Young Petrol Heads: New Cars vs Old Cars?
Discussion
I am 21 years old and feel ‘old before my time’ for finding the experience of owning an older cars far more interesting than that of the mundane hot hatchbacks which all seem to share the same two litre turbo, 300bhp+, front/all-wheel drive philosophy. Now don’t get me wrong, I am in no doubt that such cars are technically superior in every single aspect than any car which was built pre-2010 and consider myself lucky to have grown up with cars that provide such high performance yet work year round with minimal hassle. I thought I would start a discussion to why at 21 I think the ownership experience with an older car is far more rewarding than a brand new car.
Small disclaimer: I have tried as many modern and older cars as I can possible either driving or speaking to owners before writing this, ranging from a brand new Audi TTs to a jaguar F type R to a 2001 Seat Arosa s**tbox which my mate constantly seemed to get me to fix for him on a weekly basis before he finally killed it.
Firstly I think what makes owning modern cars more boring than older cars is the buying experience is too easy. I can see why nobody my age seems to want to work hard, save and then buy a car. This make sense, why would you want to spend £7K on a 10 year old VW golf GTI with 100,000miles and at most a lousy second hand car dealership three month warranty, when according to the VW website you can get a brand new VW Golf R on a 48 month deal with zero deposit at £409 per month. I work in engineering however, I am still an apprentice and it would take me a year of hard saving to save £7k for the older Golf GTI, while I could walk into a VW dealership and sign up for a Golf R today. Also the inconvenience of buying an older car may discourage younger people. I spent months searching the web to find the cars I currently own ( A 2004 BMW e46 330Ci coupe in mystic blue, and a 1992 Mazda MX5 Mk 1, both around the 125,000 mile mark). I wouldn’t describe either car as fast, practical or efficient like a modern day car is, however I am extremely proud to call them mine as I feel I have worked hard to afford to buy and maintain these two cars at my age. It took months of research and time spent looking at rough examples before I found them. Although the value of these cars together cost less than I imagine most people spend on their options list on some new cars, the feeling of pride of having them on my driveway really inspires me to get up when that 6am alarm sounds every morning so I can get to work 6 days a week and keep them on my drive.
I understand many young people will not want to get involved with the maintenance of an old car with over 100,000 miles on the clock. To me the excitement of owning a car is ‘getting out the car, what you put into it’ which I feel I wouldn’t get on a PCP deal with all servicing and a warranty included. Part of owning an older car is accepting it will need some sort of year round maintenance, if you’re lucky an annual fluid and filter change could keep your faithful companion running just fine. While others I’m sure find owning an older car is like opening a tin of worms in which the problems seem to continuously multiply. I work on my car myself as much as I possibly can, I really feel like I have achieved something if I do my research, source the required parts and then repair the car myself. Every year I have to put the two cars through an MOT, which always requires preparation weeks in advance where I inspect as many components as possible and try and replace them before they fail the MOT and cause me a colossal headache. Modern cars in the UK do not require an MOT for the first three years of its life, in which time many people hand the car back to the dealership seeming to be fearful of putting a 3-4 year old car through an MOT. There is a big sense of achievement to me when my 27 year old MX5 was handed back from the MOT centre with no advisories due to a little bit of preparation. This again takes me back to pride of ownership which an older car provides, the feeling of ‘I fixed that’ really goes a long way when I start my car every morning which I just don’t feel I could replicate if I was to start a new car which I know will start on the button.
A further point of modern vs old cars is the cool factor. We may not like to admit it, but I’m sure a big factor to many of us owning a car is the ‘cool’ factor of the car. It certainly is for me, as being 21 years old my other pass-times include drinking beers and trying to chase girls in which in the modern society the car you own plays a big part. To me, what makes my e46 330Ci cool is the fact it has a 3.0 litre straight six and a manual gear box, yet many people in my friendship group find my mates F20 116D M sport a far cooler car than my e46 330. They find the 330 poor MPG laughable compared to modern standards (even though I feel an average of 27mpg + is good for an engine of this size). Maybe I am old before my time, but I cant see how an 8valve 115bhp diesel engine in an m sport 1 series can be cooler than BMW old-school naturally aspirated straight six engine and the sounds it makes.
To conclude I have pretty much waffled on how owning a car which is older, slower, less efficient, less practical, less comfortable and less cool and will generally cause you a headache at times is a much better idea than what is on offer in today’s market. I don’t want to be one of these people which think ‘older is better and that’s, that’. I can and probably will in the next few years purchase something along the lines of an M135i/M140i because who doesn’t want a turbo straight six in a rear wheel drive hatchback? But would I get into that habit of PCP purchases and not having to worry about maintenance and enjoy a fast, comfortable and efficient car such as the new AWD 4 pot M135i… absolutely F*****g not!
