Why have a classic or nice car if you won't drive it "because you don't want to put miles on it"?
Posted by bluerog@reddit | askcarguys | View on Reddit | 371 comments
This is akin to not enjoying your wife to keep the mileage down for her next husband.
Yeah, I suppose I get it if it's a quarter million dollar+ car. In my opinion, that's not for driving. I know a guy with a 1st edition "The Hobbit" book. I asked him if I could read some pages from it. He told me to get a paperback copy — this isn't for reading. Same for those cars; get a Toyota to drive to the grocery store.
But barring that... I don't get "keep the mileage down" conversation. Plus, I'd never own a car that's so valuable I can't enjoy it. That's not what cars are for.
Zarndell@reddit
Because sometimes cars are assets that appreciate over time. An investment. This happens with a lot of limited edition everything.
Beneficial_Ad_5903@reddit
Agreed, certain cars & bikes models only if you have the space…..but some people lately are asking crazy over Inflated prices for Cars & bikes from the 1970s …..that are nothing special, good luck…opertunistic greed, .you will have to try that on someone else….if it only cost $2500 brand new….Im not paying $25,000 or more now
Amplidyne@reddit
"Your investment may go down as well as up"
Zarndell@reddit
It's usually just one way though.
ProdByJosh_@reddit
You want it to be one way
Amplidyne@reddit
Here in the UK, I believe that prices have gone down over the last few years. It pretty well all wins eventually. If you enjoy stuff for its own sake, the value doesn't matter quite as much.
Zarndell@reddit
UK is an odd market with extremely cheap cars because you drive on the wrong side of the road.
Amplidyne@reddit
No. Pretty well everybody else in other countries drives on the wrong side of the road. . . 😁
(Yes, but I don't know about "Extremely cheap". Some cars are expensive )
Edelbaum@reddit
What is weird to me is that the UK is the only country in Europe that drives on the wrong side of the road. After Germany and France agreed to have cars drive on the right side every other European country went along with it, but the UK decided to do the opposite just to be different? Which really fucked over their automotive industry because it made it much harder to sell their cars to their closest trade partners.
Zarndell@reddit
There's also Ireland and Malta. Which makes sense, part of the British Empire and all that.
But then there's also Australia, India, Japan, and I think some countries around India as well.
Engine_Sweet@reddit
And Indonesia and Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore . Not insignificant places
Flying_Dutchman16@reddit
Lol it's because you need your weapon hand closest to everyone you pass. No really. Most people are right handed so when riding a horse your sword hand would be free as you passed someone b
Amplidyne@reddit
So I've read before. Makes sense. Traditional.
It makes no odds on an island like ours, apart from needing different motors to everybody else. Wasn't a problem when we has out own car industry of course, but we haven't really had that for a long time now.
SuperHair69@reddit
Don't you still have Aston and lotus?
Amplidyne@reddit
Nope, you're about right for what I'd like though. My taste runs more towards utility vehicles and the Lotus Super 7 than the Aston though, although I'd certainly consider one if it was going free!
Edelbaum@reddit
It also ducked over the UK's ability to sell cars to their neighbors.
Flying_Dutchman16@reddit
It's actually more impressive that uk didn't switch with the rest of the world when carriages became the norm( the drive would sit on the right the steerer would sit on the left) so you could whip the horse without impeding traffic.
PleasantMongoose5127@reddit
I think you’ll find it is the correct side us Brits drive on and everyone else is wrong. Only until recently has driving on right hand side been a thing. Prior to that and as far back as the Romans, probably further, that everyone went to the left so they can stab any oncoming threat easier.
That might come in handy in the future.
kick6@reddit
Huh? You’re just as close to drivers regardless of which side you drive on.
Low_Acanthisitta4445@reddit
What side do you hold your sword?
kick6@reddit
The more important question is what side I hold My shield, isn’t it?
Low_Acanthisitta4445@reddit
Shield?
Pah, I bet you wear a seat belt too?
kick6@reddit
Doth thou not joust?
MotorbikeGeoff@reddit
Most people are right handed so fighting while on the left side give you your dominant hand with the sword.
kick6@reddit
Except they joust the way I drive because the more important thing is the shield. You don’t pull the sword til you’re off your horse.
O-sku@reddit
I never thought of this. Watch out, everyone. I'm driving on the left side of the road from now on!
PleasantMongoose5127@reddit
Also spiral staircases in castles are the way they are so you can kill somebody invading you easier if above.
John_B_Clarke@reddit
Depends on the car. What's an original SS-100 (not a kit car but the real thing made in the '30s) going for in the UK?
human-potato_hybrid@reddit
Depends on the era
Bodywheyt@reddit
Not cars. They reach their lowest point generally after 15 years and then even the worst of them start appreciating.
Total fucking lemons from the 60s that cost $1300 new are now worth nearly 6 figures.
snipeceli@reddit
I was going to say my 08 escape isn't going up in value, but honestly, post covid I could probably sell it for more than I bought for with 70,000 more miles than it had.
redjellonian@reddit
The same goes for you mom!
phatsuit2@reddit
lol
Due_Share9888@reddit
Generally speaking automobiles do not appreciate in value, jus the opposite they depreciate...
