tbm3fan
Old Man with a Hat
I don't know about that. My 2004 LeSabre has the battery under the right hand side of the rear seat. Easy to get at and it does stay very clean and dry.
Why I drive old cars.
- Thread starter Rustyrodknocker
- Start date
I don't know about that. My 2004 LeSabre has the battery under the right hand side of the rear seat. Easy to get at and it does stay very clean and dry.
In 1985, my daily-driver was a 20 year-old car (1965 Dodge Polara).
In 1993, my daily-driver was a 20 year-old car (1973 Plymouth Satellite).
In 2024, my daily driver is a 20 year-old car (2004 Chrysler 300m).
I think there is a pattern here. But note that in 2000, my daily driver was a zero-year-old car (2000 Chrysler 300m).
In 1993, my daily-driver was a 20 year-old car (1973 Plymouth Satellite).
In 2024, my daily driver is a 20 year-old car (2004 Chrysler 300m).
I think there is a pattern here. But note that in 2000, my daily driver was a zero-year-old car (2000 Chrysler 300m).
ragtop
New Member
New cars are not made to fit people who are 6'5". Which is one of the reasons I enjoy driving my 65 Sport Fury. I fit in it with room to spare.
Northcoast300h
Active Member
Today's cars are better in almost every way than the 1960-70's. Safer, faster, easier to drive and better on the environment. (No more breathing horrible smog, exhaust, lead (autism, learning disabilities) like every downtown had in the 1970's). Most 1960/70's muscle cars are overrated today and therefore way too expensive, getting beat by today's Kia's and Hyundai's.
The only advantages of old cars is style and cost. Lower cost of ownership, insurance, repairing.
Safety is much better today. All of us on this forum are driving beer cans, which is kind of scary out there, but its not like we're riding motorcycles, so to me, I guess its worth the risk. Since 2009, there's been a number of advancements. From the comments, I think the 1959 car dude would have either died or a vegetable with no legs. A 2024 car dude would have got out and started uploading his stupid tik tok videos the next minute.
The only advantages of old cars is style and cost. Lower cost of ownership, insurance, repairing.
Safety is much better today. All of us on this forum are driving beer cans, which is kind of scary out there, but its not like we're riding motorcycles, so to me, I guess its worth the risk. Since 2009, there's been a number of advancements. From the comments, I think the 1959 car dude would have either died or a vegetable with no legs. A 2024 car dude would have got out and started uploading his stupid tik tok videos the next minute.
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LocuMob
Fluid Technician with a hat
I'll die in my old car before id ever get either one of those pieces of crap. No way either one is gonna beat a proper muscle car, on any level other than which one won't be missed if it gets destroyed.
57fury440
Well-Known Member
I can drive the E body Barracudas and roll the windows down on a nice day. The wind doesn't blow havoc in the car, and it is comfortable. If you roll the windows down on a new vehicle the wind buffeting blows your eardrums out. When I drive my new cars, you have to leave the windows up or just put them down a little. They are designed to use the air conditioning while driving. I think it is no contest that overall the newer cars are safer and are better on gas mileage but most lack any fun driving experience. Speed is not the only thing that is important to me however My 57 will not lose at a stoplight to a Kia or Hyundai.
Just Carbs
Well-Known Member
The 1959 GM and Ford cars used an A pillar that slanted forward. A most deadly sin as seen in the vid.
Fortunately, Chrysler didn't do that.
artr8
New Member
The question is: “Why I drive old cars”
For me, my wife and kids drove the 2015 up vehicles. Their idea of a car repair is “call the shop.” Of course, none have had to pay for the bill.
My newest is a 99 Ford, then an 84 Dodge, followed by 72 Plymouth. I know each of them and can rely on a cross country reliability. Sure, little things go wrong, wear out, and require service. When it comes to it, few garage hours and back on the road.
No dealer touches them.
