Back when an axe and shovel were standard equipment.
Posted on 06/21/2014 10:04:44 AM PDT by TurboZamboni
The days when a bare-bones "stripper" car came with vinyl seats, rubber floor mats and no air conditioning are long gone.
Today, convenience and cold air come standard for all models, along with a long list of niceties that were once the sole domain of the loaded vehicle. A base Chevy Spark, as one example, offers aluminum wheels, ten standard airbags, power windows — even six months of OnStar service, in case you lock your keys in the car. On the surface, the new car market is offering better values than ever.
There is just one small problem with nearly all entry-level models of the modern day: You can't ever find em', and when you do, they usually come loaded with surprises. We may learn about that teaser of a price from the manufacturer's advertising, or the dealer supposedly suffering a bone-headed overstocking whose pain can be your gain. But actually finding that car is another matter entirely.
Recently, I searched for an absolute bare bones 2014 Nissan Versa S, base model. How many were there for the genuine manufacturer's drive-out price of under $13,000 in metro Atlanta? One. Just a single car to serve a metropolitan population of six million people.
Two weeks ago I walked over to a Mitsubishi dealer near Myrtle Beach, S.C. There were 20 Mirages on the lot, and out of those 20, there was one basic car with that ever so rare five-speed manual. The price: $12,500, before a whopping $1,995 surcharge for window tint. The old days of stain guards for carpeting and VIN etchings on the windows have been replaced with $700 processing fees, $800 destination charges, and $2,000 aftermarket trim packages with low-quality leather and fake wood made out of real plastic.
(Excerpt) Read more at autos.yahoo.com ...
Good “field” car, excellent.
My friend’s father loved his ‘53 Chevy. He said the best thing about it was it was great for hauling firewood.
My wife's 2000 Malibu has about 27,000 miles. Still going after all these years.
I just got back into the house after changing my ‘95 Jeep Wrangler’s water pump. Never done it before.
That 19-year-old beast is the best. EASY to work on!
(Didn’t find any spare parts after I was done -I hope I did it right)
You beat me. :-)
.
“My wife’s 2000 Malibu has about 27,000 miles. Still going after all these years. “
—
Astonishing.
.
Two years ago, I bought a ‘98 Camry with 41,000 miles. It cost me $4,500 but it has electric windows and locks, AC, Auto and even a cassette player that all work! It was owned by an 85 year old lady who only hit the garage door frame on Sundays. I don’t think I will ever buy a new car again. Used cars are much better than they used to be.
Of you look closely at that dimmer switch you will see exactly why they changed that design. That switch is all corroded from salt and debris. Probably doesn’t work, which is why they changed the design and location.
Back when an axe and shovel were standard equipment.
CarPing !
After walking out three times, they knocked $1500 more off and gave me 0% interest loan.
I wouldn’t be in the market, except I am starting to have electrical problems after 250,00 miles, door locks, radio, headlight all died.
There's another big plus for an automatic transmission that you don't even learn about unless (God forbid) you have an accident that results in a broken hand, arm, ankle, foot, or leg. You can still drive your vehicle in spite of the injury. I've had one broken wrist and one combination broken foot and ankle. There was no way I could have gotten around in either case without an automatic transmission car. A car with a stick shift is a good fun toy, but it will let you down in a pinch like that.
Friend in the service had a mustang that had foot switch for wipers, first intermittent wipers!!
That’s one I never heard of.
My old 65 Willys jeep apparently only has mechanical advance. No vacuum port or anything that looks remotely like the old diaphragm.
I STILL miss the high-beam on the floor. My left foot hovered over it and I could tap the high beams on/off instantly without moving my hands. Saddest day ever when they moved it to the one of the gazillion stalks on the column.
I has probably been stated multiple times in the thread ("It's the dimmer switch!")... but these once extra features are now standard because when in fails, as it was designed to last only as far as the standard warranty... (which dealerships will always fight you on any warranty claim anyways), it's a $700 $ervice item at the $twalership.
Every heated seat or exterior sideview mirror... hell even a stupid headlight issue on a RAM truck is a $700 service call.
I recently had to buy a newer vehicle as the transmission on my '92 VW Jetta diesel lost 5th gear. That car has 320,000 miles on it, still gets 40MPG... no computer bullshit, crank windows, mechanical odometer, no turbo, no cruise control...and anything that goes wrong you can fix it easily with basic metric hand tools.
I have kept the car to rehab it to get another 320k, but if Volkswagen retooled and offered this exact car, new for 2015, I would pay $40k for it.
5 months after buying the RAM it needs a 700 dollar power module for the headlights...because they designed something that should have never been changed from simple fuses and relays into effing computer cards.
My daughter just bought a used 2012 Ford Escape for her horse business just like that...everything is black. It looks really sharp. Got a super deal, too, because CarMax said it had been hit and had structural damage. We had a shop go through it in detail and there were no signs of structural damage stem to stern...just some minor upper body damage on the rear lift gate which had been well repaired.
Thanks Moose! Was reading this earlier and am returning to read some more. Pingie appreciation.
Our ‘66 Pontiac Bonneville had MONSTROUS floor vents which you pulled open with a mechanical wire pull cable. When those vents were open at 70 mph, the air just ROARED through the car. Which was a great thing because the beast didn’t have AC.
Back in the early 90s during my 4 years with Uncle Sam’s Haze Gray Sailing Club, there was this guy who would by a couple of the old 70s big cars for a few hundred bucks.
He always seemed to have two at any given time and I think that was the most anyone on base was allowed.
Of course they were never like models at any time and he would spend thousands to keep one going more than a few weeks. He was always broke and could never figure out why.
On one deployment on a couple of paydays, for some reason, he opted to be paid in cash. I was a direct deposit person. I signed up as soon as I could. Wise advise from my 80s era Army uncle.
Anyway on BOTH of those occasions, he put his money in his shirt pocket, went to put on coveralls, and leave his shirt hanging where anyone could walk by. Both times, he came back to an empty shirt pocket.
All the illegals on my street have two or three late model cars/pickups...on credit. Usually one citizen or legal immigrant in the family unit. I have older vehicles bought with cash or paid off quickly.
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