I'm selling the crown vic to have some money to put into my credit card debt but irresponsible me is seriously considering a 1987 Chevy truck that's for sale a block from my house. I've owned two square bodys but got fed up with the constant carburetor issues. But 87 has tbi which I've had on two vehicles and never gave me any trouble. Somebody talk me out of it please! Lol
Anyone else enjoy older vehicles?
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I do sometimes miss my old 1983 Riviera and my old 1987 RX-7. Both were great cars, although for very different reasons. The RX-7 was a light, fun, nimble car, and the Riviera was super luxurious inside.
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I recently picked up an "older" car. At least the oldest I've ever owned. A 1995 Mustang. Its the GTS model, so its pretty bare bones. Does have power windows and locks (wouldn't mind if it didn't) and AC. But its a stick, pushrod 5.0 V8, no ABS, no traction control. Its just new enough to be pretty reliable, and gets mid 20s mpg highway. I like that its a cross between oldschool with newer reliability (fuel injected, proven motor).
Its fun, but pretty much anything with a 2.0 turbo would blow its doors off these days. Still it makes all the right noises and I love the response of the 5.0 V8.
Its fun, but pretty much anything with a 2.0 turbo would blow its doors off these days. Still it makes all the right noises and I love the response of the 5.0 V8.
Nick1994
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Originally Posted by dogememe
I'm selling the crown vic to have some money to put into my credit card debt but irresponsible me is seriously considering a 1987 Chevy truck that's for sale a block from my house. I've owned two square bodys but got fed up with the constant carburetor issues. But 87 has tbi which I've had on two vehicles and never gave me any trouble. Somebody talk me out of it please! Lol
Is it an automatic or a stick?
We know your experience with automatic Chevys...
If it is,
I'm selling the crown vic to have some money to put into my credit card debt but irresponsible me is seriously considering a 1987 Chevy truck that's for sale a block from my house. I've owned two square bodys but got fed up with the constant carburetor issues. But 87 has tbi which I've had on two vehicles and never gave me any trouble. Somebody talk me out of it please! Lol
Is it an automatic or a stick?
We know your experience with automatic Chevys...
If it is,
I totally agree on the older vehicles! I love the older stuff as they are far easier to work on and are just more enjoyable to drive. (for me) I looked about 6 months ago at new cars and I could find anything that I wanted to own unless you talk about mega buck cars that I cant afford anyway.
Originally Posted by Nick1994
Originally Posted by dogememe
I'm selling the crown vic to have some money to put into my credit card debt but irresponsible me is seriously considering a 1987 Chevy truck that's for sale a block from my house. I've owned two square bodys but got fed up with the constant carburetor issues. But 87 has tbi which I've had on two vehicles and never gave me any trouble. Somebody talk me out of it please! Lol
Is it an automatic or a stick?
We know your experience with automatic Chevys...
If it is,
Well I hope it's a stick except for the fact the seller will have to drive it home for me. Or hopefully I can get it like two blocks home even though I never finished learning how to drive a manual transmission!
Originally Posted by dogememe
I'm selling the crown vic to have some money to put into my credit card debt but irresponsible me is seriously considering a 1987 Chevy truck that's for sale a block from my house. I've owned two square bodys but got fed up with the constant carburetor issues. But 87 has tbi which I've had on two vehicles and never gave me any trouble. Somebody talk me out of it please! Lol
Is it an automatic or a stick?
We know your experience with automatic Chevys...
If it is,
Well I hope it's a stick except for the fact the seller will have to drive it home for me. Or hopefully I can get it like two blocks home even though I never finished learning how to drive a manual transmission!
Originally Posted by dogememe
I'm selling the crown vic to have some money to put into my credit card debt but irresponsible me is seriously considering a 1987 Chevy truck that's for sale a block from my house. I've owned two square bodys but got fed up with the constant carburetor issues. But 87 has tbi which I've had on two vehicles and never gave me any trouble. Somebody talk me out of it please! Lol
Ok, it's irresponsible. Remember, a fool and his money are soon parted.
