Anyone considered swapping their classics for modern.
Discussion
I've only ever driven old cars as well as maintained them myself. I currently own an Austin Healey sprite 40 years,a fiat Dino coupe about 30 years,a Ferrari 308 15 years and a lotus Europa 3 years. I have however been thinking about changing to a modern alternative. After seeing a Toyota gr86 test driven on "Harry's garage" YouTube I went for a test drive but I tried what some,but certainly not all would call the inferior model the gt86. I came away rather underwhelmed. I know it would need a much longer test drive to appreciate it but it was just a more efficient "appliance", rather like a washing machine.
Should I bin the idea as I'm too stuck in my old ways or is there a similar modern car to the gr86 which feels special in almost every way and could be a worthy replacement for less than £30,000 .
Should I bin the idea as I'm too stuck in my old ways or is there a similar modern car to the gr86 which feels special in almost every way and could be a worthy replacement for less than £30,000 .
Is this a modern addition the fleet you have explained, or a replacement for one of them, and if so which one, or are you thinking of getting rid of all of them and replace with a 'modern'....?
You've not been that clear in the OP about your intentions?
I personally don't think there's many 'modern' (post y2000) cars that will have the character of an old car, the sole reason to replace a classic with more modern is less aggro, although, it also comes with added aggro, in that there's less you can do yourself on them, and you have VED and possibly bigger service costs if having to use dealer or specialists for stuff you could do yourself on a classic.
You've not been that clear in the OP about your intentions?
I personally don't think there's many 'modern' (post y2000) cars that will have the character of an old car, the sole reason to replace a classic with more modern is less aggro, although, it also comes with added aggro, in that there's less you can do yourself on them, and you have VED and possibly bigger service costs if having to use dealer or specialists for stuff you could do yourself on a classic.
I sort of get where the OP's coming from. And the answer is yes.
Since the millennium I've owned a 1991 SAAB 900 Convertible, 1970 Minor Traveller, 1972 MG BGT, 1967 Daimler V8 250 and 1971 Triumph GT6, some of which were owned at the same time. The need for constant tinkering is the main reason I'm considering the purchase of something more modern, usable and practical as a fun car, accepting that it probably won't be as "characterful" as the old 'uns. I have no desire left to be crawling around under an old car in winter.
As was pointed out to me on another thread, "characterful" is man-speak for "pain in the arse that doesn't always work".
Since the millennium I've owned a 1991 SAAB 900 Convertible, 1970 Minor Traveller, 1972 MG BGT, 1967 Daimler V8 250 and 1971 Triumph GT6, some of which were owned at the same time. The need for constant tinkering is the main reason I'm considering the purchase of something more modern, usable and practical as a fun car, accepting that it probably won't be as "characterful" as the old 'uns. I have no desire left to be crawling around under an old car in winter.
As was pointed out to me on another thread, "characterful" is man-speak for "pain in the arse that doesn't always work".
Turbobanana said:
I have no desire left to be crawling around under an old car in winter.
I get that totally, getting close to that point myself. Fortunately, mine doesn't need much winter time work, as it doesn't get used in winter so, its just a few short mid-winter maintenance sessions, and I can just about do that with it in the garage, sitting on its Race Ramp wheels cribs.POORCARDEALER said:
POORCARDEALER said:
Your Dino, Europa and 308 are all very special cars …. You need a “special “ modern - Alpine, 997 Porsche , some Caymans …. Some Ferraris up to early 2000’s, Maserati ….. jap stuff unlikely to float your boat
I considered posing this very question at Christmas time, when I realised I could sell my classic ball-and-chains and get most of the price of the new BMW Z4 with the manual gearbox (has a german name which means 'manual gearchange'). So I went off to my BMW dealership and tried a Z4 for size and it's really claustrophobic, the TR6 feels more roomy. So I popped next door to try a second hand Aston, and found them all far too snug as well. So, to Porsche. I'm not a Porsche fan BUT at least I could get comfy in one. I'm not particularly tall by the way, 6'1". But in the Porsche I could get the seat all the way back, and then some. It felt just right. But the model I liked was also somewhat beyond my budget. And my wife has some problem with Porsches I've never quite understood.
But also I don't think I liked it enough to swap for what I have.
I don't know now what I want to do now
But also I don't think I liked it enough to swap for what I have.