Purpose_Embarrassed@reddit
A car isn’t meant to not be driven period.
theraptorman9@reddit
Yeah, I’ve found that when they sit for long periods of time they are a pain in the ass. I try to drive my cars at least once every couple months and run some gas through it every year to make sure I can put fresh in. When I run them I try to use every function. I cycle heat, a/c, windows, lights, wipers. Maybe I’m paranoid but I feel like when things sit just an increased chance of failure. Obviously things fail from overuse too but they were designed to be used.
Zarndell@reddit
I don't think you get to decide. The owner does.
WiredHeadset@reddit
These people don't get it. Don't bother explaining.
snipeceli@reddit
No I think the engineer and general laws of physics decided for the owner.
FelonyFeline1988@reddit
My 2004 Corvette was the 2nd car in the month of April in Blue with every dealer addon minus the ass warmers (only the rainbow people let machines touch those areas) $45,000 firm I know whattens I got
Bulky_Dingo_4706@reddit
Using cars as an investment is stupid. 99% of the time you'll have better gains by just investing.
Aggressive-Split-655@reddit
Cars can be the same as owning a piece of artwork and history. They aren't so different.The only problem with holding them as investments is that you don't ever get to use the functional art as intended. People that have the money to dabble in art and other wealthy investments would usually have 20 other cars they can beat on daily and not care. On rare occasions, you might stumble on one guy that is lucky enough to hold onto his 1 piece of art, even though he doesn't have the money or privilege the other guys have. I assume this is the guy you are talking about in this situation. He's not so different from the other guys, but he doesn't have the means to drive 20 other cool cars, so he drives a bear up pickup truck and he keeps his 1 art piece locked away like everyone else. He looks at it and remembers when he enjoyed it, but he saves the art for the next generation to enjoy, plus, ya know, a fat paycheck near the end when he needs it to survive.
InsaneEngineer@reddit
Putting money into art work is just a way for the wealthy to avoid paying taxes.
TragasaurusRex@reddit
Yeah, but it isn't as fun to polish your msft shares and see them glistening in the sunlight.
CetiAlpha4@reddit
But isn't it better to just not have to polish anything? All you do is stare at number on a piece of paper or on the screen.
ThinkQuickActSlow@reddit
tbh staring at a number on a screen sounds way more pathetic than polishing up a shiny classic car, even if the car isn't appreciating
CetiAlpha4@reddit
Two completely different things. You don't even need to stare at the numbers on a screen, you can just ignore those paper or electronic statements. But when you want to take it out, it's a much bigger number than the money you make (or don't) on a classic car.
What's really pathetic is lying to yourself that the classic car is actually an "investment" or that it's a good investment.
Not that there's anything wrong with buying a classic car and puttering around with it. It's just not a good investment, like investing in gold/silver. Sure it has it's moments here and there but it hasn't been a good long term investment for the last several decades.
No-m-here@reddit
DRIVE YOUR 401K!
CetiAlpha4@reddit
Technically you can't buy a classic car with a 401k, has to be a taxable account.
No-m-here@reddit
You know what I mean...
hankenator1@reddit
There’s levels to the game, stare at numbers on a screen to make money is low level.
Paying someone else to stare at number to make you money while you stare at artwork and limited edition cars that are making you money as well is high level.
Own a 150+ foot super yacht and still be making money is final boss level.
Le-Charles@reddit
Almost everyone who owns a 150ft yacht charters it so it generates its own revenue.
TragasaurusRex@reddit
Financially? Most likely, but sometimes investing in something you enjoy, care for, and can talk about is easier to hold on to rather than numbers on an app.
Background_Culture14@reddit
100%! Wish more people thought more about life.
Background_Culture14@reddit
You're a dilaton. You probably weren't held enough as a child.
Sandhog43@reddit
Exactly this.
Background_Culture14@reddit
My dad spent 94k on 22 new cars from 66 to 75. Died in 17 my family auctioned them in 19. 1.1 million. So ya these were great investments, but obviously buying new now is not feasible. Current autos will never gain the value that late 60s early 70s muscle cars did and they aren't $3500 new anymore. Although we added storage, maintenance and other costs over those decades and that was another 90k so a cost of 184k and a 916k return.
John_B_Clarke@reddit
I dunno, a C8 Z06 or an 812 Superfast in clean original condition 50 years from now might surprise you.
toefungi@reddit
For what its worth, 100k in 1965 invested in the stock market S&P 500 would have been about 18 million if you held and cashed out in 2019. Starting in 1975 that same 100k would be over 15 million.
Likewise, the purchasing power of 100k in 65 and 75 came out to about 900k and 600k respectively, so still came out ahead on that front.
Huge car guy here, but cars are one of the worst investments you can make. There are exceptions for holy grail cars, but even most collecter cars valued under 6 figured are not going to outpace inflation.
toefungi@reddit
For what its worth, 100k in 1965 invested in the stock market S&P 500 would have been about 18 million if you held and cashed out in 2019. Starting in 1975 that same 100k would be over 15 million.
Likewise, the purchasing power of 100k in 65 and 75 came out to about 900k and 600k respectively, so still came out ahead on that front.
