Sticker shock....!!!

[Monster5601]

I take it that you've never had an ignition control module go bad. They don't last anywhere near the life of the vehicle. If you've looked under the hood of the newer cars you'll see most have engine covers to hide the nightmare lurking underneath.

Ignition control module, they haven't used them in 30 years. Engine covers and there to dampen upper engine noise, newer high pressure fuel injectors are noisy. You can't discuss 30 year old technology with current, it just isn't an apples to apples comparison.

 

[JDgreen227]

I was just thinking, my grandfather had a timing light. Yup, I have it now. NO CLUE HOW TO USE IT.

I have a 1975 vintage Sears timing light and a tach/dwell meter, still in the boxes...think the last time I used them was in about 1990. Not sure why I keep them...sentimental value, perhaps. I just checked Ebay...they have 72 listings for timing lights and mine is worth $40 at most...and I paid $25 for it...should I sell it or keep it....:laughing:

 

[satellite]

Ignition control module, they haven't used them in 30 years. Engine covers and there to dampen upper engine noise, newer high pressure fuel injectors are noisy. You can't discuss 30 year old technology with current, it just isn't an apples to apples comparison.

Actually ignition control modules have been used as late as 1995. I've replaced my share of them. You still have lots of sensors that do go bad in your newer engines. Instead of using distributors, most use a form of crank trigger ignition these days. When a cam timing sensor goes bad have fun with that repair.
New car dealership service departments stay busy even now working on the new cars and trucks. They do break down whether you want to admit it or not. You are welcome to buy those new ones if you like. For me it's a much better deal to keep my older trucks running. I like being able to do it myself.

 

[fordmantpw]

Newsflash... car had 7,000 miles and was 10 years old and not repairable.

That may be true (which I doubt...manufacturers have to make parts available for a minimum of 10 years after the vehicle goes out of production), but you can't use that as a basis for comparing electronics of 1982 to today.

 

[KenB2920]

I have a 1975 vintage Sears timing light and a tach/dwell meter, still in the boxes...think the last time I used them was in about 1990. Not sure why I keep them...sentimental value, perhaps. I just checked Ebay...they have 72 listings for timing lights and mine is worth $40 at most...and I paid $25 for it...should I sell it or keep it....:laughing:

Wow, you even checked online. I'd keep it. I bet the moment you sell it, a neighbor will come by asking if you have one to borrow ...

 

[Monster5601]

Actually ignition control modules have been used as late as 1995. I've replaced my share of them. You still have lots of sensors that do go bad in your newer engines. Instead of using distributors, most use a form of crank trigger ignition these days. When a cam timing sensor goes bad have fun with that repair.
New car dealership service departments stay busy even now working on the new cars and trucks. They do break down whether you want to admit it or not. You are welcome to buy those new ones if you like. For me it's a much better deal to keep my older trucks running. I like being able to do it myself.

Yes, there are a lot of sensors through-out new vehicles but that has been evolving since the mid 80's when computers first started managing engine controls. Sensor failure is rare, yes, someone will make a comment about a sensor failure but there are tens of thousands of new vehicles sold each month in the US, each providing a trouble free service life. Auto makers fight daily to keep warranty cost down, computers and sensors, and the what-nots have design life's of 11 or better years which I think is darn good.

A computer fires the spark based on crank and cam position sensors, most new engines have variable cam positions. Ignition is with respect to air to fuel mixture, input air temperature, mass air flow, and throttle position.

Eventually your older vehicles will come to their end of life and you will need to address the newer technology vehicles, used or new.

 

[ultrarunner]

In my case I just keeping repairing...

My first car I bought with money I earned was a 1929 Model A and I still have it today... have Model T's and even a 1905 Oldsmobile.

The difference, as I see it... a person that knows their way around a shop can keep the old stuff going...

Not too many have the ability to make circuit boards and the fancy electronics.

Cars are becoming more like appliances today... not much repairing after the warranty is out.

My new car is year model 2002 and when I had the glitch last weekend, a neighbor walking his dog and commented he will no longer own a car without a warranty and his present is leased...

Just came back from the mandatory State Emission testing on my 1985 Chevrolet Van... $80 for the test and not that it passed... I can send in $194 to renew my tags... it's the last year with the Carburetor in my State.

Funny thing is when I bought the truck all those years ago anything over 25 years was exempt... then it was changed to over 30 years and now it changed again to FOREVER...

 

[oldpilgrim]

In my case I just keeping repairing...

My first car I bought with money I earned was a 1929 Model A and I still have it today... have Model T's and even a 1905 Oldsmobile.

seems we're a lot alike. My first car was a 31 Model A roadster, that I got in 1962, for $60 and used it as my everyday driver for several years. As I remember reading, they sold new for about $525. It was a babe magnet in high school !

I still have it...and drive it.

