Anybody switch over from new car and regret it?

[Billett]

I agree, I find that crash video a bit hard to believe. I was in an old Gremlin my girlfriend had when she accidentally "bumped" into one of those yellow cement posts at the bank. There was a chunk of concrete that fell out onto the ground, but her bumper just had some paint on it. Those cars were not built to crumple like that one did. Call me a skeptic, but I'm just not buying it.

EDIT: I'll leave what I said up, because I do still find it a bit hard to believe, but thinking about it a bit more, these newer cars are much more reinforced in more safety specific places. Please don't think I was doubting the superior safety features of newer cars, I just can't seem to wrap my brain around that video when all of the first hand experience I've seen with older vs newer cars is the opposite. I'm thinking it might be higher speed? Those two hit head on pretty fast so I could see the old sheet metal crumpling without the reinforcement the new ones have. City traffic though I feel much safer in a steel brick up high haha

[vectorit]

Every time I talk to my Dad about upgrading the brakes, or something else in the Suburban he always laughs. "Those brakes and axles treated me just fine, and I raised a family in that Suburban for 20 some odd years".

Now if you ask my Mother...

[Eddie H.]

As far as fuel mileage, I have found that there's not much diference between the new ones and the old ones.

My old 69 GMC long bed with a 406 small block and a 400 trans gets around 11-12 mpg, sometimes 14 if I baby it on the highway.

My daily driver ( company furnished truck) is a 2012 silverado 2500, with a 6.0 liter, six speed automatic overdrive and the latest electronics drive by wire technology that cuts out 4 cylinders while cruising. It averages 11-12 mpg, with 14 if I baby it.

Granted, it is heavier, being a 3/4 ton, but it has 40 less cubic inches to feed, electronic fuel injection and overdrive.

[69GWC]

And which one is faster do you think.? I know my 69 would walk off from my 06 if I could shift that sm465 fast enough.. lol

To me you would think these new truck would do alot better then they do with all this new technology they have now.
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[noco-k5]

My least favorite car is also my newest a 2012 Mustang GT. I was planning on daily driving my 1970 Blazer in the winter but recently picked up an 04 Chevy Suburban which I love. The Blazer gets driven plenty and is a ton of fun. The one I'm making a payment on sits in the garage for the most part. Don't get me wrong the Mustang is alot of fun just not very practical. I'll probably hang onto it and put a supercharger on it once the warranty expires and just use it for a weekend cruiser and occasional drag racer. Plan on driving my Blazer alot rain, snow, or shine. I've had restored classic cars and they were much like my Mustang they didn't get driven much.

[Eddie H.]

Originally Posted by 69GWC

And which one is faster do you think.? I know my 69 would walk off from my 06 if I could shift that sm465 fast enough.. lol

To me you would think these new truck would do alot better then they do with all this new technology they have now.
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There would be no contest between my 69 and the 2012. The old 69 would run off and hide from it.

[Daves70]

I'm building my 70 as a daily driver.I just sold an 04 F350 with a diesel that left me stranded because of a broken wire in the main harness.$690.00 later and a tow I have decided simpler is better.My 67 gets driven quite a bit as long as there is no salt on the roads and in the 14 years I've had this truck it has been on many long trips without any issues.I'm sure I'll miss the fancy bells and whisels but the cool facter and ease of repair will make up for that.As for miliege my 67 "can" get 17 mpg on the highway at a steady 70-75 mph,my F350 diesel got the same. As far as ruining a classic truck by daily driving it,I dragged my 70 out of a field so technically it's already ruined.

[magwakeenercew2jh]

Originally Posted by Daves70

I.....As for miliege my 67 "can" get 17 mpg on the highway at a steady 70-75 mph,my F350 diesel got the same.

How can I get 17mpg at 70-75mph? I'd do anything you tell me to do here in
The Land Of The Almost $5.00/Gallon 91 Bogus Octane.

Oh! One proviso....You didn't put a four-banger in your truck, did you?

Please! Help a brother out.

[Daves70]

Originally Posted by magwakeenercew2jh

How can I get 17mpg at 70-75mph? I'd do anything you tell me to do here in
The Land Of The Almost $5.00/Gallon 91 Bogus Octane.

Oh! One proviso....You didn't put a four-banger in your truck, did you?