Huge car guy here, but cars are one of the worst investments you can make. There are exceptions for holy grail cars, but even most collecter cars valued under 6 figured are not going to outpace inflation.
throwawaynewc@reddit
Definitely don't google the return from investing 184k in 1975-2019
Creative-Dust5701@reddit
A lot of classic cars have better ROI than the stock market on a 20 year horizon
Bulky_Dingo_4706@reddit
Examples?
myburneraccount151@reddit
The comment you replied to isn't entirely accurate, but classic cars are almost always a good investment. Almost none of them have outpaced a 10% stock market return annually. But more than 90% of cars made before 1980 are outpacing inflation. Ones that are in great condition are winning that race easily, occasionally doubling up inflation pace. I work in collector car insurance. I wouldn't have a job if they were bad investments. Compare it less to the stock market and more to savings bonds or purchasing land
Creative-Dust5701@reddit
Obviously I was cherry picking, but true classics are beating your numbers. But heck even the lowly Saab 900 Turbos have appreciated 35% since 2019.
But I’d rather buy cars, land or bonds rather than participate in the wall st casino
CetiAlpha4@reddit
Yeah, the S&P 500 is up 119% since 2019 so yeah, stock market is way better than classic cars.
GroovyIntruder@reddit
And don't forget that people always cherry-pick the appreciated car examples. "If you bought car x, you would be up 300 percent." If you do that with the stock market, you will have tens of thousands of percent gain. No theft and fire insurance insurance payments, either, just dividends.
CetiAlpha4@reddit
Well yeah, there are people who think certain Mercedes models will be collectible in the future like the CLS which I think looks ugly with that melted jellybean look. Just because not many were sold doesn't mean it will be valuable.
While you can cherry pick stocks in the stock market like picking Amazon or Apple, you could still stick to the basics like the S&P 500 and it's been doing well for decades and is still a good benchmark.
Northshore1234@reddit
IMHO, that’s a ‘temporary’ phenomenon driven by Boomers and Xers. It is/was easy to get all nostalgic about ‘66 Vettes, or E-type Jags, less so for 1992 K-cars or Civics.
RecoverSufficient811@reddit
You haven't checked prices on Supras, R32s, or even S2000s lately, have you?
PainterEmpty6305@reddit
How do you say this in the middle of the japanese car hype while the prices ahave literally skyrocketed and are holding if not going up. Maybe you should go price a clean 92 civic.
Flipwon@reddit
Dude I got this sweet 1997 Elantra with 190 miles on her. Give it 15 to 20 years and I’ll be out of this hell hole!
myburneraccount151@reddit
My company has been in business since the 70s and people have been saying the same thing. Cars that people are not nostalgic over will become cars that people are nostalgic over. A great example is the Mustard II. Crap car. Never worth much. Values on it are skyrocketing. The market is also seeing a huge jump in 90s SUVs. Jeeps, Broncos, Land Rover, Land cruisers. It's all skyrocketed. That's not even talking about anything Pontiac ever made, and 90s Camaros and Mustangs. Cars as investments aren't going anywhere. I promise
Creative-Dust5701@reddit
2008 Nissan 350Z Nismo 78% increase in price over MSRP of 39K in 2008 and is now 57K today.
I wish wall st did that well.
no not all ‘classic’ cars do all that well The GTO muscle cars have plateaued they dont go up much but they dont go down either.
The ‘vettes go up maybe 5 percent per year.
YMMV
MadUohh@reddit
What? S&P 500 is up almost 400% since 2008. If you literally dumped your cash in a broad market ETF you would have made over 300% more than holding a Nissan tin can...
PlatinumElement@reddit
An AE86 tin can on the other hand….
MrBenDerisgreat_@reddit
Lmao what? Plenty of individual stocks do much better than that. You just have to pick the right stock, just like how you have to pick the right car.
PlatinumElement@reddit
I’m horrible at picking stocks, but absolutely amazing at picking the right cars, so I’ll stick with cars.
Texasscot56@reddit
The S&P 500 has increased 400% in that time period. Is 39 to 57 really 78% or am not understanding the calc you’re doing?
Bulky_Dingo_4706@reddit
My AMZN stock is nearly up more than that in 1 year alone.
veedubfreek@reddit
Pretty much any Ferrari.
SuperHair69@reddit
Not that turd the Ferrari 400. 🤣🤣🤣🤣
veedubfreek@reddit
The Mondeo? Ya there are a frew turd Ferrari, but on the average they hold value quite well. The only problem is that you have to be a douchebag that can afford a Ferrari. It's kind of like "art" where the value is made up and only exists to help rich assholes avoid taxes.
SuperHair69@reddit
No the 400. It was like a stretched 308 with 4 seats and a 3 speed GM souced automatic. Disgraceful and hateful lol. I rented a 2014 Ferrari California. I loved it. It was a great touring or daily driver. Brakes are $26k oil changes 600 bucks. I'll stick to being a rentadouche. 🤣🤣🤣
SuperHair69@reddit
Plenty of examples. 90s supra 70k in shit condition. Ferrari 250 California 4k New now $5m minimum. If your not in the car world you really don't know. I'm not in the stock market so I don't know about grand slams going on there either. There are literally 100s of cars that have skyrocketed in the last 10 years
Psyco_diver@reddit
My 1972 Oldsmobile 442, I bought it in 2003 for $3500, over the years sunk probably $6-7k and it's worth $35k in the current market, if I put it back completely to stock numbers matching shape I can get probably $45k, luckily I have all the original parts except the carburetor and I didn't do anything that couldn't be undone
bluerog@reddit (OP)
A $100,000 investment is worth $334,000 in 10 years with average historical stock market returns (12.8%).
