old cars and new cars

snowdog · 23 Sep 2010 at 23:01

R420LA6X2/4MNA said:
Give up Snowdog, you won't win.....

He won't convince me wrong either though, I care about looks and I'm willing to buy a car purely for the style/looks, if I'm done with the Galant and the Volvo goes, who knows what my next buy will be, it may be a 70's yank tank or an old austin mini, or nothing at all, if I like the look of something I'll probably buy it though, simply because I can and want to. Fair enough the primary things is if it goes from A to B, practicality and comfort, but after that, you can create other priority's.

Joshy · 23 Sep 2010 at 23:15

I do sort of agree with Snowdog

eek

. I do MUCH prefer the looks of older cars (New cars rarely have the "aggression" and boxiness in the design that I love), but I don't think I'd ever buy a car solely based on it's looks. It certainly helps though - I'd buy an E30 M3 because it looks so utterly purposeful, but the fact that they are brilliant to drive and have a fantastic engine is also going to affect the decision. I'd buy an old Turbo RT because it is (to me) one of the most imposing cars on the planet, but I'm not exactly going to forget the plush leather interior, etc.

I guess I arks back to that old debate of is a car ever a piece of art? Personally I believe that they can be, but certainly not a run of the mill Mini, Caddy Eldorado or a Galant

.

Actually come to think of it, I can't think of anything that I'd own just because it looks nice, I.E it is an absoultely hideous car to own, sit in and drive, but looks nice. Can anyone?

Kei · 23 Sep 2010 at 23:49

I am also an older car fan, most things pre 2000. I like older cars as they have more character and somehow in a fair number of cases feel better built than modern cars. I like to be able to open the bonnet and access all that i need to with ease rather than remove several layers of plastic 'don't touch' covers. I also believe that some of the older engines are more reliable than the new. Mostly due to emissions regs and trying to get maximum mpg by skimping on strength to save weight.

To me most modern cars are boring, ugly and uninvolving. Too many gadgets and way too much plastic. I don't know what car designers have been on in the last 10 years, but most of the ordinary cars you see on the roads these days are hideous. (ignoring super cars as they are uncommon) Probably an artifact of pedestrian safety. It seems the further back you go the more stylish cars look. 60's cars really have something special about the way they look. I still think old super cars still look better than the modern stuff. They are more interesting, even if they are only as fast as a modern saloon. For example if i were offered a modern 911 or a classic 80's 911, i'd take the 80's one any day of thee week.

I will admit there are aspects of modern cars that i prefer, for example Bi-xenon headlamps, Led dash illumination, curtain airbags and ipod connectivity. My 15 year old car has virtually everything else that you can get nowadays.

I heavily base my choice on style and appearance, both inside and out. Even though i'm inside it when i drive it, if i can't stand the way it looks i won't have it. Generally if i consider a car to be ugly, i won't even bother to try it. Its the same at the opposite end though, i won't buy a car that i consider to be spectacular to look at but awful to drive.

[TW]Fox · 23 Sep 2010 at 23:50

Kei said:
To me most modern cars are boring, ugly and uninvolving.

Last time I checked the GM front wheel drive Saab 900 was not really known for being particularly stylish or its driver involvement so this seems a curious reason to dislike modern cars?

Kei · 24 Sep 2010 at 00:40

Odd i know, and i don't expect anyone to understand why i like it, especially since it is considered by saab fans as the worst handling car they ever produced. I prefer the pre GM 900 but i like the way the GM version looks and i don't find its handling to be anywhere near as bad as the press made out. OK so i've got a few mods done to my suspension to enhance it and the ride is better on 17" wheels as you get better tyres in this size vs 15". I've only driven 7 cars and out of them all the 900 has been the nicest. (though the other cars aren't exactly great. 2 Fiestas, a matiz, a Nissan Note, an E36 318 and an '06 civic. The worst was the matiz by a clear mile, the best by a whisker was the 318 as although it was a poor example it was fun to drive) After 12 years living with the car i still love being in it and going places, i don't find it boring and i find the style to be perfect. To my mad mind, but then i consider most other cars to be quite ugly in comparison including other saabs. Vauxhalls and fords tend to be the worst, but i can't profess to being a fan of many german cars. Quite liked a few japanese cars though, like some of the toyotas during the 90's. Of the germans cars, I quite liked the bmw touring models, the E24 saloon is my fav and 2002 turbo was strangely attractive. The old boxy VW golf gti's were ok and i quite liked the old merc SL500 and did like the C coupe. All the above is based solely upon looks though.

Biohazard · 24 Sep 2010 at 01:03

I like my car, its pretty full on in a drive sense and the only driving aid being belt driven power steering.

It has 80's refinements such as electric windows mirrors sunroof, central locking and plip, a digital clock and trip computer, you stick put a single din headunit in it lol, its black inside and has cloth bucket seats.

The only difference between that and the bmw nearly 10 years older is having auto-click on the windows/s-roof with bmw, a fancier rearview mirror and more elaborate trip, ABS and A/C.