Me and a mop head of a girl next to me in 1964:

My other 'old' car is my 100 year old 1914 Model T that I got in the early 70's. I actually drive it more than the A. I've had it all over New England and New York state. In 1914, the car cost $450. Ford got the price down to under $300 by the early 1920's.

Will my 2014 Tundra still be around in 100 years ???

 

[Larro Darro]

Will my 2014 Tundra still be around in 100 years ???

If you drove it at 40 mph, and put a couple hundred miles a year on it, the odds are it would still be kicking in 2114. Not long ago my 86 year old Mamma was talking about how long tires used to last when her and Daddy had a '36 Ford. I ask her how often they used the car. She said they went into town almost every Saturday. A 30 mile round trip.

Larro

 

[ultrarunner]

Very Cool... is that your shop with all the vintage signs?

I prefer to own vehicles that appreciate...

Then there is my 85 Chevy Service Van and it is a real workhorse... fully loaded down with racks and pullouts... had to beef up the suspension about 25 years ago to handle it.

Maybe I've been blessed... so far, never been towed in with any car... knock on wood.

 

[oldpilgrim]

Nope, not my shop. That was taken on a trip to Maine.

I completely re-restored the A a few years ago. Added side mounts and painted it Bronson yellow/brown trim, but no pictures of it.

A friend of mine recently sold an Olds like yours.

Nice stuff you have.

 

[ultrarunner]

All I need is a nice BARN... talk about sticker shock! Just the permits and engineering for a simple barn are over 20k.

When Chrysler was going down for the count a few years ago, my brother bought a 300 with 5,000 miles or 12k... some were thinking he paid too much for a soon to be orphan Mark.

I painted my pickup Bronson and Black... always like the Bronson Yellow because it was anything but drab.

 

[TomSeller]

A few years ago, I moved up from my 1983 daily driver to a 1993 Cadillac. Then a couple of years later I moved to my current 1996 Caddy. My 1999 F250 is running strong. I have my wife in a new 2014 Ford, but I don't mind the oldies. Some day I will have a car without a cassette tape.

 

[JDgreen227]

Something I really miss about the older vehicles was that you could work on them without needing special tools or a multi thousand dollar electronic gadget that reads trouble codes. I could replace the drive belt on my '92 Olds 98 with a wrench or two in five minutes, but to replace the drive belt on my '04 Saturn requires you to pull the air filter box and support the engine underneath so you can remove the passenger side motor mount, and then you can access the drive belt....Frickin' insane.

 

[ultrarunner]

It does seem repair is almost an afterthought... although, maintenance items tend to be OK

When I see how buried things are it makes me appreciate what I have.. especially my older pickups... open the hood and EVERYTHING is right there... plus and a new Delco water pump $75 is hard to beat...

 

[Nightforce]

$71,000 for a vehicle that's made up of parts from the lowest bidder....and the dealer tells me they make very little on new car sales.....

 

[RollingsFarms]

$71,000 for a vehicle that's made up of parts from the lowest bidder....and the dealer tells me they make very little on new car sales.....

And the sad thing is yeah it'll be worth a lot less in a year but go try to buy it off of a car lot. You'll still pay $69000 even though it's worth much less. It doesn't make sense to buy used trucks right now, the savings just arent there. I'm still seeing 9-10 year old trucks command $19-20k prices and they won't deal AT ALL.

 

[Diamondpilot]

And the sad thing is yeah it'll be worth a lot less in a year but go try to buy it off of a car lot. You'll still pay $69000 even though it's worth much less. It doesn't make sense to buy used trucks right now, the savings just arent there. I'm still seeing 9-10 year old trucks command $19-20k prices and they won't deal AT ALL.

I just sold my 08 Nissan Titan with 97,000 miles and half worn out tires for $6500 less than I paid for it new in April 09. It was a left over.

Anyway, new tires are $1400 for that truck. Other than a ser of brakes, a tail light bulb, and a battery the original tires is all I replaced. By far the cheapest to own and drive vehicle I have owned.

Chris

 

[RollingsFarms]

I just sold my 08 Nissan Titan with 97,000 miles and half worn out tires for $6500 less than I paid for it new in April 09. It was a left over. Anyway, new tires are $1400 for that truck. Other than a ser of brakes, a tail light bulb, and a battery the original tires is all I replaced. By far the cheapest to own and drive vehicle I have owned. Chris

Did it have 18" wheels? Tired for those are dang expensive! Cost more then 20"! I'm dreading having to replace the tires on my z71 as they are 18's

 

[ultrarunner]

Did it have 18" wheels? Tired for those are dang expensive! Cost more then 20"! I'm dreading having to replace the tires on my z71 as they are 18's

Both of my trucks have the old standard 235-15 LT truck tires...

Last time I went to buy 4 tires I was told they would have to order because it is not stocked???

235-15 is probably the most common truck tire size ever made.