"USA imports" daily driver, whats good?

-
If you're talking car vs. car and leaving out 4wd, I will drive my 64 right through anything you can drive a modern car through.
Why would you drive a 50 year old car?
Economics...my car is worth more every day, yours is worth less.
Maintenance...my car is a pleasure to work on, yours is a nightmare
Resilience...my car has come through dozens of hail storms unscathed. Yours needs just a single good one to be totaled.
Personality...mine has character and individuality, yours is an appliance.
Pride...my car was designed and built by Americans, in America when we were awesome. Yours is a hodgepodge of bits and pieces sourced out from the cheapest vendors in the most obscure places on earth.
Longevity...50 years from now, my 50 year old car will be 100 and somebodies pride and joy. 50 years from now, your car will have been recycled a half dozen times and will likely be part of my guys snow blower or blender. This is inevitable due to the huge number of specialized parts used in todays cars. Things that control important functions will be discontinued and become obsolete as soon as their shelf traffic slows down.
Aggravation...as in, which warning light is gonna pop on next and keep your new car from passing inspection.
I could go on and on...but you get the idea.
 
RustyRatRod said:
I said what I did about the AWD because I ran the office in a local transmission shop about two years. AWD vehicles are nothing but trouble. People buy them and then have no clue how to take care of them.

They are required to have the same size tires front and rear. Not just that. The factories also recommend sequential serial numbers on the tires, so that they are all four as close as possible to the exact same diameter.

The viscous coupling that connects the front and rear differentials is THAT sensitive. As little as 1/2" difference front to rear can burn up a viscous coupling. Done. Over. Toast. A lot of times, it causes a violent enough reaction that it takes the transmission out with it. Can you say $5K in repairs?

And since Subaru DID come up, they have one of the most bullcrap systems there is. The break in procedure for a rebuilt transmission and viscous coupling is basically doing doughnuts in a parking lot. Ok. No problem. Know what the service manual says? Something like "if the coupling continues to chatter after break in, remove the coupling and manually burnish the cutch plates"

While I was there we only had ONE problem child that would NOT go away. Guess what it was? A Subaru AWD.
Click to expand...

Thanks RustyRR, I was just looking that up on a Hyundai Tuscon, because of wrong tire size. The car needed the transfer case replaced (several thousand $) and the coupler replaced $850. All of that and the guy only drove the car 20 miles with the wrong size (1 size) tires on the rear. The only way ,I would buy an AWD, ..is if I bought it new. That way I would know what tires were ever put on it....What do they do about spare tires/ most cars have donut spare ????
 
whitepunkonnitro said:
If you're talking car vs. car and leaving out 4wd, I will drive my 64 right through anything you can drive a modern car through.
Why would you drive a 50 year old car?
Economics...my car is worth more every day, yours is worth less.
Maintenance...my car is a pleasure to work on, yours is a nightmare
Resilience...my car has come through dozens of hail storms unscathed. Yours needs just a single good one to be totaled.
Personality...mine has character and individuality, yours is an appliance.
Pride...my car was designed and built by Americans, in America when we were awesome. Yours is a hodgepodge of bits and pieces sourced out from the cheapest vendors in the most obscure places on earth.
Longevity...50 years from now, my 50 year old car will be 100 and somebodies pride and joy. 50 years from now, your car will have been recycled a half dozen times and will likely be part of my guys snow blower or blender. This is inevitable due to the huge number of specialized parts used in todays cars. Things that control important functions will be discontinued and become obsolete as soon as their shelf traffic slows down.
Aggravation...as in, which warning light is gonna pop on next and keep your new car from passing inspection.
I could go on and on...but you get the idea.
Click to expand...