Over 20 years, it's $1.1 million.
Bulky_Dingo_4706@reddit
12.8%? The average has always been 10%, when using the S&P 500 as a benchmark.
bluerog@reddit (OP)
Good. Use historic 5, 10, 20, or 100 years. A $100,000 uverstment becomes over $1 million after 25 years with any of those average returns. Most cars do not.
Bulky_Dingo_4706@reddit
Right. My original point was that investing in the market is better than investing in cars.
PainterEmpty6305@reddit
Can't drive my share portfolio at the same time.
snipeceli@reddit
Thats what you zoomers dont get
My 1 of 674, 1987 c4 ruby blues automatic corvette with red steering wheel trim is a rare collector's item that will go up on value dramatically, I know what I got.
hoytmobley@reddit
See the problem is, even with the most desirable spec of the limited edition whatever, it’s still a terrible investment. You’re paying tax to buy it, you’re paying for the space to store it (even if it’s in one of your 15 garage spaces), you’re paying annual registration for the 3 C&C events you take it to per year, you’re paying insurance on it every month, you better have fire protection in the garage where it’s stored, and whether or not it’s driven it needs maintenance.
Outside of the wack period of 2020-2023, cars are not a good investment. Best case scenario you break even on the purchase price of the car against inflation
Background_Culture14@reddit
I imagine this is referring more towards late 60s early 70s cars that were $3,500 new and now sell for up to million. It would be silly to think any modern cars would ever gain value over time enough to legitimize to invest currently. I bought a large farm with money I made from my dad's investments in muscle cars.
hoytmobley@reddit
Like the people replying to your other comments pointed out, compared to the S&P500 over the same time, having that money in cars cost your family something in the range of 14 million. I’m the last person to say “reee car bad money is the only important thing” but those cars, as an investment, are objectively a bad investment.
eclectic108@reddit
Current new cars will never appreciate in value for a couple of reasons. The main reason is that these "computers on wheels" will be virtually impossible to repair after 10 years or so. Parts are already hard to get on some models and good luck tracing any electrical/computer problem.
John_B_Clarke@reddit
I wish the prices would deflate to the 2020 level. Was looking into a 360, which setting aside an amount equal to the purchase price for repairs and maintenance, was reasonable then. But they've been going up and up and up.
Potential_Escape9441@reddit
Most of today’s cars are depreciating assets. Real estate’s a better way to go for appreciating assets.
ARavenousChimp@reddit
One of my cars, I've now owned 10 years. It's just now getting close to worth what it was when I bought it. I put about 3,000km a year on it. So it's just under 80k now, and bought it with 47k on it. It's honestly probably $6k short, but it has come up $15k in the last few years.
Sometimes it's that they're limited edition. Sometimes it people trying to relive a previous time.
Ultimately its value and mileage doesn't matter to me. I'll drive it as I want, until the day I can't put gas in it anymore.
Purpose_Embarrassed@reddit
It’s only valuable to morons who enjoy looking at a car statue.
F4tChance@reddit
Certain cars, if sufficiently rare and left undriven, can experience significant price increases. This typically applies to highly exclusive models with strong demand and limited production.
Conversely, even top-of-the-line sports models like the M5 or SL63 are likely to depreciate significantly over time. For example, a $120-200k investment in one of these new vehicles could halve in value in five years, even with only 8,000 miles on the odometer. The minimal mileage might save you $10-15k in resale value, but the financial loss remains substantial without the benefit of enjoying the vehicle as much as someone who drives it 50-60,000 miles.
Additionally, it's important to consider collectors who own multiple cars. I own six cars, one of which is my daily driver. The others I drive only 500-1,500 miles annually. By choosing unique used cars and keeping mileage low, these vehicles maintain their value and often appreciate as similar models accumulate mileage and become scarce, especially those in low-mileage condition.
PainterEmpty6305@reddit
Or i have a turboed beater version of the same car why would i take the clean one out, it hurts when things break on it.
Zarndell@reddit
I mean, looks like you should do that with your brain. As in, actually use it instead of trying to keep it hoping its value goes up.
bluerog@reddit (OP)
Historic stock market returns are are 12.7% over most 10-year periods. One would struggle to find a 40 year old car that appreciated more than 12% each year as it became 50 years old.
There are better investments than a car in a garage.
PainterEmpty6305@reddit
Can't drive them though. You own cars why not be smarter bout which ones you own. I put a car in my shed like 4 years ago, things tripled since.
bluerog@reddit (OP)
What kind of cars? I looked at like 10 models a few years ago, and the returns were not up to par to with other investments.
A $100,000 investment over 10 years at 12.8% annual return is $334,000.