It would be great to hear what other people think of this debate, especially people in my age group. I understand people have family commitments etc. and leasing a new car just makes sense. But it would be a shame to see less and less younger people getting into classic car ownership and instead just trading in a car at the dealership every three years to be replaced with a shiny new one.
Small disclaimer: I have tried as many modern and older cars as I can possible either driving or speaking to owners before writing this, ranging from a brand new Audi TTs to a jaguar F type R to a 2001 Seat Arosa s**tbox which my mate constantly seemed to get me to fix for him on a weekly basis before he finally killed it.
Firstly I think what makes owning modern cars more boring than older cars is the buying experience is too easy. I can see why nobody my age seems to want to work hard, save and then buy a car. This make sense, why would you want to spend £7K on a 10 year old VW golf GTI with 100,000miles and at most a lousy second hand car dealership three month warranty, when according to the VW website you can get a brand new VW Golf R on a 48 month deal with zero deposit at £409 per month. I work in engineering however, I am still an apprentice and it would take me a year of hard saving to save £7k for the older Golf GTI, while I could walk into a VW dealership and sign up for a Golf R today. Also the inconvenience of buying an older car may discourage younger people. I spent months searching the web to find the cars I currently own ( A 2004 BMW e46 330Ci coupe in mystic blue, and a 1992 Mazda MX5 Mk 1, both around the 125,000 mile mark). I wouldn’t describe either car as fast, practical or efficient like a modern day car is, however I am extremely proud to call them mine as I feel I have worked hard to afford to buy and maintain these two cars at my age. It took months of research and time spent looking at rough examples before I found them. Although the value of these cars together cost less than I imagine most people spend on their options list on some new cars, the feeling of pride of having them on my driveway really inspires me to get up when that 6am alarm sounds every morning so I can get to work 6 days a week and keep them on my drive.
I understand many young people will not want to get involved with the maintenance of an old car with over 100,000 miles on the clock. To me the excitement of owning a car is ‘getting out the car, what you put into it’ which I feel I wouldn’t get on a PCP deal with all servicing and a warranty included. Part of owning an older car is accepting it will need some sort of year round maintenance, if you’re lucky an annual fluid and filter change could keep your faithful companion running just fine. While others I’m sure find owning an older car is like opening a tin of worms in which the problems seem to continuously multiply. I work on my car myself as much as I possibly can, I really feel like I have achieved something if I do my research, source the required parts and then repair the car myself. Every year I have to put the two cars through an MOT, which always requires preparation weeks in advance where I inspect as many components as possible and try and replace them before they fail the MOT and cause me a colossal headache. Modern cars in the UK do not require an MOT for the first three years of its life, in which time many people hand the car back to the dealership seeming to be fearful of putting a 3-4 year old car through an MOT. There is a big sense of achievement to me when my 27 year old MX5 was handed back from the MOT centre with no advisories due to a little bit of preparation. This again takes me back to pride of ownership which an older car provides, the feeling of ‘I fixed that’ really goes a long way when I start my car every morning which I just don’t feel I could replicate if I was to start a new car which I know will start on the button.
A further point of modern vs old cars is the cool factor. We may not like to admit it, but I’m sure a big factor to many of us owning a car is the ‘cool’ factor of the car. It certainly is for me, as being 21 years old my other pass-times include drinking beers and trying to chase girls in which in the modern society the car you own plays a big part. To me, what makes my e46 330Ci cool is the fact it has a 3.0 litre straight six and a manual gear box, yet many people in my friendship group find my mates F20 116D M sport a far cooler car than my e46 330. They find the 330 poor MPG laughable compared to modern standards (even though I feel an average of 27mpg + is good for an engine of this size). Maybe I am old before my time, but I cant see how an 8valve 115bhp diesel engine in an m sport 1 series can be cooler than BMW old-school naturally aspirated straight six engine and the sounds it makes.
To conclude I have pretty much waffled on how owning a car which is older, slower, less efficient, less practical, less comfortable and less cool and will generally cause you a headache at times is a much better idea than what is on offer in today’s market. I don’t want to be one of these people which think ‘older is better and that’s, that’. I can and probably will in the next few years purchase something along the lines of an M135i/M140i because who doesn’t want a turbo straight six in a rear wheel drive hatchback? But would I get into that habit of PCP purchases and not having to worry about maintenance and enjoy a fast, comfortable and efficient car such as the new AWD 4 pot M135i… absolutely F*****g not!
