Better Beaters - Building Cars and Daily Drivers

 As a "mature" car guy, what should I be driving, and why? 

Am I beating a dead horse with a long stick? 

(Revised 1/30/25. This post was found while I was recently scouring my archives. It was nearly complete, so I dusted it off, smoothed it out, and am presenting it now. I'm still wrestling with these same issues! This is interesting as it was written over five years ago. I did actually take some of those actions I was contemplating.)

I'm talking about new or late models cars, something that I would expect to drive daily. 

One of the things that I get a kick out of telling my Wife, ( probably way too many times!) is, "That the best thing about being an old man, is that I don't have to care what I look like. On the other hand, one of the worst things about being an old man, is that I don't have to care about what I look like!"

Leaving aside the areas of personal hygiene and questionable fashion choices, I'm thinking about image management.

This is a subject that primarily occupies the mind of much younger men, who are in the process of establishing themselves in their personal relationships, occupations, and careers. 

Human beings are pack animals and Men have have always wanted to find and hopefully establish their place in the social hierarchy. While the most important things are traits such as competence and character, those only reveal themselves after someone gets to know you. The first impressions are based on visual and behavioral cues that are displayed. 

Personal appearance, fashion choices, and accouterments. This includes the automobile of choice.

In other words we want to make a good first impression.

Madison Avenue has well been aware of this need and have been manipulating our choices for over a century.  The media has exerted so much pressure on the formation and concept of self image that it is questionable if we really have any choice in the matter. 

Fashion and self improvement 
internet guru Antonio Centeno can provide valuable direction.

I have found a couple of very good fashion/image gurus on line. They can help get a man up to speed on his style and presentation.

Aaron Mario, Alpha M, is also full of good advice
 for young men who want to up their game.

This is all well and good, and I've found both of these guy's info and outlook to be interesting and quite valuable. However I'm well past the '"Dress for Success" stage of my life. At my age I just to strive to be neat, clean, and presentable. But I still care very much about my choices in vehicles.

Car guys are usually enthusiasts. They have an active interest in cars, what they choose to drive is important to them. They will drive what is determined by circumstance and need, but they will usually have a preference and a "dream car" somewhere in the back of their mind. 

As with most guys, my finances are not unlimited.

Practicality is a real consideration. As I'm written before, my Wife and I still take frequent long road trips. A vehicle that holds our stuff, is comfortable, and that is new enough to be reliable is important. More important than a low ET, or track lap time. Or the appearance of prestige or luxury. 

There are a lot of older prestige cars that look fantastic but are getting a bit long in tooth and have high mileages. 

I don't need a ten year old Porsche PanAmera with 100,000 miles on the clock. 

Likewise an S class Mercedes in similar condition.

I do want something reliable, but that doesn't mean that I want a Camry either. 

At my age I don't think that a car is something that I want, or need as a status symbol of financial wealth. Primarily because there isn't any wealth to flaunt! 

I'd rather have something that establishes my wealth of enthusiasm. 

I've had a long relationship with motor vehicles. I've been driving for fifty years and I bought my first vehicle, a Honda 160 motorcycle, when I was a Sophomore in high school, even before I got my license! 

There have been a lot of cars and motorcycles over the years, choices were made, and I don't see myself repeating any of my earlier choices.

So,what do you see more mature men driving? If they've got a little dough then...

Expensive imported or domestic sports and luxury cars. Mercedes, BMWs, Corvettes and Porsches are common enough to be seen as almost  a cliche.

Fancy SUVs and trucks. Modern Pony cars. Trendy electric vehicles. 

One thing that these choices will have in common will be that they will be new, or nearly new. 

Old guys usually don't like climbing under cars to fix and rebuild things, especially on their daily drivers. I know that I don't.

If an old guy drives a vintage machine it is usually clearly a hobby car, and will also be likely to be rebuilt and finished. Maybe it was even bought that way. Who's got the time and energy to rebuild a car? 

There are several things that prevent me from now wanting another really old car.

My second car and first Cadillac. A '64 circa
1975. Good Times.

I've had lots of them, they weren't even all that old when I owned them. My first car, a '66 Mustang was only around nine years old at the time. When I had my '70 Mustang several years back, it was already 45 years old! My '57 Cadillac was only eighteen years old at the time I got it, my '70 Coupe de Ville was only seven or eight years old at the time I bought it.

Those big cars that I have loved for so long, got such poor fuel economy. Their size is also a consideration, as I would like a car that will fit in my garage.

Now these cars are really old, are in much worse shape if not already restored, and worst of all, are now very expensive. 

Here's a particular kind of car that still has a strong hold on my psyche.

7,500 OBO
Just like the Tim McGraw song.

That's a nice interior worth preserving.

The seller says that the motor is "stuck,"

However, many old bombs may look cool, but they don't ride or handle that well, and aren't much fun to drive. 

The biggest change in my thinking has come about because of the extraordinary high prices that are being asked for vintage cars. Even for project cars and builders. It might just be me, but I'm stuck with the 2,500 dollar price point mind set.

That may sound low, but that's two jumps from my previous 500 and 1,500 dollar price points. I just will not pay 10,000 to 20,000 for any old car.

If old cars are out, what does that leave? 

What type of vehicles do I need?

A pick up truck, I already have one that I like.

A spacious practical versatile SUV, I've got that covered.

Interesting vehicles, I've got some of those too. 

My '96 Mustang convertible was a favored vehicle, and it's got the added attraction of becoming a collectible model. It's not just an old Mustang, it's a Classic! 

I enjoy maintaining and preserving an older car already in good condition. 

I would not mind another newer Mustang GT convertible, they have steadily increased the horsepower with each newer model. I'll be taking my Dad's advice, " If you want a faster car, just buy a faster car!" 

I know that it doesn't make any sense but I've got this craving for a mid 2000's Lincoln Navigator. I like the first update that gave them the Continental style dash and much improved interior design. 

The old saying states, "Live it up. it's later than you think!"

Or as Peter Egan so eloquently wrote, "There are only so many Summers left."

If only I didn't feel so "stuck!"

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As it turns out, I did end up getting a newer Mustang, an '06 GT convertible. A couple of years after that, I even went and bought an '05 Lincoln Navigator. I bought my '97 Buick Riviera a couple of Summers ago. So there has been quite a bit of change in my stable since this post was originally written.

Again, I find myself wanting a 1940's car, I've gone to look at a couple. Of course, I'm looking at low priced alternatives. A couple looked a bit rough. But who cares, I'm an old man and nobody cares what I look like!