Howdy all,
While listening to talk radio today( one of 20 million regular listeners)I heard the Great One today comment on an AP story about how Americans are Spending Lots of money on repairing their existing cars. Even more than the cars net Blue book value in many cases.
All this to avoid spending money in the form of Contractual debt for new cars! Yes! The masses have woke up to the fact that excessive consumption is bad for their future. Old cars are not only cool but more cost effective to maintain.
Well, I had bought my last new car over 8 years ago, and I can't count what the GTi has eaten up in 25 years, but I swore I'd get even with the bank and the state of Californicate. My Pinto is next in the resurrection cycle.
I feel for Detroit as an industry, but much of my anger is vested in the system of "telling" me what is available to buy and drive. We've had the answer for years but nobody was listening, I'll bet they are listening now.
I want a New Pinto with limited or no OBD and more sound performance dynamics right off the Showroom floor. I'd pay 25k for it too, but not what I'm seeing today with FWD.
OK , the Opinion ball is in your court :mad:
Pintosopher
When the Escort ZX2 first came out I thought, " That looks like a modern Pinto!" This excited me. As for the new cars, you're right. Who are they to tell me what I can drive!? I want a car that has no airbags, for instance. My short stature guarantees that I'll be right up to the steering wheel so I can reach the pedals. I'm not going to do a Short Round (Indiana Jones And The Temple Of Doom) and tie blocks of wood to my feet or the pedals so that Dog forbid I get into a collision I won't break my arm or worse when the AB engages. I don't need the modern gewgaws that cars nowadays sport. A radio yes. Certain gauges yes. DVD player and automatic seats no.
BTW, while I was at the carburetor guy's shop I saw two COUNT 'EM TWO!!! AMC Pacers and the Merc. version of a Gran Torino (Grand Marquis?) in Saddle Bronze Metallic! It really excites me to see these great old cars in public!
I've gone both directions at various times in my life. Years ago I had a daily driver 1965 Bug which would pull the front wheels on the rare occasions it hooked. I got tired of having to push it regularly, sold it and got a GTI, which I sold with well over 200,000 miles on the clock. Plenty of money put into both improving and maintaining those two. I got rid of the GTI because I bought a brand new 2003 Dodge SRT-4. The SRT is hands down the best car I have ever owned...even if it *is* front wheel drive. Fast, handles, comfortable and looks good. Better yet, it starts and runs every time I turn the key, which is more than I can say about any used car I've ever bought. I've got close to 120,000 miles on it and the only repair I've had to do to it was replacing an oil pan cracked by wheelhop and an electrical connector which broke. Other than that just the usual maintenance stuff. My experience with the Dodge says there's nothing wrong with a well chosen new car. I did my research and it continues to pay off.
I've gone both ways over the years too. I've had cars as old as 1958 (a Renault) and as new as a 2006 (PT Cruiser) and many, many other cars in between. I'd rather not have an airbag, and I'd rather not have a car payment. I also agree that we should be able to drive whatever we want. I want a Pinto, and that's what I have. When I wanted a Mercedes, I bought one (long story). I've tried out SAABs, Audis, Chevys, VWs, Chryslers, but I came back to the Pinto.
My $.02
Chuck