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?

[bkrantz]

I don't know.

I think our biases are showing, plus some rose colored glasses about the good old days.

Do you really think any car from the 70s or 80s, or even 90s, even when brand new, works as well and runs as comfortably as even the cheapest 2025 car? I have owned (and worked on) a long series of cars and trucks like most of you guys. And in most practical and comfortable measures my 2023 F150 blows them all away.

I am not talking about feeling special or fun to drive--most of my legacy cars had tons of that, including my current rebuilt (and updated) 914. But I can jump from that to my 2017 911 and it is clear what 50 years of engineering development means.

As for longevity, we will see. Again our memories might be selective, but I do recall lots of planned (and unplanned) car maintenance, trouble-shooting,and repairs.

[wonkipop]

I don't know.

I think our biases are showing, plus some rose colored glasses about the good old days.

Do you really think any car from the 70s or 80s, or even 90s, even when brand new, works as well and runs as comfortably as even the cheapest 2025 car? I have owned (and worked on) a long series of cars and trucks like most of you guys. And in most practical and comfortable measures my 2023 F150 blows them all away.

I am not talking about feeling special or fun to drive--most of my legacy cars had tons of that, including my current rebuilt (and updated) 914. But I can jump from that to my 2017 911 and it is clear what 50 years of engineering development means.

As for longevity, we will see. Again our memories might be selective, but I do recall lots of planned (and unplanned) car maintenance, trouble-shooting,and repairs.

completely disagree.

again one word.
single link flimsy timing chains. (ok five words). thats a 21st century thing.
that is the world going backwards.
and proves its possible for technology to be degenerate?
i've done the heads on a citroen V6 from the 90s. double link timing chains. still good at 400Kkm. even if the head gaskets had finally given the finger and gone fcuk off.
and i have just helped in here on a less than 10 year old BMW hatchback heap of shite that shredded its timing chain at less than 100K. single link. would not even quailfy as a chain on a pushbike.
a joke. and parked on the arse end of the engine to boot - just to give you the shits that bit more to fix it all. VW are not much better. if you look at the timing chain for more than 5 seconds with a serious stare its going to shatter and then say you were being mysoginist or whatever and blame you for its existence.

i might sound like an old whining conservative. but i am not.
we live in the degenerate phase of the motor vehicle?

i dont have to wait to see about longevity.
i am already witnessing 90s camrys and other 90s toyotas outliving BMWs, audis, VWs etc less than 10 years old. and the camrys were abused far more and treated with utter contempt, but have kept going despite the indifference. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

i believe peak automobile was around about somewhere between 1995 and 2005.
no later.
and what comes after is just .............whatever it takes because its already over.
this is some kind of static period driven not by innovation and progress into a future but rather a period of coping.........in between.........while waiting for whats next, which still has not really arrived. and instead going nanna on safety, safety and safety.
and just some more safety to be safe. resulting in..........the unsafe at any speed. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)
like in your own driveway backing out at 5 mph.

interesting times.