Old cars were designed, new cars are engineered. Old cars were pieces of art, new cars are appliances.

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

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.

“New cars make you feel comfortable,old cars make you feel alive”

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.

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.

Driving an old car, you’re operating a machine.

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

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

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.

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.

Around 2010, cars died, nothing new coming out is good

Modern cars = Rev hang = burnt clutch. Old cars with cable throttle > Modern cars with electronic throttle.

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 am SO GLAD I grew up in the era of "musclecars." We'll never see their like again.

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.

Right. The sweet spot for vehicles is 96 to 2006. This trend is everywhere. How long does a new washer last? New fridge?

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.

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.

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

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!

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

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.

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 😂

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 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.

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.

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)

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Best is anything with the Buick 3800 v6. Thats the sweetspot of old meets new.

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.

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.

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.

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!

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 👍

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.

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 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 way you describe old cars is perfect

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.

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

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.

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.

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 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!

This video kinda explains why the gwagon is still so popular. Now the oldness is a status symbol.

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

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.

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.

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

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

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.

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.

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!

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.

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.

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.,

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.

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!

I love that this video has described my weekend his week. Replacing a worn distributor on my 42 year old car and setting up the timing and the choke and the feeling of pride when it actually starts and going for a drive in the first sun of the year. Having an old car is definitely a headache but it definitely makes you slow down and think how things work and problem solve. Repairing it on the side of the road or in a car park can be thrilling

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.

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 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!

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...

"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_*

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.

Old cars are far more capable to travel freeways than you infer. My Dad used to travel on vacations with our 1966 Buick Electra at 80-85 mph cruising speeds with no issues. They had no OD gears, but the 2.9 or so ratios gave them plenty of top end. Aside from brakes, they were plenty capable. Cars today are appliances, not expressions of emotional satisfaction.

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

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.....

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 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)

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 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.

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!

There is nothing I want more than a 1969 Mustang Boss 302. The sound alone is incredible. Also, I’m 21.

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.

I'm a bike guy but yeah, it's exactly the same; I have a 1979 Harley and a 1964 BSA.

You know that when you get more attention in form of happy smiles and people pointing/laughing, when driving a Renault Twizy rather than a brand new high-end car through the city centre, something striking has happened in society

This is true for motorcycles too. My old motorcycle is kickstarting only etc.

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

My first car was a 98 Park Avenue. My friends joked at first about it being an old person's car, but they changed their mind after a few rides in it. I finally had to give it up when the frame started to disintegrate after one too many Midwestern winters of salted roads. To this day, no car I've had has been as simple to use or as easy to maintain.

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 😂)

I'll agree to a certain extent that older cars are better especially your classic full size sedans like a Chevrolet Impala/Caprice Buick Park Avenue Ford Crown Victoria Oldsmobile 98/88 Mercury Grand Marquis etc. though some cars started using plastic interior/trim pieces in the 1970s for weight savings as many of them back in the day weighed over 4000 LBs and over 5,000 in some cases such as a fully loaded 1967 Lincoln Continental convertible which could weigh up to 5,700 LBs

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.

Talk about materials: The sound of door closing is solid on a 1998 Crown Victoria, and sounds plastic on the 2018 Ford Explorer.

I Still drive my 1953 Hudson hornet I’ve owned for almost twenty years. The same goes for my father he still drives his Chevy el camino ss. He owned it for the past 30 years. One of the best things about old cars is the frame they are made out of a very strong metal compared to today’s vehicles

Yep, I've had over 30 cars trucks and motorcycles and my favorite have been the older ones. Connection to the road and experience come with older cars.

I miss bumpers now all a bumper is is a piece of shit lasts which cost 1500 and breaks in a 2 mph crash. Fucking bullshit.

I really miss good station wagons they don't seem to sell them anymore and they are so god damn practical

My daily is a 1993 Volvo 850. Regular maintenance. Rides like on rails. Comfortable for long rides. Slow, but starts every time. I love it.

I'm 75 years old and so have lived with these old cars as just used cars a few years old. I can tell you that these cars - say a 57 Chevy or 68 Dodge were every bit as reliable as new cars are now. Neither my Chevy nor my Dodge, nor my 61 Comet ever made me walk. They just started and went, just like cars do today. Certainly not as comfortable, or fast, or luxurious generally, but reliable. You have to remember, in the 60's or 70's, it wasn't just car guys etc. that drove these things - everybody did - it was just what it was. We all had to get to work, go on vacation etc just like we do now - and those vehicles did it just the same. If you could find a brand new 65 Chevy somehow teleported to today, I would have no qualms about driving cross country with never a thought about reliability - we all did just that back then

My 1966 Mustang lasted 150,000 miles...and went through two engines. My 2006 Scion has 335,000 miles...and is still running fine. So what was that about "better?"

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.

Admittedly, I enjoy the more modern and compact vehicles. But I have gained a newfound admiration for older vehicles over the past decade.