PainterEmpty6305@reddit
Nothing crazy expensive. AU Ford Falcon xr6. It's the car the barra motors come from but the model before the barra. They bottomed out a few years ago I bought it then. Cars go through cycles pricewise. They kinda bottom before they go up,
postalwhiz@reddit
Not the 99% of cars that are bought to be driven from point A to point B. If you want to buy a collectible, it should be art, jewelry, or rare coins…
cherrypopper666@reddit
It won't be until after the depreciation has bottomed out and the models become desireable if we're talking any modern vehicles.
Salty-Protection-640@reddit
I got a limited edition 2021 civic type r and I'm driving that bitch until the wheels fall off. cars are for driving not investing.
WodenoftheGays@reddit
Investments may also depreciate over time.
If you're not working, there is no guarantee that the thing you are doing nothing to increase the value of will be worth more tomorrow.
Usually, you have to explain this to would-be-landlords that think they won't have to work again, but sometimes people think they hit the jackpot with an even more fragile investment prone to degradation without use.
Beneficial_Ad_5903@reddit
Personally, I have never had the extra space to collect cars or motorcycles…..and if I don’t use them they are just dust collectors….books don’t take up much room & I do have 1 extra stereo Reciever as a back up….otherwise, I only keep what I use…..No hoarders allowed
SamuelYosemite@reddit
I get that someone with a nicer car than their daily wouldn’t want to daily the nice car.
The “expensive” cars I want arent luxury and would probably be a little to loud and finicky to deal with everyday. People in my town/state suck at driving too and the roads havent been good since before covid. With all that being said, I would still want to cruise in my nice car, if I had one.
CalligrapherOrnery87@reddit
Inheritance. I also have a truck Dodge Hemi 5.7 2013 60,000 miles. Driven up box canyons, water falls etc.
Accomplished-Sea1828@reddit
My FIL has a 2007 Shelby GT with just 2,000 miles in the clock. It’s currently rusting away in his garage because he ‘doesn’t want to put miles on it.’ The exhaust manifolds and the flywheel are completely covered in rust as it’s sat there for 2 years without being driven, and the garage is old and not waterproof so there’s a ton of humidity.
FrankCastlesAlt@reddit
Once he does start driving it, he’s gonna really regret not driving it once in a while! I inherited my grandfather’s car and since it did nothing but sit in his garage the last several years of his life, the thing had just one thing after another wrong with it! My mechanic told me that once you let a car sit too long without being used, then that’s pretty much it for it and it’s just gonna be one problem after another. Which was a real shame because it was a ‘92 Honda Accord with extremely low mileage and garage kept in mint condition! The only cosmetic issue was that a small part of the side of the passenger headrest was sun bleached from the way the sun came through the curtain on his window in the garage! Other than that you’d think it just drive off the assembly line! My mechanic advised me to just sell it, and I’m glad I did! The guy I sold it to (keep in mind I told him everything about the car including that it had been sitting and not used in years) came back to me a couple weeks after buying it, bitching to me that it was nothing but one problem after another and I should give him some of his money back! Pfffft! It’s a used car! All sales are final! Sorry you were dumb enough to buy it! Lol!
xl_lunatic@reddit
Terrified to try to get my dads 67’ Camaro running after sitting for over a decade now lol
phatsuit2@reddit
Dammmmn, you said that to him?
FrankCastlesAlt@reddit
Well, not that last past about sorry you were dumb enough to buy it! I just told him it’s a private used car sale, all sales are final plus I did warn him of everything beforehand! I’m not an asshole after all! Lol!
science-stuff@reddit
Have you seen that crazy garage that displaces the entire garages air with nitrogen or something? Nothing oxidizing without oxygen.
sohcgt96@reddit
People forget that time is unkind to idle machines. Age will still to things to a car that doesn't move an inch.
originalrocket@reddit
I have 2004 RX-8. Mint condition. Kept in garage. 20k miles so far. Weekend rides only. I bought a cold climate rated dehumidifier for this exact reason. Seems to be working great. Also have all my tools in the garage too.
Fluffy_Waffles@reddit
If you drive it that infrequently I hope you use ethanol free fuel. If not your fuel system is probably in need of some tlc. I recently bought a very well maintained 1985 motorcycle from the original owner, he loved the bike and always kept it in the garage. Only 22k miles on it but I have to replace the entire fuel system, not a big deal on a motorcycle but definitely not a trivial job on a car.
ChrisBattles@reddit
Yeah, I've really noticed it the most in lawn equipment, generators, etc., the stuff that usually sits a while between uses.
Now I run Stabil in ethanol-free fuel, and I also run them out of gas every time I use them. For my mower with a large tank, I put in a shut off at the tank so I can cut the supply and then run it out of gas.
I got really tired of dealing with the ethanol aftermath.
Mammoth-Record-7786@reddit
It’s an RX8, enjoy it or sell it. They aren’t going to go up in value.
whatashittyargument@reddit
Good condition non-beat RX8s will be worth a premium, and that will definitely rise in time. It will never be an FD, but it will be desirable because it's a rotary and most RX8s are in shit condition
Mammoth-Record-7786@reddit
That is true. I rarely ever see them and well kept vintage Nissans do have a following. I don’t understand it, but I’ve seen people go nuts over the old Datsun Z
whatashittyargument@reddit
what are you doing in ask car guys if you don't like cars?
originalrocket@reddit
very aware. care is enjoyed. I'm more commenting on how amazing a garage dehumidifier works at keeping surface rust away. Several motorcycles too.