It would be great to hear what other people think of this debate, especially people in my age group. I understand people have family commitments etc. and leasing a new car just makes sense. But it would be a shame to see less and less younger people getting into classic car ownership and instead just trading in a car at the dealership every three years to be replaced with a shiny new one.
25 here.
Bought a 80s hatchback at 19, since then the newest car ive owned has been early 2000s. Currently own 70s/80s/90s/00s cars but outside of more special cars like a M2 not much appeals to me. Couldnt ever see myself buying a year old Golf or Focus.
Golden era of cars for "fun" are the 90s imo, skylines/imprezas/evos/200sx/rx7/mx5/cosworths/m3. I guess alot of these come into the earlier 2000s as well.
Bought a 80s hatchback at 19, since then the newest car ive owned has been early 2000s. Currently own 70s/80s/90s/00s cars but outside of more special cars like a M2 not much appeals to me. Couldnt ever see myself buying a year old Golf or Focus.
Golden era of cars for "fun" are the 90s imo, skylines/imprezas/evos/200sx/rx7/mx5/cosworths/m3. I guess alot of these come into the earlier 2000s as well.
9 years on you but I’ve been collecting cars for last 10 years , low mileage cars that I always wanted not an easy task when the wife’s a financial adviser , although my e30 m3 makes her smile . My first car was a lotus elan . I now own 12 cars as fun 2 as general an vans for works . No pcp in sight . Each to there own tho .
29 here. I think that still counts.
I like old vehicles, to my bum they give more feedback and have more character than most modern cars. The performance advancements are moot considering UK roads have done nothing but degrade over the years due to being busier.
And like you say, there is pleasure to be gained from looking after your stuff. Doing more and more of my own maintenance has been a fascinating path. Meanwhile I've had to help colleagues top up their oil and even their windscreen washer fluid - they wouldn't understand...
To that end I have two motorbikes, 1999 and 2002, and my cars are 2001 and 2006. Long may they run.
I like old vehicles, to my bum they give more feedback and have more character than most modern cars. The performance advancements are moot considering UK roads have done nothing but degrade over the years due to being busier.
And like you say, there is pleasure to be gained from looking after your stuff. Doing more and more of my own maintenance has been a fascinating path. Meanwhile I've had to help colleagues top up their oil and even their windscreen washer fluid - they wouldn't understand...
To that end I have two motorbikes, 1999 and 2002, and my cars are 2001 and 2006. Long may they run.
25 here...
Currently in a 1999 prelude 2.2
Previously had a 2001 accord type R
There are not many new cars that interest me. Not a fan of the designs. The boring turbo engines that drive like diesels.
I feel special and cool when I get into my prelude. Sounds silly really.
Currently in a 1999 prelude 2.2
Previously had a 2001 accord type R
There are not many new cars that interest me. Not a fan of the designs. The boring turbo engines that drive like diesels.
I feel special and cool when I get into my prelude. Sounds silly really.
Edited by IntriguedUser on Monday 6th January 00:57
Your points all align pretty much with my thinking and it’s led me to what own now. I’m 24, I’ve a 2006 Alfa GT for commuting and being somewhat sensible, similarly I’ve a ‘92 NA MX5 (mine being a Eunos), and a ‘93 TVR Chimaera. I also have an ‘89 Jag XJ40 race car and a 2001 MAN 18 tonner to lug it around in but that’s another story!
You sound like you think the same as I do. Get yourself in a TVR son, as soon as you can- they are the antithesis of everything you deride about modern cars. I was 20 when I got mine, it’s been a rocky road but I don’t think I would have been without it.
You sound like you think the same as I do. Get yourself in a TVR son, as soon as you can- they are the antithesis of everything you deride about modern cars. I was 20 when I got mine, it’s been a rocky road but I don’t think I would have been without it.
I've always been into older cars, i'm 28 now so not exactly the youngest, but the newest car i've had is 2005. 80's and 90's cars are my favourites though.
Most of my friends/colleagues/acquaintances around my age are all into the usual new Fiestas/Focuses/Minis/Corsas etc, which just bore me.
When I was 17, everyone was buying late 90's/early 2000's bangers. Move on 11 years and 17 year olds are buying Limited Edition Corsas and Fiesta 1.0's on finance, sticking a pop and bang map and some stickers on, and calling it a day.