All of that is well and good, and I agree. But were talking about living in Ohio...Winter...Salt, and a vehicle that my wife could drive Everyday. So are you willing to drive your 50 year old classic on the salt and snow covered roads in Ohio everyday (I'm sure you just said NO ). At some point (even if you don't want to) you have to be realistic . I do not want my wife drive a 50 yr old classic that does not have Crumple Zones or Air Bags. I'm sure that your family's life's rank higher than driving that classic... I'm not ranting at you. I just need to think about the Big Picture .
 
rustytoolss said:
Thanks RustyRR, I was just looking that up on a Hyundai Tuscon, because of wrong tire size. The car needed the transfer case replaced (several thousand $) and the coupler replaced $850. All of that and the guy only drove the car 20 miles with the wrong size (1 size) tires on the rear. The only way ,I would buy an AWD, ..is if I bought it new. That way I would know what tires were ever put on it....What do they do about spare tires/ most cars have donut spare ????
Click to expand...

The doughnut has to be the same diameter as the rest.
 
Very well said and all 100% true.




whitepunkonnitro said:
If you're talking car vs. car and leaving out 4wd, I will drive my 64 right through anything you can drive a modern car through.
Why would you drive a 50 year old car?
Economics...my car is worth more every day, yours is worth less.
Maintenance...my car is a pleasure to work on, yours is a nightmare
Resilience...my car has come through dozens of hail storms unscathed. Yours needs just a single good one to be totaled.
Personality...mine has character and individuality, yours is an appliance.
Pride...my car was designed and built by Americans, in America when we were awesome. Yours is a hodgepodge of bits and pieces sourced out from the cheapest vendors in the most obscure places on earth.
Longevity...50 years from now, my 50 year old car will be 100 and somebodies pride and joy. 50 years from now, your car will have been recycled a half dozen times and will likely be part of my guys snow blower or blender. This is inevitable due to the huge number of specialized parts used in todays cars. Things that control important functions will be discontinued and become obsolete as soon as their shelf traffic slows down.
Aggravation...as in, which warning light is gonna pop on next and keep your new car from passing inspection.
I could go on and on...but you get the idea.
Click to expand...
 
rustytoolss said:
All of that is well and good, and I agree. But were talking about living in Ohio...Winter...Salt, and a vehicle that my wife could drive Everyday. So are you willing to drive your 50 year old classic on the salt and snow covered roads in Ohio everyday (I'm sure you just said NO ). At some point (even if you don't want to) you have to be realistic . I do not want my wife drive a 50 yr old classic that does not have Crumple Zones or Air Bags. I'm sure that your family's life's rank higher than driving that classic... I'm not ranting at you. I just need to think about the Big Picture .
Click to expand...

I drove these cars in NYC winters for decades..salt and all. And yes, unless the car is a pristine survivor or extremely rare I would drive any vintage Mopar through that salt again. I can pressure wash all the nasty stuff off at the end of the season and if I had to hang lower quarters every 5 or 10 years, I'd still be MILES ahead of just the depreciation of a new car.
Safety? My wife drives these cars and I never give it a second thought. They are built of high quality steel, have crumple zones and very importantly to me, DO NOT HAVE AIRBAGS. Do you know why all of the seat belt laws suddenly went into effect several years back? Because of AIR BAGS. If you're not positioned exactly right when one of them deploys, it can kill you. Have your hand resting on top of the wheel when one goes off..it can kill you! Have you seen some of the burn injuries caused by air bags?
The insurance companies pushed and pushed for them, and when they finally went into regular use, all of the down sides and unexpected consequences started to show. Suddenly it was "click it or ticket" all over the country. Thanks but no thanks!
 
rustytoolss said:
just asking .. have you ever watched any youtube videos of 1960s car crash studies ?
Click to expand...
You watched videos? Cool...I actually crashed the damn things...and parted dozens of cars that others crashed for me.
If you're referring specifically to the 1960 Chevy head-on that made the rounds a couple of years ago...watch it again closely. That's an X frame car that was hit very specifically in the exact spot that would cause it to collapse the way it did....and also, check out the puff of rust that blows out from underneath. They didn't start with the best specimen.
 
I have to agree. I think seat belts are a good idea whether the government tells me to wear them or not. Your single lap seat belt is no where near as safe as a car with three point belts and airbags? Do people get hurt by airbags? Sure, but not as many as get saved by them.

