Today we're exploring the many ways in which older cars do the whole car thing better
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Old cars were designed, new cars are engineered. Old cars were pieces of art, new cars are appliances.
Have you seen the 1969 Pontiac judge? In orange with pinstripe, so beautiful
@@ericortega1745 of course in familiar with the judge, i grew up in a 73 lemans gto in the same orange, with a twin carb 427 and a 3 speed sequential gearbox
You could not of said it any better!~ Old cars are tanks, new cars are thrown away!~
The VW Beetle, Honda Civic, and Mercedes Benz 300D are a piece of art and an engineering marvel.
@@Justin-yt7pi I've got the privilege of refurbishing a 63 ragtop bug, and I can confirm. There is a fantastic elegance to just how simple, sturdy, and consistent everything is. And even though it sat in abog for 15 years, EVERYTHING just threads in and out like butter
I’m 20 years old and have grown up in the garage working on everything from the 30’s to brand new. It’s extremely apparent that nothing built today is meant to last. People have this weird idea that newer is better but at some point something will break and honestly we see more brand new commuter cars than 20 year old Chevy work trucks. Unless gas prices become unbearably high, as long as you can still get parts I don’t plan on buying anything newer than 2010 in MY lifetime
Im 18 and ive seen nothing but the same , i got my 2000 passat and shes not built perfectly, but built damn better than the garbage new cars my parents keep buying
Lol same here I prefer older cars being able to work on them at home but would update to a modern Toyota hybrid when they've depreciated though with how expensive gas is in my country.
People said the same thing in 2010, and 2000, and 1990 and so on. I bet they said that going back a century and they'll be saying it for another century. At the height of the 1975-1985 malaise era there really were a lot of lousily built cars being sold but now many look back at them fondly. In fact I had a fully optioned 1979 TransAm I owned in 1980 that I still wish I had but that's my selective memory of a single car. The past often looks rosier than it actually was.
@@ddavidson5 True, but much of that feeling is the constant cost cutting and plastic replacing metal. It makes the car seem chintzy and trashy. Also, the traditional American car was intended to be easily repaired and infinitely rebuildable, even if few did. Today's cars are not, and seem disposable whether the owner likes it or not.
@@ddavidson5 But those poorly built 70s - 80s cars could be rebuilt and the problems fixed. Today's cars can't. Plus, they are cramped, ugly, rough riding, noisy, and uncomfortable.
Speaking as a mechanic at a dealership. The 90s is absolutely the maintenance sweet spot. They have simple electronics that replaced complicated and finicky mechanical systems, but they still have a lot of simpler mechanical systems.
The GM TBI 350 might low key be the best engine ever made. lol
It could be the same, but manufacturers declared war on repair and customizers. So much precious engineering wasted just to steal ownership from the owners, it is insane.
@@anthonyrowland9072 personally my favorite v8 is the BMW S65. Over 100hp per liter. Amazing sound from the cross plane crank.
@@kaveric_76144v 4.6 mod motor with an xpipe...
@@anthonyrowland90722 valve gang. 175k miles now. Still my daily 🦅
“New cars make you feel comfortable,old cars make you feel alive”
New cars can't even do comfort as well as older ones. No modern car rides like a Ford Crown Vic, which wasn't even an expensive car. Older Mercedes, Acuras, BMWs - all rode better than their modern counterparts, because they had tires with actual sidewall.
nope not me, i felt more safe in my 1977 Cordoba then I did in my 1998 grand am!~
No comfort in new models
@@johnmurdoch8534 sure there is, if ya pay for it!~
Lol 80 decibels at highway speed SUCKS
Remember when the A-pillar was thin? It's only purpose was to hold the front of the roof up and transition between the windshield and the door opening. Now, they cram curtain air bags and speakers in there and the A-pillar is as thick as a body builder's arms. On some cars, you can lose sight of a motorcycle in the A-pillar. And now, we have overgrown tablets built right into the dash. They'll pull you over for looking at your phone while driving, but it's perfectly fine to menu your way to the heater controls.
Great point!
The defective design of Teslas is a disgrace, but the forward camera and radar on modern cars means the motorcyclist gets spotted regardless of what blind spot you are in. Just, you know, don't buy a Tesla. You only have Volvo, Mercedes, BMW, Honda, Hyundai, VW, Audi, Porsche and a few others to choose from, EV or not.
The A pillar in my old f150 is nearly nonexistent. It gives a bit of a fishbowl feel but it feels nice inside.
My 1994 mustang has big A pillars. It’s not for airbags, because they certainly don’t have them there. It’s for structural support. It adds rigidity to the overall car itself, mostly for collision purposes. Same reason cars have B pillars. The only reason you’ll find a modern car without a B pillar, is if the vehicle is a convertible, and some of those may still have some sort of roll bar installed. My 1967 Triumph GT6 has a super thin A pillar. B pillar is a joke too. It’s like a centimeter wide! It truly was there just to keep the windshield in place. If I am involved in any collision, that car is going to roll, and that roof will probably cave in the second it lands on it. I also drive a 2015 Tesla, so I totally understand and agree with the stupid tablet thing. It’s a Model S, so there actually is an instrument cluster directly in front of me, unlike in some models, so I don’t have to look at the center screen to see my speedometer. But, if I want to change the station, adjust the AC, whatever, I have to put the auto drive on, so it will keep in its lane and auto brake for me, because yes, I really can’t look at the road. In all my other cars, there are actual buttons, and switches, and an entire interior design team who designed the car so the driver wouldn’t ever need to take their eyes off the road.
Yeah I also remember seeing a video on how those cars would demolish your body in an accident
New cars try as hard as they can to NOT be a car. Drove my sister's 2017 Subaru Crosstrek, and it's like driving an office or living room.
Today's "cars" are designed to be Transportation Appliances rather than automobiles. That's why they are almost impossible to fix. If something fails, it is intended that you simply dispose of it, just like an old ice box or something.
Isn’t that how they describe older cars though? It’s like a living room on wheels?
But they still felt like MACHINES.
@@slapshotjack9806no like you’re sitting on a lounge. In other words it’s a lot more comfy (springed seats) not that it’s as soulless and boring as an office
@@tacticalcentral3856 no it’s a car not a house
This video almost made me cry. I will keep my '99 Corolla forever. Thank you for this fantastic masterpiece of a video. This is one of those videos that feel truly important. You are not blinded by nostalgia. My Corolla is modern, yet very simple and old school. It is like a car that feels 10 years older than it actually is. In a very good way. I have driven different cars, mostly from the 2005 to the 2015 era, but my old Corolla with the 86 hp 1.3 engine, puts the biggest smile on my face. You are so much more THERE when driving. It becomes an extension of my body. You can feel and hear so much more, yet it is comfy silent. I could rant on, but you do not get to experience the "true drivers feel" in a modern car where everything is muffled and faded. More people should see the value in old cars. Modern vehicles feels like you are driving high on some comfy substance with your nervous aunt yelling at you.
I have a 2000 Buick century. I get a similar feel in it. It's slow... but so reliable and comfy. I hope it runs right into the next century C:
@@amyramos4886 Yes, they got their charm those old cars. Keep it rustfree, proper maintenance and normal driving, and it should last forever :-) I'm crazy, so I'm going to repair rust on the Corolla for a lot of money. It will cost x2-3 of what the car is worth in money. But it is worth it to me
@@amyramos4886 saw some pictures of your model, and it looks really nice. I like that era's simple but clean design. Hope you manage to keep it going forever:D
@09simid Thanks 😊 👍 It is pretty simple, but I like that about it.
I just don’t like how they try to be a futuristic tech showcase instead of a car. That and older cars are usually more reliable and imo don’t look ugly compared to new cars.
When a mechanical system has problems. You have warning signs. You can fix it. When electronics go bad. They just quit. No warning. And it usually takes expensive equipment to diagnose the problem. Then you have to replace an expensive electronic part. And sometimes that new part is faulty. Especially today
This is a really important point. I drive a ‘77 GMC K25 (3/4 ton). I can hear little squeaks, pops, and gawd know what else. But I can find the issues, and deal with them. Usually cheaply. I can tell if it is idling rough and needs the plugs cleaned (don’t even have to replace them). And I will never be stranded by some damn throttle position sensor or some crap like that. Old rigs are not for everyone, but they sure are great if you’re an enthusiast.
That's really not true, electrical systems have warning signs too. If a wire is burned up, it doesn't immediately go out. The resistance skyrockets and your electrical thingimabob starts working intermittently. Then you know you have a problem with out it being completely broken.
