Are Older Cars Better Than Newer Cars?

[Parker]

Newest cars are awesome. Expensive as fukk, but driving them is a pure pleasure. If someone would show me an old model of the same make which drives AS good,safe,fast,economic,etc.. I'd probably buy the older one, tho' that just won't happen. Older were more reliable, yes... but they were a lot more simple products.

It depends. It seems like the American cars (enthusiast versions especially) have gotten better, and the German cars have peaked, while certain British and Italian car companies are either getting better or continuing to knock them out of the park.

For instance, drive a e46 M3 vs the current M3/M4 and you'll see the difference in handling. Drive a e39 M5 vs the F10 M5, or even a e39 540i vs a F10 550i, and you will see the difference. Drive a 964 or 993 911 versus the 991 911, and you'll see and feel the difference.

Drive a C4 Vette vs the C7 and you'll see that the C7 blows it out of the water in terms of handling, interior, styling, etc. Drive a 3rd Gen Camaro vs the current gen, and again new is better.

[Thin Lizzy]

Gotta give the SUV the nod over its predecessor, the Station Wagon:

[APE907]

Nostalgia is a powerful drug...

Romanticizing old iron is a longstanding tradition.

In no fcking way are older cars better than new.

Only thing I dislike about new gen is forced induction vs bigger cubic inch nat aspirated.

[Palumboism]

1970 BMW 2500, predecessor of the 7 Series.


2016 BMW 7 Series

[Thin Lizzy]

1970 BMW 2500, predecessor of the 7 Series.


2016 BMW 7 Series

It also seems like there isn't as big of a difference, today, between a high end and an average car. That Camry is a perfectly good car for anybody at a reasonable price.

[Palumboism]

Nostalgia is a powerful drug...

Romanticizing old iron is a longstanding tradition.

In no fcking way are older cars better than new.

Only thing I dislike about new gen is forced induction vs bigger cubic inch nat aspirated.

That can't be right!  Surely people would want a 455 Chevelle, that gets eight miles to the gallon, when there's an oil embargo.  Who cares about emission, smog isn't so bad.

Yes, nostalgia is a powerful drug.  

[Palumboism]

It also seems like there isn't as big of a difference, today, between a high end and an average car. That Camry is a perfectly good car for anybody at a reasonable price.

True, the Camry is a perfectly good car, and for most people that's all they need.  I rented a new Camry and was very impressed.  

The Seven Series is on a whole different level. A front wheel drive four cylinder car can't compare to a rear wheel drive eight cylinder car.  In many cases that's what people are doing when they compare older cars with newer cars.  If you were to drive the Camry and the 7 series back to back you would feel why the BMW costs $60,000 more than the Toyota.

[The True Adonis]

You know you are fucked when people start thinking a Camry is a great car.  

I'll take Ursula instead.  

[The True Adonis]

[Lustral]

Nostalgia is a powerful drug...

Romanticizing old iron is a longstanding tradition.

In no fcking way are older cars better than new.

Only thing I dislike about new gen is forced induction vs bigger cubic inch nat aspirated.

The bonnet (hood) also has to be a min height to conform to safety standards on hitting a pedestrian so that impedes shape they can use. Doubt I would fit in any car that was so low though. Old cars also had less shareholders to worry about hence you had gems like the Golf Gti that would never be approved now.

Overall though way better now, even if ugly.

[Palumboism]

You know you are fucked when people start thinking a Camry is a great car.  

I'll take Ursula instead.  

The Camry is the best selling car in America, but who in their right minds would want a car you can get 200,000 trouble free miles out of.  Why would you compare a $24K Camry to a $55K (when new) Cadillac.  This seems like and apples and oranges comparison.

If Cadillac were to produce a modern day version of this car it would be a sales flop.  I personally would rather have an Escalade than Ursula.

[Palumboism]

Overall though way better now, even if ugly.

The "Ugly" "Jellybean" look of today's cars has mostly to do with trying to achieve better highway fuel economy.  Unfortunately having the lowest coefficient of drag doesn't coincide with beauty. 

[NaturalWonder83]

I'll take old cars any day.

have fun driving your gremlin
Do u take your Edsel out on Sundays?