It's the constant buying and selling of cars that will cost you money in the long term. Just drive the current car until the repair costs exceed the book value or when repair costs for the year exceed the monthly payments on a new car.
I'm selling the crown vic to have some money to put into my credit card debt but irresponsible me is seriously considering a 1987 Chevy truck that's for sale a block from my house. I've owned two square bodys but got fed up with the constant carburetor issues. But 87 has tbi which I've had on two vehicles and never gave me any trouble. Somebody talk me out of it please! Lol
Ok, it's irresponsible. Remember, a fool and his money are soon parted.
It's the constant buying and selling of cars that will cost you money in the long term. Just drive the current car until the repair costs exceed the book value or when repair costs for the year exceed the monthly payments on a new car.
Well, our current fleet is 15,14, and 12. And all run well....and have been faithful. So they will still around until rust puts them in the junkyard.....
The plan is to buy my first new car in 14 years....might keep that one a while too.....
The plan is to buy my first new car in 14 years....might keep that one a while too.....
What's old?
2018 Lexus RX450h
2013 Lexus GS350 F Sport
2006 Acura TSX
2001 Toyota Tundra
1998 Honda Accord
1968 Chevrolet Corvette L36 Roadster
1965 Oldsmobile 4-4-2 90K mile original survivor
2018 Lexus RX450h
2013 Lexus GS350 F Sport
2006 Acura TSX
2001 Toyota Tundra
1998 Honda Accord
1968 Chevrolet Corvette L36 Roadster
1965 Oldsmobile 4-4-2 90K mile original survivor
Not me.
My 2014 auto purchased new now has 60,000 miles. I have changed the oil and rotated the tires every 7,000 miles, replaced the original tires, and had the brakes done (my driving is largely stop and go city driving with resulting in worn brakes). No other repairs or downtime. It would have required much more in the way of maintenance and repairs if I was driving a car 15 years older.
My 2014 auto purchased new now has 60,000 miles. I have changed the oil and rotated the tires every 7,000 miles, replaced the original tires, and had the brakes done (my driving is largely stop and go city driving with resulting in worn brakes). No other repairs or downtime. It would have required much more in the way of maintenance and repairs if I was driving a car 15 years older.
There's something about older vehicles that makes them more engaging to drive, and more unique. Everything looks the same these days. I can hardly tell all the CUVs apart besides the badge.
I specifically wanted my BMW 3 series optioned the way it was because it had no iDrive screen. I test drove a newer S4 with a friend and while it was fast, having to navigate through all the menus in the infotainment was a huge turn off. It felt more like a phone with wheels than a car. I'm a millennial (28) and work in the technology field. I enjoy technology, but love driving, so when I'm in the car I just want to drive.
I specifically wanted my BMW 3 series optioned the way it was because it had no iDrive screen. I test drove a newer S4 with a friend and while it was fast, having to navigate through all the menus in the infotainment was a huge turn off. It felt more like a phone with wheels than a car. I'm a millennial (28) and work in the technology field. I enjoy technology, but love driving, so when I'm in the car I just want to drive.
For my part, I have 5 vehicles aged 12 to 37 years old.
My daily driver is a 2005 car I bought new back then (my first and so far only new car). It still looks almost new. Looking around me I realize I'm now among the "old" cars on the road in my area.
I am tempted to buy a new(er) one now and then. I could afford it. I can't however ditch a perfectly working car with a body in good health just for the sake of getting something newer. My brain won't allow it.
Even though my 2005 isn't THAT old, when I sit in more modern cars I realize how much more visibility I have in my 2005. Despite the thick A pillar, the windows are way taller than they are now on most vehicles.
I once sat in a current generation Camaro and was amazed at how POOR the visibility was. Even in my father's 2015 Avalon I wonder how a big car can have such small windows.
