital of The Known Universe. Tell me about it. Our '74 Sedan deVille just gets the dust shook off by hailstones which leave holes in newer Ford 150s.

 

[maytag85]

Newer cars are built for obsolescence, and all newer things are built for obsolescence.

 

[ea56]

Re: reply #94

Hello, but most models of automobiles have been built for planned obsolesence since at least as far back as the 1930's, its the American corporate model for doing business.

There are good and bad things about both old and new cars, it boils down to what is personally most important to the buyer.

I happen to love old cars,and would gladly have one as my daily driver. I like the styling, comfort, simplicity, visibility and drivability. Now for safety features, new cars can't be beat.

But somehow, the touch screen controls for climate control and audio on the new cars seem like an unnecessary distraction and they compromise safety when the driver needs to look down at these screens to make a simple adjustment that on an older car can be made easily by feel, without the need for the driver to take their eyes off the road.

Just my two cents worth.
Eddie

 

[lordkenmore]

Hail damage

Well, it's vitally important to have cars easily marred by hail. What would those car dealers do if they couldn't count on a few hail storms each year that can lead to a thrilling opportunity of a special sale that is carefully crafted to look like the buyer is really getting a great deal?!?