Originally Posted By: madRiver
I see complex 1997 MB and BMWs still running around. Yes but keeping a vehicle 20 years is past design life and minority of car buyers.
Being used as daily drivers by low income drivers? Agree about the design life and makers aren't accountable for 15-20 year old cars but more than a few people are driving them.
Originally Posted By: 69GTX
My 1999 is nearing 19 years old now. If it continues to be driven the way I do, it will be around in 20 yrs from now...at 40 yrs old. Back in 1997 I was driving around an original paint/orig drive train 1969 Super Bee (on points and condenser). While it had no computers, it ran beautifully at nearly 30 yrs old on orig suspension (less shocks) with 55K miles.
If cars get too complicated to even buy decent used cars 10 yrs from now, I'll stick with very low mileage performance cars from 1996-2006...they will be around for a long time, and they will be well-depreciated. I could go out and by a 20K mile 1998-2002 Firebird Formula Trans Am or Z28 for $10K. It will only be cheaper in 10 yrs.
That's a motorhead's dream solution and very cool you're driving those cars, but not exactly realistic or practical for most low budget car buyers. May have to be though.