Is keeping a car 50 years frugal? - Page 3

 Don Klipstein wrote:

Boy, that just shows how a few extra years will change your opinion of
auto AC.

   I have a friend that used to cut the AC drive belts (to save
horsepower), now he adds ACs to cars that didn't have them.

   There's short term frugal and long term. But I'm not sure either one
matters here. You might drive a 10 year old or 20 year old car because
it is frugal not to buy a newer model. No one does that for a 1961
model. You drive that car  because you like it!

   Now, there's few cars of that era that are frugal on gas. The
collectables in particular are gas hogs.

   Jeff

  Who drives a 20 year old car, owns a couple of 1970 models, and is
looking for a Honda hx for a daily driver.

   Jeff

    [ ... ]


My '64 Dodge Coronet has factory air conditioning, it's a basic four-
door sedan. The higher end cars had air conditioning in the late '50s.


  [ ... ]

Oddly enough, warm air works real well for defogging windows. Since
there's a ready supply of heat available by diverting a small amount
of engine coolant through a radiator under the dash, that feature
has been available on vehicles for over 50 years.

And, depending on the climate, A/C may not be needed. I get by without
it in North Alabama, and save gas.


Gary

--
Gary Heston  gheston@hiwaay.net   http://www.thebreastcancersite.com/

"Behind every successful woman there is an astonished man"
    General of the Army (four stars) Ann Dunwoody

 Don Klipstein wrote:

I suppose it depends on where you live.  My current car (a 1995
purchased when it was 12 years old) is the first I've had with AC that
worked.  My last one had AC, but nonworking (and my mechanic advised
against any attempt to fix old AC systems, said it would be $250 and
in a couple of months it would need another repair ad infinitum).  AC
is nice, but I don't spend much time in the car (mostly I'm already
where I'm going by the time the car gets cool) and in Minnesota you
wouldn't use it more than a few days a year anyhow.

Last summer I successfully procrastinated putting the window AC in my
home office until the cooling system was over (if you have enough
fans, AC isn't that important).

Dave

 

'nam vet. wrote:

You can keep a car as long as you want. I kept my last Chevy for 24
years and drove it to the junk yard. There is nothing on a vehicle
that can't be replaced with something. The key is how much will it
cost and who will do the work. It somewhat depends on government
regulations too if you need to pass certifications. I have frequently
dreamed of having free rein of an auto junk yard. I could redefine the
word hybrid in terms that would make congress cringe.

 

Well, it is a VW and parts are cheap and it is easy to fix . I have road
service . And I only drive it on nice days as the top is getting kinda
ragged. A cabriolet. Only 30 smiles per gallon.
I figure that it is increasing in value as it ages.  Rust is under
control and I have up-dated it with many safety features. And I think
like a motorcyclist. i.e. assuming the other drivers don't see me.
Squeezed air horns into the front grilles.
Wish us luck !
--
When the Power of Love,replaces the Love of Power.
that's Evolution.