Fair enough if thats what they enjoy but doesnt do anything for me!
Most of my friends/colleagues/acquaintances around my age are all into the usual new Fiestas/Focuses/Minis/Corsas etc, which just bore me.
When I was 17, everyone was buying late 90's/early 2000's bangers. Move on 11 years and 17 year olds are buying Limited Edition Corsas and Fiesta 1.0's on finance, sticking a pop and bang map and some stickers on, and calling it a day.
Fair enough if thats what they enjoy but doesnt do anything for me!
I’m nearly twice your age but I had similar feelings when I first got a car (1995). My first car was an ‘86 Mini as it was all I could afford - £600 to buy and ended up costing me about the same to repair a few months later. My second car was from the sixties!
The odd thing is, I was dead against the late nineties cars now regarded as classics. I remember long arguments with a petrol head mate with me saying that cars with no PAS, ABS etc. were much purer driving experiences. I even thought fuel injection made things too complicated and anything with an ECU had a slower throttle response than a cable straight to the carbs.
Fast forward to now and I still have the old cars for fun (still got the sixties car I mentioned earlier and lucky enough to own an old Caterham on Webers) but with a family and a busy life I run a modern car on PCP as I need day to day reliability with minimal hassle.
The odd thing is, I was dead against the late nineties cars now regarded as classics. I remember long arguments with a petrol head mate with me saying that cars with no PAS, ABS etc. were much purer driving experiences. I even thought fuel injection made things too complicated and anything with an ECU had a slower throttle response than a cable straight to the carbs.
Fast forward to now and I still have the old cars for fun (still got the sixties car I mentioned earlier and lucky enough to own an old Caterham on Webers) but with a family and a busy life I run a modern car on PCP as I need day to day reliability with minimal hassle.
27 here. I had an MX5 when I was 18, a ZR before that, then a 200SX for a few years and now in a E92 335i. I still class it as a modern car (despite being 13 years old) but I don't really get the snootiness towards folk that like newer cars.
Yes old cars are fun, I enjoy my E36 drift car and my brothers S1 Elise on the occasion I get a shot. But it is nice just hopping in to my car, it being cosy, comfortable yet still fast and well handling. The decats at least bring a nice 'older car smell'
It's all about context. I'd rather have an E30 M3 over a new Golf R. But I'd rather have a new Kia Rio than a completely shagged Triumph Herald.
There's too many blanket statements on old = good and new = boring.
Yes old cars are fun, I enjoy my E36 drift car and my brothers S1 Elise on the occasion I get a shot. But it is nice just hopping in to my car, it being cosy, comfortable yet still fast and well handling. The decats at least bring a nice 'older car smell'
It's all about context. I'd rather have an E30 M3 over a new Golf R. But I'd rather have a new Kia Rio than a completely shagged Triumph Herald.
There's too many blanket statements on old = good and new = boring.
24 here, currently restoring/rebuilding what will become my first car, a 1971 Corvette Stingray. In all honesty if I could go back in time and spend the (what has become a truly ridiculous amount) money on something else I probably would have gone for a new hassle free car on pcp. The costs associated with old cars of this era are just nuts, even more so when it's an import with very little parts availability. I can't imagine anyone I know putting the time and effort in to doing the repairs I have never mind having the dexterity to actually use a spanner....factor in 10mpg, no abs/traction and potential reliability issues and it really takes a die hard petrol head to want to get involved in a car like this. I'm sure the newer post 90's stuff is far easier going.
Only positives as of now, no mot required, free VED, ULEZ exempt and hopefully semi reasonable insurance, oh and big stupidly loud v8 init
Only positives as of now, no mot required, free VED, ULEZ exempt and hopefully semi reasonable insurance, oh and big stupidly loud v8 init
34 here, but was 26 when I owned a 2000 mazda mx5.
New cars have never interested me in the slightest, and that feeling has only increased since electronics started to take over and styling went in the bin... all of the cars i've owned have never been newer than 2002, and everything that I ever want to own was produced from 1990 to 2004ish.
Unless you want an MPV/crossover and some sort of hybrid, there is very little on offer these days, much less interesting cars for the petrolhead...compared to the offerings of the late 90s. I can confidently say that I will never buy a new car unless eventual changes in the rules deem that I have to (electric car I suppose in the event that petrol becomes totally banned).
New cars have never interested me in the slightest, and that feeling has only increased since electronics started to take over and styling went in the bin... all of the cars i've owned have never been newer than 2002, and everything that I ever want to own was produced from 1990 to 2004ish.