@@firstNamelastName-ho6lv it depends, they can do both. The worst is when you just have enough resistance somewhere that your whole car just doesn't work. That's why I avoid electronics.
Another thing with electronics is they can make everything proprietary and closed source, and then electronically pair the parts to each other so if you replace it the car will either limit it's own functionality or just outright brick itself. You can't have nearly that much control mechanically so they try to replace everything they can with computers.
not to mention you can SEE what broke, on the new ones some times things break and you will never know.
I drive a 1990's era car and the main reasons I enjoy it is because you have more control over how it drives, they are simpler, you hear more of the car's internal actions and they have better visibility. Not to mention look cooler.
Today's are all in the Japanoid mold - aerodynamics over looks, always function over form, even if the result is ugly, computers all over the car, impossible to fix.
I feel claustrophobic in my parents new car which is bigger then my 90s car
same here.my 90s car (4 door acura) is fairly small but it feels extremely roomy and open.
As someone who owns a '98 Pontiac Firebird Formula, I concur with this statement.
I sold my 2018 Dodge Charger back to the dealership when I had the chance to own a pristine 1999 Lincoln Town Car. I'm not saying the charger was a bad car, quite the contrary, but I knew the hidden value that the Lincoln had to offer. It is a Panther body-on-frame platform with Fords Modular 4.6l V8. The heart and spine of the car will live forever when properly maintained. The skin can always be unbolted and replaced. They made a ton of these cars so parts are readily available. Just this past weekend I spent 12 hours on good Friday replacing the ball joints, tie rods, and swaybar links in my driveway. It was 60deg and sunny the entire day and it was one of the most hard working yet relaxed days I've had in a long time. The satisfaction of eliminating a noise you've heard and felt that makes you cringe for so long is indescribable. I don't know if I would have been as comfortable trying this on a new car. Or how about brakes? These days you need a special tool to depress the calipers. On my 90's/early 00's cars all I needed was a c-clamp and the old brake pad. It's jazz like that that puts me off owning new cars for longer than 10 years. I don't know if I will be able to work on them without buying more special tools and struggling to learn proprietary procedures actively being hid from the public so we can't do it ourselves.
I used to have a car with a carburettor, no power steering and even no power brakes. I was still listening to podcast when I drove.
I’m 22 and i own a 1979 porsche 924 and i agree with everything you say about the driving experience,it’s a lot more involved than today and if you actually like driving that’s the thing that make us cherish these old cars
Your analogy for old houses is very nice. You mentioned that there are good and bad craftsmen from every industry, and you also mentioned something like there is no test like time... Well, this is how it goes... Old houses that were made by good craftsmen have withstood the test of time, while the ones made by bad craftsmen have already rotten away. So yes, you do get the quality ones if they are still standing 100 years after they are built. I actually get the same jive with some thrift shops for clothes. Many new clothes tend to fade in color very quickly, however, in thrift shops, we can see which clothing brands have not faded or warped despite longtime use, so I can be pretty sure of their quality.
I lived in budget house built in year 1911 for factory workers. It is still built with quality and standing today despite no renovarion ever done. It just have different features, like small apartaments with isles in walls to torn down when apartment expansion is required. And no ornate decorations. But there was no enshitificarion on any kind.
The house I live in right now was built in 1926 and has held up incredibly well against the worst of mother nature and continues to march onwards through time. Despite being near 100 years old it has outlasted many modern structures by a large margin.
@@alexanderwhite8320 I am happy that you live in a quality home that does not need extensive and expensive maintenance. I hope you dont mind, but like this video says, old cars are like old homes. Your home doesnt have extensive features that can break down easily. It is just like old cars which dont have fancy electronics or computers that break down easily too.
@@TheSilverShadow17 I am happy for you. I think I personally would like to live in a house like that if given a chance.
@@dr.charlesedwardflorendobr3952 It isn't much for a 3 bedroom, 2 bathroom house, but it's more than enough to do the job.
i honestly belive the sweetspot are 80s 90s cars. they are old enough to still feel like youre driving, they mostly give you the emotions, they are still easily fixable by yourself, they dont have too many electrical systems that are dependand on each other or connected to each other and they are still good to live with today. you want a fun little car? get a mk1 miata. you want a reliable but nimble and practical daily? get a 94' accord wagon manual. you want a big cool off roader? get Cherokee, a Landcruiser or a Patrol. you want a big luxury cruiser? get an LS400. in the 90s, computer engineering was still in its infancy. manufacturers couldnt calculate accurately enough how long thier things would last. how long thier parts would last. so the rather over engineered them still. coming closer to the 00's these things changed. you can still find some 90s tech remnants in early 00's cars but you will have more and more electric steering and throttle systems, vsc, abs systems and so on. long story short, peak car engineering for the normal consumer was in the 90s in my humble opinion
DUDE, I saw a Mk1 Miata at the gas station today with a big block Chevy and an enormous Holley sticking out where the hood should be. If I hadn't been late for work, I woulda stopped and asked about it. Edit: Oh and a giant fuel tank strapped to the trunk Mad-Max style. I almost didn't notice the engine because of the fuel tank lol
Also, the fact that lots of Honda tuners change the OBD2 cars back to OBD1 tells you a lot. Me and a buddy are looking at doing this with, plus turboing a '98 Accord.
This exactly. That's the reason why my daily is a '99 Toyota Corolla wagon. It is still driven by cable, as is the shifting. It isn't fast at all, but it does feel like it is because of all the sounds it makes. Its exterior is pretty banged up, so I don't habe to worry about scratching it. At the same time it has a bigger boot than a modern wagon that is way bigger in size. Everything that goes wrong, I can fix myself. That's a win in my book. When I don't have to get from A to B, but I want to experience driving, I take my '88 Toyota MR2. This thing is amazing in what it does.
I daily a 95' LS400, a wonderful car to drive around and cruise. Even sorta fun sometimes if you push it!
the 90s crown vics are so nice
My father has a 1950 Dodge B-2-C that we've been working on. It sat for about 18 years before I took an interest and expressed that I wanted to work on it. We put in a new battery, sanded the points, changed the plugs, squirted gas down the carb, and it fired right off. Soon after, I managed to drive it backwards a few feet out of the rut it was in. I didn't really know how to drive stick at the time (however I know the principals behind it), but I sure learned the feeling of driving a manual. It's not road worthy yet, but driving it around the yard is so fun. Hopefully by the time I graduate college, I can drive that Dodge out of the parking lot like a cool kid 😂
I have a house from the 1950s and a model t from 1927. It always strikes me how tough all stuff is. Like drilling a hole in a modern house or car takes seconds but drilling into my oak floor or my model t takes effort.
No, you are right. We demand appliances now. I bought the newest old car I could and then updated it 10 years. 1994 BMW e30 wagon swapped with a modern 24v inline 6, new suspension, brakes, cooling, steering and a lot of wiring. All together 1/3 the cost of a Tesla model 3, and will last three times longer. Really fun to drive.
You do your sweet wagon a disservice by contrasting it with a Tesla. They don't deserve to be in the same ballpark lol
is the 24v inline 6 a more reliable BMW ones? Like B58 which is more than enough for the old E30, and more stout than some old S engines
@@baoquoc3710 no the m20b25 12valve engines are just as bulletproof, just has less power and runs ona belt insteed of a chain. You know that the M20 Engine is the million mile engine....im sure you can youtube it
Old SAABs had built-in rolller cages, night displays and had interiors and windshields inspired by fighter jets, providing great visibility and putting all the important stuff within view and reach of the driver to decrease distractions. Old Mercedes had rear lights designed to not get too covered in dirt to not fill their function. Old Volvos were built like tanks from Swedish steel and with engine blocks made out of cast iron to increase durability. They also came with the first modern seat belts, seat warmers, crumple zones and airbags. All that asside, many of these old wonders of machinery came with beautiful interiors in leather, wood, metal and chrome which is much more beautiful that the cheap looking plastic of modern cars. The practical features and durability from 70's-90's German and Swedish cars, the design language of 50's-60's American and British sports and muscle cars and the fuel economy of a modern diesel engine combined would be the ultimate car design in my opinion, and I believe it would be a vehicle most would enjoy owning
A lot of older RWD volvos were actually made from brittish steel. It was the best steel at the time, though.
Back when the engineers were masters of their own fate...
