I like my big cars too Mike. I have just about given up looking at new cars. We usually buy a new one around every 5 years, but with all of the useless garbage that they are putting into new cars such as On-Star, SYNC, touch screens infotainment systems and so on and are expecting me to pay for, I am no longer in the market for any of it. My daily every day car is a 2005 Buick LeSabre. It's a great riding car and has room. We travel around the state attending bowling tournaments and it has room for 4 adults, numerous bowling balls and still has room left for plenty of luggage. It just turned 60,000 miles which is not many for a car that old. Like I mentioned I do have plenty of other cars around. It can get in excess of 30 mpg also with the 3800 engine. I'll just keep it and save a bunch of $$$. Sotty, I won't pay for features I don't want and I don't like the idea of the manufacturers not giving me a choice. I liked to buy a new car back in the day when you got a list of options. Check the box, and you got it. Don't check the box, you didn't get it. You could really personalize your car right from the factory. I really enjoy driving my classic cars a lot more. Give me the third pedal. I like to shift, and three in the tree doesn't bother me at all. Trying to find some pictures of my 55 Ford crestline to post. It would be hard to get a picture of it in the shop right now as it is way in the back, blocked in by many cars and has a cover on it also. I'll have to check some pictures from car shows.
A friend of mine and I went to the International Auto Show in SF last month and I told him that if I bought a new car (haven't done that in 12 years!), it'd be the first car that I'd own that I would need to actually read the owner's manual to see how things worked. I've never driven a car with a touch screen or nav or where the stereo didn't have knobs!
Exactly. I was looking at a new Impala but couldn't find what I liked without a touch screen. They had a person there that would give you lessons and help personalize the screen for your preferences. What a joke. For audio they had links for Pandora, Sirrius radio, an MP3 player and possibly more. I have no use for it. All I need is an AM/FM with a CD player, WITH KNOBS. I have driven a couple of rentals with them and hate them. We were riding with some friends who have a new Ford Explorer with all of the bells and whistles and was really amused when they were having a verbal argument with the voice recognition with Ford's SYNC. Don't want that crap. Apparently there are a lot of people who really aren't interested in many of the features they paid for and don't want. Sirrius Radio turns on all inactive radios for a short period of time trying to people to subscribe. I don't think is is much of a choice now in new cars as most come from the factory with Sirrius radio. I have heard radio commercials for On-Star advertising for people with inactive On-Star offering 3 months free service trying to apparently get them to subscribe. My Buick has (has) On-Star and I never needed it, and didn't want it. The only reason I bought the car is because it was a 2005 left over when I bought it in 2006. They knocked off over $8,000 from the MSRP. Sorry, I prefer to drive a car, not a video game. The biggest thing that bother me is that so much of this technology is now standard equipment and the buyer has no choice as the whether or not they want it. Unfortunately too many are like sheep and go ahead and pay for it even if they don't want it. If I'm expected to pay $30,000 for a new car, I'm sorry, I want it my way. No mor enew cars for me unless I have a choice on the equipment. Drove my 1964 Studebaker Grand Trismo Hawk, with a 4 speed to work today.
Same here. While I am very capable of operating any of that stuff, I am not interested in paying for such useless play toys. I can read a map, or ask directions. Not interested in paying for pimp wheels, and other garbage such as million megawatt stereos- I don't need to attract attention to myself, as I am not desperate. They want my money? They can sell what I want. Too many people willing to flush money down the dumper these days, then complain about their debt load. If I had any money, I'd find myself a nice, clean '64 Malibu SS to trick up a little.
I am in total agreement with you. I learned to read a map decades ago. Don't need GPS. Usually GPS is an optional feature. I like a decently equipped car, but equipped the was I want it, not with all of the crap new car makers are now putting in as standard equipment. When I was at the Chevy dealer looking at an Impala, the salesman really p****d me off. I told him that I wasn't interested in all of the electronic toys, but didn't want to get a stripped down base model that I couldn't add the features that I did want. He comes out and says that "everyone" want this stuff, that why they are put in the car. I came right back at him and said that well, I guess that I'm a nobody, and walked right out the door. I later called the sales manager and told him what I thought of the salesman and that I would never be on their property again.
Back on subject I have just had a look at what they make, some models I can use on my early 70's layout, everyone needs an old beat up pick up truck...
They have a more modern pick up coming out next year, a 1960 Ford F-100 pick up. I still see some of them running around out here on the roads today. If you are modeling the early 70's a lot of these vehicles were alive and still running during your time period in Montana.
I am really looking forward to seeing a sample of the new f-100. I would love a light truck in that time frame. The only current option is the El Camino from Brekina.
