When buying a new car.....

[uncle potts]

...Did you think you were buying something that some day would be a "classic" car?

Back in 1979 I bought my one and only brand new car, a 1979 Plymouth Arrow pickup. Litttle did I know that the name plate would only last 3 years and some day would be impossible to find. I was "googling" all of the cars I've owned over the years, and this one was the only one I could not find one for sale.

Maybe I should have kept that one.....

How about you guys, have you ever bought a new car with the idea that someday it would be "collectable" or hard if not impossible to find?

[Joe Handley]

Collectable......Nope, all but forgotten.......sadly yes.

[rel14]

Still have my 66 Mustang.. 30 yrs now

[Fat Brian]

I don't know that my SC300 is considered collectible since there are still so many out there but they are sought after in some circles due to the capacity for the stock engine to make insane amounts of power and the ease of swaping in hot motors from Japan. I bought it specifically for what is was and what it can do but I didn't get it new.

[slusher]

l never got to buy but one new car in my life. l had a used 74 or 76 Mercury Montego in the 80's with a 351 clevland l bet its hard to find a mercury montego now.

[Guest]

I still have my '99 Mustang GT convertible with every available option and 32,000 miles. No, it will never be a classic. But, I think it will be a pretty cool old car for my eight year old son when he's old enough to own and drive it.

[Agent G]

My current DD, Lincoln Town Car, ceased production last year. I bought the thing new in '05 and am still debating what to replace it with, if anything. rare, no, collectible, maybe, best car I ever had? Yes.

I still ride a BMW R100 RT, the last year for the airhead motor. I refuse to part with that bike.

G

[2000-cvpi]

I used to own a 2003 Mercury Marauder (a Grand.Marquis with the 4 cam 4.6 v8) in the rare color of silver birch. There were only 417 built in 2003, and just over 1100 for the two year production run of the Marauder. I still miss that car, it was the best car I could ever own. I have a sinking feeling that it will become my own version of a muscle car that will gain value over time.

[2000-cvpi]

My current DD, Lincoln Town Car, ceased production last year. I bought the thing new in '05 and am still debating what to replace it with, if anything. rare, no, collectible, maybe, best car I ever had? Yes.

I still ride a BMW R100 RT, the last year for the airhead motor. I refuse to part with that bike.

G

I have owned every version of the panther platform except the Lincoln. I had a 1993 unmarked dark green police Crown Vic, 2000 white police Crown Vic, 1998 black Grand Marquis with the handling and performance package, 2003 Mercury Marauder, 2005 beige.unmarked police package Crown Vic. I only regret selling the Marauder and the Grand Marquis. They were the best handling and performing cars.I have ever driven.

[Mach1revo]

The Marauder is a cool car. While i have never driven one my 04 MACH 1 had the same 4 valve 4.6 motor. My mach may one be considered collectable like the originals but unfortunatly mine met its demise by way of a red light runner. T-boned and totaled with only 22,000 miles on it many of them a 1/4 at a time( ran 12.70 109.80 bolt ons and drag radials) . Great car and i hope to buy another. In the meantime i have a 92 fox body lx hatch 5.0. Modern classics in there own right!

[Agent G]

Corey I owned a '04 Grand Marquis and then my Town Car. Both have been the best experience I ever had with automobiles. I have driven at least six different iterations of the Crown Vic in my 33 years and was never disappointed in one of them except the '79 LTD. That year the car had the old Rochester Quadra Jet with the sildes instead of a butterfly. After a year or so the wear and tear was so bad the car wouldn't go over 65. Downhill, with a tail wind.

'85 saw the debut of the bean counters, so we got traffic cars with, if I remember correctly, 65 watt alternators. It wouldn't charge the car if you were parked with the roof lights on. Remember these were TRAFFIC cars, all they do is sit with the red lights on.

G

[martinfan5]

'85 saw the debut of the bean counters, so we got traffic cars with, if I remember correctly, 65 watt alternators. It wouldn't charge the car if you were parked with the roof lights on. Remember these were TRAFFIC cars, all they do is sit with the red lights on.

G

I dont think those 65 watts alternators could handle LED lights used today either

[Agent G]

Probably not, they were barely sufficient for a car with no equipment at all.

Oh, and correction, the '79 had the "variable venturi" carburetor.

G

[Longbox55]

Actually, led lighting uses less power than incandescant lighting does, so the strain on the electrical system would be greatly reduced.

[uncle potts]

I had a 1983 Marquis, never thought of it as a collectable car. It was a nice riding car. It had to go when it stranded my wife 6 times in one week.

While I owned it my 1962 Dodge Lancer station wagon was the ugliest car I had owned, wish I had it now.

[Joe Handley]

Actually, led lighting uses less power than incandescant lighting does, so the strain on the electrical system would be greatly reduced.

I think there might be some sarcasm there Bill, sounds like that electrical system would be in trouble if you turned on a map light for a couple seconds on a civilian car.

[Longbox55]

Re-reading the initial post, I beleive you're correct about that.

[martinfan5]

I think there might be some sarcasm there Bill, sounds like that electrical system would be in trouble if you turned on a map light for a couple seconds on a civilian car.

Actually, led lighting uses less power than incandescant lighting does, so the strain on the electrical system would be greatly reduced.

Yes bill , it was sarcasm, I was making a joke , I do know LED's draw less amps then incandescat light bulbs do

Edited September 15, 2012 by martinfan5

[Agent G]

All I know is the darn cars were constantly needing to be jump started.

That and Jonathan is constantly poking fun at my ahem, "advanced age".

G

Edited September 15, 2012 by Agent G

[Jeff Johnston]

I just told a 69 Mustang Fastback and bought a 2006 Mustang GT. The 69 was a classic, the 2006 probably will never be...and I could not care less.

having said that I do have a few other carts I wish I'd held onto.

[CEKPETHO BCE]

It all depends on the car. Couple months ago I bought a brand new Hyundai Sonata and I don't think it will be a collectible car in the future because it's a 4 door. However, I do believe that most performance or luxury 2 door cars can one day become collectibles. Matter of fact, I can't think of any 4 door cars that were ever considered collectibles. If I ever get a brand new sports car like a Mustang or even a Hyundai Genesis Couple, I will try to keep it for ever.

[IHSS]

I bought a 2000 Camaro SS brand new. I ordered it just the way I wanted it. Had it for 10 years with just under 60k and sold it when the family started. I later found out it was the only one produced with the option arrangment I had. It was the only hard top cloth interior SS made with every performance option available. Would it have been collectible? I'd like to think that it will be. I miss that car every day I wish I still had it but thats life. Fasted time I had was a 12.97 @ 108.9 with just a set of headers and a free flowing air intake.