Mid-life Crisis or just tired of mediocrity?

I'm starting to shop around for a new daily driver. The New vehicles I find are either boring and gutless or are way more than I'm willing to spend on something that will steadily lose value the longer I pay for it. I've been looking at Dodge Dakota Quad Cabs, Chevy Canyon Quad Cab, Silverado extra cab, etc...

My wife thinks I must be heading into my Mid-life crisis (I'll be 38 this year) or that I'm just nuts for thinking of buying a well built Classic car as my daily driver.

I've got two kids to haul around so I have to have a back seat but something like a 48 Chevy Suburban that has modern running gear, AC, etc... would fit the bill pretty well. Or a 53 Pontiac 4 door with updated suspension and running gear, glass packs, 15x7 and 15x8 steel wheels with original dog dish caps.

I'm currently driving a well used Chevy Astro van and got to thinking that using that frame and a 50 Chevy Cabover pickup that’s been stretched to a 4 door would look really good with a flatbed on it. Plus, updating the astro van to 3/4 ton calipers is about $100 upgrade. V8 swap is a $65 set of motor mounts.

The downfall is I'd have to find something that is already a driver and make small upgrades or find something that is truly already done. Which can be an adventure in itself.

I think I'm just tired of the prepackaged crap that is coming out with huge price tags on it. Why spend more when I can get what I want for less?

I know others here are driving classics for daily transportation, I just don't know if they're in the rust belt like I am.

So, Do I go for the classic daily driver or buy something new, with a warranty, and spend the $$ ?

 

Get a classic. But then again, what kind of answer did you expect here?

 

I'm with Bigred........

 

I drove a 66 Chevy pickup for 9 years (90,000miles) in Connecticut through some of the coldest crappyist weather and the things that drove me nutty (-er) was the lousy windshield washers, non-heated air cleaner and no heat riser valve. Real cold weather was no problem but the rainy 33 degree days were brutal, just wouldn't idle until it was completely warmed up. It had a 327 TH350 combo with 4:11 gears and posi. Once you have the modern gagets it would be hard to go back. You just can't beat fuel injection.

 

Hey, I'd love to join the rest and say "get a classic" but much of your decision will have to do with the climate you live in and your family.

Let's face it, while we love old cars (that's why we're here anyway) you really can't beat the convenience of many of the modern rides. Hop in and go at the drop of a hat and minimal maintenance over the long haul.

I hate to say it but: "If Mama ain't happy - nobody's happy!"



That being said..................I'd get the classic

 

I made that mistake 5 years ago and have regretted it just about every day out of that 5 year loan. $22,000 + interest + repair bills outside of warranty... I could have had a nice classic car that would have been cheaper and easier to keep up maintenance on.

Oh yeah, KBB today is about $6000 for my car in good condition.

 

Buy a classic and treat it just like you would a newer daily. All of them are made out of metal so just make sure you run it through the car wash on a regular bases in the winter to get all the salt and road grime off the undercarriage and put a good coat of wax on it in the fall. Should last you forever right.

 

Using something vintage is cool when you are 20 something and have a reasonably short radius to drive in and NO kids to haul around. If you have to get kids from place to place you are really going to want something that is going to start 99.9% of the time and have heat and air conditioning. Hot (or really cold) kids makes for a really crappy time.

 

I'd get a used extended cab pick-em-up truck and focus your energy on classic toys, instead of spending free time wrenching on your @#$% daily driver.

Yes it's fun to have a kool classic as a daily, but between maintenance, and whatching it get the shit beat out of it in parking lots and such, I've never seen it as worth it.

Also, it's just plain liberating driving something with no care about minor traffic boo boo's, getting caught in a hail storm, or hell, just having to wash a daily driver on a regular basis. I've spent the last 9 months behind the wheel of my dirt-colored Ranger daily driver, have yet to wash it or do anything besides change the oil, and it runs like a top while getting decent gas milage. I'm loving every second of it, your milage may vary.