Mammoth-Record-7786@reddit
This one is new to me. Is it a special garage dehumidifier or just a standard one you can plug in anywhere? I’ve got an older Cherokee that gets parked in a warehouse for a few weeks at a time while I’m out of state.
originalrocket@reddit
It runs even in cold weather. Has a special deicing mode. Brand is Alorair. I run it on auto 24/7/365, even through the dead of winter. As the snow melts off my cars in the garage, the humidifier removes the moister.
Mammoth-Record-7786@reddit
That’s sounds fairly fancy
Background_Culture14@reddit
Ya that'll never be worth much. But good man.
phatsuit2@reddit
What tools do you have?
originalrocket@reddit
All of them.
PineConeShovel@reddit
Them all.
saladmunch2@reddit
This right here is the dirty truth of trying to store a vehicle and expect it to be the same when brought out. Idk about any of you but any vehicle I have let sit even in a garage had issues weather it be control arm bushings, calipers seizing, tires crack.
It's not even the miles that fucks up cars, its lazy maintenance and other idiots causing an accident.
Past_Money_6385@reddit
honestly I feel like a ton of tools, vehicles, boats, etc have to be used to stay in shape. you can definitely store things successfully but keeping things clean and using them frequently has worked for me. I feel like I only have problems with my stuff if i let it sit.
rklug1521@reddit
Even with temperature and humidity control, the optimal conditions for plastic, metal, rubber, and other materials don't necessarily fall at the same environmental conditions.
Where metal doesn't rust may dry out rubber and plastic faster.
Mammoth-Record-7786@reddit
Letting a car sit will do the most damage to it
slowwolfcat@reddit
and underusage
New_Citizen@reddit
“Running when parked”
ThrowAwayNYCTrash1@reddit
Calipers seizing club over here.
1boog1@reddit
If he would have even taken something like wd40 and sprayed everything, it would have helped. I'm sure there are even better things he could have put on things to protect it. But, wd is a water displacement. And not driving the car, things won't be getting hot to burn off the light coating left behind.
Creative-Dust5701@reddit
but even in that condition that Shelby is worth 2-3x what FIL paid in 2007
Background_Culture14@reddit
Talk about late 60s early 70s muscle cars those are money. An 07 will never really be a classic worth anything.
Accomplished-Sea1828@reddit
He bought it 4 years ago for $15k from a widow selling her late husbands cars. She had no idea what she had
DooB_02@reddit
We love taking advantage of widows and ripping them off for our own gain.
slowwolfcat@reddit
so he doesnt even idle the car eh
Accomplished-Sea1828@reddit
I’ve gone over 3-4 times in the last two years to let it idle for 10-15 minutes to keep the fluids running
Mammoth-Record-7786@reddit
If only he knew how worthless that car truly is.
Room0814@reddit
Poor Shelby 😠
bravejango@reddit
How do you know the flywheel is rusted?
idontwantit111@reddit
He clearly dropped the transmission to inspect it, just so he could write this post…and I applaud his dedication
veedubfreek@reddit
The unfortunate part of this thought process is that cars that sit for months or more at a time actually end up with more issues than cars that get driven. My 2016 Golf R is low mileage at only 36k but It gets driven hard at least twice a week. I just work from home and dont have to commute a whole lot. Those less than 100 mile cars that have been stored for decades almost always require a full recondition because literally every part that holds liquid or is made of rubber rots from not being driven.
IntelligentDrop879@reddit
There was nothing special about the Shelby GT package to begin with. It’s just a GT with a few bolt ons installed and Shelby’s name on it. It’s never going to be a collectible. You can get them for a song these days.
Accomplished-Sea1828@reddit
He’s received offers up to $45k for it because of the mileage.
RJH311@reddit
This is a fool and his cheap car though...a black badge Rolls might be different
Accomplished-Sea1828@reddit
Because it’s a numbered car and the mileage he’s received offers up to 45k for it. Not quite rolls but it’s not a sub $10k car.
oldbaldpissedoff@reddit
I don't drive my classic car because people don't respect other people's property. Take your pride and joy out for a cruise,stop to get something to eat and when you come back to your car you have idiots leaning on it to get pictures. Taking selfies to post on their IG accounts or letting their precious angels sit in the driver's seat to take a picture... Not to mention all the jealousy assholes who will key the paint , steal the trim pieces and emblems to sell on the Internet. Especially now in the time of the "Woke and the Politically Incorrect" if you yell at them or call the cops then you're in the wrong.
650REDHAIR@reddit
Must be hard being so afraid all of the time.
oldbaldpissedoff@reddit
The only thing I'm afraid of is getting arrested again for pulling someone off or out of my car I'm getting too old and the county jail is always cold and I hate the baloney sandwiches the cops give you .
