Should We Keep The Old Cars Going?

Here, on our small island, adrift in the sea, we still collect vehicles that are described as ‘classic’. Broadly, to qualify, a classic car is generally considered to be at least twenty years old (or forty years old as far as the tax man is concerned, but we won’t go down that rabbit hole) and no longer in production. It might be collected because of unique looks, power or value but, in these hugely expensive days, many people are wondering if keeping an old car soldiering on is worthwhile and, it seems, many folk do.

Thousands of our fellow drivers want to keep old cars roadworthy and the best way to do that is by maintaining a regular service schedule with a reliable car servicing garage. DIY is fine but unless you are deeply skilled with older automotive technology, your local professional garage is the best way to stay on the road.

Apart from the fact that an older car will repay your outlay with many reliable miles, it also keeps an owner in touch with the idea of operating machinery (and thus driving carefully) which is essentially what old cars are. Modern cars, with all their technology are possibly safer than before but operating them is more like a playing a computer game. It’s easy, but is that the way to become complacent when on the go? Certainly it appears that some drivers are distracted and less aware than once they were.

What We Like

The styling, the silky smooth or dramatic barking engines, the aroma of petrol and grease and oil all deliver the sensation of truly being connected to the road; all the pleasures of owning, maintaining and driving a classic motor. The latest models, electric or otherwise, do seem to some drivers to be disconnected from the enjoyment of the open road; they’re just transport with no real ‘feel’. Could this be why the UK is still a global leader in retro car preservation? Yet running an older car on modern roads is not without its challenges.

Even vehicles as recent as ten or fifteen years ago may not be up to all the challenges of modern traffic conditions and broken roads. When first built, roads were quieter and rules and regulations were far less strict. New cars may be quicker (speed limits allowing) and equipped with advanced braking systems, lane assist, and collision detection alongside many other safety features, but then again, the lack of some of these features may make a person a better driver, since they have to be more aware, because the latest vehicle engineering plays a huge role in safer roads. On older cars there’s no sensors, just judgement; longer stopping distances, manual gearboxes perhaps, no in depth infotainment and mapping and so on. Conversely, simplicity is something we might enjoy in a high-tech age.

The Key To It All

With older motors, maintenance is the key to reliability; there are no warranties to bail you out and no leasing deals to keep you going. Owning old cars can be incredibly rewarding, but it’s not straightforward. Parts for old cars, particularly foreign models, may be difficult to source, and which is why regular maintenance is essential to keep them roadworthy. That’s why we are not suggesting running money pits like Aston Martin models from the 1960’s or the dubious joys of an E-Type Jaguar. More to the point would be cars on, say, 60 or 61 plates, maybe ten or twelve years old or even slightly more recent. The benefit is that they are cheap to buy and a full service history can be the pathway to good basic motoring.

It has been shown that, properly maintained by a professional car servicing garage and MOT testing station, an internal combustion engine can keep going for 250,000 miles or more and, further, suspension components are cheaper and simpler to replace.

In contrast, modern cars are built for convenience. With longer service intervals and widely available parts, they’re designed to fit seamlessly into our every day lives, the downside being the complexity. However, it might be argued that this modern convenience comes at the cost of personality, something that many older cars still have.

So what do you think? Should we keep the old cars going in this modern age? Old cars offer cheap motoring, are certainly easier to maintain and are less complicated. In these days of horrendous automotive taxation, crowded roads and tetchy tantrums in the traffic streams, would we be better off pootling around in a good old family motor? It’s a thought.