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406 Q-ship · 09-07-2011, 01:30 PM

I am a fan of the old over the new. If you have the ability to do the repairs and are willing to keep an eye out for problems driving an old vehicle, then an older vehicle wil destroy a new vehilce for costs. I will explain.....

A new truck has a payment, you have to carry full coverage ins, DMV fees are higher (well in CA they are), that truck will loose value, cost of maintance is higher (higher tech costs more money). It will probably leave you on the side of road less, but it still can and after the warrenty is up....bend over and smile!

An old truck has NO payment book and the intitial buy in price is anywhere from 10 to 50% the cost of a stripper new truck. Insurance is just liability, that is a huge savings right there over the course of a 6 year loan. If you can do the mainetance and repairs on the older truck (not possible for the average shadetree on a new truck) the parts are way cheaper except the sweat equity is much higher. If bought right an later squarebody will have damn near all the amendities of a newer truck like A/C (you may have make it work), power windows, power locks, higher level of insulation (sound deadner), overdrive transmission, fuel injection, and cushy seat covering. Will a 30 year old truck leave you stranded sometimes....yeap, but if you keep an eye/ear out for problems it will not be any worse than a new truck. remember these 73-87 trucks were new once and used for long distance runs, towing, going camping, and hauling trash. They are still as capable today as they were 30 to 40 years ago. The mileage is a poor reason too, if you can do the tune up, class for class the older truck will not be that far off the new truck to offset the fuel savings, besides do like I did and put a 700R4 in there to get the mileage up.

The newest vehicle I ever owned was a 1986 Monte Carlo SS (it was in 1989) and now the 1974 C1O is the newest vehicle. My 74 C10 I am into it for a little over 4500 and it would still be at that cost except my father granaded the goodwrench 350 in it. That truck has carried me to Northern Calif and Las Vegas (3 times) getting 17 MPG with the A/C and stereo thumppin, I add power windows and sound deadner......the best part of all I get compliments (get that with a 400 a month truck payment!) and the statisfaction of building it myself. I have driven my non A/C 1968 Chevelle to FL twice pulling 21 MPG with a car that I run at open track events, people ask how I could drive a old car across country.....I anwser "at high speeds!!!" What do people think we did when these vehicles were new?

09-07-2011, 01:30 PM	#54
406 Q-ship Registered User Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Largo Florida Posts: 632	Re: New vs. building old one I am a fan of the old over the new. If you have the ability to do the repairs and are willing to keep an eye out for problems driving an old vehicle, then an older vehicle wil destroy a new vehilce for costs. I will explain..... A new truck has a payment, you have to carry full coverage ins, DMV fees are higher (well in CA they are), that truck will loose value, cost of maintance is higher (higher tech costs more money). It will probably leave you on the side of road less, but it still can and after the warrenty is up....bend over and smile! An old truck has NO payment book and the intitial buy in price is anywhere from 10 to 50% the cost of a stripper new truck. Insurance is just liability, that is a huge savings right there over the course of a 6 year loan. If you can do the mainetance and repairs on the older truck (not possible for the average shadetree on a new truck) the parts are way cheaper except the sweat equity is much higher. If bought right an later squarebody will have damn near all the amendities of a newer truck like A/C (you may have make it work), power windows, power locks, higher level of insulation (sound deadner), overdrive transmission, fuel injection, and cushy seat covering. Will a 30 year old truck leave you stranded sometimes....yeap, but if you keep an eye/ear out for problems it will not be any worse than a new truck. remember these 73-87 trucks were new once and used for long distance runs, towing, going camping, and hauling trash. They are still as capable today as they were 30 to 40 years ago. The mileage is a poor reason too, if you can do the tune up, class for class the older truck will not be that far off the new truck to offset the fuel savings, besides do like I did and put a 700R4 in there to get the mileage up. The newest vehicle I ever owned was a 1986 Monte Carlo SS (it was in 1989) and now the 1974 C1O is the newest vehicle. My 74 C10 I am into it for a little over 4500 and it would still be at that cost except my father granaded the goodwrench 350 in it. That truck has carried me to Northern Calif and Las Vegas (3 times) getting 17 MPG with the A/C and stereo thumppin, I add power windows and sound deadner......the best part of all I get compliments (get that with a 400 a month truck payment!) and the statisfaction of building it myself. I have driven my non A/C 1968 Chevelle to FL twice pulling 21 MPG with a car that I run at open track events, people ask how I could drive a old car across country.....I anwser "at high speeds!!!" What do people think we did when these vehicles were new? __________________ Lifes journey is not to arrive at the gate well preserved, it is to slide in sideways all used up and wore out yelling.....God what'a ride! Where patience fails, force prevails Stapp's Ironical Paradox "The universal aptitude for ineptitude makes any human accomplishment an incredible miracle."