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Buy new car or invest in rebuilding old?

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rua69z

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Discussion starter · #1 ·
I bought my wife a new Olds Alero a few years back it has been a great car for her but it is about all used up.

We were out shopping for a new one and the 30 or 40 thousand price tags so I said to her for 25,000 I could build her a 65 Chevrolet station wagon we found last fall hunting. To my surprise she did not glare at me but said "really that might be fun."

I was penciling it out a bit I think I can buy a newer motor 2005 or so and tranny for around 2500.00 do a few more upgrades and have a fun daily driver for around 25,000. I have a few buddies that I can trade some labor and shop work for, the body and overall condition of the wagon is very good.

What do you guys think?

Jim
 
#2 ·
So you're going to put air bags, ABS, traction control, and crumple zones in it? A '65 doesn't even have a collapsible steering column.

For daily use old cars are death traps. Go watch the NHTSA video of the New Malibu in an offset head-on collision with a '59 Chevy.

Put your family in a newer car with all of the advances made in occupant protection over the last 45 years. Forget the '65.
 
#3 ·
I like the idea of rebuilding something instead of going after a new one - but have to agree with William on the safety features - so why not rebuild someting a bit more modern that has the safety features. What's worn out the Alero that couldn't be repaired?
 
#4 ·
x2 with William. Old cars are awsome, big time head turners. But I feel way safer knowing my wife and kids are riding around in a car that has airbags coming out the seat belt buckles.
 
Discussion starter · #5 ·
Steve
Nothing worn out I think it is more a case of my wife being tired of driving the same car for 5 years. I agree on the safety issues but probably should clarify what I meant by daily driver for her. I am looking for a car she can drive to the grocery store, work and the lake that would be something fun. I don't want to worry about driving it in the rain or bad weather conditions. We would have our new family vehicle for all other purposes.
Jim
 
#6 ·
Jim, surprised you have not thought of this yet, but if you are going to spend $25K, why not look around and try to find a used 2010 Camaro for her?
 
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#7 ·
Heck, for 25k you can get a nice certified used car that is only a few years old. I do agree that buying new is a waste anymore, I'm sticking with the 2 or 3 year old cars from now on, rather than losing my butt on new.
 
Discussion starter · #8 ·
Alright
I appreciate the input, it is just something I kept toying with and never thought it through.
Safety must be the focus no doubt, as I am sure everyone would agree without that aspect buying a new car is probably the worst business choice one could make. I am not sure there is another single item you could buy that will lose so much money so fast.
I am still going to but the wagon cuz it is cool but it will be her cruzer not daily driver.

I really appreciate all your thoughts.

Jim
 
#9 ·
For my own personal vehicle, It would be fine, but my wife and son, I want them in something with a good crash test rating. Its not worth spending 25k on a Station Wagon IMO.
 
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#11 ·
A friend of mine had similar situation where his wife wanted a old car to drive but they were concerned about the safety issues and MPG .

He is a die-hard Chevy guy but they ended up buying a 2009 V6 Mustang. It has a retro look but has all the newer car features and pretty good MPG.

Is wife did not want a 2010 Camaro because she said it "does't look old"
 
#12 ·
There is always the challenger too, if you do decide to go retro new look. I feel it hits the look the closes
 
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#13 ·
I'm amazed at the responses. I guess we all better sell our old cars they are not fit to be driven. Come on guys, if it's your time to go a air bag is not going to save you. The steering column can easily be changed, modified to collapse. People die everyday in newer cars.

I think it is a cool idea and you can build it the way you/she wants it. With modern brakes, suspension, steering, drivetrain it will be plenty safe.

Guys look where he lives, it's not exactly a booming metro area, probably a better chance of hitting a deer than another car.
 
#15 ·
My wife was sitting in Dallas traffic late last year, when a lady texting and driving ran over her. Our 2008 Cobalt LT kept her safe, she did have to go to the hospital, and the car was totaled, but after seeing that new vs old car wreck, There is no way I would put her in a old car as a daily.
 
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#17 ·
DjD said:
What's your wifes daily driver Royce?
Click to expand...
She drives a Toyota Highlander (2006), but lets not forget it's by her choice. If she would let me build her a car to drive I would do it in a minute. If I offered to build her a 1965 Wagon she would not be interested. The OP said his wife thought it would be "fun". I don't think comparing the two is relevant here.

I don't tell her what to drive and she doesn't tell me what to drive. When she bought the Highlander she was on her way to work and her Honda stalled, she pulled into the Toyota dealer found the car she wanted, called me and said "I'm buying a Highlander right now" I said "is it a decent price?", she said "it's a good deal" I told her "if that's what you want go for it", done deal. She pays for her car I pay for mine.

My wife won't drive my cars, she's just afraid she will hurt the car, I tell her no big deal it can be fixed, she likes to ride in old cars, but would never drive one. If she would I would put my projects to the side and build her someting fun too.

The point here is all of our wives or kids ride in our classic cars from time to time, who's to say you are not going to have an accident then? I understand people care for their family, as I do too. The thing is you can't live in fear of "what if". The OP's wife is open to the idea and seems to have interest in it. None of us knows if she is a housewife, works two blocks from home, maybe she never even gets on the interstate, everyone just jumped in and said how dangerous an old car is.

Dennis are you saying you won't let your wife drive "her" Nova down to the store and back because it doesn't have air bags?
 
Discussion starter · #18 ·
Royce

That's funny, I lived in Michigan both the northern area that has a million trees and Detroit area with a million cars. There are more people in Grand Rapids Mi than the whole state! If you have an accident here you almost have to try.
Gotta tell ya though car guys as far as old steel it is abundant, they use sand on the ice here and no salt so restoring them is fun also.
Jim
 
#20 ·
Trey,

Maybe you should sell that 67 Camaro and go buy a new one. I wouldn't want you to get hurt driving that dangerous car you have. Seriously to you think the above video may have been used as a way to scare people into buying a new car? Do you also think that was and unplanned area and direction of impact. What would that video of looked like if the 59 would have T-boned the newer Malibu on the driver side? There is no car that is 100% safe.

We aren't going to agree on this because people have already made up their minds. I'm no fool, of course in many cases a newer car is a bit safer. That doesn't mean an older car can't be made reasonably safe. In 59 you didn't even have seatbelts standard it was an option. The biggest advatage to the newer cars is the fact they handle and brake so much better, no reason the 65 wagon couldn't handle and stop well. Nice videos, but where are the shoulder harnesses? If you are in a new car and don't have your seatbelt on the airbags not going to help you. Oh and people get ejected from new cars everyday as well when they don't have their seatbelts on.
 
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rua69z
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