For me, my wife and kids drove the 2015 up vehicles. Their idea of a car repair is “call the shop.” Of course, none have had to pay for the bill.
My newest is a 99 Ford, then an 84 Dodge, followed by 72 Plymouth. I know each of them and can rely on a cross country reliability. Sure, little things go wrong, wear out, and require service. When it comes to it, few garage hours and back on the road.
No dealer touches them.
Have to say though, with what we know now the electrical systems are quite outdated...ammeter bypass anyone?
But yeah it's a shame to see how Chrysler used to make such great cars and now they're just meh, save for the halo cars like challengers etc.
I remember reading somewhere that seatbelts + airbags resulted in about a 5% lower fatality rate versus seatbelts only. Depending on whom you ask, every bit counts, or it's not really worth the added expense and trouble that comes with needing to perform repairs around the airbag systems (don't tilt that airbag sensor...)
When you say beat, what do you actually mean though? If you buy a car for its 0-60 time then you might as well just get a tesla and call it a day. If you buy a car for its cost then you get a corolla, or something that you couldn't care less about beyond oil and air filter changes and you can depend upon to get you from A to B and nothing more. Though I have to say the toyota tax is real, corollas used to be a cheap runabout. If you want something fun, that puts a smile on your face even just thinking about driving it (and it doesn't have to be a 60s muscle car either), older cars are much more likely to do this, at which point then you go and buy whatever it is, because as time goes on, it's not going to get any cheaper, and before you know it, when you DO have the money that you worked your *** off for, your body is too far gone to actually enjoy it.
As for OP's original question, old cars have everything I want, and none of what I don't need.
I really don't want anything newer than the year 2000, maybe 2005 at most. For me, late 60s had style, late 80s was when EFI was starting to be perfected, and the 90s were the peak of reliability, safety (though to be honest I put that on a back seat as I just drive like everyone around me is drunk and keep my head on a swivel at intersections), tunability and ease of maintenance (most of the time) and emissions components.
Just Carbs
Well-Known Member
Have to say though, with what we know now the electrical systems are quite outdated...ammeter bypass anyone?
But yeah it's a shame to see how Chrysler used to make such great cars and now they're just meh, save for the halo cars like challengers etc.
I remember reading somewhere that seatbelts + airbags resulted in about a 5% lower fatality rate versus seatbelts only. Depending on whom you ask, every bit counts, or it's not really worth the added expense and trouble that comes with needing to perform repairs around the airbag systems (don't tilt that airbag sensor...)
When you say beat, what do you actually mean though? If you buy a car for its 0-60 time then you might as well just get a tesla and call it a day. If you buy a car for its cost then you get a corolla, or something that you couldn't care less about beyond oil and air filter changes and you can depend upon to get you from A to B and nothing more. Though I have to say the toyota tax is real, corollas used to be a cheap runabout. If you want something fun, that puts a smile on your face even just thinking about driving it (and it doesn't have to be a 60s muscle car either), older cars are much more likely to do this, at which point then you go and buy whatever it is, because as time goes on, it's not going to get any cheaper, and before you know it, when you DO have the money that you worked your *** off for, your body is too far gone to actually enjoy it.
As for OP's original question, old cars have everything I want, and none of what I don't need.
I really don't want anything newer than the year 2000, maybe 2005 at most. For me, late 60s had style, late 80s was when EFI was starting to be perfected, and the 90s were the peak of reliability, safety (though to be honest I put that on a back seat as I just drive like everyone around me is drunk and keep my head on a swivel at intersections), tunability and ease of maintenance (most of the time) and emissions components.
Well, I get your point about the 90s. I just sold a clean low milage 300 hp 98 Cadillac Deville because of the pain in the butt consistent nagging incident of repairs. It is a rather complicated car. The looming threat of the "big" repair bill sent the car down the road.
However, it did go 0 to 60 in 7 seconds, got 18 to 26 mpg, road well enough, was quiet and handled very well.
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