4 ms·

> For those of us who are "old-school" and prefer their cars without fancy digital gimmicks, which cars would you recommend? Old cars. The problem is the lack

> For those of us who are "old-school" and prefer their cars without fancy digital gimmicks, which cars would you recommend? Old cars. The problem is the lack of modern safety features which really makes me do a double take before considering them. I wish cannibalizing a new car and ripping out all of the useless electronics was common enough for there to be tutorials for some brands

porkloin 5y ago
That's certainly true, but I do feel like there's a sweet spot in the 2005-2010 area where most "critical" safety features (improved airbags, traction control, ABS brakes) are almost certainly present, but none of the modern safety features that fall more into the "augmented sensory" category (merge/blindspot detection, early braking), which I'm happy to compromise on. I drive a 2007 SUV which does everything I need it to do and I'll probably continue to drive similar vintage vehicles until I finally switch to an EV when the charging infrastructure in my area has finally gotten off the ground.
- calvinmorrison 5y ago
  Panther platform, extremely safe still is a very solid choice. Though most people don't particularly enjoy driving land yachts - a grand marquee is a fantastic choice. Late 90's saab 9000's have TCS, ABS, Dual Air Bag, so your standard set of 2000's features, and are also very safe. Unfortunately there seems to be a lack of good crash test data publically on older (older than 2004) cars.
  - xbar 5y ago
    This, too. Those big Mercurys are just lovely to tool around in. I wish I had space for one.
  - dharmab 5y ago
    If I didn't need a performance oriented car there would be a Lincoln Town Car in my driveway for sure. The mercury and lincoln are the sweet spots since many are available from older, responsible owners.
- xbar 5y ago
  This. I drive a 2007 base model Porsche 911. No GPS, manual transmission, built to crash with ABS, traction, airbags, cage.
- noduerme 5y ago
  Right on. My gf is on her second 2008 Lexus and feels exactly the same way. It's a luxury ride but it doesn't try to take over for you.
  - tern 5y ago
    Love my 2005 IS300
  - chiph 5y ago
    2004 GX470 here. Horrendous gas mileage, but comes with ABS, stability control, full-time 4WD, and airbags. Of the modern safety systems, the one I'd really like to have is the blind-spot monitor. I have had rentals/loaners with collision detection systems (radar/camera) and they have all false-alerted on me and applied max brakes. I'm lucky I wasn't rear-ended as a result.
    - avmich 5y ago
      Airbags since 2004? What's the working age for such things?
      - chiph 5y ago
        Some automakers used to recommend replacement at 10 or 15 years old (my 1999 Mercedes had that on a door-jamb sticker). But from what I've seen, none of them are saying that anymore. Perhaps there was additional operational-life testing done. Or (more cynically) perhaps the automakers decided that replacing the 8+ airbags a modern car has after it's 15 years old, was something that no one was going to do because the cost would exceed the value of the vehicle by that point.
- jreese 5y ago
  Biggest concern is that many cars of this era spectacularly fail on the front overlap and small front overlap tests, resulting in trapping, pinning, or worse. Older cars don't do any better, mind you, but the switch to unibody construction without the structural rigidity of the latest models can result in you becoming part of the crumple zones.
- javajosh 5y ago
  I drive a 2007 SUV too for just this reason, and plan to move to an EV for the same reason. And there's another commenter in this thread who also has a 2007. Coincidence? I think not!
  - madcaptenor 5y ago
    My wife drives a 2007 Ford Escape, still going strong at 194k miles, and I'm just praying it doesn't fall apart on us.
bluedino 5y ago
Problem is, up here in the north, cars start rusting away before they are otherwise unusable.
- germinalphrase 5y ago
  I would honestly pay 5k for a one-time rust prevention fix if it were a long term solution. I have a wonderful Toyota 4Runner in great condition - except for the terrible rust. It will definitely die a rusty death.
  - thrower123 5y ago
    Getting the undercarriage sprayed with a lanolin-based spray before winter can do wonders for cutting back the damage from road salt. Otherwise the rocker panels just rot out so quickly, and they are wicked expensive to get replaced. I was quoted almost $4000 to fix mine on my last vehicle (only 100k miles, otherwise near perfect condition), so I could get an inspection sticker. So I traded it and put that money down on a new one instead...
  - yabones 5y ago
    Yep, I absolutely feel that. I have a very nice and boring '06 Toyota in great shape, except for a big rust spot on top of the windshield, I give it only a winter or two before it starts leaking. At that point it's not worth fixing a 16-17 year old car anymore. Which is a shame, because it's got a great drivetrain, rides smooth, and doesn't have a thousand little computers one bitflip away from driving you into a concrete pillar.
  - fy20 5y ago
    If you are into DIY (it's easier with a truck than a car, as you can get under without lifting it) look into the treatments people use for Land Rovers and other 4x4s that they regularly drive off road. It's not just a one-off thing though, you should reapply it every few years - this is why cars still rust that have the undercoating the dealer upsells you.

