From Cars 2, English Cars Marking Their "Spot" Options

[DBCooper]

I'm an ex owner of Austin Healeys and BSA's, so I laughed out loud at the line from Cars 2 describing English cars: "If there ain't no oil under it there ain't no oil in it."

Great line. Fun when they're running, but....

Got me to thinking about 914's. I read a thread from someone with no mechanical experience asking about the viability of owning a 914. I generally wouldn't recommend that anyone own a 40 year old car if he couldn't fix most things himself, but then I realized that on my car the mechanical things are pretty much nailed down. I work on it regularly, but they're mostly upgrades, new rubber, upholstery, seals, etc. Still need to install more seals, a new fuse box, detail the trunks, new glove box, carpets, etc, but nothing that would leave me stranded. The times it's broken down it was really me, breaking CV joints or something else perfectly avoidable. I still think I'd be hesitant to recommend any old car for someone with no mechanical abilities. Porsches might make me stop to think, but I'd sure as hell never recommend a 40 year old English or Italian car. Heck, even cartoons make fun of them.


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[r_towle]

Different strokes for different folks.

Having three boys and a girl, I only am comfortable having my number two son "Rocket" driving an old car.

The two other boys make me fear them driving anything that needs oil regularly....cause they just dont do that often enough.

My daughter is very attentive and when I tell her to check the car weekly, she does.

So, my son has a 914, my oldest son has killed off three cars...now drive a more modern van.

I guess its all about how willing the person is to learn about maintenance.
I still believe that an older car is just cheaper to own and operate once you get it up to snuff mechanically.

I dont want to think about the bills I will get for the newer cars I have that I really cannot work on if something electrical or emmissions related happens.

As I get older, I am making efforts to get my older cars perfect with the intention of dropping the newer cars eventually and DD the older, cheaper, and easier cars.

rich