BRZ vs old Celica

[EAGLE5]

I make an exception for Ferraris. Specifically the 512 Berlinta Boxer. OK, I'm sure it's all the bad things I said, but it's hot sex on the outside. I'm sure it drives like shit too.

[AnalogMan]

Originally Posted by EAGLE5

Every time I look at old cars, I notice how they're loud, tinny, smelly, and ugly on the inside. They also need lots of maintenance and collapse in a tiny crash. Then I head over to the new car dealer.

But... being loud, tinny, and smelly (I'll respectfully differ on the 'ugly on the inside') is all part of the nostalgic charm of old cars.

For me a big part of it is simply the cost. The $65,000 paid for the Celica is a perfect example. To get anything interesting and in decent condition in an old(er) car now costs more than a new equivalent.

I paid under $28k for my new 2019 BRZ (Limited, PP). What does $28k buy in an older car? These days, in the hyper-inflated Silicon-valley tech bro fueled bubble, nothing. $28k gets a middling MGB-GT or Celica in so-so condition, with stories, rust, bondo, and likely an oil-burning engine in need of a rebuild. If you want to get something in honestly nice condition, it apparently takes the $65 large paid for the Celica at the start of this thread.

As much as the nostalgia drive runs strong in me, I just can't do that (I might be crazy, but I'm not that either 1) stupid, or 2) rich). For the same money, a new BRZ might not pluck the nostalgia heartstrings, but it's a helluva lot more reliable, faster, better handling, better braking, safer, comfortable, and did I say more reliable and less of a hemorrhoid to own?

I'd love to relive my youth with the cars of the era I grew up in. But I'd feel like a fool every time I looked at it for what it would cost to buy one.

[EAGLE5]

Originally Posted by AnalogMan

But... being loud, tinny, and smelly (I'll respectfully differ on the 'ugly on the inside') is all part of the nostalgic charm of old cars.

For me a big part of it is simply the cost. The $65,000 paid for the Celica is a perfect example. To get anything interesting and in decent condition in an old(er) car now costs more than a new equivalent.

I paid under $28k for my new 2019 BRZ (Limited, PP). What does $28k buy in an older car? These days, in the hyper-inflated Silicon-valley tech bro fueled bubble, nothing. $28k gets a middling MGB-GT or Celica in so-so condition, with stories, rust, bondo, and likely an oil-burning engine in need of a rebuild. If you want to get something in honestly nice condition, it apparently takes the $65 large paid for the Celica at the start of this thread.

As much as the nostalgia drive runs strong in me, I just can't do that (I might be crazy, but I'm not that either 1) stupid, or 2) rich). For the same money, a new BRZ might not pluck the nostalgia heartstrings, but it's a helluva lot more reliable, faster, better handling, better braking, safer, comfortable, and did I say more reliable and less of a hemorrhoid to own?

I'd love to relive my youth with the cars of the era I grew up in. But I'd feel like a fool every time I looked at it for what it would cost to buy one.

Go drive a Tesla Model 3 Performance. That's where you might want to put your 60K. Or a new Cayman. Or a recent 911. Or a GT350, hot Camaro, Corvette, or one of many other cars that are used, recent, and in that price range. There's just no comparison.

Now a truly old car is something different. I saw a sparkly woody drive up last night. It looked pretty sweet. But then such a nightmare to actually maintain.