Xenons would be handy for the renault, but I don't want to try any silly kit really but other than that I'll leave everything else.

I don't like ABS, and even if I had a boatload of money I'd still be favouring less interupted vehicles or moddifying them as such. Or, turning the switches to off?

Begbie · 24 Sep 2010 at 07:08

[TW]Fox;17438170 said:
Explain

I just have no need for umpteen gadgets in my car, icontrol (or whatever BMW call it), multiple displays, loads of buttons to press. A CD player is all thats needed really.

Joshy · 24 Sep 2010 at 07:45

Begbie said:
I just have no need for umpteen gadgets in my car, icontrol (or whatever BMW call it), multiple displays, loads of buttons to press. A CD player is all thats needed really.

I'm the opposite. I LOVE gadgets, but am simply not willing to put up with acres upon acres of dull, deary plastic that you will fit behind the wheel of many Modern cars. That's why I'm a fan of old Luxo Barges. They've still got the toys, but seem just a little bit more special than something "modern"

.

[TW]Fox · 24 Sep 2010 at 08:09

Begbie said:
I just have no need for umpteen gadgets in my car, icontrol (or whatever BMW call it), multiple displays, loads of buttons to press. A CD player is all thats needed really.

And the 'thats what gadgets are for' bit?

I find its common than people convince themselves they don't want what they've not got.

I mean hey, I don't even want a Porsche anyway.

godinman · 24 Sep 2010 at 08:18

[TW]Fox;17439653 said:
And the 'thats what gadgets are for' bit?

I find its common than people convince themselves they don't want what they've not got.

I mean hey, I don't even want a Porsche anyway.

Sort of true, but then again most people who can afford to run an older car and not have it turn into a complete shed could, if they wanted, afford a newer car with lots of gadgets and things, yet they choose not to. Hmmm :/

Marine Iguana · 24 Sep 2010 at 08:20

I have electric windows I'm such a gadget whore it's shameful

(the only modern thing my car has

)

DM · 24 Sep 2010 at 08:28

godinman said:
Sort of true, but then again most people who can afford to run an older car and not have it turn into a complete shed could, if they wanted, afford a newer car with lots of gadgets and things, yet they choose not to. Hmmm :/

Theres older then old.

Driving a car like yours is not a chore, you got ABS, power steering, servo brakes possibly air con. So its still possible as a daily driver without the grind.

Now go and live with a Ford Escort from the 70s and see how long that lasts, even a mint one.

I havent seen anyone on here conducting a labour of love yet, ie very old car and doing lots of miles daily in it.

godinman · 24 Sep 2010 at 08:46

I havne't got ABS or Aircon

I see your point, but I think you missed mine slightly. I was just saying that these people could easily afford a newish car with aircon etc, but still choose not to. It's not a case of having to convince themselves, its a case of actually not wanting these things.

DM · 24 Sep 2010 at 09:04

godinman said:
I havne't got ABS or Aircon

I see your point, but I think you missed mine slightly. I was just saying that these people could easily afford a newish car with aircon etc, but still choose not to. It's not a case of having to convince themselves, its a case of actually not wanting these things.

Sorry i wasnt clear, i got that but what im saying is that only works up to a point, there are very few people that will put up with what i call an old car regardless of how much they supposedly love them.

Everyone wants something modern, even if its just a synchromesh gearbox and a brake servo

Anyway im rambling, because im old

godinman · 24 Sep 2010 at 09:11

Ar I see, I suppose I'd love an Austin 10 or something, but wouldn't actually want to drive one to work everyday.

Anyway im jumping to conclusions because im young

Gornall · 24 Sep 2010 at 10:54

[TW]Fox;17432362 said:
I guarantee there are various trim noises that were not there 20 years ago.

Old cars all the way.

I find very little character in new cars. Plus new car doesn't mean well made.

Fiancés Dad loves his BMWs but even he admits they have the niggles and quirks.

[TW]Fox · 24 Sep 2010 at 11:00

Character. Is that the name used instead of 'flaws'?

Gornall · 24 Sep 2010 at 11:01

R420LA6X2/4MNA said:
Give up Snowdog, you won't win.....

Mainly because Fox is a seasoned vet in picking fault if you say remotely anything that contradicts his opinion.

Gornall · 24 Sep 2010 at 11:03

[TW]Fox;17440582 said:
Character. Is that the name used instead of 'flaws'?

Don't know why but you really wind me up.

So naive, narrow minded. Modern cars are free from problems? Completely?

"Aesthetic" character is pretty much none existent in my opinion on the newer cars.

MrKnifey · 24 Sep 2010 at 11:07

I think it also depends on the way your "into" cars. For me I hate washing and polishing cars, id rather be under the bonnet getting dirty fixing something. However, I assume Fox is opposite to me. So I think thats why you get some people who wont drive an older car and people who will.. It all comes down to what you want out of your hobbie.. Just my opinion..