I also like my anti-lock brakes. I saw a guy in a classic Mustang plow into the rear of a SUV because she stopped short and he couldn't. Was he at fault, no but his car was not equal to hers. The guy behind him didn't plow into his rear end either? He got the ticket and his car ruined.

Lastly, I was driving rear wheel drive Mopars in the snow forty years ago. There is no way you can go anywhere that a modern front wheel drive with traction control can go. I remember the days when people would line up at the bottom of our hill taking turns trying to get out of neighborhood. Modern cars just laugh at that hill now.
 
BrianT said:
I have to agree. I think seat belts are a good idea whether the government tells me to wear them or not. Your single lap seat belt is no where near as safe as a car with three point belts and airbags? Do people get hurt by airbags? Sure, but not as many as get saved by them.

I also like my anti-lock brakes. I saw a guy in a classic Mustang plow into the rear of a SUV because she stopped short and he couldn't. Was he at fault, no but his car was not equal to hers. The guy behind him didn't plow into his rear end either? He got the ticket and his car ruined.

Lastly, I was driving rear wheel drive Mopars in the snow forty years ago. There is no way you can go anywhere that a modern front wheel drive with traction control can go. I remember the days when people would line up at the bottom of our hill taking turns trying to get out of neighborhood. Modern cars just laugh at that hill now.
Click to expand...


Tell ya what..I don't wear belts unless I'm in a race car or other situation where I am forced to. I was first on the scene of a T Bone crash where the guy was cut nearly completely in half by his lap belt. Probably would have had a broken arm or leg if he wasn't restrained. Was on the scene of another where a guy was left to cook in his truck because he couldn't be pulled free due to the belts. I'll take my chances, thank you.
ABS? I learned to pump the brakes rapidly long before the idiot public had a machine do it for them.
Traction on snow and ice? I can take my snow tires off and pull the sand bags from my trunk when the mess clears up.
 
BrianT said:
I have to agree. I think seat belts are a good idea whether the government tells me to wear them or not. Your single lap seat belt is no where near as safe as a car with three point belts and airbags? Do people get hurt by airbags? Sure, but not as many as get saved by them.

I also like my anti-lock brakes. I saw a guy in a classic Mustang plow into the rear of a SUV because she stopped short and he couldn't. Was he at fault, no but his car was not equal to hers. The guy behind him didn't plow into his rear end either? He got the ticket and his car ruined.

Lastly, I was driving rear wheel drive Mopars in the snow forty years ago. There is no way you can go anywhere that a modern front wheel drive with traction control can go. I remember the days when people would line up at the bottom of our hill taking turns trying to get out of neighborhood. Modern cars just laugh at that hill now.
Click to expand...

OK , you are Right. Enjoy your RWD 60's car in the snow with out using seat belts. And all the other things that were great back then. Like No internet, 3 channels of TV, no advancements in medicine. And while you at , reach in you pocket and throw away that cell phone that has made you life better and SAFER in emergencies .
Well all have our own ideas of how things should be ... you have yours. And others have theirs. Choose the ones that are right for yourself. But remember just because we think our views are right for us...does not mean it's right for everyone. Enjoy enough said. If you want you can send me a reply with a 8 cent stamp on it...I should get it in about 3-5 days...ah yes the sixties.. life was as good as it could get.

Sorry , my reply was meant to go to : Whitepunkonnitro
 
1968FormulaS340 said:
Subaru Outback or Legacy. Both built in Indiana. Once you go Subaru you will never go back and the AWD is fantastic. I drive a Subaru Impreza (2011) but the Impreza is made in Japan.
Click to expand...

