Modern cars are undoubtedly more reliable and require less maintenance. No more greasing the suspension every 1000 miles. But the downside is that if they do break down, it's liable to be a lot more complicated, time consuming and expensive to fix than a dodgy condenser or lose HT lead.
Modern Cars
- Thread starter Hilldodger
- Start date
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Night Train
Maker of Things
- Location
- Greater Manchester
I must admit I love old cars, Morgans in particular and Scammell lories for the fun of driving them. But I do not have rose tinted specs. I remember jump starting every morning, no heating, no demisters, wipers that didn't wipe well, tiny mirrors, broken off window winders, weekly maintenance on top of weekly checks, water leaks, rattley windows, noisy engines, bad handling, etc.
Day to day I also love being able to get in a car that starts immediately, doesn't smoke, drives smoothly and comfortably, demists quickly and heats up in winter and cools down in summer. I like electric windows and mirrors as I can clear all four of them of rain and mist at a touch of a button while driving. The electric mirrors are good when parking sometimes as I can move the nearside one around to have a look at the blind areas first. The six CD changer is also good as it saves me being distracted on a drive looking for something different to listen to.
Traction control ABS and stability control has got me out of trouble a few times and saved a few prangs into other idiots on the road.
I don't have cruise control but did on my Dad's Land Rover Discovery. It saved fuel and stress on the motorway as I just set it at 60mph and relaxed.
I like manual gearboxes for the control and fuel economy but when I am towing a trailer I would love an auto for the torque converter, especially when reversing up a hill.
An old car would be fun, give me a 1929 blower Bentley any day, but for A-B and day to day, I would go for modern.
Day to day I also love being able to get in a car that starts immediately, doesn't smoke, drives smoothly and comfortably, demists quickly and heats up in winter and cools down in summer. I like electric windows and mirrors as I can clear all four of them of rain and mist at a touch of a button while driving. The electric mirrors are good when parking sometimes as I can move the nearside one around to have a look at the blind areas first. The six CD changer is also good as it saves me being distracted on a drive looking for something different to listen to.
Traction control ABS and stability control has got me out of trouble a few times and saved a few prangs into other idiots on the road.
I don't have cruise control but did on my Dad's Land Rover Discovery. It saved fuel and stress on the motorway as I just set it at 60mph and relaxed.
I like manual gearboxes for the control and fuel economy but when I am towing a trailer I would love an auto for the torque converter, especially when reversing up a hill.
An old car would be fun, give me a 1929 blower Bentley any day, but for A-B and day to day, I would go for modern.
Arch
Married to Night Train
- Location
- Salford, UK
Night Train said:
You can get them help on the NHS for that...
Night Train
Maker of Things
- Location
- Greater Manchester
I used to be a car surgeon and have done a few heart transplants due to excess smoking. Even done a few limb transplants and joint replacements.Arch said:
Night Train
Maker of Things
- Location
- Greater Manchester
Depends, car euthanasia is legal in this country.
col
Legendary Member
Iv always liked the old and small car. My fave was the fiat 126 where you pulled a lever to start it.I even have a small modern one, as you seem to get more room and feels bigger inside. Iv tried other cars and bigger more expensive,but they seem too closed in and not much room inside for me.
Lardyboy
New Member
- Location
- Still Somewhere In Wales.
I wish I still had my Austin A30. Never failed to start, whatever the weather, very economical, room for 4 adults, very easy to work on if anything needed doing (which wasn't very often), and a veritable babe magnet as well!
Still got a 1970 MGB roadster, which I was trying to get back on the road for the last couple of years but just haven't found the time.
Still got a 1970 MGB roadster, which I was trying to get back on the road for the last couple of years but just haven't found the time.
Twenty Inch
Guru
- Location
- Behind a desk
Smokin Joe said:
Well said that man. I drive a 1988 Citroen BX.
Andy Pandy
New Member
- Location
- Belfast
I'm split between old and new. Just ordered a new Alpha Romeo Mito. Should have got it a few weeks but the bast*rds won't build it (credit crunch and all that). I also have a air cooled VW camper. Great fun to drive, love using it, but trying to keep it on the road is a real headache. Try changing a clutch cable at the side of a road, no fun. As for the gear box, heater, seats, fuel consumption, lack of brakes, steering, etc don't get me started!!