Some cars from the 60/70 have dashboards that look like pinball machines it's a literal work of art to look at. Old cars also have more special features like a Mercedes that put on your seatbelt for you or special ways to hide your headlight or your tank cap(not always good ones but al least they were trying somthing new). Most new cars look and feel the same as other brands it's like one brand makes one and they all just make a new body around it. It's boring
@@jellevh8460 Boring is right. I call them "jellybean cars." I remember helping a girl late at night who was driving a Mercedes. She got an oil-low indicator light, and we spent 10 minutes in the half-dark trying to find a dipstick. It didn't have one but admiring this 6-foot-tall blonde girl's long legs as she bent over the engine compartment in a mini-dress looking for it is still one of my best memories. --Old (but not blind) Guy
@@GoldenGrenadier Judas Priest had an album called British Steel. Just an FYI.
As far aesthetics go, in contrary, the regulations for headlight shapes specifically used to be more strict but eventually loosened up more and more. You may have noticed how prior to the 70's all car headlights were round but in the 70's so many of them were square, that's because only round headlights were allowed for decades so of course when square suddenly became an option everyone switched to the new style. Nowadays we have all kinds of shapes, some are even quite bizarre.
Being a motorist is very rewarding in many ways. I fell in love with my 1983 280zx in 2023. I grew up tinkering with my dad. It does get challenging. Sometimes, it feels like one thing after the other. But finding it within yourself to overcome those challenges one by one, learning something new every day and really internalizing the entire machine; it builds character.
Modern cars = Rev hang = burnt clutch. Old cars with cable throttle > Modern cars with electronic throttle.
I do the math's lol.
My 98 Sentra has a cable throttle
Where do you even get a modern manual anymore? lol
@@fortheloveofnoise9298 My '98 Olds does too. That's not "modern" anymore.
Subaru WRX?@@FuckGoogle502
Right. The sweet spot for vehicles is 96 to 2006. This trend is everywhere. How long does a new washer last? New fridge?
I'd say '76, if it was maintained and cared for. Same with my fridges, freezers, washer and drier.
I totally agree. When my parents helped me buy my 99 Ranger new they told me if I defaulted they were done. That got me scared and motivated and when I got rid of it in 2021 it had 418K.
We had to buy a new dryer, it's 2 years old and already has issues blowing hot air. It's a dryer, that can't blow hot air.
@@FuckGoogle502 76 is during the malaise era, definitely avoid anything made by GM at the time.
@@jasong428 i have a 96 ranger 2.3. 324 000 still a good work truck
Best is anything with the Buick 3800 v6. Thats the sweetspot of old meets new.
I recently bought a 2000 Porsche Boxster S. I got it for $5k and the understanding that the only way I can justify the ownership costs is if I do all the maintenance myself. I've never owned a project car before, and you can bet a $5,000 24 year old Porsche with 160,000 miles on the clock will need some work. I've had a bit of a love/hate relationship with some of the projects I've tackled, but every time I take a drive I remember all the work I've done to keep it on the road and it fills me with pride and joy. Go buy a project car, get your hands dirty, then enjoy the drive!
19 year old here, I bought a 1996 Buick LeSabre Custom for $2,000. It looks like a hooptie and drives like one but after putting over $2,000 in repairs and I'm also gonna replace the engine air filter soon. She drives really nice now, still have to fix the a/c when i can because I live in Las Vegas but man shes super comfy to drive, feel like im on a cloud. Did i forget to mention it has one of gms most reliable engines they ever made the 3.8 V6? Marilyn just keeps going!
Another great old car is the Ford Panther Platform (Ford Crownvic, Mercury Grand Marquis, and Lincoln Town Car) with the 4.6L SOHC 2V Modular V8 in it.
Hell yeah dude, the 3800 is a tank, as long as you've gotten rid of the plastic intake. I've got a 3100 in a '95 Olds Cutlass Supreme that I have literally tailgated Impreza WRXs with down our country roads. That thing was a quiet beast until Mom forgot to turn on the cooling fans and blew it up. (The ECM would never turn on the fans by itself, which is why I got the car for cheap with a blown head gasket. I finally replaced the ECM when it crapped all the way out, but left the manual fans cause they were cool.) Still got it, but gotta fix it lol
@@FuckGoogle502 Hell yeah, please fix your whip. There aren't a lot of those cars on the road anymore with that kind of style and euphoria!
My best friend has a 2001 Buick LeSabre. It’s pretty ugly outside, but inside it’s pristine. It feels like you’re driving your couch down the road. They’re worth fixing
@@Wjacobloftis I agree, I always wanted a full size sedan and I got one
bought my first car this past October, 1984 Nissan Z31. It has everything that I want from a car, its fun, comfortable, and enjoyable to drive. It was also affordable to buy and insure, plus it is great on gas! (post oil crisis mileage for the win) The electronic and vacuum systems are modern enough to feel familiar to me, but are simple enough that I can repair, maintain, or modify them to my liking. With some research, there is plenty of information and resources available to help me maintain it, and a whole community of people in the same boat as me willing to share their findings and experiences. Through the work I've done for it I've learned much of what I know about cars to date, and I'm grateful for that. Sure, maybe if i had gone with a newer car I wouldn't have had to restore it for three months after purchasing, which would have saved some headaches for sure, but I feel this car is an expression of myself and being able to experience it each day adds a little fulfilment to my life.
I have an ‘86 Z31. Sure the only compliments I get are from old dudes but the car is so sophisticated yet simple to work on. The repairs keep my life a little more entertaining too
Shitty ass whip
As somebody who’s first car was an 85 you made a rough choice and should probably find a more reliable modern car. If you can afford to miss work I get it, your young and can deal with that but a 80s Datsun/nissan is not a the definition of reliability my brother. Cool, not reliable. Not anymore at least.
Z31 power 💪
I have an 86 turbo with 75k it's my favorite car I've ever owned i had 84 NA before. I'm sad to say z31s are a terrible daily driver.
As someone who drives a car from the 1950s and loves old things, I do agree that old things were much better made. That said, we have traded the quality of old things for technology. My 1951 car is built extremely well of the finest of materials, but it doesn't go, and it doesn't stop, and the technology of the flathead six is laughably antiquated. It is also the case that in spite of the better materials old cars didn't actually last longer than new ones, they rusted away, and their engines were worn out after 50000 miles, this is because of an improvement over time in the technology of engines, better lubricants and metallurgy enabled engines and so on to last much, much longer than a 1950s car would ever last. To add to something else you said about car reliability, yes it is obviously true that new cars are "more reliable" but that isn't really the whole story. As someone who has been daily driving cars more than 50 years old for a decade, it isn't nearly as bad as you might think. I've never been stranded, and I haven't really had many issues that were difficult to repair. Old cars are easy to fix. As someone who works on modern vehicles for a living, they break down plenty, and they break down in ways that are much more expensive and complicated to diagnose and repair, because the complexity is miles ahead of anything made 50 years ago. Everything in that damn vehicle from the power windows to the braking system is a computer on a CAN bus network, and god help you if it has so much as a rubbed wire somewhere. Goodbye car, and you ain't fixing that on the side of the road with a hammer.
Great video! I totally agree with the 80’s-90’s suggestion, I own a 1991 Toyota MR2 and it’s such a fun car that is almost bare bones with the spec I have. No power steering, no abs or traction control, manual, pedals controlled by wires, you name it. Truly it’s the experience of just being connected to the road without so many assists or notifications yelling at you on a screen in new cars. The instant response from the wheel and knowing that whatever amount of input I put is what I’m getting is unmatched. Awesome video!
I think the issue is that all of the "consumer friendly" veneers of today have made the common man forget that a car is a machine. An industrial grade heavy duty machine. To be reminded of that and remain in tune with the mechanics of your car is a very spiritual experience that I doubt many would understand.
I have my two Chevy's. 1979 Monte Carlo and 1989 G20 Van. Both very reliable. Everything is simple and can be repaired yourself. I've owned them for 34 and 22 years. Greetings from Germany.
Awesome! As a Chrysler diehard who converted to Chevy just because our Chevy truck drastically outlived all our various Mopars ('95 Chevy Cheyenne K2500 that's still my daily with 305k miles on the clock now, plus my bands old '78 G20 touring van that lasted until I decided to completely revamp it), I love hearing of Chevys in Europe.
Bart - as a young guy - I'd say you did a really good job over all - you really got across the point about PARTICIPATING in driving. Most young people don't even know where they are located. They can't look at a map and find where they are, let alone where they want to go. Not if - but when - we get a solar magnetic burst from the sun that wipes out all the computers - none of the new cars will run. Only the old cars with points and condensers will run. That's if they keep making the parts! Find yourself an old mechanic - and LEARN from him! Keep up the good work!
