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Why Are Older Cars Better Than Modern Cars


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It’s common to hear from car enthusiasts that older cars are simpler, more reliable, and better than modern cars. Is this simply nostalgia talking, or is there truth in what is being said? It’s true that the automotive industry has made significant strides in the past few years. Modern cars are safer, faster, more fuel efficient than older cars, and yet, most car enthusiasts still prefer older cars. These are some of the things that older cars have that modern cars don’t:

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Chris Davis
Davis Law Group, P.S.

Simplicity of Build and Design
Modern cars are extremely complex. The more complex a product is, the more possible points of failure there are. Modern cars rely heavily on electronics to manage the engine. This means that a faulty sensor or water damage can hinder your engine’s normal ​ functionality. The simplicity of design and build also means that there’s less probability of a malfunction. In fact, according to this Seattle auto accident attorney, many car accidents are caused by the failure of parts. Not only this, but with so many parts in your car, repair can be a very complicated and expensive process.

Cost-Effectiveness
Since older cars were built simple, there wasn’t really a need to charge a large amount of money for them. Not only this, but older cars are also easier to maintain, and spare parts (depending on your model) are widely available and interchangeable. Even when modern cars are both more powerful and more fuel efficient, we also have to consider the costs related to maintenance and repairs. Now, consider the fact that cars depreciate in value rapidly. Repairing a modern car may cost more than the value of the car itself, and either way, older cars are still going to cost much less.

Sturdiness and Durability
Modern cars may objectively last longer than older cars, but they are ultimately made to be disposable. It’s not uncommon for car manufacturers to practice planned obsolescence. This is apparent in how modern cars are built. Older cars, on the other hand, are designed to be rebuilt. By just replacing some parts, your old car could run like new again. The same cannot be said for modern cars that have complex designs and parts that are difficult to manufacture. In fact, it’s not uncommon to find car enthusiasts restoring old cars. Surprisingly enough, restored cars still sell for a good price despite their age.

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photo courtesy Sotheby's

Styling
Finally, older cars are becoming more rare. Most modern cars have the same styling and design language, while older vehicles seem and feel like they come from a different era. While most car enthusiasts will admit that much of the appeal for the older designs stems from nostalgia, even the simpler stylings have practical value. These older designs also make repairs easier. In some markets, old designs are even held in higher value than modern iterations, as these cars are considered collectibles.

This isn’t to suggest that modern cars are poorly-made and poorly-designed. In fact, many of the features that modern cars come with are welcome additions to an already compelling package. The difference is that the technology in older cars was perfected ​