650REDHAIR@reddit
🙄
Sure-Psychology6368@reddit
I agree completely but I have a question for a folk such as yourself. When I see a rare car I’ll take a quick picture if I can but obviously never touch it or even get anywhere near “touching” distance of the car. Do you (and people with rare cars, in general) care if others respectfully take a picture then go about their day? Obviously I won’t take a pic if the drivers in it and I make sure the plates aren’t in it, nor do I post it anywhere. Just curious what the general consensus is
Slowvia@reddit
Oh man, you’re not kidding.
When I was growing up my dad was a member of a local Chevy club (still is, actually). The club would do a show inside the local mall back in the 90s. It was really cool, walking around the mall with all of the classic 55-64 Chevys parked throughout the halls. But the biggest problem by far was the general public. The cars had ropes around them so that people couldn’t get too close, but it wasn’t 100% effective. There was one incident where a woman actually moved the ropes out of the way, and got inside of a beautiful 62 Corvette to change her baby’s diaper. Seriously. They did the show for another year or two, but eventually stopped because they had so many problems with people getting into cars, or leaning on them for photos, etc.
oldbaldpissedoff@reddit
Same goes for old motorcycles too , people got no respect..
wathappen@reddit
The wife comparison is really stupid. If you’re asking a question on a topic you obviously don’t understand, why make a tasteless comparison that doesn’t fit in the discussion?
650REDHAIR@reddit
Unsurprised I have to scroll this far for this comment.
What a lame and dated analogy.
R4D4R_MM@reddit
Because someone else said it, they thought it was funny and wanted to get internet brownie points for saying it again.
Its a terrible analogy
bluerog@reddit (OP)
Agreed
Organic-Huan-15@reddit
Just look at it then. Some people find fulfillment in that. Me personally I drive the shit out of them
yaboymigs@reddit
Nice cars I don’t understand, if I buy something cool I want to drive it. Classic cars I do understand though as my family has quite a few. Some of them are just hobbies or trinkets we get, when I was a kid I played with toy cars, as an adult I’m fortunate enough to tinker around and play with real cars now. Sure the occasional Sunday drive is nice in a classic, but unfortunately with each passing year drivers get crazier and crazier and I understand more and more why people don’t drive their toys daily (aside from the wealthy maybe)
Hour_Perspective_884@reddit
Because you bought it as an investment.
As much as you want to pretend you're superior and some kind of purist by enjoying a thing 'the way it was intended'; you're not and people are entitled to enjoy things the way they want.
If that means not driving a thing because they want to preserver its value especially if its in a state where its getting more valuable than thats their prerogative.
Worry about you and less about what others do when what they do doesn't effect you.
TNShadetree@reddit
A ship in harbor is safe,
but that is not what ships are built for.
UpDoc69@reddit
I drive a 2005 Mustang GT. Original owner. Had 3 miles on the odometer when I bought it new. Nineteen years later, it has 95K. It's driven pretty much every day. A couple of more years, it'll be a classic. Still puts a big smile on my face. Especially when I let her run. Pulling on the freeway, it'll hit 100 mph by the end of the on-ramp.
Key-Ad-1873@reddit
I don't understand it either. A vehicle is meant to be driven, so drive it.
My dad is one of the people we are complaining about. He has a 2004 mercury marauder. He used to have an 89 blue mustang, loved it and it got me into cars, person ran a red light and t-boned it. Then he got the marauder, had it for a while, and drunk lady smashed into it. After some years and found and got another one of the same year.
Now, he never drives it. It sits under a car cover in the garage, and the battery has been dead for months.
It is an amazing car. Has one of the best sounding stock exhausts in my opinion, especially for the price, it looks and drives like a performance oriented crown Vic (it's honestly really good), and the interior is so comfortable. The only thing I would change would be to make it a manual. BUT IT NEVER SEES THE LIGHT OF DAY AND IT INFURIATES ME!
He has a classic car registration/insurance, which is cheaper but restricts the amount of miles he's allowed to put on the car per year (like 2-5k I can't remember), but I would be going up to that limit every year instead of being significantly under
CLGAINES@reddit
Sounds like you really get nothing.
down4purplepancakes@reddit
Same reason people pay thousands for comic books they don't read.
swanspank@reddit
Had two friends with totally restored tri-five Chevys. One drove his about one day a week putting about 2,500 miles a year on it. The other kept his in the garage and over 4 years drove it about 300 miles. The friend that never drove his started suffering from Alzheimer’s. Died about six years after finishing the restoration having never really driving the car. His family sold it off for about 1/4 of it’s value. What a shame, three years of restoration and never got to enjoy driving it.
V-Right_In_2-V@reddit
I love these guys. Back in 2020 I got a fully optioned, mint condition 2017 convertible Camaro 2SS with 6k miles on it. It was nearly 4 years old when I got. The previous owner special ordered it and literally ticked every option you could. I tracked him down on the camaro forum and asked him why he got rid of it, and he said he was trading it in for a new C8. He just did that every few years.
These guys are angels from heaven in my book. They buy kick ass new cars, rarely drive them, eat $20k in depreciation, then sell them to normal guys like us. They are heroes
WPI94@reddit
7 years ago I got a ‘11 Panamera 4S spec’d at $118k for $55k with 7k miles. Still smelled new. Mint. Payoff is this month!