My old car experience: I owned a 1972 Dodge Dart Swinger Club Coupe. The Club Coupe option simply meant a 318 V8, but otherwise very stripped down, including a manual, floor-mounted, 3-speed transmission. The cockpit was basically like an old pickup truck. If you had a third person in the front seat, the stick shift was between their legs! I bought it in Los Angeles from the second owner claimed he bought it from "A Little Old Lady from Pasadena" who was afraid she couldn't learn how to drive an automatic transmission car. It was a fun car to drive and it had that very mechanical feel you refer to. It had design features you simply don't see today including pillarless windows: When you rolled down the front and back window, there was nothing at all in the space. It also had front vent windows, as well as interior vent doors that you had to reach down and open if you wanted fresh air but didn't want the windows open. It was carbureted, and I started getting gasoline on the top of the engine, so I replaced the carburetor. I could never get it properly trimmed after that and it always ran rich. I wished I could have kept the car but sold it when I was laid off in order to make a mortgage payment.
It looked pretty much like this i.pinimg.com/originals/7f/e4/1a/7fe41a5f2cc047a3828e945a56021812.jpg
Learned to drive on my dad's 72 CJ5, I can tell you the is no driving experience more pure than an old Jeep. Thin military style tires, hard suspension, mechanical steering with a massive steering wheel, everything open around you, 2.6l straight 6 on a 3 speed box, pedals are perfect for heal and toe. You hear every noise, you feel every bump, you smell every smell.
MDJuan makes reproduction Willys Jeeps. I want, but might go Battery Electric Transmission.
They were better before their Stellantis times
1975 and 1980 U 50 owner here (Brazilian C 5 with 2.4 Ford engine 4 cylinder) I couldn't agree more! my GF's Jeep (the 1980) has a "cage" and her windshield is up and she has half doors. Mine is lacking all that. Windshield down, no doors. Smile from ear to ear
@@roelandpeeters931 hehe meu 72 Ford ainda era o 6 canecos, adoro esse motor. O seu tem alguma coisa escrita na tampa traseira? Li que 72 foi o último ano que tinha escrito FORD na tampa
@@arthurbretas2003 Lo siento, no hablo Portugues. Pero no, no tiene nada escrito atras
My first car was a 1966 Ford Thunderbird, which I bought in 2017 and rebuilt the engine in 2020 since a previous owner had rebuilt it wrong and it was running on 7 cylinders. To be fair it also had over 100k miles by that point. Most reliable car I've ever owned. I don't buy the whole schtick of "old cars are less reliable," as that old beast of a Ford still got me everywhere I needed to go without fail even when running poorly. And the thing is, old cars get an unfairly bad reputation due to external factors - for one thing, the quality of oil and pump gas used to be much lower, so in the old days things wore out faster. But some engines with architecture dating back to the 1960s and built as late as the 90s, such as the legendary Ford 300 straight six, are known as among the most reliable engines ever made, because the last ones were made when the oil and gas got good enough for them to really last. The other part of it is that most owners don't drive their classic cars enough. Classics were built to be daily driven, that was what was expected of them when they were new and nothing in that regard has changed. If you leave them sitting too long, gas will evaporate out of the carburetor, oil will drain out of the high places in the engine, things meant to stay wet will dry out, and when you go to start it again it'll be fussy and troublesome BECAUSE you let it sit too long. Now, I drove my 1966 Thunderbird almost every day, both before and after the rebuild, so it rarely sat for long. The thing ran like a clock. Once I sorted it out and fixed all the previous owners' mistakes, it started quickly every morning, warmed up quickly, and drove anywhere anytime with no fuss. After all, if it ran perfectly fine yesterday, what's so different about the next day? Nothing! So it just runs and runs. No reason it couldn't run, no computer telling it it can't, nothing it can really do to hurt itself. Heck, this is a carbureted engine and it still runs fine year-round. Unreliable my foot. And chances are it'll be more than 100,000 miles before it needs a rebuild again, because there's modern oil in there now, so things like bearings will likely have a much longer lifespan. The whole thing is built like a tank and it's all metal, no modern plastic parts that only last a certain number of heat cycles before breaking. All you really have to replace is spark plugs, oil, belts, occasionally points in the distributor, and not much else. It just works. I've unfortunately however also been in a crash in this car. A truck slammed on the brakes in front of me, I stopped without hitting him, but the driver behind me was distracted and did not stop. Got hit at 30 mph in a car with no crumple zones or headrests. Some will tell you old cars are better in a crash because they don't crumple, and that's partly true - my car was a lot less damaged than the car that hit me, and I even drove it home after the accident, with all lights still working and it even still tracking perfectly straight - but that meant most of the force of the crash went to my neck instead of being dissipated in crumple zones or a headrest. So yeah, bit of whiplash. But that's all healed by now and I intend to fix the bodywork and drive it again :) The one area I will say classic cars don't hold a candle to modern cars is where fuel economy is concerned. My old 'bird gets 16 mpg highway, 14 city, and that's on non-ethanol gas. It gets like 10-12 mpg on ethanol fuel so it's more than worth the extra cost to put non-ethanol in it, plus it runs a lot better on that (old cars aren't designed to run on corn, they don't like it), but still it ain't exactly the cheapest thing to run. But when the V8 chugs along at 35 mph while practically idling, the car feels so relaxed and carefree that you kinda stop caring how much fuel it consumes. Old cars really are like nothing else. Don't fear the challenge of daily driving a classic car, it's well worth it.
Driving 70 ford high boy and 77 town car….computer never goes out….
Agreed, I have a 1996 Ford F150 with a 5.0L (302) Windsor V8 with 211,000 miles on it and still going strong 💪. The only things I replaced on my truck was the starter, the rear fuel pump, and the power steering megunisum but other than that mostly was just simple maintenance, took out the transmission fluid just to get rid of the shuttering it was making and it hasn't had a problem ever since.
Back here in the east where the snow flies you might see more of the old steel but not after November 1st cuz that's usually when everyone puts their old cars and trucks away and drives their newer stuff!!!.
My first car was a 1962 Thunderbird hardtop. He drove that car forever till I had a wife and kids. I know have a 1966 Thunderbird convertible. I love that car. Everything you say about it is true I haven’t hit anybody and nobody’s hit me, I don’t drive it in the winter. I live in New Hampshire but I go out to the barn at least once a month fire it up but it warm up and drive it out into the yard and put it back in and when I’m going down the road I’m watching the dashboard as much as I’m watching the traffic. Because of that I once actually turned around and went home and got my BMW and finished my trip. I also have a 1966 GTO four-speed with a 400 inch Pontiac engine that car is really fun to drive and you have to drive it nothing is automatic. Do you really feel connected to the road in a in a mid 60s car. Motor on dude.
@@CJColvin I have a 93 with the same engine. Just had an old time mechanic very familiar with that timeframe. Take the top off that motor and make it like new. Did away with all the extemporaneous tubing in extra stuff enough to fill the 20 gallon garbage can. Now it runs like an old time 351. I love that truck. I’m in New Hampshire so I’ve had it oil under coated every year. This year I had a small sections spots Actually of rust repaired. I have to say I really loved your story I have a 1966 Ford Thunderbird, convertible and a 1966 Pontiac GTO hardtop drive in those old rigs is nothing like driving anything in the 2000s good luck to you brother.
I've driven and/or owned a number of cars over my 12 years of driving and I can say without a doubt that the older they are the more I enjoy driving them. I find myself constantly confused in new cars as to how it works and what it does automatically that I no longer need to account for. The joke here is I used to be a programmer full time. Now I drive a 1990 XJ and I love every moment of it. Not to mention I love working on it.
I own a 1955 Ford Customline. My great grandfather bought it brand new in 1955. Those cars were made to last! You really can’t beat the experience of driving an older vehicle
The 90s were the height of American cars with the GM 3.8 V6 and the Ford 4.6 V8 which are still running strong today.
I go out of my way (and sometimes pay out of pocket) to convince people to fix their GM 3800s and 3100s instead of replacing them. They're such unsung heroes. My old 3100 has kept a few Impreza WRXs on their toes.
@@FuckGoogle502same goes for the 2.8l/3.1l
Not to mention how many old Chevy and ford trucks from the late 80’s are still on the road as salted up winter beaters with 300k+ miles. The video guys stupid for thinking a modern pickup would last that long
The 90's also saw the introduction of the LS V8's from GM
I've got an 08 Ford F-150 with the 4.6 L Triton. Great engine.