Please! Help a brother out.

406 smallblock with 10.5 compression and 195 AFR heads with a fairly conservative cam backed by a 700/R4 trans with 3.42 rearend gears.If I drive steady down the highway it will get 17 mpg. If I'm on it all the time it won't.It is no different than the F350 diesel I had. You had to drive it right to get 17 mpg too.I think the secret is building an efficient engine with good heads and caming it for torque.I'm hoping to do a bit better with a 350-700/R4-3.73 in the 70.Time will tell as I'm just starting that one.

[LilD]

When it comes to safety there are variables. A 67-72 truck isnt gonna react the same as that old 4 door car in the crash video. IMO you cant lump all new and all old cars into that same result. Not saying the out come would be any different. We wont know that until they test every new and old car the same way. You know what they say, opinions are like........ everybodies got one.

[Billett]

That video was just posted on the last page.
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[sixtysevengmc]

the newest vehicle I own is my 1996 Roadmaster sedan, and is daily driven.

The lady gets the newer stuff, 2012 SRX

[1972BackInBlackC10]

im not trying to argue wiith anyone, but quoting my statements with comments and videos like that when i never claimed new vehicles arent safe or safer than old vehicles

im saying that the features new cars have make some people feel old cars arent safe, when in fact older cars are safe with the proper maintnence and seatbelts as i mentioned

i can argue all day about the video but im not going there lol someone will always have an opinion or have something to point out

[davepl]

Originally Posted by 1972BackInBlackC10

im not trying to argue wiith anyone, but quoting my statements with comments and videos like that when i never claimed new vehicles arent safe or safer than old vehicles

im saying that the features new cars have make some people feel old cars arent safe, when in fact older cars are safe with the proper maintnence and seatbelts as i mentioned

i can argue all day about the video but im not going there lol someone will always have an opinion or have something to point out

"I'm not trying to argue, I just want you to publicly accept my viewpoint without question". Sorry, it doesn't work that way, at least not on the Internet :-)

I don't want to complicate the argument with facts, but check the data: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of...n_U.S._by_year

Fatalities per 100M miles, 1969: 5.04
Fatalities per 100M miles, 2008: 1.25

Looks to me like you're FOUR times more likely to bite the big one in a 1960s vehicle than a 2000s vehicle, and that's per mile driven, so its adjusted for the different amount people drive.

Someone asked, in light of my opinions about how bad and unsafe I appear to think old vehicles are, why I'm restoring one. That's simple: I used to have one as a kid, my Dad had one, they look cool, I like to work on things, and so on and so on. But beyond appearances and feelings I don't think there's any subjective measure by which they're "better". I'll definitely drive it around, and there was a time when a '69 C10 was my only vehicle, but given the choice if I was taking the family on vacation, I'd take a modern truck.

[Hubscrub]

Originally Posted by davepl

"I'm not trying to argue, I just want you to publicly accept my viewpoint without question". Sorry, it doesn't work that way, at least not on the Internet :-)

I don't want to complicate the argument with facts, but check the data: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of...n_U.S._by_year

Fatalities per 100M miles, 1969: 5.04
Fatalities per 100M miles, 2008: 1.25

Looks to me like you're FOUR times more likely to bite the big one in a 1960s vehicle than a 2000s vehicle, and that's per mile driven, so its adjusted for the different amount people drive.

Someone asked, in light of my opinions about how bad and unsafe I appear to think old vehicles are, why I'm restoring one. That's simple: I used to have one as a kid, my Dad had one, they look cool, I like to work on things, and so on and so on. But beyond appearances and feelings I don't think there's any subjective measure by which they're "better". I'll definitely drive it around, and there was a time when a '69 C10 was my only vehicle, but given the choice if I was taking the family on vacation, I'd take a modern truck.

I respectfully disagree, it's not all the cars fault. ONE of the reasons they pushed for the interstate system (which i've come dislike for other reasons) is that the US highway system was unsafe in it self. Smaller roads, poorly signed, no where comparable to todays roads. I live near a major us hwy and i live on one of the old routes that they had to use before it super small in places ones lane bridges one with a curve on each side i hate it. I was on US 11? in Georgia couple months ago and there is a one lane overpass right in the middle of a stretch of road i told the wife i would hate to drive this everyday. Even the mother road Route 66 had the nickname of bloody 66, i'm a highway nerd sorry, but i love to drive them so i can see America like it's meant to be seen. I see every month a sign over the interstate when we go to the flea market that has the traffic deaths for the state on it we are near 800 for the year so far so please drive careful even in a new car. But it's not gonna stop me from driving and riding my family in an old enjoyable vehicle.