My wife dailies a 2004 Toyota van which is our family hauler. It does have a few battle scars, but she won't change it unless something very pricey breaks.
That allows us to use our money somewhere else. I use part of mine on my two older cars ('81 and '84). Now these are positively ANCIENT on the road today. I really feel like a dwarf besides modern vehicles in these. That is a great comparison on how safety measures have inflated car bodies over the years. They are much safer however. If somebody hits me on the side in my '81 with paper thin doors, there's a good chance I'll end up crippled or dead.
My daily driver is a 2005 car I bought new back then (my first and so far only new car). It still looks almost new. Looking around me I realize I'm now among the "old" cars on the road in my area.
I am tempted to buy a new(er) one now and then. I could afford it. I can't however ditch a perfectly working car with a body in good health just for the sake of getting something newer. My brain won't allow it.
Even though my 2005 isn't THAT old, when I sit in more modern cars I realize how much more visibility I have in my 2005. Despite the thick A pillar, the windows are way taller than they are now on most vehicles.
I once sat in a current generation Camaro and was amazed at how POOR the visibility was. Even in my father's 2015 Avalon I wonder how a big car can have such small windows.
My wife dailies a 2004 Toyota van which is our family hauler. It does have a few battle scars, but she won't change it unless something very pricey breaks.
That allows us to use our money somewhere else. I use part of mine on my two older cars ('81 and '84). Now these are positively ANCIENT on the road today. I really feel like a dwarf besides modern vehicles in these. That is a great comparison on how safety measures have inflated car bodies over the years. They are much safer however. If somebody hits me on the side in my '81 with paper thin doors, there's a good chance I'll end up crippled or dead.
My tow vehicle is an 03 avalanche. I like how it handles my travel trailer. And does not have AFM!
My daily driver is a 1992 Honda Accord with 203k miles. I enjoy driving it very much, and I expect to keep driving it for many more years. It's an extra car; I could easily sell it, not replace it, and still have other vehicles to drive that meet all of my transportation needs. But when you get a really good car like this one, you don't just get rid of it! Plus, I'd only get a lousy $1k or so if I sold it. I'd rather have a fantastic car than the extra $1k in the bank.
Do I have to repair it more often than a new car? NOPE! Back in May, I drove it down to West Virginia, 500 miles each way. Car ran beautifully. When I got back, it was about due for an oil change, so I changed it a few days after. Since then, I haven't done a single thing to it. The last repair I did was replace a leaking water pump a year and a half ago. It was about due for a timing belt anyway, so I changed all that and did a full tune-up. Nothing but oil changes since then. Prior to the timing belt/water pump (thinking hard)...I can't remember the last time it needed any repair. I'm not saying it's never needed any repair, I just can't remember the last specific repair I did before then. It must be at least 3 years since the last repair prior to the TB/water pump job. I hardly ever have to repair anything on it. I actually save a lot of money in maintenance driving the Accord over my other vehicles, since parts for it are so much cheaper. For example, I can wear out a set of tires and pay $300 to replace them on the Accord, or I can drive my truck every day, wear out its tires, and pay over $600 to replace them. I have another vehicle to maintain, but it reduces the frequency of maintenance on the other vehicles, so it more than evens out. This car is so ridiculously cheap to own, it basically costs me nothing to keep it around. I've done the math - The gas savings from driving it instead of my truck pays for the insurance, registration, and yearly taxes on it. I have classic vehicle plates on it, so the yearly taxes are super cheap, and it's old enough to be exempt from emissions tests. I have liability-only insurance which costs $48/month. I have the Accord listed as my "primary commuter" on my insurance while the others are "pleasure use," so it decreases the cost of insurance on the other cars too, further adding to the $ savings.