Unless you want an MPV/crossover and some sort of hybrid, there is very little on offer these days, much less interesting cars for the petrolhead...compared to the offerings of the late 90s. I can confidently say that I will never buy a new car unless eventual changes in the rules deem that I have to (electric car I suppose in the event that petrol becomes totally banned).
33 here.
Buy what you fel is right for you. Dont worry about anyone else, they don;t have to put up with paying lots per month / being on their back every sunday fixing another issue / whatever.
When I was 21, I was out riding motorcycles, getting too hot in the summer and too cold in the winter. Now I'm this age, I have a very boring honda civic for winter, and still go out on motorbikes in the summer and get too hot.
Buy what you fel is right for you. Dont worry about anyone else, they don;t have to put up with paying lots per month / being on their back every sunday fixing another issue / whatever.
When I was 21, I was out riding motorcycles, getting too hot in the summer and too cold in the winter. Now I'm this age, I have a very boring honda civic for winter, and still go out on motorbikes in the summer and get too hot.
At almost 35 years old i have owned a few cars and not one of them has been newer than 2006.
I think your post OP very much depends on the type of person you are, back in the day all the modern tech of today didn't exist and fixing your car was an easier thing to do as it was more mechanical, the use for a good set of tools was more valuable then as opposed to now where everything needs to be plugged into a computer to fix for different electronics that are plagued in cars of today.
Would i have a new car? Yes i would but only for reasons of like most people, we all like new things and i guess it's good to be able to sit in something that's covered by warranty and servicing etc so trouble free motoring, but i also go back to my comment of it depends what type of person you are, I like fixing things and feeling like i have achieved something which is something i can do on an older car where as with something on PCP is pretty much taken care of.
So on that i would more than likely have some sort of a weekend car that i could fix/restore etc, but that's just me.
I think your post OP very much depends on the type of person you are, back in the day all the modern tech of today didn't exist and fixing your car was an easier thing to do as it was more mechanical, the use for a good set of tools was more valuable then as opposed to now where everything needs to be plugged into a computer to fix for different electronics that are plagued in cars of today.
Would i have a new car? Yes i would but only for reasons of like most people, we all like new things and i guess it's good to be able to sit in something that's covered by warranty and servicing etc so trouble free motoring, but i also go back to my comment of it depends what type of person you are, I like fixing things and feeling like i have achieved something which is something i can do on an older car where as with something on PCP is pretty much taken care of.
So on that i would more than likely have some sort of a weekend car that i could fix/restore etc, but that's just me.
I'm a tad older than most of the posters on this thread at 36, I love cars bit have never really fiddled with them.
I currently drive a new car (M140i) which is dictated by work as its funded via a car allowance because company cars are too expensive for what they are. My worry is what I'll replace it with once its deemed too old by the car allowance policy.
I've never had a older than 10 years since I passed by test and if I'm honest I don't really desire really old cars but equally, I find myself getting less excited by new cars - four pot engines, AWD, screens replacing buttons etc. I still list over things like the E90 M3 and B7 RS4 which are modern compared to many cars mentioned here yet are old hat compared to the newer versions.
I currently drive a new car (M140i) which is dictated by work as its funded via a car allowance because company cars are too expensive for what they are. My worry is what I'll replace it with once its deemed too old by the car allowance policy.
I've never had a older than 10 years since I passed by test and if I'm honest I don't really desire really old cars but equally, I find myself getting less excited by new cars - four pot engines, AWD, screens replacing buttons etc. I still list over things like the E90 M3 and B7 RS4 which are modern compared to many cars mentioned here yet are old hat compared to the newer versions.
It's not a new thing. I was the same when I was young - where all my peers were yearning after Escort XR3i and Peugeot 205 GTis, I went out and bought myself an MGB which was nearly ten years older than I was. My motives were much as you describe - I just found the (then) modern FWD hot hatches boring.
weird cars. Just turned 20 here.
Can agree with every point you're making, although I have a couple car friends that understand why I would want to own the 2004 Mk2.5 MX5 over the 2010 Swift Sport I once owned.
It's much more satisfying driving an older car and getting that raw feel through the wheel. None of this high-tech electronics to help you drive either, just you and the car.
Can agree with every point you're making, although I have a couple car friends that understand why I would want to own the 2004 Mk2.5 MX5 over the 2010 Swift Sport I once owned.
It's much more satisfying driving an older car and getting that raw feel through the wheel. None of this high-tech electronics to help you drive either, just you and the car.
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