I took 2 years of auto mechanics in high school because it was a good skill to have and lots of fun. That knowledge saved me a lot of money, too. There are very few things I feel comfortable doing myself on modern cars, which is one reason I don’t have one. Repair & parts replacement of electronic components is very costly.
This summer I aim to learn auto shop stuff. I think it'll go very well with my degree of mechanical engineering. Hopefully I can also save my family some money with oil changes too haha
You described old cars perfectly, I agree on pretty much all points. I have a 1988 Pontiac Firebird over here in Europe, she steals the show everywhere, she never let me or my dad down, she has problems and its a damn project car at the end of the day. I wouldn't trade that car for anything. Old cars are irreplaceable
I've got a 1976 F-250 Camper Special, my dad bought it 2012. The lady who was selling it had a 90's 5th wheel camper with it and wouldn't sell just the truck so my dad got the set for $7500 CAD. It's taken us across B.C to Alberta to Alaska all on old Yokohama tires from 1977 until 2020 when we got new Yokohama's put on. It's been fairly reliable for what it is and I absolutely love it, it does have it's quirks and will need a good tune up soon along with a few parts replaced. I currently have my eye on my moms old 1980 Dodge Volare her old ex has, said he'll sell it to me for 1k, does need a new alternator and carb, hope to get it this year.
I can say confidently after driving 200+ cars so far, old cars are better. And I'm 33. If you are about driving, older cars are better. If you are a traveller or passenger type, take the train, don't drive a car.
I really wish it weren't the case. I hope that in 15-20 years, the newer cars now will be as easy to maintain as older cars from the 2000s and 1990s. Really worried that as time goes on it will be harder and more expensive to find and keep old cars running.
Driving an old car, you’re operating a machine.
Driving a new car today, you're playing with a computer...😂😁😆
this makes me miss my old first gen Dodge Neon. cable clutch and a throttle body driven by a cable. Slow but very analog feeling. i drove the shit out of that lil car and it never let me down. i miss her dearly
I drive a 2011 Peugeot 207 and I like to think of myself as an above average driver, I rev match or and heel and toe every single downshift perfectly, drift, and I race my car. That all changed though when I drove my uncle's 1982 Mazda B1600. I couldn't even figure out how to start it and keep the engine idling, I couldn't even keep it going in a straight line and I kept stalling it. That was all for the first 10 minutes though and after I got the hang of it, it was the best experience of my life. I was just laughing like an idiot while driving at 10 mph. Everything was an event in that truck. Even going over speed bumps was fun in that thing somehow! Visibility was perfect, you could see the hood in front and place the car perfectly where you want it on the road. And when I got back in my Peugeot I realized that since I first got my license I never actually drove at all. The car was driving for me. And that's how I completely lost all interest in all modern cars
Anything with AC, power steering and non vinyl seat is good for me. Growing up as a kid in the 60s and living in Australia I still remember wearing shorts in summer with temps over 38c (100f) with vinyl seats and no AC.
There were many poorly built older homes.
Depends on what "older" means to you.
/giggles in desert dweller/ Lol yeah I bet that was hell.
@PEHWR.I can tell you’ve never lived in the desert. 😂😂😂
I just picked up a 2009 mercury Gran Marquis...and I absolutely love it! 70,000 original miles..and runs like a top. I'm 60 years old and have had the privilege of owning quite a few vehicles in my time....but mercury is lovely to drive...it just makes me smile...oh, and there's nothing like a V8...peace, brother... really enjoy your channel 👍
I drive a 1999 Town Car and love it to death. It's only got 105000 miles and probably could last another 20 years in my care.
Agreed 👍 gotta love the almighty 4.6L SOHC 2V Modular V8 in the Ford Panther Platform.
Very good cars! Long lived the Panther platform R.I.P the last body on frame legendary car
@@Raw_Dawgs6409 the intake maniford is about to crack if it hasen't already. fyi,
When I was 16, I wanted a Crown Vic. I'm 41 now & I'd love to find one for my "midlife crisis" purchase. I told me wife that she's getting off easy. I could spend my "midlife crisis" on a Dodge Challenger or something.
Viewer from the 3rd World here. I am an electrical contractor in my country, so I'm in houses and apartment buildings since they start to be built, up until they are furnished. And while there's a lot more of tech now (from heating floors and security systems, to microcontrollers everywhere, even WiFi-controlled lighting and plant watering), the core of most houses are still made the old-school way: Mortar, bricks, rebar-reinforced concrete beams and columns, ceramic tiles, plaster ceilings... All still made by an army of specialized people; from masons to electricians, carpenters to plumbers, painters, gardeners and the plaster guys. Yes, it's still like that because the workforce is cheaper than the tech and equipment for the dry construction used today... But gladly it is, because things come out better and stronger, it employs lots of people, and specially gives young people (like me) the chance to learn a lot of stuff, either by looking and asking the other guys, and by doing your own job (i.e my job as electrician implies lots of digging, preparing and using mortar, a plethora of tools, and even some demolishing too 😂)
My first car that I recently got is a manual 1998 Honda CRV, and I bloody love her. My uncle learnt to drive on that car, it’s done over 300,000kms and hasn’t shown a single issue. I truely have the best of both worlds, newer safety standards and the charm of the old cars.
In the old days, people wanted quality over quandity, manufacturers desirerd and wanted their cars to be the best and the better, to the people back then it wasn't just a product, it was a sign on life, that you have made it up to a new level, now ate days most things are so non importaint that people just care about numbers and having a bigger pocket than the other.
@@Turnipstalk True.
@Turnipstalk But there were some 80's cars that american manufacturers built that are really good.
@@oexplorador6840 Name one. Incidentally, exclude Caterpillar and Cummins from strictures. Caterpillar in the 1980s was world leading, their culture excellent.
I dunno, there were lemons and bangers back in the day. Do you not recall the malaise era? I do, I had a few cars from that era... yikes.
Not really. In the mid century care were expected to last maybe 10 years at most. An engine at 100,000 miles was the end of the road until you got it a rebuild.
The way you describe old cars is perfect
Whenever I told my dad I started admiring older cars, I was told it was a good thing and he told me about how it's easier to maintain and how far more unique they are. He even told me that people are going to find classic cars are still better 100 years from now, I can say the same thing with CRT's. I have a Mitsubishi TV from '86 and it feels like brand new, not showing a single bit of age while we originally had a Roku from 2019 that broke after 2 years.
Makes me kinda sad the my kids or grandkids if I have them may never be able to experience the absolute joy of having a big old Chevy 350 start up and run just perfectly after a few weekends of tearing the whole thing down to the block and rebuilding like me and my grandpa did with an old 77 Corvette when I was young in the mid 90’s. There was something so pure about it, finding parts, making them if necessary, tuning a carb till it was just perfect, no computers, just hand tools and skill. Man and machine, not just operating it but knowing every detail of what it takes to keep it alive.
I am SO GLAD I grew up in the era of "musclecars." We'll never see their like again.
I'm just glad I was early enough to get to experience my own Charger (1972 with a swapped hot '69 383). One of my absolute favorite memories was when a brand new 2006 Hemi Charger with four teenagers in it pulled up beside me at a red light with them all laughing. The driver called across to me, "Hey, is that a Hemi?" Fate smiled on me. The light turned green right then and I said "Nope," and gapped the holy hell out of them. Seriously, it was like two or three semis of a gap. They slowed way down before the next red light so they wouldn't have to pull up beside me lol. If fate smiles on me more, maybe I'll get the wiring harness and interior redone this year after the electrical fire that stopped it. Of course, I didn't always win. There was a Trans-Am that picked its front wheels up so I could see them over my fender when it hit third and walked away. My buddy who was riding with me said, "Damn, that guy did his homework," to which I replied, "I wish I could afford that kinda homework." 🤣🤣
I’m the opposite 😂😂 I always wanted to grew up in that but didn’t have the chance. And finding a good cared muscle is impossible nowadays
Unless someone starts a company and builds cars like old cars
@@yipperdipper3189 Which I'll gladly do, right after my next lottery win.
MUST BE NICE
I really enjoyed this episode. I drive a 79 F250 as my daily driver and a 87 Buick Grand National when the weather allows. I agree you’re definitely paying far more attention to an older vehicle, trying to listen and diagnose every noise or vibration. However the satisfaction you get when driving an older vehicle that you have kept running and maintained can never be duplicated in a new car. Thanks for the content, very interesting!