But it's not all about the money. I honestly think it's fun to drive, it's very practical (I have two baby seats in the back so I can haul the kids around, and the trunk is big enough to fit a whole Costco-shopping-trip worth of groceries), and I like driving something different from all of the newer CUVs I see every day. I have zero desire to buy something newer. Been there, done that. I hate the car payments, high depreciation, expensive insurance, and expensive taxes that go with a newer car. And it's all for what? Doing the same things that my old car is capable of doing? No thanks.
Do I have to repair it more often than a new car? NOPE! Back in May, I drove it down to West Virginia, 500 miles each way. Car ran beautifully. When I got back, it was about due for an oil change, so I changed it a few days after. Since then, I haven't done a single thing to it. The last repair I did was replace a leaking water pump a year and a half ago. It was about due for a timing belt anyway, so I changed all that and did a full tune-up. Nothing but oil changes since then. Prior to the timing belt/water pump (thinking hard)...I can't remember the last time it needed any repair. I'm not saying it's never needed any repair, I just can't remember the last specific repair I did before then. It must be at least 3 years since the last repair prior to the TB/water pump job. I hardly ever have to repair anything on it. I actually save a lot of money in maintenance driving the Accord over my other vehicles, since parts for it are so much cheaper. For example, I can wear out a set of tires and pay $300 to replace them on the Accord, or I can drive my truck every day, wear out its tires, and pay over $600 to replace them. I have another vehicle to maintain, but it reduces the frequency of maintenance on the other vehicles, so it more than evens out. This car is so ridiculously cheap to own, it basically costs me nothing to keep it around. I've done the math - The gas savings from driving it instead of my truck pays for the insurance, registration, and yearly taxes on it. I have classic vehicle plates on it, so the yearly taxes are super cheap, and it's old enough to be exempt from emissions tests. I have liability-only insurance which costs $48/month. I have the Accord listed as my "primary commuter" on my insurance while the others are "pleasure use," so it decreases the cost of insurance on the other cars too, further adding to the $ savings.
But it's not all about the money. I honestly think it's fun to drive, it's very practical (I have two baby seats in the back so I can haul the kids around, and the trunk is big enough to fit a whole Costco-shopping-trip worth of groceries), and I like driving something different from all of the newer CUVs I see every day. I have zero desire to buy something newer. Been there, done that. I hate the car payments, high depreciation, expensive insurance, and expensive taxes that go with a newer car. And it's all for what? Doing the same things that my old car is capable of doing? No thanks.
Originally Posted by Broo
For my part, I have 5 vehicles aged 12 to 37 years old.
My daily driver is a 2005 car I bought new back then (my first and so far only new car). It still looks almost new. Looking around me I realize I'm now among the "old" cars on the road in my area.
I am tempted to buy a new(er) one now and then. I could afford it. I can't however ditch a perfectly working car with a body in good health just for the sake of getting something newer. My brain won't allow it.
Even though my 2005 isn't THAT old, when I sit in more modern cars I realize how much more visibility I have in my 2005. Despite the thick A pillar, the windows are way taller than they are now on most vehicles.
I once sat in a current generation Camaro and was amazed at how POOR the visibility was. Even in my father's 2015 Avalon I wonder how a big car can have such small windows.
My wife dailies a 2004 Toyota van which is our family hauler. It does have a few battle scars, but she won't change it unless something very pricey breaks.
That allows us to use our money somewhere else. I use part of mine on my two older cars ('81 and '84). Now these are positively ANCIENT on the road today. I really feel like a dwarf besides modern vehicles in these. That is a great comparison on how safety measures have inflated car bodies over the years. They are much safer however. If somebody hits me on the side in my '81 with paper thin doors, there's a good chance I'll end up crippled or dead.
Broo: We have the same attitude. Mine are between 13 and 55 years old. All three are maintained and driven regularly.
I never feel like any of them are liabilities. My own 05 has headroom, seat height, tall windows and the last trip I made to LA and back averaged 33.6 mpg [Hand calculated not computer generated] over 1080 miles, AC running and keeping up with traffic. Head winds starting in Phoenix and lasting until Beaumont CA.Did everything a new car would do without the nagging payments.Turned 70,000 miles outside of PHX on the way home.