+1 on the "Scoobys". We had two Legacys built in Indiana..... But now have a 2015 WRX, built in Japan though. All great cars.
 
whitepunkonnitro said:
If you're talking car vs. car and leaving out 4wd, I will drive my 64 right through anything you can drive a modern car through.
Why would you drive a 50 year old car?
Economics...my car is worth more every day, yours is worth less.
Maintenance...my car is a pleasure to work on, yours is a nightmare
Resilience...my car has come through dozens of hail storms unscathed. Yours needs just a single good one to be totaled.
Personality...mine has character and individuality, yours is an appliance.
Pride...my car was designed and built by Americans, in America when we were awesome. Yours is a hodgepodge of bits and pieces sourced out from the cheapest vendors in the most obscure places on earth.
Longevity...50 years from now, my 50 year old car will be 100 and somebodies pride and joy. 50 years from now, your car will have been recycled a half dozen times and will likely be part of my guys snow blower or blender. This is inevitable due to the huge number of specialized parts used in todays cars. Things that control important functions will be discontinued and become obsolete as soon as their shelf traffic slows down.
Aggravation...as in, which warning light is gonna pop on next and keep your new car from passing inspection.
I could go on and on...but you get the idea.
Click to expand...

We're talking daily drivers here mine is a Ford F150 designed and built right here in AMERICA by an AMERICAN based company,and i could care less if it's around in 50 years or what it becomes,and warning lights going on.. no problem thats what warrantees are for,and they give me another "new" F150 to drive while its in the shop what kind of warrantee you got on that '64???
 
Look into 1st gen Scion xB, from 2003-2006 with a stick.

Timing chain motor, same slug as a prius, minus the BS battery and electric motor, so the engine stays warm and doesn't erode away into tiny gouges.

They get 40mpg avg, 45 or better hwy. and are based on the Japanese domestic market Toyota bB.

They got fatter in 2007 and changed for the western market. Dumb move, IMO, but the first generation models are good vehicles and easy to work on, according to a friend of mine, who works at a Toyota dealership and has done everything from the serpentine driven water pumps to clutches on them. According to him, you want the stick, though. Autos have probs. I might actually buy one.
 
stroked340 said:
We're talking daily drivers here mine is a Ford F150 designed and built right here in AMERICA by an AMERICAN based company,and i could care less if it's around in 50 years or what it becomes,and warning lights going on.. no problem thats what warrantees are for,and they give me another "new" F150 to drive while its in the shop what kind of warrantee you got on that '64???
Click to expand...

You're kidding, right? You've got more total parts in your dashboard than make up my entire car..and I'll guarantee at least 75% of them were made somewhere else.
And warrantee? What the hell is that? I actually WORK on my cars...don't need anything like that. Besides the point, I can take what they hit you for a deductible and rebuild my engine or trans...or probably both.
I'll actually enjoy working on my car..you have a good time with the housewives in the dealership waiting room.
 
DaveBonds said:
Look into 1st gen Scion xB, from 2003-2006 with a stick.

Timing chain motor, same slug as a prius, minus the BS battery and electric motor, so the engine stays warm and doesn't erode away into tiny gouges.

They get 40mpg avg, 45 or better hwy. and are based on the Japanese domestic market Toyota bB.

They got fatter in 2007 and changed for the western market. Dumb move, IMO, but the first generation models are good vehicles and easy to work on, according to a friend of mine, who works at a Toyota dealership and has done everything from the serpentine driven water pumps to clutches on them. According to him, you want the stick, though. Autos have probs. I might actually buy one.
Click to expand...

I have thought about those also. I would have to buy an automatic. I watched the wife try to drive a stick once...was not pretty.
 
whitepunkonnitro said:
You're kidding, right? You've got more total parts in your dashboard than make up my entire car..and I'll guarantee at least 75% of them were made somewhere else.
And warrantee? What the hell is that? I actually WORK on my cars...don't need anything like that. Besides the point, I can take what they hit you for a deductible and rebuild my engine or trans...or probably both.
I'll actually enjoy working on my car..you have a good time with the housewives in the dealership waiting room.

:protest::violent1::wack::prayer::sign3:#-o:banghead:
Click to expand...
 
Rusty...
Since you already seem to have some criteria, Instead of disagreeing with just about every recommendation made, why don't you just cut to the chase, and tell us what cars you would consider, and why?
 
Frankie said:
Rusty...
Since you already seem to have some criteria, Instead of disagreeing with just about every recommendation made, why don't you just cut to the chase, and tell us what cars you would consider, and why?
Click to expand...