I am 20years old and have a 1972 vw variant my grandpa gave me, I used to play on it as a kid that car has some of my childhood in it and I don't plan on buying anything newer than the 1950s... Thanks for the video.
Speaking of old houses, go back further in time and the materials become thicker. Also all the framing was knot-free vertical grain fir made from old trees that have long-since become unavailable. Cars of old were made from the highest quality materials as well, materials that are now unavailable in mass. The peak in quality being about 1910ish. Technology peaking in the 1960's.
True ....model T vanadium ..
well done, i like my modern car, i view it as an appliance for transportation. i have had a number of old ones, and i love them more.
The automotive hobby is opposite from that Rat Race. People often disregard a person driving an old vehicle. Sadly. Most are Utilitarian. Driving isn't pleasurable anymore.
I only drive manual transmission. I am 100% engaged in driving. I can't hold a cellphone, I can't be sipping late, I can't be puting make up (😂). Therefore I do not need technology ( lane departure, radar braking etc) to save me from technology ( aka, texting, etc). Paradox is, we need tech to save us from tech and is a zero sum game.,
I've always heard people say bs about "automatic being safer cuz distraction", yet i've always seen people drive worse when they have 1000 different driving aids because they just don't care about driving. It's even worse with "self driving".
@@dantevito1193Amen
I bought a 1975 Oldsmobile delta 88 when I was 16, I’ve owned the car for 2 years and love it over my daily driver (2018 Chevy Colorado)
Why isn't the Olds your daily? lol I get it, mileage and parts cost, but MAN I would wanna drive it every day.
One thing I’d like to point out about that 2009 vs 1959 crash video. The 59 Chevy had GM’s X frame. Arguably the worst design for an offset collision of that era. I’m not saying a standard ladder chassis would have won, but it wouldn’t have been quite as dramatic visually. Then again, I suspect that is precisely what they were going for. I’d love to see a similar test between a 1974 and a 2024. The 2024 would protect its occupants better, but the video wouldn’t be nearly as impressive. G-forces don’t show up on camera.
Also with the amount of rust dust that puffed out makes me think that the older car was clapped tf out and they prettied it up for the test. Plus I'd bet there was no engine or drivetrain in the older car either
@@mrcody1924 I can’t find them at the moment, but they’re are pictures of the car on a flatbed trailer after it was wrecked. There appeared to be an in-line six cylinder in it. Apparently, they bought the car from some guy who had restored it, and he was not very happy with what they did to it. No word on how thorough the restoration was. I doubt they actively sabotaged the car but I’m sure the choice of cars and angle of impact was no accident.
Don't believe crash tests - you do know they are sponsored by insurance companies, trying to sell you newer, larger and more expensive to insure cars right? There's no way a plastic blob can break a steel car the way that Malibu did - unless it has additional rollbars under the plastic bumper. You see the fact is, the NCAP gets a car selected (and specially prepared) by the manufacturer himself - NCAP doesn't get to pick a random car from the assembly line :D
Ted's?
@@nathangamble125 Ted= test. Autocorrect is awfully auto but not so correct.
Great video, and no, it's not just nostalgia. Older cars are more stylish, actually come in colours, and once properly sorted and maintained, are quite reliable. You can also maintain them yourself with a modicum of skills and a few hand tools. Not so for modern cars, especially when 20 years (or even 10) down the road, specialized electronic parts are NLA. That's why most of my cars are 50+ years old, including two vintage Volvos, three little British sports cars, and a classic Chevy pick-up. Most of these will likely still be running 50 years from now, unlike most of the stuff sitting on new car lots. Nice Triumph Bonne, BTW. Cheers!
This video kinda explains why the gwagon is still so popular. Now the oldness is a status symbol.
As the owner of an early 2000s car. I feel that I have found the sweet spot between reliability and simplicity. I have experienced vintage cars and plenty of brand new ones. I definitely believe that driving an older car which usually has better visibility will make most people better drivers. However, I have experienced a few modern cars that somehow manage to give me the feel that old cars give, which makes me very happy.
Which ones? I'm still searching for a modern car that gives me the same joy as the old muscle car boats.
@@FuckGoogle502any late 90’s early 00’s muscle car ie. GTO Camaro Mustang vette etc
A newer car that feels like a classic for me here in Europe is the Suzuki Jimny Automatic. I've just driven one and it could end up being my next car. The 2014 model is the sweet spot. Not too old, so parts and warranty and everything is still a given. But so cozy and comfy all around. You hear every sound as well. It has a lot of character.
@@FuckGoogle502 I don't think there is one. Albeit I'm in the UK, but I have worked in a fast fit garage and as an airport valet parker, so I've driven a few hundred modern cars, The most notable ones that came in that I remember were a 2002 F150, 2004 Lexus GS430 and my own 1996 Jag X300 3.6. Almost everything after the 90's feels the same and is bland as hell. That includes £100k+ Porsches and Land/Rangerovers.
I love this video, i may only be 18 but ive been around old vehicles my whole life and gthe lack of craftsmanship on everything nowadays is just painful, my grandpa used to work for fisher body and he was unhappy about the craftsmanship going downhill even back in the 80s, but even houses, my parents house was built cheaply and i constantly see shit that wasnt done well and would never have been an issue on an older home where somebody gave even half a crap about it, this is such a boomery rant but tldr, i actually hate how crappy everything is made
Exactly! Nobody cares about quality anymore they just care about how many of them they can make.
Hell yeah Fisher Body was the shit back in the day. Dad's old Caddy was done by them.
Also, yeah on the houses. I was in a band for a while and there was this really nice couple who's son was into the local bands and they would let us have shows in their basement. Once time, a big ol' dude tripped in the mosh pit and went through the flimsy wall. I looked at it and went, "Why would this wall be made of 1x2s?" not knowing that they were in earshot. They went ballistic. Apparently that house had been marketed as "overbuilt" and they paid more than average for the area because of the "ruggedness." Yeah, they got boned by that contractor. (We did fix the wall for them.)
"If you wanted your car to have basically nonexistent tiny bumpers, or, you know, sharp edges, you could do that!" *_Tesla Cybertruck has entered the chat_*
I'm 17, so I guess the nostalgia doesn't really exist for me yet, but the main car I drive is a 1990 nissan. When I drive my moms new audi suv it doesnt even feel like I'm driving and I feel like I'm a worse driver just by driving that car. I can barely see in front of me and I feel like I have no control over the vehicle. My car is the sweet spot where I can do all my maintenance on it very easily and I also have the reliability of a 90s nissan and its overall been a blast to drive and work on and maintain and I couldnt be happier
Was very nice listening to you. As an old cars collector, i cant agree more: about the sync between the man and the machine, the stimulation with driving an old vehicle, and the distracted driving caused by various reasons: 1. blind trust on the vehicle in case of an accident 2. Zero to very little connection between the driver and the car 3. Cellphones...
The TPS arguing with you about how fast 30% throttle is supposed to be... God, I hate Mom's Mazda Tribute (Ford Escape).
Old cars have the best safety equipment - more window area. When you can see almost 360 around you, you prevent the accident from happening at all. And if some EV monster that weighs 3 tons decides to run you over, in your normal sized retro car, who's fault is it gonna be? Nowadays they're trying to blame the poor person, who can't afford a modern SUV.
Your not blinded by nostalgia. I feel the same way, esp when it comes to how people view "reliability" ill take being able to fix my 80's diesel rabbit over a modern vehicle any day of the week
I bought an 86 Rx7 half a year ago and I thought I knew so much about how they worked. Its an extremely eye opening experience now that I started tinkering on my dads beaten up 69 Ranchero and seeing how scared I am to touch anything, how simple it was back then and yet i still feel comepletely unqualified to touch anything. It definitely gives you a new perspective on anything you drive when you start to know how to actually fix it.
