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Should "Beaters" Be Taken Off the Road? - READ ONLY

218 messages,  Last post on Nov 03, 2010 at 12:15 PM

You are in the Automotive News & Views-Archives Forum.

What is this discussion about? Car Safety

Messages Page 20 of 22

#189 of 218 Re: Update [fintail] by lemko

Oct 27, 2010 (10:39 am)

Replying to: fintail (Oct 27, 2010 8:48 am)
My local mechanic was just telling me about a lot of low-income people trying to look rich cheaply with older Mercedes and BMWs. They couldn't afford to properly repair their cars nor were they really willing to. Instead of following the proper maintenance intervals, these people would drive the car until something broke, then ask him to do a "band-aid" repair just to get the car running again.

#190 of 218 Re: Update [lemko] by fintail

Oct 27, 2010 (12:00 pm)

Replying to: lemko (Oct 27, 2010 10:39 am)
And most of those cars can limp along with a lot of faults that would be prohibitive to fix. Looking rich cheaply doesn't work...a 10-15 year old S class or 7 series with cheap heavy big Chinese made wheels and tacky chrome B-pillar trim doesn't look rich, it looks poserfied. An old rich looking car is pristine and stock.
 
Regarding rust...bodies don't rust like they used to, but I bet some cars still get some structural rot, especially in the suspension.

#191 of 218 Re: Update [fintail] by lemko

Oct 27, 2010 (12:27 pm)

Replying to: fintail (Oct 27, 2010 12:00 pm)
I don't put any of that self-destructive aftermarket garbage on any of my cars. My 1989 Cadillac Brougham is pristine and stock as it was when it was new. I don't even use non-GM parts for wiper blades or oil filters. There's an older lady in my neighborhood with a pristine early W126. She kept it bone-stock and that car looks far sharper than any of those newer molested examples with the cheap blingy wheels. I've even seen one knucklehead put aftermarket Buick portholes on his 7-Series.

#192 of 218 Re: Update [fintail] by andre1969

Oct 27, 2010 (12:35 pm)

Replying to: fintail (Oct 27, 2010 12:00 pm)
Regarding rust...bodies don't rust like they used to, but I bet some cars still get some structural rot, especially in the suspension.
 
I've heard some mechanics say that suspensions are actually LESS durable and long-lived than they used to be! Supposedly, the older suspensions that had all the grease fittings you had to lubricate every so often actually were more reliable...IF you kept them greased up, that is!
 
And I guess it would make sense that, with the proliferation of independent rear suspensions, they'd be more complicated than the simpler, older live axles of yesteryear.
 
I dunno how much truth there is to that, though. Thinking back, I think the only suspension-related work my 2000 Intrepid needed was one new bearing hub around 130,000 miles, and then the other around 138,000. My 2000 Park Ave needed new swaybark links around 60,000 miles. I'll have to ask my stepdad if their '99 Altima ever needed any suspension work. That thing has about 320,000 miles on it now, and still looks pretty good. They offered to sell it to me really cheap, and I was tempted, but with that kind of mileage, it's a rolling time bomb, no matter how nice it may look.
 
Going back a bit further though, I don't think my '85 Silverado, with around 134,000 miles on it, has ever had any suspension work, although it does need it. Grandma's '85 LeSabre needed new upper ball joints around 144,000 miles. I don't think my '86 Monte Carlo, which Mom bought new, ever needed any suspension work in the 192,000 miles that it lived.

#193 of 218 Re: Update [lemko] by fintail

Oct 27, 2010 (2:24 pm)

Replying to: lemko (Oct 27, 2010 12:27 pm)
You have the classy old luxury car, just like a pristine W126. Those cars speak of more money or class than their neglected or messed up 10 year newer relations.
 
Wheels and stick on chrome trim are the worse offenders. I loathe the chrome rings posers put around the front and rear lights of some MB. Big 20"+ wheels are also inexcusable.

