old cars and new cars

Lashout_UK said:
I know what you mean - but as a counterpoint in some cases that's what gives older cars their character - because they have equipment or features like that, ahead of their time, or things implemented in ways you don't see any more, or wouldn't have thought of.

You can find older cars with technology like that you mention as well - many American and German cars of the late 70s and 80s came with audio alerts, adjustable dashboards, numerous trip computer features and abilities and various readouts and displays that you wouldn't have thought existed....

Contrary to popular belief character is not random bits of trim rattling, or intermittently failing electrics - it's things like the beautiful engineering and detailing that goes into a Rover P5, the modern car-like ride of a straight-six engined Triumph saloon, the grin on your face from the shunt given from even a mild 350ci smallblock V8, these are aspects that make the cars what they are.
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I know what you mean

the C4 Corvette dashboard is a case in point

http://www.advancedelectronics.org/images/1988 Corvette dash.jpg

Very funky looking !

Still prefer this however :(

http://images.newcars.com/images/ca...g-Coupe-Hatchback-V6-2dr-Coupe-Interior-2.png
 
Yea the dash on the C4s is awesome, especially at night - being inside one is just like being in a stealth bomber, especially in the darker colours - with the big wall of little orange lights that make up the climate system and stereo in the centre, the chunky illuminated toggle switches for the trip computer and the digital dash glowing softly in the dark.......very atmospheric, especially when looking out over the muscular bonnet and with the TPI engine barely ticking over at a 70mph cruise. Get one with a transparent targa top and you'll have the moon and stars visible overhead as well, just like your own fighter canopy :D

Things like the milled alloy/steel GM detailed seat buckles are awesome too, real solid feel and great looking to boot. So many manufacturers miss out on the details like this these days -sighs-
 
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[TW]Fox;17433194 said:
Whether a car is new or not I guess depends on the context.

My car is 8 years old so is quite obviously not a new car. However in the context of this thread I don't see how it can be anything but in the 'new' category - it has all of the attributes of a 'new' car that people who like 'old' cars dislike - ie Dynamic Stability Control, ABS, Xenons, blah blah.

I think what really we mean here is 'modern cars' rather than 'new cars'.
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I agree with you there mate - I often smile to myself when you describe your car as "old" - its still, I'd argue, better than many many "new" cars on sale.....
 
I think this thread does well to highlight why some people do just like older cars :).

People (particularly at work) are always giving me flack for messing around with old cars. Comments like "With all the money you spend on sheds you could have bought something newer" sort of miff me. Yes, it could buy me something newer, but maybe I just don't want to?

For the most part rocking old cars is a choice :cool:.
 
If someone asks me why I don't just buy something new then they clearly don't 'get it' and I disregard them. I have little time for this person when I have important spannering to be getting on with.

I ought to tell them to go away and worry about how safe their car is in case they crash it :p
 
I like new details and options, but I do not think its worth spending so much extra money on.
I also prefer the looks of old cars over new cars that are produced now, most look like **** imo. Especially all the tiny euro city hatchbacks.

For example, one of my colleagues has a fully specced brand new fiesta, but for the price, I'd rather have 10 cars like I have than 1 brand new fiesta, it is definitely no where near worth the difference.

I long for buying something like a 1976 Cadillac Eldorado (lpg'd of course :D, petrol would be too, erm expensive) some day or a different yank tank, I think they have far more style than a new Toyota Aygo or Fiesta, they cost half the price too, tax free (because of age) just like all those ecomobiles and the difference in price I'd rather spend on maintaining it than having a brand new car.
 
snowdog said:
I like new details and options, but I do not think its worth spending so much extra money on.
I also prefer the looks of old cars over new cars that are produced now, most look like **** imo. Especially all the tiny euro city hatchbacks.

For example, one of my colleagues has a fully specced brand new fiesta, but for the price, I'd rather have 10 cars like I have than 1 brand new fiesta, it is definitely no where near worth the difference.

I long for buying something like a 1976 Cadillac Eldorado (lpg'd of course :D, petrol would be too, erm expensive) some day or a different yank tank, I think they have far more style than a new Toyota Aygo or Fiesta, they cost half the price too.
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You just compared old big cars to new small ones.

Why would you do that?
 
[TW]Fox;17438077 said:
You just compared old big cars to new small ones.

Why would you do that?
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Fine, I'd prefer an early opel Kadett over an astra or an escort over a focus if I was purely going on exterior looks, or a classic mini austin over a bmw mini. Far nicer style and presence than current equivalents.
Or an E30 bmw over an E90.
 
I much prefer the styling of older cars, new cars just don't do it for me as much.

Not even that fussed about toys etc, that's what gadgets are for.
 
[TW]Fox;17438144 said:
Why would you buy a car purely on exterior looks?
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Because you grow attached to things you like the look of. And it's the first thing other people notice. This is more important than plastic feel imo.
 
[TW]Fox;17438206 said:
Sure but PURELY based on exteroir looks?

That means you'd buy a 1 litre car if it looked amazing.
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Yeah, I'd buy an Austin mini purely because I quite like the look of one. I wouldn't mind owning one even if I had to push it once every couple of weeks because something failed on me. I'd prefer it to work but I'd own it purely because I'd love the look of it. Would rather have one than a corsa or twingo or so.
 
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You could buy one, but you've not, have you? You've got a Gallant instead. So clearly, it's a load of rubbish isnt it. Because in the real world we dont buy cars purely based on asthetics.
 
[TW]Fox;17438240 said:
You could buy one, but you've not, have you? You've got a Gallant instead. So clearly, it's a load of rubbish isnt it. Because in the real world we dont buy cars purely based on asthetics.
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The Galant was picked over a Mondeo over asthetics...
I had different requirements though, I wanted something faster and more comfy than the Volvo, if the Volvo goes, who knows I might buy a tiny oldtimer as my 2nd car. Before you bombard me with ''that's expensive buy 1 nice ca blah'', it would be nearly nothing to keep it for a drive once per week, tax is free here for cars older than 25 years, oldtimer insurance is peanuts and I'd mainly drive the ''main driver''. If I was purely keeping it near my home it'd cost me 2 tenners per month.
 
[TW]Fox;17438275 said:
So more than just asthetics?



I see - 2 non-asthetic based criteria?
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Let's just say, after 1 car with other criteria, I'd love to own a 2nd purely for aesthetics, which I'll probably do sometime in the future.
What would be wrong with owning a 70's yank tank or an old mini or similar for the looks next to the daily driver ?
 
I've had a surprising amount of people comment that they like the "old car smell" my mini has. sexappeal :p
 
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