I think the death of mechanical throttle linkage is was the beginning of the end for fun with cars. From that point, the connection between the driver and the engine was severed-run through an intermediary rather than being fundamental. But I do think some good cars have been made since then, particularly in the earlier days of drive-by-wire. Still, I do think cars prior to the days of computer-controlled everything were more... real. I've only owned two cars, both of them total bangers-even if they're worlds apart. My first was a 1995 Mazda MX-6 (which I still have, but is unfortunately infirmed)... LS trim, I believe; manual transmission, V6 engine, and every option fitted... except ABS and Traction Control... and the 4-wheel steering that was only available in Japan and Australia/maybe New Zealand, obviously. My second was a 2017 Volkswagen Golf GTI (yes, I know they stopped calling the GTI-model a "Golf" somewhere around that time, but I do not actually care), and it's... well, it comes from a completely different philosophy, but on the surface, it's actually quite similar. Both are sports cars designed to be practical for daily use. The Golf is a hot hatchback that's tame at cruising speed and vicious when the turbo kicks-in, and the MX-6 is... something of a baby GT-car-a ground-up sports car, designed to be calm and comfortable when you need it to be and exciting when you want it to be. In a sense, it's the same niche.... but that's where the similarities end. The MX-6 is raw and pretty much unfiltered. It's got pretty good suspension for its time, and the engine has some fancy trickery-a very noticeable variable-length intake-but it's a naturally asperated, torque-y V6 with four wheels and no other filters. The Golf, meanwhile... well, it has more power and weighs only a little more, and the suspension is way, way smarter, and you can feel it in the corners when it *_truly_* loads-up, but... any time you really want to drive like a hooligan, the traction control gets in your way. Now, that alone isn't a problem; that's the system doing what it's designed for. But it doesn't turn-off. It has three-settings: On, Fake "Off," and Slightly-More-But-Not-Remotely "Off." If you want to be free of it, you have to start messing with your car's programming. The engine, sure, it wants to turn the front tires into smoke, but the computer won't let it. And, of course, the severity of your throttle, the amount of feedback on the wheel... all of that is the computer, too. All in all, the Volkswagen... feels like a curated experience. Like the manufacturer felt the need to sit-in with you while you were driving. Meanwhile, the Mazda... well, when it was just me and the car, it was *_just_* me and the car. And I can't really say more than that. Even the Golf itself... feels like it wants to do more, feels like-when you take the revs up and that turbo just punches you-it wants to play... but you can only play within pre-ordained limits. Now, there is ONE big caveat with those 90s cars we all love so much. Parts. Ohhh, the parts. What's got my MX-6 infirmed presently is an issue with the window rollers (yes, the *_rollers,_* not the motors) that... I've been struggling for the confidence to fix... even though I have found a (hopefully dependable) way of fabricating them; the car is just not made for this particular part to be replaced. With more plastic came a greater degree of disposability, meaning that a proper restoration... is going to be a challenge for me, and I know that car needs it... it runs for now, even as I've been struggling to find time and the gumption to truly fix it, but I know that car needs more than I know how to give it. I *_will_* give it, some day... that damned thing saved my life, gave me a reason to keep going... but I've got to get that life together first. Luckily, I've got my dad to help me still, but his wheelhouse is proper classics-stuff from the '60s and '70s. It's going to be an uphill battle. All of this is a long way of saying I-while I don't think it's a perfect phrasing of the matter at hand-agree with the core message of all this. Cars are supposed to be more than just transit from point A to point B. They're supposed to be an experience, a part of the family. More than just a machine.
I still drive my 1991 Jeep that I bought in 1997 as 2nd owner. It has just over 380k miles. I wouldn't trade it for anything.
I'm 23 and the current house I live in is built like crap compared to the old colonial house my dad fixed up when I was a kid.
I had the good fortune of picking up a 1940 Mercury convertible for $10.00 and a 1941 chevy coupe for $$20.00. I had the Merc for 29 years. I Loved that car. My how things have changed.....
I understand exactly what you’re talking about. My daily driver was a plug-in hybrid when I got my 1979 MGB. It wasn’t technically a barn find, but it sat in my grandma’s garage for 27 years. Once I got it running and took it for its first drive across town, my thought was “Driving this car is a lot of work.” Still love it though!
Aye I got a 79 MGB as well! I love driving it haha😂
Owning an old car means you have to become involved with the vehicle. You tend to form a relationship with it. Today most cars are just appliances. My wife and I, however, LOVE our 2022 Mustang!
This video has finally convinced me to start looking for a 1981 Nissan Bluebird. Thank you!
i started working as an automotive electrician 18 years ago. in my opinion a good car is one that does NOT have a body control module. im okay with ONLY the engine being somewhat controlled by the ecu (i dont see anything wrong with my throttle cable)
I've been learning to tune OBD1 Chevys and I'm convinced carbs are the way to go. One normal screwdriver, a jet screwdriver, dizzy wrench and maybe different counterweights and it's done lol Edit: Well, I forgot and a vacuum gauge. Running like crap because of the extreme weather? Five minutes and it's dialed. Two and it's drivable.
@@FuckGoogle502 while you and i might be able to tune up a classic car, if a relative was looking for something simple i wouldnt be able to ask them to do the same. "big kids lego" is so much fun tho
@@FuckGoogle502 Anything pre-OBDII is trash-tier injection imo. The whole point of fuel injection is to account for various issues with driving conditions with the sensors.
So true, Bart! In so many ways, older cars and houses were better... and usually much more affordable relative to income. I especially liked what you pointed out about not needing backup cameras. I recently bought my first car that had a backup camera. I like it BUT I hate the fact that I can turn my head in most directions and not see anything. Backup cameras are not improvements or helps in these poorly designed cars; they're necessities. Cars also used to have a lot of individuality, thus allowing the driver to pick a car that expressed his or her personality within budgetary considerations. Nowadays, everything looks pretty much alike. All of this is the result of an attack by corporations and government on consumers. Pleasing the customer is no longer a consideration.
Agreed 100%
I gotta disagree with one thing, old cars handling. Having driven a 51 chevy 3600 and 73 firebird, in both cases i have NEVER felt more disconnected from the steering impulse lol. Its definitely an experience
Get sway bars. It's a hell of a difference. You're feeling the body roll more than anything, I'll bet you. My '72 Charger with a beefy front sway bar would tell me if I'm running over a single leaf. So does the '95 Chevy truck with beefy front and rear bars (amazingly nimble for being 6080 lbs), but Mom's Mazda Tribute feels like playing GTA for all the feedback I get, and the '78 C25 with no sway bars feels like I'm in a bounce castle.
Excellent video. Recently built my own shop because I enjoy working on my old cars so much. My first engine replacement when I was 16 was a 1998 Mitsubishi Eclipse. When I was 30 my first engine swap was a AW11 MR2 after I threw a rod racing it at Laguna Seca. Now I am 40 and latest swap is 500whp K swap SW20 MR2.
I have a 50s truck and i drive it all the time. Sure ive broken doen a few times but i can always get it going again with little effort. What ive noticed about classics is you can limp them home but new cars need a tow truck.
Great topic, I drive a 74 MGB that I've had for 25 years. To me it's a hobby and the car has been fully sorted for 20 years. Like you describe, mine was a rust free barn find example I found in Central California but it was stored for many years by the time I towed it home with a U-haul car carrier I rented. Long story short the first five years were challenging, I got it running and driving in a couple of days but replaced every piece of rubber on the car at least once. I cheated when it came to the electrical systems and installed an electronic 95 amp alternator replacing the 34 Amp unit, I replaced the 25D distributor with an electronic version of the same and did the same with the starter. Every part that needed replacement was replaced with a new part after having rebuilt some parts three times over. The major components are numbers matching and it starts first time every time and has done so for years now. The MGB has fantastic parts availability rivaling many new cars. The car is extremely reliable and starts every time and i hardly get to work on it any more. Mine has overdrive and is freeway capable and has windows that even roll up! I worked on these cars working at a neighborhood foreign car repair shop while going to college. I've had many cars and I always have at least one car that connects me to my history and I've even had some that predate me as well. Sitting behind the wheel of any of these classics is like going back in time like when we drove with our parents on weekends when we were kids just taking rides on old country roads. I still wave at the cows...
I'm 29 and got a 1979 MGB LE roadster about 5 months ago, I've been slowly fixing her up over the winter and she is running good now. These cars are so much fun.
@@tigermedz Good choice; the MGB is the quintessential expression of a true old fashioned sports car. No new car can replicate the MGB feel. With few exceptions it's the end of an era. Usually guys your age don't get the old fashioned sports car and you are going to love it. They do everything well but nothing great. They were quick in their day but not a muscle car. They handle well and have a good driving feel but it's not a 911, they stop great but not like a Ferrari. The top takes 15 minutes to put up and it keeps you dry in the rain, sorta. It's worth the effort don't give up. Drive it every chance you get and don't let it go unfixed for a minute longer than necessary. It should always be ready to go for a ride, if you're like me it lifts your spirits. Fix it as you go. If it looks ratty, drive it anyway, if it looks great drive it, if it breaks, fix it then drive it some more. BTW this philosophy goes for any classic car. Have FUN
@@hummiesatmv that's good advice! Mine is a garage queen according to my mechanic, but I drive it whenever the weather permits. In 5 months I've got new tires, put in a new ignition switch, spark plugs, new fuse box, battery, had someone teach me to adjust the rear brakes, and then I've changed out some worn interior bits. I'm loving it so far! And people my age don't even know what these are usually.