 

For several years I drove a 1953 Chevy Suburban with a big 6 and factory Hydro every day. Ideal vehicle, don't know why I sold it. Now that I have retired to the mountains, I really wish I had it back.

 

I have the '23 and the '68 to drive strictly for fun. I tow the boats alot from Spring thru Fall and NOTHING F's up a family weekend more than a breakdown. No matter HOW hard you try, you're going to have gremlins with classic machinery. I bought a '07 Dodge Hemi quad cab and I gotta tell ya, for a new vehicle, IT'S FUN. The family is comfortable riding in it, gas mileage is good, and it's reliable. Well, that and it hauls ass. It all depends on what suits you.

 

I have a 51 Nash pick up for my daily.....love it, it's cheaper to insure, does the same MPG and don't depreciate than anything close that's new.....to put things in to perspective...
Have a mate who bought a Mitsubishi Evo VIII. for his mid life crisis.. in the first 2 weeks it averaged 6-8 to the gallon, OK 25-30 on a run but 3 when hoofing it...and it was well good when you hoofed it (he let me drive it just once!) and so you did all of the time.....3 months after he took delivery he sold it as he'd had enough of all the twats who wanted to race him, the massive insurance and most of all the petrol bill.... He lost £10000 ($19000) when he sold it with only 4000 mile on it..I would have cried...

Buy a classic or a rod it really does make sense..

 

I drive my bel air everyday rain or shine and i have had a few issues in the past but nothing major my daughter loves riding it, I had the heater rebuilt so it cooks in the winter time and in summer nobody looks cool in a classic with the windows rolled up... I say classic 100%

 

Knew a guy who loved driving his '60 (?) Chevy Apache...said he had picked it up "Indian Surplus". He was a character!

 

Personally, I'd go classic. There's something about being able to know halfway what you are doing and are able to repair it yourself. Newer vehicles with the computers and all that jazz can really add up repairwise if you cannot do the work yourself.

 

Looks like you are preaching to the choir here. I hope I never have to buy a new car again. If the old lady don't like it, tell her to get in the kitchen and make you a turkey pot pie.

 

I've got a 97 Ram but its a standard cab. I have to sell it to keep the roof over my head. Hell I'd probably deliver it as I have a buddy in Waukee, just west of DesMoines

 

Nobody can really make this decision for you but some key points have been made. Family comfort is easier to get in a newer ride but it can be had in a older vehicle if it's built for comfort. Most our rides seem to take a back seat to our preferred styling over comfort. Dependability is the same, it can be built that way, but much easier and more likely in a new car. There is something to be said for the 'teachings' of the experiences and memories created by an old car. I still have fond memories of riding in dad's modified 55 Chevy Nomad with the top cut off in the rear to create an El Camino styled rod. I don't remember too many rides in the 73 Impala four door (though kinda cool car now-maybe not)

One rule of thumb I like-old cars just keep going up in value and your chances of improved resale values are monumentally better than a newer car that just depreciates itself to barely scrap value for the first 20+ years.

 

The trucks you're listing are well into the 20-30k range and for half that amount you could find a very nice classic that you could use for a driver. Doesn't have to be sexy, just look for reliable and with kids I can sing the praises of a 4 door.

 

I drive either my all original 64 Galaxy Country Squire station wagon or my 66 Suburban with the new amenities (LS1/4L60E, a/c, air bagged, disc brakes, etc) as my daily. I have a 2004 Chevy 2500 HD 4x4 that WAS my planned daily. The money you save on your monthly, insurance, etc., you could either sock away for future repairs or monthly upgrades on you classic. My new truck sits only to be used for towing my trailer, which is next to never. I prefer to tool along in something unique and gets thumbs up than rolling along with the comforts of home and being strapped to a payment. My kids aged 1.5-11y/o always chose the classics over the truck too. It's the noises of the exhaust and the various rattles, squeaks, and shimmies that keeps em entertained and smiling vs the dvd and stereo. Just my .02

 

60 to 80,000 mile mid america car or truck. The best value for the money. My daily now is an 1993 Surburban from north Texas it's rust free and runs better than a new one at 1/5 the price. Then you have money for a classic.