porkloin 5y ago

That's certainly true, but I do feel like there's a sweet spot in the 2005-2010 area where most "critical" safety features (improved airbags, traction control, ABS brakes) are almost certainly present, but none of the modern safety features that fall more into the "augmented sensory" category (merge/blindspot detection, early braking), which I'm happy to compromise on. I drive a 2007 SUV which does everything I need it to do and I'll probably continue to drive similar vintage vehicles until I finally switch to an EV when the charging infrastructure in my area has finally gotten off the ground.

calvinmorrison 5y ago
Panther platform, extremely safe still is a very solid choice. Though most people don't particularly enjoy driving land yachts - a grand marquee is a fantastic choice. Late 90's saab 9000's have TCS, ABS, Dual Air Bag, so your standard set of 2000's features, and are also very safe. Unfortunately there seems to be a lack of good crash test data publically on older (older than 2004) cars.
- xbar 5y ago
  This, too. Those big Mercurys are just lovely to tool around in. I wish I had space for one.
- dharmab 5y ago
  If I didn't need a performance oriented car there would be a Lincoln Town Car in my driveway for sure. The mercury and lincoln are the sweet spots since many are available from older, responsible owners.
xbar 5y ago
This. I drive a 2007 base model Porsche 911. No GPS, manual transmission, built to crash with ABS, traction, airbags, cage.
noduerme 5y ago
Right on. My gf is on her second 2008 Lexus and feels exactly the same way. It's a luxury ride but it doesn't try to take over for you.
- tern 5y ago
  Love my 2005 IS300
- chiph 5y ago
  2004 GX470 here. Horrendous gas mileage, but comes with ABS, stability control, full-time 4WD, and airbags. Of the modern safety systems, the one I'd really like to have is the blind-spot monitor. I have had rentals/loaners with collision detection systems (radar/camera) and they have all false-alerted on me and applied max brakes. I'm lucky I wasn't rear-ended as a result.
  - avmich 5y ago
    Airbags since 2004? What's the working age for such things?
    - chiph 5y ago
      Some automakers used to recommend replacement at 10 or 15 years old (my 1999 Mercedes had that on a door-jamb sticker). But from what I've seen, none of them are saying that anymore. Perhaps there was additional operational-life testing done. Or (more cynically) perhaps the automakers decided that replacing the 8+ airbags a modern car has after it's 15 years old, was something that no one was going to do because the cost would exceed the value of the vehicle by that point.
jreese 5y ago
Biggest concern is that many cars of this era spectacularly fail on the front overlap and small front overlap tests, resulting in trapping, pinning, or worse. Older cars don't do any better, mind you, but the switch to unibody construction without the structural rigidity of the latest models can result in you becoming part of the crumple zones.
javajosh 5y ago
I drive a 2007 SUV too for just this reason, and plan to move to an EV for the same reason. And there's another commenter in this thread who also has a 2007. Coincidence? I think not!
- madcaptenor 5y ago
  My wife drives a 2007 Ford Escape, still going strong at 194k miles, and I'm just praying it doesn't fall apart on us.

bluedino 5y ago

Problem is, up here in the north, cars start rusting away before they are otherwise unusable.

germinalphrase 5y ago
I would honestly pay 5k for a one-time rust prevention fix if it were a long term solution. I have a wonderful Toyota 4Runner in great condition - except for the terrible rust. It will definitely die a rusty death.
- thrower123 5y ago
  Getting the undercarriage sprayed with a lanolin-based spray before winter can do wonders for cutting back the damage from road salt. Otherwise the rocker panels just rot out so quickly, and they are wicked expensive to get replaced. I was quoted almost $4000 to fix mine on my last vehicle (only 100k miles, otherwise near perfect condition), so I could get an inspection sticker. So I traded it and put that money down on a new one instead...
- yabones 5y ago
  Yep, I absolutely feel that. I have a very nice and boring '06 Toyota in great shape, except for a big rust spot on top of the windshield, I give it only a winter or two before it starts leaking. At that point it's not worth fixing a 16-17 year old car anymore. Which is a shame, because it's got a great drivetrain, rides smooth, and doesn't have a thousand little computers one bitflip away from driving you into a concrete pillar.
- fy20 5y ago
  If you are into DIY (it's easier with a truck than a car, as you can get under without lifting it) look into the treatments people use for Land Rovers and other 4x4s that they regularly drive off road. It's not just a one-off thing though, you should reapply it every few years - this is why cars still rust that have the undercoating the dealer upsells you.