You're not near Roanoke, are you? There's a dude I've seen driving his for about as long. He has a few of them though, not sure of the years.
@@FuckGoogle502 no I'm not from that area. But if you can find a good runner that's rust free, do it!
I've never heard anyone explain the feel of driving a old car this well, considering how many people I have heard try... That's amazing bravo Sir. My favorites have been, 87 302 Mustang I turboed, 78 350 El Camino I put a 5 speed into, 2003 Tribute that pulled me and all our belonging to Maine and back still going. 92 Tarus, and Siena mini Van.
True. I have a 90's VW Passat, EFI. But still not overfilled with electronic nannies to look after you. Just the basic comforts. Every repair I've done so far I did either myself or with a help from a dad/friend.
A word on safety. While this does not make up for the lack of safety in classics, when you drive an old car you HAVE to pay attention. They do not allow inattentiveness and texting and autopiloting like modern cars. They also force you to check that your car is in good working order. Moreover, everyone around you is paying so much more attention and being so much more courteous and careful because they SEE you and are watching out for you in particular. I never get cut off or endangered in my car even in the 4th worst driving city in the union, but when driving my family's vehicles I'm nearly wrecked by people multiple times every time I go out. Nobody wants to wreck a classic, whether you're in it or around it. Insurance on classics is low because classic car drivers don't get into wrecks at nearly the same rates as new car drivers. So while classics are absolutely comparatively unsafe in a wreck, the likely-hood of a wreck is reduced.
I make up for the lessened safety with paying real attention and not gping 75 on the highway
@@TeaMollie11 Exactly
I used to drive a hearse around and was given lots of space by other drivers. It was great.
Ins. Co. Know classics are pampered & not daily drivers, so few miles, risk of wreck= cheap ins.
Modren cars still don't allow that look at the ones who have died in Tesla cars. People will learn the hard way.
This video has inspired me to tackle the project of fixing 2 old cars on my family's property; both are from before the 70's. I have always been scared to work on them because any car that I have worked on before turned into a chaotic mess. But this video has showed me with less research and tools you can get more done without needing an expert or a mechanic. I have my grandpappy (this man should have been a engineer) knows anything to do with cars and I will have him guide me the whole way, thanks.
I remember back in 2017 I would drive around in my 80's pickup with a tool box, behind the bench seat. At the time I didn't know much about how engines or how the pulleys worked and the pulley to my alternator would slip off pretty consistently. Love that truck and the feeling I get once I haven't driven it in a long time. Currently my father drives it and in the best mechanical shape it's been since my father first bought it. My Lincoln really spoils me but would never beat the love for that old pickup.
I believe you're right about the 80's to 90's cars because i love how reliable my 98 is but also how charming and easy and cheap to work on it is, great video love the work!
I can reach through my 1965's engine bay and touch the ground with both hands, in new cars I can't reach anything below the surface because it's covered with facades. I can fix almost every problem with that car myself, and if I can't its because I need a car lift or pneumatics or something, on new cars I can barely get in to change the oil. Driving a classic turns the slog and boredom of driving into an activity that I look forward to. I can feel everything and every problem and I know when something isn't right, on a new car I can't tell anything without paying someone to plug it into a $10,000 computer. I saved and scraped in high school to buy a classic knowing nothing about mechanics, because I can't stand how modern cars look. Every day I walk out to my Falcon and feel so much pride because I maintain and drive a piece of living artwork that makes people happy. However, this still isn't what keeps me dedicated to it when I'm stranded, or when I'm frustrated, or when I'm broke. What keeps me around is the feeling of my engine rumbling, the smell of my exhaust, the feeling of the controls in my hands, and the living breathing connection to this machine that I have like nobody else ever will. When I get behind the wheel of a new car I feel uncomfortable, lacking, and dejected. There is nothing behind them. I will leave this car to whoever is left after I'm gone. No matter if it is totaled, rusted, destroyed, or burned, I will never give up on it.
A restomod can also be a great example of a combination of old and new like you can have all the old school looks and feel while having some modern performance and efficiency as well.
But then you have to deal with unfixable computers and have destroyed a classic car.
@@michaelbenardo5695 are you talking to me? I have no idea what you’re referencing that I said.
I remember back in the mid 2000s when my assistant scoutmaster asked if I could change the oil on his Audi. I looked at it and the skid plate was secured by Security Torx screws, which were at the time, new to me. I had Torx, but not the "security" version with the hold in the center of the bits. I told him, "I guess they want more of your money."
@@michaelbenardo5695 ...huh? I don't follow. Are you referring to the restomod comment? In which case, I agree. Don't sully classic cars with computer BS.
I love old cars, I'm new to driving and have only driven a few vehicles but the only ones I enjoyed driving and felt safe in were cars from the early 2000s and early 90s. Thanks for making this
Thank You for this- listened to as it was poetry. I had BMW E34, 5 of them in diffrent ages- that is car who keeps coming back to me. Sometimes we choose a car, but sometimes car chooses us! :)
I'm a bike guy but yeah, it's exactly the same; I have a 1979 Harley and a 1964 BSA.
This is true for motorcycles too. My old motorcycle is kickstarting only etc.
There is nothing I want more than a 1969 Mustang Boss 302. The sound alone is incredible. Also, I’m 21.
i drive a hatchback and a sedan and i agree with the increased pedestrian deaths due to the increasing popularity of SUVs. In the automotive culture, a distinct divide exists between old and new cars. Old cars, cherished by enthusiasts, evoke nostalgia and passion, representing a bygone era of craftsmanship and mechanical mastery. Conversely, modern cars cater predominantly to the needs of everyday commuters, who constitute the bulk of today's car owners. These individuals prioritize practicality, safety, and reliability over the exhilarating driving experience or aesthetic appeal offered by vintage models. With busy schedules consumed by work and family obligations, the average car owner lacks the time and inclination to indulge in the intricacies of car maintenance and customization. While contemporary vehicles may lack the charm and excitement of their predecessors, they excel in efficiency, functionality, and meeting the basic needs of transportation from point A to B.
There is certainly a sweet spot to be found as you alluded to. I have owned a 72 MGB, it was very happy at 45mph but I wouldn't commute in it. I now own a 97 240sx and a 2023 GR86, on paper the 86 is better in every way. In reality, I prefer the Nissan because of the soul and the involvement needed while driving. Good video
I have a 1985 Mercedes-Benz 190 D (W201) and it couldn't have been more reliable than it has been the past, almost, 4 decades...the problem is when it eventually breaks down and the friendly, local mechanic eventually retired or got too old and sick to work and his sons/grandsons aren't that familiar with fixing a car that can be as simple as it can be (W201 are a bit overly-engineer but when comes to the 4-cylinder diesels, the engine can't be more simple than it is and there is almost no electronics apart from the bare bones) don't have a place to plug a computer to make a diagnosis, you need to know your stuff and also when the mechanics became less of mechanics and more of "component assemblers/replacers". Of course now it is getting annoying and expensive and everything seems to be giving out all over the place, but you can expect that from a almost 40 years old car that was bought used in the early 90s and since then served as first car to my father, me and briefly my brother (which had a moron T-bonning it's front once in a intersection). And guess what, when it is working close to 100% right it is a car as nice and as confortable as a car needs to be, you don't need anything else...maybe AC, a GPS and a Bluethoot sound system but you can adapt AC to it and you can manage it by using your phone and adapting your radio. But I know now all classic cars were created equal, some aren't that sturdy. And honestly I don't feel that safe with all the ugly, "made for being super-safe" modern cars driving all over the place when the large majority of those cars seem to be driven by clueless idiots that have no skill or respect for the others and are always distracted on the road. Cars aren't built as they used to to, but drivers aren't built as they used to either.
Those are long lasting cars.
Love my 78 caddilac, cruises 75 like a dream. The feeling is best when all 4 barrels are making the big block rumble. And here's something crazy, it averages 19 and 20 on the highway
After working in parts for a couple years now, I'm no longer afraid to work on a vehicle. I still won't touch wiring, but in terms of mechanics, I have no issue diving headfirst into an engine bay. I bought, fixed, and sold an 03 Yukon. Drove better than most modern cars. Can't wait to get my hands on earlier vehicles