If it ever dies, I'll be shopping the 95-2005 model years for something else.
BTW, on my way to LA, in over 500 miles, I never saw another ION on the road.
For my part, I have 5 vehicles aged 12 to 37 years old.
My daily driver is a 2005 car I bought new back then (my first and so far only new car). It still looks almost new. Looking around me I realize I'm now among the "old" cars on the road in my area.
I am tempted to buy a new(er) one now and then. I could afford it. I can't however ditch a perfectly working car with a body in good health just for the sake of getting something newer. My brain won't allow it.
Even though my 2005 isn't THAT old, when I sit in more modern cars I realize how much more visibility I have in my 2005. Despite the thick A pillar, the windows are way taller than they are now on most vehicles.
I once sat in a current generation Camaro and was amazed at how POOR the visibility was. Even in my father's 2015 Avalon I wonder how a big car can have such small windows.
My wife dailies a 2004 Toyota van which is our family hauler. It does have a few battle scars, but she won't change it unless something very pricey breaks.
That allows us to use our money somewhere else. I use part of mine on my two older cars ('81 and '84). Now these are positively ANCIENT on the road today. I really feel like a dwarf besides modern vehicles in these. That is a great comparison on how safety measures have inflated car bodies over the years. They are much safer however. If somebody hits me on the side in my '81 with paper thin doors, there's a good chance I'll end up crippled or dead.
Broo: We have the same attitude. Mine are between 13 and 55 years old. All three are maintained and driven regularly.
I never feel like any of them are liabilities. My own 05 has headroom, seat height, tall windows and the last trip I made to LA and back averaged 33.6 mpg [Hand calculated not computer generated] over 1080 miles, AC running and keeping up with traffic. Head winds starting in Phoenix and lasting until Beaumont CA.Did everything a new car would do without the nagging payments.Turned 70,000 miles outside of PHX on the way home.
If it ever dies, I'll be shopping the 95-2005 model years for something else.
BTW, on my way to LA, in over 500 miles, I never saw another ION on the road.
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I agree. The LaCrosse will likely be the only newer vehicle I purchase not only due to all this crappy technology but these new non serviceable parts/systems.
Meanwhile the styling on European cars stays the same while both domestic and import vehicles keep changing their styling to look more European. I've been a long time Chevy buff and the only appealing vehicles to me anymore are the Camaro and Corvette. Then add the fact that I can't look at half of the vehicles on the road today dead on from the front and still can't tell them apart. Honorable mentions against this trend goes to Subaru and Mini.
Meanwhile the styling on European cars stays the same while both domestic and import vehicles keep changing their styling to look more European. I've been a long time Chevy buff and the only appealing vehicles to me anymore are the Camaro and Corvette. Then add the fact that I can't look at half of the vehicles on the road today dead on from the front and still can't tell them apart. Honorable mentions against this trend goes to Subaru and Mini.
I still daily my 1988 Mitsubishi Galant, saved it from an old lady where it has been sitting for 3 years. She drove like 1200mls summed up in the last 10 years,
Gave it a new battery and new oil, started it up and then drove it on a vacation trip the next day ~ 400 mls.
Only repairs were a broken thermostat and oil-pressure-sensor which costed 10€ to fix, the thermostat was broken from the beginning, the broke OPS in 2nd week of me having it. Since this I've driven it 8000mls without a single problem in the last 5 months, I also changed all the fluids and did some basic maintenance work like changing spark plugs, fuel filter that kinda stuff...
But that was all from my own motivation, the car ran pretty [censored] fine to begin with...
Its hands down the perfect car for me... It sits 5 people comfortably on supersoft seats, nice car for long roadtrips with a big trunk... Due to german legislation and it being an oldtimer I have to pay almost 0 taxes/insurance (I used to pay 1000€ a year for a crappy hatchback, now down to 200€ a year on insurance for a sedan..) and I average 40mpg (!) mixed city and highway.
