I am confused, not hard for me..but what does this mean

 

I get tired of the debate on old cars are better than new cars. Remember:
1) Four wheel manual drum brakes
2) Non-collapsing steering columns
3) Non-padded dashboards
4) No anti-sway bars
5) Bias ply tires (in the rain)
6) No air conditioning
7) AM radio (maybe)
8) Non-reclining, uncomfortable bench seats
9) 3 speed manual transmissions
10) dull headlights (no halogen)
11) No power steering
So, the good old days may not have been so great after all. I like all the features in new cars and trucks, drive a stock 1970 truck (not a modified one), and a stock 2004 back to back, you'll see!
The reason cars don't last (old or new) is because most people don't want them to. They get tired of them, when the car is brand new they get great maintenance, but then the first dings appear, maybe a stain on the carpet, the new car smell disappears, so who cares if the oil is changed on time anymore, the thing is looking kinda shabby. And, the new one over on the dealer's lot is nice and shiney, has a bunch of new features, etc. Hmmm, time for a new one. IMHO, any car can be made to last if the owner is willing to maintain it, most are not inclined to do so. Its easier to start again with a new one. I know, since 1972 I've bought 7 new cars or trucks for myself.

 

I wasn't saying old cars are better than new cars, I was saying that a full framed car is better than a unibody car. The Crown Vic I was talking about was a 2000. All Crown Vics, Grand Marquis, and Town Cars are still built on a full frame, which is why when you see them wrecked in a junkyard, they are not twisted, smashed, or full of blood.

 

Wow you seem like your in the market for a luxury car not a truck. Manual steering, manual brakes, bench seat, 4 on the floor, no radio(yet) and I love drving this truck ON LONG DRIVES. I take this thing on those weekend vacations and whatnot. I have a 96 Ford and you know what? I prefer drving my old 66. After awhile you get used to the manual brakes and manual steering you dont complain all the time. I driven plenty of new trucks and ill take my 66 any day over them. Its true, the older trucks are better built and higher quailty then the new ones, just with skimpy/no interiors. Oh and one more thing, ive got manual choke and I love it!

 

I remember my favourite truck, a '78 F100 custom with
1) power front disc brakes
2) collapsing steering column
3)padded dash (steel, not some crappy plastic garbage)
4)no sway bars, but they were an available option
5)radial tires
6)vent windows
7)radio delete
8)a great very comfortable bench seat, ...how could you recline one into a standard cab anyway?
9) c4 automatic
10) fine headlights that cost $2.65 apiece to replace
11) power steering

I saw a $50,000 2004 F150 4x4 4 door that I would not have traded the above mentioned truck for. The interior was plastic as far as the eye could see, and really, really made me gag. If a Chevy is worse than that, man they must be awful. I haven't looked at one of the new Chevys because their styling repels me like a polar opposite magnet.


I am with FORD352V8. Gimme them old trucks any day. I can buy a yard full of them for what a new one costs and be way happier!

 

The Chevy Avalanche had way too much plastic body cladding for sure, but a buddy of mine at work bought an '04 and just about all of the body cladding was gone. Didn't look as bad as the older ones.

 

Don't forget hoods that would decapitate you and gas tanks in the cab. Remember 3 on the tree.

I'm on the fence about headlights. Dims nowdays are brighter than brights used to be 10 years ago. I'm not convinced it's safer though. It doesn't matter how bright your lights are if the oncoming traffic has you seeing spots. Everyones got the add-on "driving lights" that commonly say on the box, not legal for street use.

 

Just so you know I need a truck to haul my 11.5 ft camper and XM radio is quite nice when you can't pick up any radio stations and On-star works very good for a phone when my regular cell looses reception. So just because you may not need these luxury items on your truck, doesn't mean no one else does. My father in law has an 04 f-350 and I an 04 3500 chev and both hauling campers we did a little drag from 40mph to 90mph and neither pulled away. Both trucks are nice both were $45k yes he has me on size and interior room but also needs an additional 8ft to turn around. Bottom line if I can have a truck that works just as hard but still have the creature comforts WHY NOT???

 

Sorry if I got off topic but I am trying really hard to think of something on my truck that is plastic that is not on the F350 and the only thing that comes to mind are the fender flares unless you can tell me specifics on what you are refering to. Avalanche excluded because they are a hybrid I am talking about real trucks.

Also something that comes to mind. In the truck camper world it is quite well known that fords have had problems with bumpers bending and box damage from camper tie downs and the trucks not being strong enough. So maybe what you are trying to say is a little plastic here afords a little thicker steel in other places.

 

I totally agree with you on this, it makes a lot of sense if you apply all the features ofa truck the way they are supposed to be applied. You use a truck for hauling and towing, and if you make a lot of calls inside, that kind of stuff, then it is great to have all that stuff, i will probably take advantadge of such luxuries once i have started my career(i am still an undergraduate student). What i meant, is that in normal application, with the average person that buys a truck(just for a trohpy vehicle, and not as sa truck) does not need all that stuff, and they never use any of the aspects of a truck that it was made for(if that makes any sense, i cant find the words im thinking of)
...but yeah, those accessories are great if you are actually gonna use them and they will aid your life.

 

wow.....i'll stick with my '95 f-250....pretty much solid steel. a little plastic inside, but thats gonna be changed to gloss black diamond plate soon....bring on any merceades, kia, or any car for that matter other than a 30 year old muscle car....gotta love the truck

 

All the way. If I need a CD player ill put one in. If I want a DVD player ill put one in. Ive got everything I need and I didnt spend 40-50k for my truck, yet it has AC and power windows, good enough for me. I love my 96 it is so much fun to drive with the mods I have on it.

 

I really hate the look of the little tikes cozy coup, oh i mean the avalanche it is a too much for me . all the companies use plastic, yes it sucks ,it is just where they use it that makes no sense to me,for one plastic warps,fades and cracks where steel rusts and scratches but they make bondo everyday for that.Today too many people are buying trucks namely the city cowboys,soccer moms and of course big bad office guys that have no idea how to take care of something that would actully need maintanied. so we have plastic. looks good for 5 years ,there lease is up and they turn the POS in. Chevy has aimed there market to those people so they use more.

 

Yeah well if you take care of it, it will look great for years. Ever heard of Back to Black, or Meguiars Trim Detailer?

 

I was reading some where that the new ford suv's have plastic diff covers? are all the manufactures doing things like that? makes me like my old truck even more.