[quote=FlyerInHi][quote=spdrun]Shows how much you know about cars, FIH.[/quote]
spd and bg, I grew up with brothers who were tickerers. they had many cars.
Turbos add complexity and heat. More things to go bad. Like choose a stick shift over automatic if you want to keep your car for decades. Only makes sense.
Now, if you like fixing things and have time and/or money, then all the more power to you. Everything can be fixed. Some people love their old cars and will put a lot of money in them.
I actually understand car culture.. but cars are now more complex and young people don’t have the same passion for cars anymore. I think they care more about the smart phone docking station.[/quote]
I agree about the stick shift, FIH, but there aren’t too many of those models available new anymore (except poss by special order).
I don’t think it’s about “love” or an emotional attachment to a machine that causes people to keep older cars running. It’s about money, plain and simple. It’s far cheaper to register and insure and older vehicle. If it is a “reliable” brand (such as a Toyota product) then they don’t cost as much to maintain as many other brands, aside from the normal parts in every vehicle that need to be replaced at certain intervals, i.e. water pump, timing belt, alternator, oxygen sensors, etc. Some vehicle engines are rated for 350K …. or even 500K miles before they are well-known to need major work. That is … IF they are not abused and are well-maintained. The reality is that new vehicles (luxury cars, in particular) have doubled or nearly doubled in price for same or similar model since about 1991. Some of the newer models have even been “dumbed down” in interior, exterior and trunk size to compete with an ever-widening luxury vehicle market.
If someone who has been driving a “luxury” car for decades doesn’t care about all the electronic BS installed in newer (same or similar) models and their vehicle still runs great, why would they attempt to sell their aging vehicle for a mere $2500-$4000 (or give it to a relative) only to turn around and spend $60-$90K (yes, I said $90K) on a new model (or even $45-50K on a late model similar vehicle) cash or credit? And why would a person over the age of 55 (who doesn’t commute anymore and thus has a lower income) even want an auto loan? (I honestly don’t know anyone in this category who has one.)
And why would a person used to driving a heavy luxury vehicle on the open road (w/dbl wishbone suspension, etc) for decades want to sell it and then buy a new Corolla for $22K? What would be the incentive to do something like that?
Even if one has the money to purchase, replacing their vehicle with another new or late model vehicle doesn’t make sense for everyone because every driver’s circumstances are different.