I don't know now what I want to do now
Yertis said:
I considered posing this very question at Christmas time, when I realised I could sell my classic ball-and-chains and get most of the price of the new BMW Z4 with the manual gearbox (has a german name which means 'manual gearchange'). So I went off to my BMW dealership and tried a Z4 for size and it's really claustrophobic, the TR6 feels more roomy. So I popped next door to try a second hand Aston, and found them all far too snug as well. So, to Porsche. I'm not a Porsche fan BUT at least I could get comfy in one. I'm not particularly tall by the way, 6'1". But in the Porsche I could get the seat all the way back, and then some. It felt just right. But the model I liked was also somewhat beyond my budget. And my wife has some problem with Porsches I've never quite understood.
But also I don't think I liked it enough to swap for what I have.
I don't know now what I want to do now
But also I don't think I liked it enough to swap for what I have.
I don't know now what I want to do now
To clarify,I am thinking of swapping all four for one modern. I'm over 60 and how long can I continue to "crawl under my Ferrari to change the clutch" (done six months ago),and in a very cramped shed with basic tools. It's also having to maintain/restore all four at the same time is quite a task. I have spent a lot more time working on them than driving and enjoying them. Altough I'm attached to all of them,maybe a clean break for an easier life is better.
rob07 said:
To clarify,I am thinking of swapping all four for one modern. I'm over 60 and how long can I continue to "crawl under my Ferrari to change the clutch" (done six months ago),and in a very cramped shed with basic tools. It's also having to maintain/restore all four at the same time is quite a task. I have spent a lot more time working on them than driving and enjoying them. Altough I'm attached to all of them,maybe a clean break for an easier life is better.
I'd just cut four classic down to one classic, and thus keep a classic, rather than go 'modern', but.....we're all different.I know of several people that tried it, and after 12 months are now shopping for another classic again.
I'm a few years past 60, so understand the reasons, but some years ago, I forced myself into having a one-car classic situation, which I can just about cope with still, and hope to be able to for a few more years yet.
My problem, is I'd use a 'modern' less than a classic, as I'd struggle to find places to drive it compared to much older car, so it kind of defeats the point, and was one reason why, 15 year ago, I sold my previous 'newer' classic (made in 1983) and replaced it with a much older one a decade later, after spending a decade or so mucking around with motorbikes again.
Use my 56 year old car everyday and the thought of swapping it for something modern never enters my head.
I do think of getting a modern car to go with it though, current thought is an XKR for those jaunts down to France for a week or so.
4.2 Litres of supercharged Jag goodness.
I do think of getting a modern car to go with it though, current thought is an XKR for those jaunts down to France for a week or so.
4.2 Litres of supercharged Jag goodness.
Edited by vixen1700 on Tuesday 11th February 16:29
rob07 said:
To clarify,I am thinking of swapping all four for one modern. I'm over 60 and how long can I continue to "crawl under my Ferrari to change the clutch" (done six months ago),and in a very cramped shed with basic tools. It's also having to maintain/restore all four at the same time is quite a task. I have spent a lot more time working on them than driving and enjoying them. Altough I'm attached to all of them,maybe a clean break for an easier life is better.
Well your Dino and 308 are both valuable cars so you’re going to have a decent budget ……Is your 308 ca carb car , GTS or GTB ?
POORCARDEALER said:
Well your Dino and 308 are both valuable cars so you’re going to have a decent budget ……
Is your 308 ca carb car , GTS or GTB ?
It's a dry sump GTB and very low mileage so a good £80,000 value.Whilst it's a fabulous car,driving it from my London address is a scary nightmare as I constantly worry about possible crashes and uninsured drivers. Is your 308 ca carb car , GTS or GTB ?
I agree with a previous comment that having four cars is too much for me but strangely I would find it harder getting rid of three rather than all four.
rob07 said:
POORCARDEALER said:
Well your Dino and 308 are both valuable cars so you’re going to have a decent budget ……
Is your 308 ca carb car , GTS or GTB ?
It's a dry sump GTB and very low mileage so a good £80,000 value.Whilst it's a fabulous car,driving it from my London address is a scary nightmare as I constantly worry about possible crashes and uninsured drivers. Is your 308 ca carb car , GTS or GTB ?
I agree with a previous comment that having four cars is too much for me but strangely I would find it harder getting rid of three rather than all four.
rob07 said:
I agree with a previous comment that having four cars is too much for me but strangely I would find it harder getting rid of three rather than all four.
That's easy, keep which one of the 4 you drive the most.Or sell all 4 to get a car that you still hanker after owning, as you've got to be looking at 110-120k for all 4 min?
I sometimes think about getting rid of my 3 and buying a V10 R8. I don't think it'll happen. Not yet anyway. I don't feel like I'm using them enough, and I'd like to try and see if I can rectify that before giving up on them. Been promising myself this is going to be the year that happens. Let's see.
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