I haven't disagreed with everything. I haven't even disagreed with Subaru. I disagree with AWD. I don't like it. It's trouble. It's stylish. It's eye candy. Something to sell cars. Now, 4WD I got no problem with. There's a big difference.

Ford has a lot of new cars that get really high marks. Kitty's 03 Escape, for example. Two weeks after we bought it, the battery died. Riverside came and got it, put a battery in it and brought it back. After that, I have done regular maintenance on it and that's all. It's 12 years old now and has given us zero problems. It's still low mileage at under 130K. I haven't even put spark plugs in it yet. I need to.

The new Ford Fiesta gets good marks. Of course the Taurus always has. I tend to steer clear of new models like the Fusion, the 500 and all that. But the Fiesta is a new model and it's done very well.

I like pretty much anything Toyotee.....again, cept AWD. I also don't like the CVT transmissions. They break. A lot. And parts are not available for some of them. From anywhere. We had a Ford 500 with the CVT in the shop that a used car dealer sold and then it went out. We got it out and apart, found the problem, but could not find parts anywhere. Couldn't even find a used one. For MONTHS this went on. We ended up having to put it back together like it was, the dealer took it back and gave the customers something else. It was a mess.

I cannot STAND Nissans. The valve bodies in their transmissions from about 1998 on are wear items and have to be replaced during a transmission rebuild. BAM, you just added at least 1K to the transmission job. That's just stupid. Even before I found that out, I never liked Nissan anyway.

Honda makes good stuff. Again, steer clear of the AWD and CVT transmission. My sister has a CRV? the little SUV they make....not sure I think that's it and she likes it.....BUT it's a gas hog! Yeah. A Honda. It doesn't get any better than Kitty's Escape and Kitty's car is a 4WD. It gets a tad over 20. Probably 23 or 24 on the highway. I've done the math several time. I get a "2" and stop dividing. That's good enough for me. Kitty likes it. It hauls ***. She feels safe in it. It's reliable.

IMO....and I know I'll get some hate, Ford makes the best domestic product in an automobile right now. Far as I'm concerned, they always have with their trucks. Perhaps with the one exception being the 6.0 PowerJoke, which of course was what "I" had. LOL

Even the little Kia has come a long way. Hyundai too. I wouldn't buy another new anything though. As much value as they lose soon as you sign the papers, I would get one a couple of years old, still in warranty.......OR maybe even lease a new one. But I am not in the position to and probably never will be or WANT another new one. The bad luck I have had with newer cars has jaded me forever.
 
a snake is always a snake and a forien car will always be a forien car. what is wrong with people today. i get ticked off when americans by forien cars and trucks. if you want to drive forien move to japan or where ever.
 
Frankie said:
Rusty...
Since you already seem to have some criteria, Instead of disagreeing with just about every recommendation made, why don't you just cut to the chase, and tell us what cars you would consider, and why?
Click to expand...

Well I guess that I'm looking for a Wife friendly small/mid size SUV/Hatchback 4 door vehicle. Needs to be an automatic . I would prefer a 4 cylinder (should be more room to work on) FWD or RWD . A 4cyl should get better MPG. Something that may be easy to work (by todays standards). A chain engine maybe a plus. Nothing that is know to major problems (like heads or transmissions)
I know that all of that sounds unrealistic .And I know that I will not get all of that. But from the information I've gathered here. I can narrow it down.
And I don't recall disagreeing with any thing recommended. About the only two I'd question were.. A hemi 300/magnum like my wife needs that. And of course the idea of her driving a 1960's anything.
The information I got from Rusty RR let me know things about AWD that I never knew.
 
bigus1949 said:
a snake is always a snake and a forien car will always be a forien car. what is wrong with people today. i get ticked off when americans by forien cars and trucks. if you want to drive forien move to japan or where ever.
Click to expand...

If you want to drive a foreign car all you need to do is by a Ram. :dontknow:. There is no such thing as a completely American longer. They are all conglomerates of international parts.
While you're working on your car, take a look at where the parts are from. MOST of the components in your car are imported.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
-

Back
Top