What if you couldn't buy another new car?

[naford]

You have to keep in mind that a lot of the new advances in cars are for emmissions and for mileage. Could you imagine what the air would be like if all drove cars from the 60'?

But getting back on topic. I was driving through an industrial area yesterday and I thought close to what you are saying. I thought what do all these people do and who uses it.

 

[rusty ol ranger]

I heard it stated that cars peaked in the 90's?

I actually read that the most reliable vehicles were turned out in the late 80's into the early 90's.

However, IMO, cars have gone downhill since 79. They peaked from about 68-79.

later,
Dustin

 

[human5]

Right now I'm making payments, $183 a month for the next 5 years pretty much. I don't like the fact that I technically don't own my truck. I could definantly enjoy not having any payment or a high insurance rate. I do plan on owning this truck till the frame rust's out from underneith.

 

[texasranger]

I really think that todays cars are better than they were in the 80's, and way better than the 70's...on average, though there are some fine and desirable exceptions (the '78-'79 Ford truck comes to mind). But really...consider that some American cars were crap the day they were born (late 70's GMs, like the Pontiac TA), and you realize that nobody could get away with stuff like that today. Sometime in the mid-late 90's, we were offered vehicles that can practically run forever. My 2000 Ranger is tight and reliable with over 150,000 miles on it. Can't say the same for the '86 I had. Admittedly, I don't know what it's like to have a good car rust out on me, so thanks to those who brought it up.

 

[ozzy85]

Interesting question. I've had a discussion like this with some of my friends through the years. I've always been a low-tech guy. I'd rebuild a Holley 650 carb blindfolded after a couple of beers and have it work perfectly. Set points in a distributor by "matchbook". The cars I have now are the newest I've ever owned.
As far as the financial part of the discussion, I've never been able to afford 25K for a decent new car. Yes, I bought my Harley Sportster new, but its only a 7000 dollar bike. I don't care to pay that kind of money for a car I don't really give a shit about. However, all of the '70's stuff I used to buy is now considered "vintage" (never mind how they used to make fun of it a decade ago) so I can't do THAT anymore. Three thousand dollar 6-cyl Mavericks and such. I'll keep my older machinery running, thank you. Us gearheads are a stubborn bunch. Don't underestimate us. No new cars is not much of a threat to me. It tilts the playing field in our favor. People will want us to keep their cars running.

 

[Dave R]

Admittedly, I don't know what it's like to have a good car rust out on me, so thanks to those who brought it up.

Your lucky then, I can't even begin to list the number of cars/trucks that have turned to piles of rust on me. Though I finally learned to buy my replacement vehicles from as far south of PA as I can reasonably afford to tow them from.

 

[Bent Bolt]

I recently bought a new Ranger this summer. Not that I particularly needed a new truck but rather I wanted one. I am more than capable of keeping most anything on the road for cheap. My buying a new truck was simply a choice and a desire of mine to have a new truck, especially now that I can afford it.
Besides, it'll make a good project in the future for a SAS after my 87 is gone.
BTW, I still prefer to drive my 87 but I do like the stereo,A/C, power of the 4.0l and orange paint of my 08.

 

[texasranger]

I like new ones too, and the nation's economy depends on those who can afford to keep buying them. There are enough people out there who probably (if ever) rarely even open the hood before trade-in time, and lucky for them, the cars don't need much attention. I'm sure things will go on as normal for quite some time. What sucks is that for alot of us (most?), the purchase price of a new vehicle is out of proportion with our income, hence-- 7 yr. loans, "gap" insurance, and all sorts of creative crap to keep the product moving to the masses. I like Ozzy's comment about us gearheads being quite valuable if ever there were a lack of new cars, there's some truth to that. I guess what got me thinking was the fact that the media made such a huge issue of the UAW strike. There are other segments of society, such as farmers and truck drivers, that would have a much greater impact on our way of life if they stopped working.

