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?

[rjames]

In my family I've seen Toyotas and Hondas run forver with only std maintenance. I had two Toyota trucks that made it to 300k before I sold them. My mom still has her '98 4Runner and an '85 Honda Prelude SI. Both are in amazing condition, even the interiors, despite being daily drivers since new.
And for the past 4 years my newphew has been driving the Honda Accord that my grandmother bought new in the early 90s and put a fair number of miles on.

Looking for a car for my son now. Looking mostly at Hondas from the 2000s. As long as it has airbags.

My wife bought her first ever new car last year. So much tech to go wrong.

[Root_Werks]

My wife bought her first ever new car last year. So much tech to go wrong.

That's what my wife did in 2022. There were a lot of things nice about a new car, but ultimately, too many things that started to show signs of becoming quirky.

One of many things that bothered me was the lack of control as an Operator. When I'm behind the controls of machinery, I'm the one giving the input. Not so with many new cars.

Never opened the hood on her car before we sold it. Think I saw a picture of the engine bay on the internet once? Made me glad I never took a look in person.