Old Car versus New Car: Philisophical and Cost reasons. - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

anghrist · #1 04-13-2012, 06:07 PM

Am I alone in this line of thinking:

I would rather invest money in cleaning up and maintaining my 'old' cars. I get to bug to look at new cars, but I'm no longer tempted to go and shell out $20k or more for a new car.

The old 1977 240D is slow, a bit noisey and smells like the 1970s and a dirty toolbox. The '99 E300 is quick and clean and has only minor cosmetic flaws that can be easily buffed out.

I can work on these cars, or I can take them to decent mechanics and have them repaired without getting my hands dirty. If I ever wish to performance tune them, I can, if I spend the money.

Why would I ever want to buy a new car, that must be maintained almost exclusively by the stealership? Why dump the purchase cash, only to pay even more for maintenance per visit?

I think I will keep driving my 'old' cars... until they are totalled or the cost of repair is astronomically unreasonable.

rs899 · #2 04-13-2012, 07:12 PM

The last new car I bought was a '96 Camaro. I sold it in 2003 before it broke to the point where I could not fix it.

The newest car we have is a '91 VW Jetta diesel (purchase price $125) that I drive 70 miles a day to work. I have been commuting with 20+ year old VWs and MBs for over 15 years and never had to call my boss and tell him "can't make it because the car won't start".

Until I get too old to turn a wrench or they bring us the fuel efficient cars we need (as opposed to want) for everyday life, I ain't buying their BS.

I prefer to invest my money in cars that will hold their value or appreciate.

Carleton Hughes · #3 04-13-2012, 07:30 PM

From a philosophical standpunkt I heartily concur. Costwise as well. I have never bought a new car. Although my wife has twice succumbed to the siren song of newness and financial irresponsibility she now shares, or pretends to agree with my rationale of choosing her a low-mileage lease return and hammering the dealer unmercifully while waving cash under his nose. She also has become a devoted thrift shop clothing buyer and ranks high among yard sale cognoscenti

My own choices are rather more enigmatic and hard to define. On the one hand vintage sportscars have always been a driving passion {pun intended},I drive them regularly and reliably. My '27 Buick has never let me down in 20 years, the '25 Bentley stops well and does not overheat thanks to an electric fan. The '12 Hisso has but 2 wheel brakes so must be driven perforce with care, even with a hydraulic disc brake caliper I installed on the driveshaft. I can't begin to describe the feeling of oneness and mastery driving such admittedly ancient but quite well designed and constructed machines gives to me. Some philosophers maintain that in one's life there is but one great experience, and all one's thoughts and strivings afterward are but attempts to duplicate it. Such has been my obsession with the former..Yet for practicality's sake, with an appreciation of mechanical excellence and economy of ownership as a corollary I've always chosen Mercedes diesels, primarily the bulletproof 123 of which 2 are currently giving yeoman service.

I did have a 210, a '98 E300 about which the less said the better. Not that there was anything really wrong with the engine as such but, Jeebus....where to begin? the spring perches, body electrics, fuel system O ring failure, 4 Goddamn radiators in 6 years for the stupid and unforgiveably shortsighted reason that the 210 was a GASOLINE chassis with a very long 6 cyl diesel motor thrown in as an AFTERTHOUGHT, necessitating moving the radiator forward and lower, making it subject to the most minor bottoming out on curbs, pushing it into the fan!!!!numerous glow plug drillouts, odd climate control issues.....all former listed issues successfully dealt with by the trio of me, myself and I plus the invaluable assistance of THIS FORUM.....but it was a constant struggle with that car, osteo-arthritis and a bad heart don't aid matters so I sold it to one of my contractors, let him throw money at it. I'll stick with my aforementioned 123 Benzes. There.....I feel better. They say confession purifies the soul.

tbomachines · #4 04-13-2012, 07:35 PM

I got a new car last summer.

- faster
- safer
- not gonna break down, if it does, its covered
- requires zero time and extra space ($$$) to workon
- no cost of maintenance
- worry free for at least 5 years.

lorainfurniture · #5 04-13-2012, 07:35 PM

Some people don't have room to store 3+ cars. You own so many cars because when one fails, you have a spare.

I bought a newcar because I only want to own 2 vehicles. The 300e, which is always being repaired/ or upgraded, and the fiesta so I can get to work.

lorainfurniture · #6 04-13-2012, 07:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tbomachines

I got a new car last summer.

- faster
- safer
- not gonna break down, if it does, its covered
- requires zero time and extra space ($$$) to workon
- no cost of maintenance
- worry free for at least 5 years.

That's worth a car payment for me. My fiesta only requires a 38.99 dealership oil change every ten thousand miles. I don't even remember how to pop the hood.

spdrun · #7 04-13-2012, 07:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tbomachines

I got a new car last summer.

- faster
- safer
- not gonna break down, if it does, its covered
- requires zero time and extra space ($$$) to workon
- no cost of maintenance
- worry free for at least 5 years.