 

[LearjetMinako]

i work in a body shop, i agree, new cars have waaaay to much crap to fix, sensors,comps,plastic!! , idk...i prefer something that wont have payments,is easy to work on, and once you get the quriks down there simple. for example i put together a mariner today, i had to get the wheel dismounted and it has a damn "tire pressure censor", are ppl just to stupid to kno a tire is low or flat? the car drives diffrent when that happens and u can clearly see, things like that are pointless to me. its too much money to spend,and frankly to much b.s. to deal with. thats what cracks me up when i have guys in hummers laugh at my rusty blazer. its like WTF are u laughing at, u got car payments and ur 50K over sized car gets the same mileage as my blazer with the 350 in it.

I feel you pain. A lot people just ingrone those little lights that tell them that something is wrong with the car. I mean, COME ON. So when did you notice when the tire was going flat. When it was humming, pulling the vehicle. Nope, when it finally fails and blows out. Problem is 80% of them will get a pro-rate of the tire when cause was neglect.

 

[Simple_serf]

I'm debating buying a new ranger 4x4. preferably no extra options. I would keep the 98 though. I just would like something that could get me to and from work (many roads that I travel on are only plowed once a day), and something that I don't continually have to be sinking $$$ into. After all of the problems I just had with my exhaust, rear diff, brakes and suspension (some multiple times) I could have actually purchased a brand new ranger instead.

I just really don't like the post 98 suspension. and i don't really like any of the engiones offered now...although I might be able to find a 3.0 if I look hard enough.

the new 2.3 would be intersting in 4wd...it's got the power.

 

[pacodiablo]

Why not just buy an old 4WD beater? I found my Explorer in great running and driving condition for $950.

 

[Simple_serf]

and something that I don't continually have to be sinking $$$ into. After all of the problems I just had with my exhaust, rear diff, brakes and suspension (some multiple times) I could have actually purchased a brand new ranger instead.

I haven't completely decided yet.

Problem is, I live in the middle of the salt belt, and I have had a frame fail when I was driving (@$#*ing isuzu). The salt thing generally means that the suspension, brakes, and exhaust have to be done completely to pass inspection. That means that the $950 suddenly becomes $2500 when all is said and done and things keep going wrong.

This year i had to put over $5600 into my ranger, with me doing 90% of the work. It is in pretty good shape for a car around here. I paid $3000 for it 3 years ago.

Just yesterday i noticed the fuel filler pipe is leaking. Great. Lima 2.5 and M5OD haven't been torn into yet...they both have 187K miles on them.

 

[Bill]

Just yesterday i noticed the fuel filler pipe is leaking. Great. Lima 2.5 and M5OD haven't been torn into yet...they both have 187K miles on them.

The fuel filler hose on my 1995 is leaking vapors. It wouldn't be so bad if I could buy a hose for a reasonable price. So far it looks like a $300 hose. I read something about fixing it with solvent-proof glue and some special tape, but that doesn't seem like a good fix to me.

The other thing that annoys me about this is I helped a friend take a gas tank out of a late 80's Toyota pickup. The fuel filler hose was in excellent condition. Why can't Ford make a fuel filler hose that doesn't decay? The OEM radiator hoses last longer and they are subject to a lot more heat and pressure. The fuel filler hose is in a relatively protected environment, minus the fuel vapors, in which case it should be made of chemically resistant material.

 

[Bill]

I heard it stated that cars peaked in the 90's?

I actually read that the most reliable vehicles were turned out in the late 80's into the early 90's.

However, IMO, cars have gone downhill since 79. They peaked from about 68-79.

later,
Dustin

You have got to be kidding! Most of the cars from about 1975-through the early 80's were a joke. Vacuum lines that got brittle and split. Emissions compliant carbs that gummed up constantly. Gaskets that leaked from the extra heat produced from these engines. They really didn't improve until fuel injection became mainstream.

 

[Bent Bolt]

You have got to be kidding! Most of the cars from about 1975-through the early 80's were a joke. Vacuum lines that got brittle and split. Emissions compliant carbs that gummed up constantly. Gaskets that leaked from the extra heat produced from these engines. They really didn't improve until fuel injection became mainstream.

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