Are cars actually getting better as the years go on?

[J4CKO]

I do wonder if some folk who say that new cars are rubbish just arent in a position to buy one ?

Who would really take an E36 M3 over a new one ?

I can sort of see some of the arguments but not sure if I had 60 grand i had to spend on a car I would be buying an E36 over a new car.

Flame suit on and zipped up !

[nickfrog]

vikingaero said:

I was behind a new 2018 Polo in a lane to turn left. A new 2018 Golf pulled up in the lane next to us and I swear there was nothing in it width wise. So on this basis the next Golf is going to be a Fatso.

Or it will be called a Polo (ie the one that they just launched) and the new Golf will appeal to people wanting a bigger car than the current Golf.

[A900ss]

The way forward for enthusiasts if you have space/can afford it, is a two car garage.

A modern car is excellent at going from A to B. Reliable, comfortable and safe.

Then you also need to have a ‘pre-digital’ car for the sensation of driving.

I’m fortunate to have a modern car and a pre-digital car and the older car on paper is much faster but in the real world or real roads I think I could drive the modern car quicker from A to B. I’ll admit I’m not a driving God.

BUT IT REALLY DOESN'T MATTER.

When it come to fun, the modern car gets me there and I don’t remember the journey. The older car is an experience every time.

[RDMcG]

For 99% of people new cars are incomparably better. Faster,more economical,less maintenance intensive,last much longer, no rust etc.

I have some older cars for reasons of habit but the newer cars are incomparably better.

Not big on nostalgia nor do I want to do my own maintenance. The dealer does it better. I do. Or want to take my laptop apart nor dissassemble the stove and therefore a kit full of tools is irrelevant to me. I just want to drive the wheels off them.)

If you just like to tinker then some old Lucas eqippped British car will keep you happy.

[SidewaysSi]

J4CKO said:

I do wonder if some folk who say that new cars are rubbish just arent in a position to buy one ?

Who would really take an E36 M3 over a new one ?

I can sort of see some of the arguments but not sure if I had 60 grand i had to spend on a car I would be buying an E36 over a new car.

Flame suit on and zipped up !

That is an incredibly short sighted view. I would take an older car and have done on many occasions. Besides, anyone can afford £200 a month on a new car. I would argue that an older car probably costs more..!

I will soon have spent the best part of £10k on an E36 328i and £25k on an Elise S1. Madness for many on here, let alone out in the real world won't be able to comprehend why anyone would do it.

But suffice to say that as driver's cars, they would kill their modern equivalents and are significantly more focused. Though appreciate the newer cars have nicer dashboards.

Depends what matters to you. PH: "ease of use and a nice interior matters" tends to be the view of most PHers which probably explains a lot.

I had a new Cayman GT4 spec'd how I wanted (CS, 918 seats, harnesses etc) but sold it as it was dull and boring, particularly in comparison to the Elise.

Edited by SidewaysSi on Sunday 22 July 00:47

[SidewaysSi]

Nanook said:

Big GT said:

From an engineering perspective cars have got better as a tool from getting from A to B. Reliability, quality, safety, technology is leptons ahead of 20 years ago.

From this perspective a 4 series is leaps ahead of a E36, a Golf MK7.5 / Mk2, Focus / Escort etc

But as for excitement, handling, feel, looks, road presence then no things have moved backwards. Cars like F40's, 959's, Tuscans, Intergrale's, Quattro's, mad things, dangerous things, poster cars are becoming rarer and rarer.

So better? Depends on our viewpoint.

I feel like there's some punctuation missing from that sentence. Most drivers don't want their daily commute to be exciting, they don't want to 'experience' handling, they don't want to feel anything, and they don't want it to be any sort of effort.

Of course people don't want to experience anything. That's the issue and leads to aome of the crap manufacturers let out the door these days.

Heck, I went to the supermarket this evening and was feeling my old E36 and playing with the balance at relatively low speed around a few roundabouts. Great chassis in that thing.

Edited by SidewaysSi on Saturday 21st July 23:28

Edited by SidewaysSi on Saturday 21st July 23:29

Edited by SidewaysSi on Sunday 22 July 00:50

[gazza285]

I don't know about new cars, my V70 is fourteen years old now, but I do know about new vans, as I've been driving a new van regularly for nearly thirty years now, and while reliability peaked about twenty years ago with the non turbo diesels of the time, the comfort, gadgets and ease of driving has improved massively. The Merc 614 Vario back in 1997 was a highlight though, that felt good enough to last forever, it wasn't fast, but it was relentless.