I've never paid over $3k for a car, and none have left me stranded. The $17k or so saved by not buying a new car buys a lot of maintenance should it be required

lorainfurniture · #8 04-13-2012, 07:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by spdrun

I've never paid over $3k for a car, and none have left me stranded. The $17k or so saved by not buying a new car buys a lot of maintenance should it be required

How many cars do you own?

E150GT · #9 04-13-2012, 07:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by spdrun

I've never paid over $3k for a car, and none have left me stranded. The $17k or so saved by not buying a new car buys a lot of maintenance should it be required

time. Thats where they get you on the old cars. A lot of people don't have time.

Me personally, I have a 2010 mazda and it needs no work for the foreseeable future and it has been trouble free for the last 60k. I do like my older mercedes and prefer to drive it over the newer car. I just bought a very cheap new car. My payments are $237 a month. I think its nice to have a reliable car that has newer amenities and air conditioning. It is nice to not have to work on the car when I don't want to. When I just had the 420sel there were some nights that I was up til 2 am in the garage just trying to get it to be ready to get to work the next day. Now I would never go buy a brand new 50k dollar car unless I was loaded. My buddy just bought a super crew f150 and his payment is 517 a month. its just too much for me. I plan to keep my car for a long time so for what I paid it think it will be cheap in the long run, assuming it stays reliable.

MTI · #10 04-13-2012, 07:58 PM

I have an 85, a 99 and 2011. All three get about the same MPG. The 2011 is the safest, has the most BHP and ride quality. I don't have a problem with new.

spdrun · #11 04-13-2012, 08:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lorainfurniture

How many cars do you own?

One (at a time) and a various motorcycles on and off.

I've owned the 240D for 18 months, during which maintenance costs have been under $1k, with most of the serious work (ball joint, clutch cylinders) being done by a mechanic.

anghrist · #12 04-13-2012, 08:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by E150GT

Now I would never go buy a brand new 50k dollar car unless I was loaded.

Yeah, I'd have to have a few to even get me into the door of a dealership.

I'm the guy who shows up and goes straight to the parts counter.

E150GT · #13 04-13-2012, 08:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by spdrun

One (at a time) and a various motorcycles on and off.

I've owned the 240D for 18 months, during which maintenance costs have been under $1k, with most of the serious work (ball joint, clutch cylinders) being done by a mechanic.

doesn't mean that it didn't require more. Just someone else did it..

suginami · #14 04-13-2012, 08:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Carleton Hughes

From a philosophical standpunkt I heartily concur. Costwise as well. I have never bought a new car. Although my wife has twice succumbed to the siren song of newness and financial irresponsibility she now shares, or pretends to agree with my rationale of choosing her a low-mileage lease return and hammering the dealer unmercifully while waving cash under his nose. She also has become a devoted thrift shop clothing buyer and ranks high among yard sale cognoscenti

My own choices are rather more enigmatic and hard to define. On the one hand vintage sportscars have always been a driving passion {pun intended},I drive them regularly and reliably. My '27 Buick has never let me down in 20 years, the '25 Bentley stops well and does not overheat thanks to an electric fan. The '12 Hisso has but 2 wheel brakes so must be driven perforce with care, even with a hydraulic disc brake caliper I installed on the driveshaft. I can't begin to describe the feeling of oneness and mastery driving such admittedly ancient but quite well designed and constructed machines gives to me. Some philosophers maintain that in one's life there is but one great experience, and all one's thoughts and strivings afterward are but attempts to duplicate it. Such has been my obsession with the former..Yet for practicality's sake, with an appreciation of mechanical excellence and economy of ownership as a corollary I've always chosen Mercedes diesels, primarily the bulletproof 123 of which 2 are currently giving yeoman service.

I did have a 210, a '98 E300 about which the less said the better. Not that there was anything really wrong with the engine as such but, Jeebus....where to begin? the spring perches, body electrics, fuel system O ring failure, 4 Goddamn radiators in 6 years for the stupid and unforgiveably shortsighted reason that the 210 was a GASOLINE chassis with a very long 6 cyl diesel motor thrown in as an AFTERTHOUGHT, necessitating moving the radiator forward and lower, making it subject to the most minor bottoming out on curbs, pushing it into the fan!!!!numerous glow plug drillouts, odd climate control issues.....all former listed issues successfully dealt with by the trio of me, myself and I plus the invaluable assistance of THIS FORUM.....but it was a constant struggle with that car, osteo-arthritis and a bad heart don't aid matters so I sold it to one of my contractors, let him throw money at it. I'll stick with my aforementioned 123 Benzes. There.....I feel better. They say confession purifies the soul.

Bravo!

Sir, you are my hero

The Clk Man · #15 04-13-2012, 08:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by suginami

Bravo!

Sir, you are my hero

I thought that I was you're hero.