Show me a modern car of that size that can run on that low costs.Especially taking dealership service prices, depreciation eccetera in consideration.
Plus, its actually becoming quite exotic, since me having it I've just seen one other Galant E30 on the road here in Germany. And that was the fuel-injected model, the carb-models seem to become real unicorns.
Gave it a new battery and new oil, started it up and then drove it on a vacation trip the next day ~ 400 mls.
Only repairs were a broken thermostat and oil-pressure-sensor which costed 10€ to fix, the thermostat was broken from the beginning, the broke OPS in 2nd week of me having it. Since this I've driven it 8000mls without a single problem in the last 5 months, I also changed all the fluids and did some basic maintenance work like changing spark plugs, fuel filter that kinda stuff...
But that was all from my own motivation, the car ran pretty [censored] fine to begin with...
Its hands down the perfect car for me... It sits 5 people comfortably on supersoft seats, nice car for long roadtrips with a big trunk... Due to german legislation and it being an oldtimer I have to pay almost 0 taxes/insurance (I used to pay 1000€ a year for a crappy hatchback, now down to 200€ a year on insurance for a sedan..) and I average 40mpg (!) mixed city and highway.
Show me a modern car of that size that can run on that low costs.Especially taking dealership service prices, depreciation eccetera in consideration.
Plus, its actually becoming quite exotic, since me having it I've just seen one other Galant E30 on the road here in Germany. And that was the fuel-injected model, the carb-models seem to become real unicorns.
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Think it all depends on how much you have to work on it, if any. The Dakota/Escape relatively little repairs despite the age. Just bought the Dakota but gpa didn't do much to it. Once everything is up to date should be good for years. The Focus though needs to killed by fire.. the modern day version of Christine. Once I figure out what went wrong it's either going to the junkyard or a new owner. If it was Toyota or Honda it would of been turned out differently. Even the Chevy chassis even though it's a Chevy nothing major yet. One thing is common among all my cars is the parts are cheap. We just relicensed all our cars for $400.. a new car would of cost that alone.
Originally Posted by Eric Smith
Think it all depends on how much you have to work on it, if any. The Dakota/Escape relatively little repairs despite the age. Just bought the Dakota but gpa didn't do much to it. Once everything is up to date should be good for years. The Focus though needs to killed by fire.. the modern day version of Christine. Once I figure out what went wrong it's either going to the junkyard or a new owner. If it was Toyota or Honda it would of been turned out differently. Even the Chevy chassis even though it's a Chevy nothing major yet. One thing is common among all my cars is the parts are cheap. We just relicensed all our cars for $400.. a new car would of cost that alone.
Think it all depends on how much you have to work on it, if any. The Dakota/Escape relatively little repairs despite the age. Just bought the Dakota but gpa didn't do much to it. Once everything is up to date should be good for years. The Focus though needs to killed by fire.. the modern day version of Christine. Once I figure out what went wrong it's either going to the junkyard or a new owner. If it was Toyota or Honda it would of been turned out differently. Even the Chevy chassis even though it's a Chevy nothing major yet. One thing is common among all my cars is the parts are cheap. We just relicensed all our cars for $400.. a new car would of cost that alone.
Agree with Broo. Visibility is one thing that older cars consistently have over newer cars. I understand that Subarus still have good visibility. I suspect that has something to do with their buoyant sales figures.
I was behind an old bmw at the stoplight the other day and I could read the license plate of the car in front of it.
I'm disinclined to trade in a perfectly good car, I'm one of those guys who goes to great lengths to beat the system.
I was behind an old bmw at the stoplight the other day and I could read the license plate of the car in front of it.
I'm disinclined to trade in a perfectly good car, I'm one of those guys who goes to great lengths to beat the system.
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