Originally Posted By: eljefino
Originally Posted By: Trav
I liked car a long time ago and still do but only if they have some sort of unusual or vintage qualities, otherwise I have little interest in them. I only fix them, I don't have to like them.
It's hard to like modern [censored]. "It's all been done." Even 80s cars had personality, expressed in flourescent gauges, CRT touch-screens (Olds Trofeo), talking at you, etc. Then you'd have something like a dodge omni whose personality was its own misery. Something like a modern 3 cyl Mitsu Mirage would entertain me, but I won't buy it until it's three figures.
It cracks me up that that Dodge Diplomat is the same width as a Ranger, and that Ranger is smaller than the 90's Rangers, which are smaller than anything else. Can see it's Dart/Volare roots.
You are spot on! It has all been done before and many times implemented much better. I still truly enjoy the feeling looking at a full analog gauge package in a real wood dash and a nice smooth well gated shifter topped with a leather tied boot and walnut knob.
When I work on old Euro stuff I still marvel at the quality of things like the SS brackets and rebuildable fuel pumps, bearings under the valve springs to prevent wear and all sorts of small really well done parts that add life and value to the car but go unseen by the consumer.
It seems like today we accept the quantity of cheap dime store bells and whistles as a measure of the cars worth. Time moves on and technology advances but when done properly quality and technology can play well together. Today's consumer doesn't seem to care so the accept plastic bolstered coated leather seats, plastic door hardware and panels, cheap carpeting, etc but it has 14 cup holders and integrates with my smart phone. Sad.