[ghostvbhc]

I switched over from a toyota yaris to a 69 chevy c10 with a straight six. The gas mileage isn't bad on it and ten bucks gets me a quarter of a tank, more or less. I do drive the yaris if I'm going far out because of the better gas mileage, but the 69 chevy is basically my daily driver.

[JointTech]

when did they start putting collapsible steering columns in? That's the scarey thing in that video. I also think 50 year old rust isnt going to be as strong as a new car. 50year old steel might be but I doubt they did a frame off before ramming it.

I like jumping in my Scion when its 40 degrees outside and throw it in reverse and be pulling out of my stall about 3 engine revs after starting it. No stutter stall, pump pump pump, let it warm up, yada yada.

I like the way my 4banger warms up before I get to the street.

I like sealed windows and no road noise.

I DD a 70 blazer and a 79 blazer when I was a kid.
I wouldnt do it again. These trucks are fun because I dont have to drive a pile of crap all the time it would suck if I had to.

You guys with the $40k frame offs dont count.
My car has 190,000 on it and it starts every time. (it did cost over a grand for struts though...)

[71meangreenc10]

Drive my GMC everyday and if you do the right upgrades, it is very dependable. Wouldnt think twice about driving it anywhere, my ac works great, power windows work well, seats are comfortable, overdrive works, tilt is sweet....Got to drop it another inch in the rear due to the bed change.

Smitty

[Billett]

Originally Posted by 71meangreenc10

Drive my GMC everyday and if you do the right upgrades, it is very dependable. Wouldnt think twice about driving it anywhere, my ac works great, power windows work well, seats are comfortable, overdrive works, tilt is sweet....Got to drop it another inch in the rear due to the bed change.

Smitty

The only one of those I actually have is seats, and I still love driving mine everywhere

[haminator]

Originally Posted by Billett

The only one of those I actually have is seats, and I still love driving mine everywhere

Hahaha good one. yeah all I have is the seat too. I drive my 70 Longhorn everyday 7 days a week. Work play or what ever. Just got rid of a 96 GMC. Thought I'd like the better mileage, A/C etc. (I did) until it decided to crap out a PCM. Irefused to spend another 200 on it so I sold it. I'll never go back. Had 97 Chev 1 ton diesel once too. Nothing but a money pit. I've been driving a 1970 Chev. 4x4, 70 Blazer, and this Longhorn since I was old enough to drive. (46 now) Oh and don't forget the 72 442. If any of these let me down 9 times out of 10 it was my neglect that caused it. The gas mileage sucks, yes, 400-600 month payment buys a lot of gas. Note: my wife drives a 05 Trailblazer against my better judgement. Its on its 2nd dash now it doesnt work. Longhorn still on original dash 42 years later, no contest. I'll quit now lol.

[vannatta20]

my only vehicle is my 68 C10. Got rid of the inline 6 and swapped a 5.3 from a salvage yard for under 1000$. I had a 4l60e laying and installed that too. Have 2100 trouble free miles and got 19.5 mpg going 75mph(200 mile round trip).Starts just like a new vehicle and runs perfect. Replaced all the weatherstrip and turned it to a great driver. Safety is a major concern and if I get in a bad accident i dont think things will fair well...

[Lippyp]

I daily drove my 67 for a couple of years back when I first got it about ten years ago, rising gas prices stopped me really that and some reliability issues but thats common to any older car thats had a large number of owners. We're now up to the equivalent of about $8/US gallon so daily driving is no longer really an option. My 01 Blazer does much better on gas and on propane which is nearly half the price then its a no brainer. The drivers aids/safety didn't really bother me as I grew up driving cars from the 19860'sd and 70's with no power steering, ABS etc etc.

[502ms]

I still have my Bimmers, but drive my 72 as often as possible. My preference is the 40 year old truck
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[leddzepp]

No.

[CC69Rat]

^^ I agree. Nuff said.