New European Quality vs Old? 2,000,000 miles on P1800 tells different story - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

miamimike · #1 01-10-2005, 02:00 PM

Wonder how many of the newer and cheaper European cars will stand the test of time as this Old Volvo P1800 of Irv's has done. Saw this Car & Owner at the Volvo Ocean Races here in South Florida 2 years ago and what an intersting man. He drives this car hard he told the group assembled around his car looking on in Awe. Keep your post '90 cars. Give me Simplicity. A car is a tool to get me from point A to Point B safely and dry. Cars are not, for me, a fashion statement, a look at me" I've arrived" statement. Irv sure gets a lot of attention with his old car-the right kind.

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aklim · #2 01-10-2005, 02:17 PM

Probably few, if any. However, does that sell today? I mean, people are not projected to keep a car that long today. Go to the Chevy or Ford dealership and see how many obsoleted parts you find. Pretty much a car over 10 years old and you can see most of it obsoleted.

To many people, they want the whiz-bang goodies. I won't buy a car without power locks and power mirrors and power windows, for instance. I'll bet his car doesn't have all of that. How would you sell it to this generation that wants the gadgets?

miamimike · #3 01-10-2005, 02:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by aklim

Probably few, if any. However, does that sell today? I mean, people are not projected to keep a car that long today. Go to the Chevy or Ford dealership and see how many obsoleted parts you find. Pretty much a car over 10 years old and you can see most of it obsoleted.

To many people, they want the whiz-bang goodies. I won't buy a car without power locks and power mirrors and power windows, for instance. I'll bet his car doesn't have all of that. How would you sell it to this generation that wants the gadgets?

Sadly you probably could not sell many to this generation without all these gadgets. I had all 1980 era cars until a year ago(still have 2 MB 240D) and made a concession to modern cars by buying a '99 VW-TDI with all the bells and whistles. I cannot handle the electronic glitches this car presents nonstop with so I am marching back to the 80s era cars. Simplicity, crank down windows,no computers, BIG Metal Bumpers,ect. Not a choice for everyone but for me it is. Nice cars seem to get ripped off daily here in Miami--hondas, lexus, pathfinders,ect. Crazy-give me a non sexy car like a MB 240 or 300 or an old Volvo 240 and no more grief.Only my humble opinion

aklim · #4 01-10-2005, 07:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by miamimike

Sadly you probably could not sell many to this generation without all these gadgets. I had all 1980 era cars until a year ago(still have 2 MB 240D) and made a concession to modern cars by buying a '99 VW-TDI with all the bells and whistles. I cannot handle the electronic glitches this car presents nonstop with so I am marching back to the 80s era cars. Simplicity, crank down windows,no computers, BIG Metal Bumpers,ect. Not a choice for everyone but for me it is. Nice cars seem to get ripped off daily here in Miami--hondas, lexus, pathfinders,ect. Crazy-give me a non sexy car like a MB 240 or 300 or an old Volvo 240 and no more grief.Only my humble opinion

An older MB maybe, depending on how old. The reason is that I am able to get parts. You get an old GM or Ford and they will have long obsoleted the parts and I can't get zip. I can't even get a rear view mirrror for my 91 Vette from GM

miamimike · #5 01-10-2005, 07:40 PM

There are many places to still get parts for the 80 era MBs and Volvos(240s). I have never had a problem finding parts either new, used or pulling them myself at the U-Pulls located locally. These Electronics(on new cars) can be truly frustrating and speaking strictly for myself,something I have little tolerance for or the high diagnostic prices to locate these glitches. I still use a Zippo Lighter so what does that tell you??

aklim · #6 01-10-2005, 07:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by miamimike

There are many places to still get parts for the 80 era MBs and Volvos(240s). I have never had a problem finding parts either new, used or pulling them myself at the U-Pulls located locally. These Electronics(on new cars) can be truly frustrating and speaking strictly for myself,something I have little tolerance for or the high diagnostic prices to locate these glitches. I still use a Zippo Lighter so what does that tell you??

I had an 89 Merkur XR4Ti and an 89 Merkur Scorpio. Sold the both when I got tired of having to go to U-pulls and begging, borrowing or stealing parts. I only put up with it in my Vette because it is a 525 HP beast. When my Yukon gets to be 7 yrs old, you can bet I will try sell it.

I have found the diagnostics a lot easier to put up with than to scrounge for parts. Besides, I haven;t had too much trouble with them.

What does that tell me as far as your Zippo goes? You smoke and you like to be able to light up in the wind?

miamimike · #7 01-11-2005, 01:04 AM

On the Zippo--its old fashioned- has only a few moving parts,overly engineered and carries a lifetime guarentee should it fail. People keep 'em for years as they do old MBs and Volvos. I think the bulk of present day car buyers are of the Bic-Lighter mentality--toss 'em after a few weeks use and get a new one. Same for many car owners--instead of repairing the old one they trade 'em in for a new one. This works for some not for E

veryone. Not for me. New car manufacturers would go Bankrupt if they had customers like me. This is good for the US economy I suppose but gimme the old stuff. Another thing I don't like about new cars is they all look the same-for the most part(PT Cruisers,ect are the exception not the rule) I like going to the U Pulls also to grab stuff for my eBay selling.

Gurkha · #8 01-11-2005, 01:24 AM

Sadly we live in the era of disposable commodities, this means that throw away everything which is old, including your parents as well, long life is totally out, it doesn't make economic sense anymore, superficiality is in, useless un-necessary vanity gadgets, toys, gizmos, electronic aids like brake balancers etc. are the norm of today, marketing department creates a hype of forced obsolescence leading to a customer panic of replacing the car every four years or less, funnily most are convinced they are getting the latest and the best when the reality is far from the truth. All they are getting is a cheaper, inferior package custom designed to bring in good revenues for the company.

Earlier MB cars and engines would be pricey but there was a charm of paying that high price, one was sure that it would give you reliable, trouble free service for years to come so it was an investment for the future, sometimes your next generation too. One took pride in the ownership of such vehicles and that didn't necessarily include MB but cheaper cars as old Subaru, Datsun, Honda Civic hatchback, Toyota Corolla and pick ups as well. All these gave a relationship with their owners which meant, you take good care of me and I will never leave your side. Now, if you don't like your wife or husband, you go shopping for another. Same is the case with autos, you dont need long term commitment, you need entertainment and variety and that too for cheap, not only has the expectations of today's media influenced buyer become unrealistic, it has lost any shades of humanity.

tenknots · #9 01-11-2005, 07:35 AM

In 1980, my dad gave me his 1966 P1800. I did a bit of work on it and for a couple of years it was a great car. Durable engine, smooth transmission (except for that wonky overdrive), great handling car. It wasn't real fast, but it sounded like it with those dual carbs. Talk about a head turner! I sold that car to a friend for a couple grand so I could buy a new Honda Civic. What an idiot! If I'd have kept it, I'd have a really cool car that I liked worth a ton by now.

miamimike · #10 01-11-2005, 01:53 PM

Tenknots-Hindsight is always 20-20. I think the same with my old first car-a cherry '51 Merc coupe Flathead 8 with OD-3 on the column stickshift. sold for maybe $250 in '65-now worth $$$$$$$

phantoms · #11 01-11-2005, 10:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by aklim

You get an old GM or Ford and they will have long obsoleted the parts and I can't get zip. I can't even get a rear view mirrror for my 91 Vette from GM

Maybe not directly from GM, but for cars like the Vette, Nova and Camaro, there are plenty of aftermarket alternatives. Heck, I don't think any older vehicle has more parts available for it than my 68 Camaro. And I'm talking just about everything.