 

My daily driver is a 1996 Chevy Impala SS.
Classic American styling, V8, rear wheel drive.

Fits my family of 4 very comfortably. The car has ran 14.00 @ 100mph in the 1/4 mile with bolt ons.

I lowered mine, swapped the auto for a 6 speed manual, aftermarket headers and dual exhaust. It's a blast to drive and no comparison to the modern V6 front wheel drive alternatives.

 

i've been driving a 92 custom cruiser as a daily for too long now. between dealing with emissions, computors and malfunctioning electronics and metric bullshit fasteners,im ready to go back to something along the lines of a early 70s nova or chevelle 4 door. they are reasonably priced and you can get just about any part you would need. mike

 

All new cars lose resale value when you drive em off the lot and as they age. Part of the value of a new car is the confidence in it's reliability. That's a big part of why people buy new cars. You've got to decide if it's worth the investment.

What about 3-point seatbelts? Are you going to put them in for everyone in the car?

You seem to have contradicting thoughts here. You mention an idea for an Astro-COE, but you need something that's ready to roll.

I think we need more information if you really want advice. A ton of questions come to mind.

Thanks,
Kurt

 

There is a compromise here, buy a newer vehicle that is destined to become a classic. My daily driver is a 2003 F-150 Supercrew Harley Davidson. This is the 100th anniversary edition of both Ford and Harley. It's also the last year of that body style. Supercharged for a hell of a lot of fun and surprises, and you don't have to do any modifications, although I did (just can't leave well enough alone).

 

I swore in 1987 that I would never buy another new car and I've stuck with that for 20 years now. My last new car was a Monte Carlo SS Aerocoupe..the one Dale Earnhart made famous...with the big rear window. It got stolen once and broke in to twice. Everything on it started to fall apart the first year and it was a major hassle at the dealership everytime I went in. I will admit that back then I had two small kids and new was nice at first. After that everything has been used. My theory now is to buy from the bottom up. I find a truck/car I like that is running and cheap. Plan on putting a grand or so in it and your set. They don't get the ew's and ah's but they're paid for and I don't worry about the grocery store or thieves anymore. No payment and cheap insurance frees up a lot of project money. I sleep much better at night. The other way to look at this is to save the $800 a month for six months then, you can find a decent daily and pay cash. You would be amazed at how many people can't save money for six months. Give it a try and you'll see I'm right and you'll have a project in a year or so. Good luck!

 

GO old its funand you can work on it ,good gas milege and comfy. alleyoop

 

Sorry I rambled a bit. To many idea's and not enough time and money to execute on them all. I should have left out the Astro/cabover idea.

If I go classic I'd put in new seatbelts for all passengers, upgrade to disc brakes and a modern master cylinder, update the wiring and heat/AC, preferabley V8/auto.
The goal is to find a vehicle that is already in this condition or very close, then its more maintaining the vehicle than building it.

Troy

 

I don't know... I paid $8500 cash for my commuter Elantra with 8500 miles on it.. I could hop in it drive cross country without worry. I couldn't do that with any of my other vehicles (although they've been driven cross country... just WITH the worry).

I like the idea of buying something mildly used with all the dependability and creature comforts (like heat, ac, and defrosters).

 

I'm in the process of building a 56 F100 for a daily, but I don't have kids to worry about. I do have insurance to worry about, so check with your carrier to see what they will cover when it comes to old, daily, drivers. New trucks are comfortable, reliable, and useful. They also depreciate and costs lots to repair if they break-plus, you probably can't fix them yourself. Get a good one and it will be great; get a bad one and it's really expensive. I drive a 99 Chev pickup now, and really like it, but I don't want more payments and it's up to 123K miles, so that's why I'm putting the F100 together.