...What Gives?!
- Thread starter Kwik_Cutty88
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I was thinking about this more today, I a lot of my interest in "old schools" has to do with the way I was brought up I guess. Don't get me wrong, I love all the new technologies, and try to stay up to date. I wouldn't even mind owning a later model LS powered vehicle instead of my Cavalier. Anyways, I grew up working on all sorts of hot rods and my Dad's 85 Trans Am. Whenever we were building my car I always had access to a full set of tools, and even a shop with a lift. Even to this day I have access to my dad's wealth of knowledge, and all the tools to go with it. So I am very fortunate compared to a lot of other kids my age. But then again, my dad was the first person in his family to really get into cars. He had to get his own tools and teach himself what he didn't learn from going to a vocational school for auto repair. But I suppose maybe things were different back then in the late 80's early 90's.
Guess I'm lucky. I can't take my Regal anywhere without getting compliments, questions from people. We do have to remember are cars are 30yrs old now. Kids out there nowadays didn't grow up with our rides being the "Cool Ride" of the day. Sadly they grew up in an era where American made cars were neutered by regulation and Government, while European and Japanese cars were going faster with better "curb appeal". Let's face it the stupid Kid "Taxi" mini van has more HP then our cars had off the factory floor except for the GN.
I see what your saying there. If it weren't for my father who pretty much ignited my interest for cars I wouldn't have the know how on wrenching. But I think some of it is self taught and personal style too. Every one can find a certain style or era of car that fits there identity. There is definitely a generation gap though. But even as an early teen I was (and still am) into the Nostalgic 70's-80's Japanese cars. Some people aren't easily fooled by the plastic bumpers and LED lights all over the new cars lol.
I guess one day soon everyone and their dog won't have one of those under the hood. Olds V8 lover's like me will really be weird. There are a few younger guys who still like older cars and working on them around. New cars have their merits, excellent heat in the winter, command start, heated seats and mirrors. Honestly with my truck fire and me driving the 88 CSC this winter along with the purchase of the 70 has made me want to get rid of it. And I plain refuse to drive the 70 this or any winter. The Challenger is soon paid for and won't be replaced any time soon. This constant cycle of debt is ridiculous.
As for the tech in newer cars it is all available and easy to add to any older car. In fact that is the one thing that is much more user friendly and open for your imagination. Try changing out something as simple as a radio in a new car. Half the systems route through the radio, takes up large part of dash and no longer has any resemblance of a "standard" form factor. Aftermarket audio has been practically killed in a new car. If you don't like the factory options.... too bad! your out of luck.
Bluetooth, Heated seats, push button start, remote start, USB ports, cameras, hot spots, etc all available to add to any older vehicle. I will always prefer the older American steel just because it represents freedom of expression. This is another point of why the younger crowd is mostly bolt ons and shelf parts. They have no other options for the most part with modern cars. The newer cars are so interlinked that you have to reprogram the entire ECU,PCM,BCU,TCM,etc every time you think about serious changes.
I agree that most can be added but takes time and skill to do it right. If I had bought a Hurst/Olds like I wanted, it wouldn't get hauled away, these are $1000 cars here. Of course I could keep it and sell the 70, a guy wants it really bad, I could make money on it. An Aboriginal Canadian a few years back wanted my 88 CSC, considered shoving the Olds 260/TH350 in it with a for sale sign. My Challenger has the basic stereo, hoping an aftermarket stereo will be an easy install. I figure a trunk spoiler, ported throttle body and bolt on shorty headers will help a lot and maybe a tuner down the line. There are some great tuners out there that do impressive custom tunes. My Dakota is an example of a supposed easy modern swap of the 3.9 V6 to 5.9 V8 SEFI swap. All you need is a custom ECM and add two injector wires, not for me. The mechanical end, not bad. Still running on 6 cylinders and has one gear 3rd, unless you manually shift down, limp mode. I have a few ideas to fix it, including replacing every sensor in the trans and piggy backing the two injector wires. The custom tune on my 6cyl ECM saying they are there but not firing, the wires should be right, frustrating.
When I was in collage I looked for a car that was dead on reliable with fewest chances of breakdown. Sold my old Firebird and bought a new compact car. Why, school first. I did not have the time between working to pay for school and school itself to work on a car. Then I had to wait several years to afford the extra vehicle. Just the way life worked for me. In my area of NY older cars are 4-6 month vehicles anyways.
Two reasons that I can see . . .
My wife and I weren't allowed to have kids but, though I love them dearly, my nephews couldn't figure out how to change the oil in something working together as a tag team. Plus there is just the whole "get dirty doing manual labor [??]" opposition thing period. I "was" going to leave my 442 to the eldest but am going to have to figure out something else. I know now he would just get rid of it as quickly as possible to the first bidder. I know this sounds mean and like I don't love them at all. This is just the truth with my nephews and nearly everyone else from their generation that I know.
Reason 2? These will hold more jelly beans . . .
My wife and I weren't allowed to have kids but, though I love them dearly, my nephews couldn't figure out how to change the oil in something working together as a tag team. Plus there is just the whole "get dirty doing manual labor [??]" opposition thing period. I "was" going to leave my 442 to the eldest but am going to have to figure out something else. I know now he would just get rid of it as quickly as possible to the first bidder. I know this sounds mean and like I don't love them at all. This is just the truth with my nephews and nearly everyone else from their generation that I know.
Reason 2? These will hold more jelly beans . . .
Could be how you grew up.
I have 5 Boy nephews, every time I would visit my sister she would ask me to check out here cars.
Here husband in his 40's and is not into cars and he hasn't showed any of the boys even how to change the oil.
If you start them young it stays with them. Now they just like Gaming and social media stuff.
I didn't have anyone to influence me but I got into Nascar and followed Pontiacs back when Rusty Wallas and Kyle Petty where running Pontiac Gp's , also the old films with the Nostalgia Drag cars, Max wedge, SD Pontiacs, Ford Galaxy 500, 409 Impalas..
New performance cars are great, You can get 700 hp from a stock car you can buy from the dealer with a warranty.
All the cars from the 90's and early 2000's are cheap now also. This is the best time to be a car guy, so much to choose from.
Location also, if you go to southern California you will see G-body Clubs and some really clean cars all year around.
Here in Minnesota you don't see any except when the weather gets warm and you get to a car show, plus this place Rust the crap out of your car big time.
I had a 2012 white Colorado work truck and after the first year it had Rust spots on the surface of the front bumper.
I have 5 Boy nephews, every time I would visit my sister she would ask me to check out here cars.
Here husband in his 40's and is not into cars and he hasn't showed any of the boys even how to change the oil.
If you start them young it stays with them. Now they just like Gaming and social media stuff.
I didn't have anyone to influence me but I got into Nascar and followed Pontiacs back when Rusty Wallas and Kyle Petty where running Pontiac Gp's , also the old films with the Nostalgia Drag cars, Max wedge, SD Pontiacs, Ford Galaxy 500, 409 Impalas..
New performance cars are great, You can get 700 hp from a stock car you can buy from the dealer with a warranty.
All the cars from the 90's and early 2000's are cheap now also. This is the best time to be a car guy, so much to choose from.
Location also, if you go to southern California you will see G-body Clubs and some really clean cars all year around.
Here in Minnesota you don't see any except when the weather gets warm and you get to a car show, plus this place Rust the crap out of your car big time.
I had a 2012 white Colorado work truck and after the first year it had Rust spots on the surface of the front bumper.
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