Have you seen the prices of new cars lately?

It's like getting a second mortgage.

Even used cars are selling for more than they cost new a few years ago.

That's why I'm obsessed with making my current vehicle last as long as humanly possible.

Most people think "maintenance" just means changing the oil every 5,000 miles. Haha That's a joke. I am talking like rebuilding the engine, transmissions, and drive train. Replacing rusted body panels, and welding up and reinforcing rotted out frames.

At the farm we have made vehicles last past 50 years and over a million miles

Why make payments on new, buy junk and rebuild it at a 3rd of the cost of new. You got a bent frame! Fixable! You have a Rotten rusted out frame! Fixable! Blown engine or transmissions! Same Fixable!

Nothing is it fixable unless it looks like this

When it looks like this. Then it's too far gone to save

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pdqsailor1 · 61-69, M Best Comment

I own two classic cars... one of which is a pristine low miles 93 Mercedes W124 - model designation 300E.. The first W124 to rack up one million miles was a taxi in Portugal.. This one.. Mercedes purchased the car back from the taxi operator, cleaned it up and put it in their museum with a sign on it.. "The million mile Mercedes".

This car was only the first of many of this model to go more than one million miles.. but that was then ..and there were reasons the car was that durable - every part of it was cycle tested and refined.. the W124 was a carry over of the engineering of the previous W123 which was also superbly engineered..Not just the drive train and components the frame, body and suspension as well.. every single part of the car was tested and refined.... Nothing Mercedes or pretty much anyone builds today is engineered with durability testing of components because people are not interested in cars that last for generations or are willing to pay for the work that goes into building a car this way.. Perhaps certain Porsche models who have no competition for their sports car lines and who charge what they like for them but no one else...

The car is now worth about three times what I paid for it.. it looks, starts and runs like a new car and its magnificent to drive..... but there is a problem.. parts support for it has been discontinued.. I have a donor car but I do not have space for this long term.. Meanwhile I drive it and enjoy it a great deal..

This is mine..

The other classic is a 97 Cadillac Sedan that was owned by my Wife's grandfather with low miles on it.. it also looks, starts and runs just fine, no rust - nice car.... its principle use is as a long distance interstate cruiser.. its very economical on the highway, large and comfortable - enormous trunk.. Perfect car for family road trips.. We took it from Toronto to NYC and back - it was like having first class airplane seats.. Girls in the back seat with pillows and blankets plus internet... Trunk holding everyone's stuff.. plus a cooler with drinks and food... and we did not come close to filling the trunk.

For daily driving I have a beater.. and I am going to replace it at some point.. and have already chosen what the next car is going to be... a particular make and model of EV that has proven durable but which is no longer in favour... it will do me just fine... I do extensive research on vehicles so I know which ones last and which ones to stay away from.. I don't drive much anymore... The price on these used models have plummeted.. the cars however are intrinsically worth far more than what the market values them at..

One of the examples of a car that was not valued well was the Mercedes W123 turbo diesel wagon... for a while they could be picked up in very good condition for under $5K... Now they are worth more than ten times that much... I like nice classic cars.. Because I own and drive them - I don't mind owning or driving a beater.. I have multiple cars for multiple purposes.. I do not spend much money buying cars... but I have some very nice cars..

HumanEarth · F

I prefer vehicles made before 1984 myself. I want nothing with cameras, screens or bluetooth in it.

AM/FM Radio would be just fine with a manual transmission. No carpeting, no bells or whistles. Just a plain get the job done

pdqsailor1 · 61-69, M

@HumanEarth My Mercedes was built with no coffee cup holders in it (or cameras, screens or bluetooth in it).. When customers complained about the lack of coffee cup holders in the car the engineers dressed in their white shop coats responded as follows: "We built this car for you to drive, not to drink coffee in".. They held their ground the car NEVER was fit with coffee cup holders.. The ENGINEERS decided what was required in the cars not marketing, not the customers... What made sense they did .. what did not make sense they did NOT do.. This was a different sort of luxury car.. Wool carpets, leather, gleaming real wood in the interior, polished stainless steel trim.. and as it was built is as it is now.. solid, simple reliable, durable.. when the best or nothing actually meant something.. Oh the car is now 33 years old and has 91,000 miles on it.. which means for this model it is less than ten percent worn out.. Probably be around for my Grandchild to use..