[Lustral]

The "Ugly" "Jellybean" look of today's cars has mostly to do with trying to achieve better highway fuel economy.  Unfortunately having the lowest coefficient of drag doesn't coincide with beauty. 

That and pedestrian/crash safety rules. I really like the new Mazdas and Hyundais (heresy I know) - but they have really made cheap, safe, economical cars good looking. Mazda 6 is very nice as is i30. I just wish Alfa Romeo would make their cars not break down every 5 minutes and sort out the dealers who service them (Fiat dealers who invariably break something trying to fix another issue) - I loved driving the 156 Tspark. Was way slower than car I had before but fun and nice looking - just everything broke sequentially. Then broke more.

[gym**rat]

I have had a couple Chevelles, one 69SS and one a 70SS. They are fun to drive and sweet looking but when I would get out of them and into a modern car the difference in handling, braking and comfort was undeniable. I am spoiled by how new cars ride and drive.

[Voice of Doom]

new cars are more susceptible to computer hacking.

[HTexan]

new cars are more susceptible to computer hacking.

Stop watching CSI cyber. Jeeps patched that already.
Plus anyone that buys a car with the xm radio tied into the engine and brakes deserves to get hacked.

[Thespritz0]

Here's my take after 25 years of driving: We don't REALIZE things at the time, as that's the reality of what thing's are...

IF you're only used to driving 1980's cars, or 1990's cars you'll literally have your PANTS blown off by a new car today!!!

P.S.  Memories of the past- Stalling, cars not starting due to "Vapor lock", flat tires on NON-steel belt tires (yes before the late 1970's!!!!)

[Ropo]

My personal belief is that newer cars are better.

For Example, compare the Passat B1 to the Passat B8.

1973 Passat (B1)


2015 Passat (B8)

It depends what you mean by "better". New cars are better just about any way there is, but while there is still plenty of cars from the 50's to 90's on the roads, there will not be even a single sub premium car from the 2015's at the year 2035. These modern cars will be dust in twenty years, while at the moment, there is plenty of cars from 50's and they are still in use.

[sync pulse]

These modern cars will be dust in twenty years, while at the moment, there is plenty of cars from 50's and they are still in use.

This is because 1950 cars were frame built with bodies bolted on.   Modern cars are monocoque construction.  The sturdiness of the car depends on the body remaining intact and non-corroded.

As the car rusts, structural strength literally rusts away.  Also metal fatigue cracks accumulate.
With frame and body cars, you can use various techniques to reinforce weakened parts...much harder to do with monocoque construction.

This is the reason airliners are junked after so long...the air frame gets fatigue cracks that can't really be repaired...you literally would have to re-manufacture the vehicle.

[Thin Lizzy]

You're not buying a transportation car to be a timeless classic. Who cares if it's dust in 20 years? You'll have another well before that time.

[da_vinci]

It depends. It seems like the American cars (enthusiast versions especially) have gotten better, and the German cars have peaked, while certain British and Italian car companies are either getting better or continuing to knock them out of the park.

For instance, drive a e46 M3 vs the current M3/M4 and you'll see the difference in handling. Drive a e39 M5 vs the F10 M5, or even a e39 540i vs a F10 550i, and you will see the difference. Drive a 964 or 993 911 versus the 991 911, and you'll see and feel the difference.

Drive a C4 Vette vs the C7 and you'll see that the C7 blows it out of the water in terms of handling, interior, styling, etc. Drive a 3rd Gen Camaro vs the current gen, and again new is better.

I agree completely. Mostly it's only getting better. There's a lot fo room to improve the longevity of these new technologies tho'.

[local hero]

i'll take my dash board touch screen computer with hands free blue tooth etc etc, electric everything, starts everytime over the old pieces of shit i used to drive around

 

[Thin Lizzy]

i'll take my dash board touch screen computer with hands free blue tooth etc etc, electric everything, starts everytime over the old pieces of shit i used to drive around

 

When I was in college, I drove one of these, on the weekends. You could barely run the A/C without the thing overheating.

[Twaddle]

New cars:

Better mileage, more reliable, safer, quieter, more forgiving, more longevity, better handling, etc.

Old cars:

More room, more comfortable, cheaper and easier to fix, work well in demolition derbies, ?