Black Sheep
Guru
- Location
- Rammy
the thing is, i'd guess your VW is about 40-50 years old (unless its an early split or late bay) when your alpha (or if, giving into the traditional ribbing about alpha's) is just as old, the hydraulic systems in it will all have had some kind of problem, possibly a leak, gear box wear and tear, engine wear that the ECU has never been programmed for and so can't figure out whats wrong leading to other problems
the VW was built simply, with some looking after it runs nicely, i know a few people who have them and ok, when they get temperamental the best way to sort it is spend a weekend re-building the engine but they are relatively trouble free
get a modern car with a couple of age related problems (such as my fiancee's old car) and its a complete pain - its only 10 years old and i've replaced the ECU and if it goes again, it's having carburetors put on it! (proberbly won't)
my car was built in 1979, its nice and simple and works well, isn't smokey and does an mpg that rivals a large estate car (ok, so its a bit less efficient since its a fiesta) however, i've had less mpg out of a toyota prius by driving it the same as i'd drive my fiesta! i don't see why i should have to baby a car with my driving, yes, don't drive with a lead foot, but waiting for a gap i could get a bus out in just to save fuel? no.
needless to say the toyota bloke wasn't impressed.
I borrowed my dad's new panda over christmas (my car has been bitten by rust and needs a bit of work) and the rear view mirror causes a blind spot that has nearly caused me to crash into the back of things on left hand bends (i'm only 6ft!) so forget about the sun visors, infact, most modern cars i have a similar problem with, i can even headbutt the folded away sunvisor in a pugeot 206 with a little bit of assistance from an emergency stop, and thats with the seat right the way back
cars are getting bigger apparently for safety
they're also getting heavier
ok, so compared to a modern fiesta, i'm more likely to suffer injury in my car,
how about people are told to assess conditions and situations (the hazard perception test is a joke tbh) and thus learn how to drive safely for the stretch of road they are on?
the VW was built simply, with some looking after it runs nicely, i know a few people who have them and ok, when they get temperamental the best way to sort it is spend a weekend re-building the engine but they are relatively trouble free
get a modern car with a couple of age related problems (such as my fiancee's old car) and its a complete pain - its only 10 years old and i've replaced the ECU and if it goes again, it's having carburetors put on it! (proberbly won't)
my car was built in 1979, its nice and simple and works well, isn't smokey and does an mpg that rivals a large estate car (ok, so its a bit less efficient since its a fiesta) however, i've had less mpg out of a toyota prius by driving it the same as i'd drive my fiesta! i don't see why i should have to baby a car with my driving, yes, don't drive with a lead foot, but waiting for a gap i could get a bus out in just to save fuel? no.
needless to say the toyota bloke wasn't impressed.
I borrowed my dad's new panda over christmas (my car has been bitten by rust and needs a bit of work) and the rear view mirror causes a blind spot that has nearly caused me to crash into the back of things on left hand bends (i'm only 6ft!) so forget about the sun visors, infact, most modern cars i have a similar problem with, i can even headbutt the folded away sunvisor in a pugeot 206 with a little bit of assistance from an emergency stop, and thats with the seat right the way back
cars are getting bigger apparently for safety
they're also getting heavier
ok, so compared to a modern fiesta, i'm more likely to suffer injury in my car,
how about people are told to assess conditions and situations (the hazard perception test is a joke tbh) and thus learn how to drive safely for the stretch of road they are on?
cheadle hulme
Guru
- Location
- Llandudno
Just bought this 20 mins ago..
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=300290593164&ssPageName=ADME:X:AAQ:GB:1123
used to have an estelle 105 but they're rare these days. It'll pee the neighbours off, especially if I park it on the street and they can't fit their Discovery in front of the house (they have 3 cars).
Its about £100 more than I wanted to pay, but got a bit carried away. Still, it looks like the same old guy has owned it since new, should be in decent nick.
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=300290593164&ssPageName=ADME:X:AAQ:GB:1123
used to have an estelle 105 but they're rare these days. It'll pee the neighbours off, especially if I park it on the street and they can't fit their Discovery in front of the house (they have 3 cars).
Its about £100 more than I wanted to pay, but got a bit carried away. Still, it looks like the same old guy has owned it since new, should be in decent nick.
fossyant
Ride It Like You Stole It!
- Location
- South Manchester
Bargain that - the Felicia's is supposed to be good - basic VW technology... but reliable.
Night Train
Maker of Things
- Location
- Greater Manchester
My ex wife had one of those from new and did nearly 200,000 miles in it before she traded up to a Fabia.cheadle hulme said:
I wouldn't say no to a Skoda Estelle or 136 Rapid.
