New car vs. Restored classic?, What are the possibilities? Options

[JeffBowlsby]

In another post it was said. ‘Wife bought a new Bronco in 2022. We sold it a few months ago and bought a 1972 Bronco to replace it.’

Been pondering the same dilemma. Not talking about sports cars in this thread.

New cars are expensive to buy, maintain, repair and insure. Loaded with tech, and numerous features they can be very complicated. Even lower cost new cars can fit this description. A recent article says new cars average $50K now, even an F150 pickup is reportedly $65K. The new cars we really want can be over six figures. New cars depreciate like rocks whereas vintage car values are much more stable. I’m thinking fully restored cars that would pass a thorough PPI. No project cars. No complicated cars. No “they only made X of these” with an inflated cost. No 40 Ford restorods or Model As. Nothing particularly ostentatious.

I think the possibilities, risks, rewards of a good quality vintage car instead of new could be advantageous. We need to consider at least reliability, availability of shops that can provide service, parts availability. Certainly reasonable safety is important which most older cars are not well equipped. Collector insurance may help reduce costs if that fits the situation.

Which specific vehicles would you consider as good candidates for a family car be it a sedan, SUV or minivan? Both domestic and imports, low mileage, well cared for. Condition is more important than collectibility. Probably A/C is a must but could be retrofitted. Want to focus on vehicles that would be reliable as daily drivers.

I am thinking of 60s-70s Chevys, Fords, 2000s Hondas and Toyotas. 1975 and earlier would be beneficial to those of us in CA. Valued at something less than $50K. What are your ideas?

[wonkipop]

one word - toyota.
one decade - 90s.

its called a camry in australia.

parts. still available. in abundance. at least down here.
i know several architects who maintain them as office cars.
and as we all know. architects pretend to have money........ (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)


the big problem with older cars is the parts are drying up.

and the big problem with modern cars is they are a big problem, either happening or waiting to happen. one word. plastic. all over the engine and part of the engine.

but you are correct mr. b in thinking that if you only have to have a car that rolls for the next decade or so, the smart move is not to go new. but you have to choose wisely in terms of the old if its a reliable appliance that is required. a t camry is considered by many to be the beetle of the current confused and distressing age we live in.

i myself have the 94 ford falcon ute. straight six. stoneage tech. with a three on the tree slur box. but you don't have those in the USA.
it always goes, anywhere i have to go, doing any job i have to do. and if i did not have that i would have a camry. and its got a cabin like a 914. two seats, glass right behind my skull and a pretend third passenger. steering - not quite 914. but parts still in reasonable abundance. and it gets as many thumbs up driving it as the 914. aussie aussie aussie type nationalistic carry on. but you know, no one hates you driving it. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/beerchug.gif)

[Superhawk996]

one word - toyota.
one decade - 90s.

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/agree.gif)

98’ Camry. Terribly boring appliance. But high hundreds of thousands (millions?) were made which largely solves the parts availability concerns. These cars redefined the meaning of reliability. Stealth invisibility cloaking - cops cannot see this car. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/av-943.gif)

Drove it 5000+ miles cross country earlier this year.

Actually took that vehicle over a 2012 BMW X5 simply because anyone can fix the Toyota. Not so much for overly complicated German machinery.

I’ve always loved the 2009(ish) Acura TL with SH-AWD which is their name for torque vectoring. Amazing handling (for a pig of a sedan). Comfortable. Reliable. Parts aren’t as readily available as the 90s Toyotas. Not as easy to work on as a 90s Toyota Camry. Would be a strong 2nd choice for me.

2012 - 2014 is about as new as I would ever consider. Vehicle complexity went way up and overall reliability starts to diminish pretty quickly after that era. Transmissions with too many gears and fragility. Too much active safety (ADAS) crap started infiltrating the industry. Move away from V6’s towards the now ubiquitous 2.0L turbocharged four cylinder that is too highly stressed. On and on. . .

[wonkipop]

one word - toyota.
one decade - 90s.

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/agree.gif)

98’ Camry. Terribly boring appliance. But high hundreds of thousands (millions?) were made which largely solves the parts availability concerns. These cars redefined the meaning of reliability. Stealth invisibility cloaking - cops cannot see this car. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/av-943.gif)

Drove it 5000+ miles cross country earlier this year.

Actually took that vehicle over a 2012 BMW X5 simply because anyone can fix the Toyota. Not so much for overly complicated German machinery.

I’ve always loved the 2009(ish) Acura TL with SH-AWD which is their name for torque vectoring. Amazing handling (for a pig of a sedan). Comfortable. Reliable. Parts aren’t as readily available as the 90s Toyotas. Not as easy to work on as a 90s Toyota Camry. Would be a strong 2nd choice for me.

2012 - 2014 is about as new as I would ever consider. Vehicle complexity went way up and overall reliability starts to diminish pretty quickly after that era. Transmissions with too many gears and fragility. Too much active safety (ADAS) crap started infiltrating the industry. Move away from V6’s towards the now ubiquitous 2.0L turbocharged four cylinder that is too highly stressed. On and on. . .

its like that here superhawke,
anyone can fix your toyota. esp the camry.
even in the middle of the outback a thousand miles from sydney or melbourne.
the parts might even be on the shelf.
and if not they can have them on the next truck through.
you never get stranded in one.

they are also invisible to the highway patrol here. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/beer.gif)
i think they just look at their radar read out and think its playing up and go back to their donut.