#194 of 218 Re: Update [andre1969] by fintail

Oct 27, 2010 (2:28 pm)

Replying to: andre1969 (Oct 27, 2010 12:35 pm)
From what I have seen of some Toyotas and even a run of late 90s MB, modern cars can be be bitten by the rust bug too. A rusted out spring perch is a common failure on some late 90s E-class that live in harsh areas.
 
My E55 needed some front suspension component at 45K miles - I forget what it was, probably related to cruddy local roads and lots of tight parking garage maneuvers. Warranty covered it.
 
The fintail needed new kingpins at about 200K, and it got some bushings and junk then too, along with a steering bushing. Other than that, I don't bother with it...it has old bits, but its an unrestored car. Maintaining it as new just isn't economically feasible.

#195 of 218 the same things by nippononly

Oct 27, 2010 (10:41 pm)

that made cars beaters 20 years ago still apply today: let the brake and tire maintenance go, let the bodywork go, etc. Yes, the mechanicals of today's cars need less maintenance than they did 2 decades ago, but brakes, tires, suspension, and emissions systems wear out just as quickly as ever.
 
Meaning we are in worse shape with respect to beaters today than we were two years ago, because in that time about 8 million people who would have replaced their cars in years past decided not do so because of the economy. I would bet good money that the average age of the roadgoing fleet increased by a year or more just in the last two. So if 9 years is now the average age of a car, we have a significant number out there that are 12 years old or more. On their original suspension, with balding tires, and screeching brakes.......watch out!

#196 of 218 Re: the same things [nippononly] by lemko

Oct 28, 2010 (6:18 am)

Replying to: nippononly (Oct 27, 2010 10:41 pm)
I've been told you can tell the general condition of a car just by looking at the wheels and tires. Wheels coated with brake dust and grime and bald tires are a good sign the remainder of the vehicle was neglected as well.
 
Just after WWII, the average age of a car was 7 years old and the majority of the nation's rolling stock was about on its last legs. This fueled the huge sellers market following the war.

#197 of 218 Re: the same things [lemko] by nippononly

Oct 28, 2010 (7:41 am)

Replying to: lemko (Oct 28, 2010 6:18 am)
....and 9+ years of neglect can get a car into pretty bad shape. I definitely don't want a beater like that anywhere near me on the freeway, ESPECIALLY behind me.
 
I have a friend whose folks have a 12 year old Camry, ALWAYS has at least two bald tires, cracked windshield, and I drove it once - scary experience, the front suspension is totally shot, the thing just bounces everywhere. Yet it's still a daily driver, and they take that thing out on the freeway every day. Perfect example of the kind of car I DON'T want behind me on the freeway when all the traffic suddenly slows down......

#198 of 218 Re: Update [Mr_Shiftright] by steve_ HOST

Oct 28, 2010 (9:38 am)

Replying to: Mr_Shiftright (Oct 27, 2010 8:24 am)
I remember putting matchsticks in the generator of my mid-70's SuperBeetle to keep the brushes pushed in. Back then you'd adjust the valves on those old Bugs every 3,000 miles.
 
Nowadays I think it's easier to neglect cars and get away with it. You sure can't kludge a fix on a sensor, but they don't go bad all that often.
 
Back in the day, you could get 3 years out of a new car before you really had to start repairing and replacing stuff besides the wear and tear items. I didn't do much at all on my '82 Tercel that I drove for 17 years; I got 10 years out of a Voyager (thanks to the extended warranty) and my current rides are both in their second decade of service.
 
We thought about trading in the '99 Quest during Cash for Clunkers, but nothing really appealed all that much. It still runs good and we put 10,000 miles on it the last couple of months doing road trips, and just passed 150,000 miles. I wouldn't hesitate to hop in it tomorrow and drive cross-country.
 
I think new cars tolerate neglect pretty darn good. Shoot, that reminds me - I'm overdue (as usual) for an oil change. Last one was back in March, a little over 12,000 miles ago.
 
And like Fin says, the paint is so much better these days the old rides still clean up pretty well.

Messages Page 20 of 22

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