Bulky_Dingo_4706@reddit
Those devalued like crazy.
jules083@reddit
I got a Harley like that a few years ago. A 2000 Sportster that had I think 8,000 miles on it. Best part is that I know the guy I bought it from and I did the maintain for him for about the last 8 years or so. Every spring he'd bring it by and I'd do the annual oil change and check it over.
RealCheyemos@reddit
🎯
carguy82j@reddit
I'm with you. I have a low mileage 27k miles 1987 Buick Grand National I inherited. When I first got it I worked out a few things and drove it every weekend. It has a few more issues but I don't have the time. When I get it sorted out I will again get driven every weekend. When I get it dialed where I have some confidence in it in I will take it on long drives 6 plus hrs. It was meant to be driven. I have also slightly modified it to at least be quick in today's standards. Looks completely stock under the hood to the untrained eye.
seaburno@reddit
Certain cars are more artwork than automobile. They're owned (sometimes literally) as a conversation piece and/or decoration rather than transportation. You'll also find that most of the people who own them have other expensive cars that they drive daily.
I knew one guy growing up (in the 80s) who drove a 930 Turbo and an M6CSi as his daily drivers (with a Suburban for hauling kids/pets/boats/going skiing/etc. - his wife had a S series and a Volvo 240), and had three Ferraris (a Testarossa, a GTB4/Dayona hardtop, and a 328) that were mobile artwork. To be fair, the Testarossa and 328 were occasionally driven, but he would schedule a detailer to come over after he had driven them to clean/polish them. The Daytona was a Concours car, and in the 10-ish years I knew him, that car only ever traveled into/off of a box trailer under its own power.
Flimsy_Individual_16@reddit
Scott, ya just don't get it! Do ya? *Dr evil voice
bigcee42@reddit
I totally understand not dailying your nice car.
But not driving it at all is worse. Cars are machines, they need to get hot, have oil circulate around, and move. Not driving them at all makes them rot and break.
idontwantit111@reddit
When car shopping, I get as equally as nervous of extremely low mileage cars as high mileage…has it been a shop queen and that’s why it’s so low miles, and the rubber, wiring, gaskets, seals could be dry rotting and driving it could spring leaks all over…..
ChrisBattles@reddit
Back when I had less of a car budget, I'd always look for the nicest/newest of whatever I wanted, but with way above average mileage.
The mileage scares everyone, but the odds say that they're basically all highway when it's like 200k on an 5-8 year old vehicle. I've taken several vehicles from close to 200k miles to 300k+ without anything beyond normal maintenance or small repairs (like an alternator or whatever).
magichobo3@reddit
Also if its made it that many miles then the previous owners must have been taking care of it to keep it going. A low mileage car could have had no maintenance and then been parked before major problems happened
Background_Culture14@reddit
Life is short. Daily your nice car.
Andy_Zhang_98@reddit
I just got one of the nicest examples of a Crown Vic Police Interceptor, it is so nice that every time it hurts me when I hit a pothole or manhole by accident. But on the other hand, I believe the best thing that can happen to a car is to keep it on the road and take good care of it, cars are meant to be driven not sitting. Plus, most of these PIs are abused throughout their lifetime, either by the police, taxi drivers, or reckless driving, almost no one cared about them, but they keep soldering on, so I know if I take good care of mine, it will never give up on me.
Beautiful_Ad_4813@reddit
I know people who put away cars because they're "afraid" of the weather / getting it wet - and it's a low spec Camaro / Mustang
meanwhile, I daily-ed a fucking 68 Comet without batting an eye in the worse possible weather in michigan in high college (that was 2005, and I learned how to control a slide)
up until recently, my uncle drove his 2000 Porsche 911 daily (he's still got it but he's doing a complete overhaul of everything and will more than likely, continue to drive it)
I, personally, do not understand the point of blowing money on a car to let just sit.. it's colossal waste
sohcgt96@reddit
See that's the broader point I think that OP forgot to hit: If its a very expensive, rare, high end desirable car with likely future value OK I get it. Like say you have a '04 Ford GT or something that's already over doubled in value from when it was made.
But most of the guys who do this, its with something super mediocre that they keep in pristine shape, try to sell it for what it cost new 20 years later with 15,000 miles on it and figure out that its something nobody cars that much about and you're massively over valuing.
Like, a 25th Anniversary Mustang GT... nobody gives a fuck its a badge package. Base model C5 automatic that was some special edition? Nobody gives a fuck. I think these are the people OP is more meaning to throw some shade at.
LuckyNumber-Bot@reddit
All the numbers in your comment added up to 69. Congrats!
^(Click here to have me scan all your future comments.) \ ^(Summon me on specific comments with u/LuckyNumber-Bot.)
WitnessLucky2522@reddit
Driving a rare car in conditions that will ruin it is also a colossal waste. You can't go to the dealer and buy a new 2000 Porsche.
Beautiful_Ad_4813@reddit
keep on the maintenance (and don't use chinese trash parts) , wash it regularly, and they'll last a lifetime.
also, that era Porsche is pretty much a dime a dozen because they've changed so many hands that, getting one for under 25-30K is easy. same with the sister Boxster - my sister in law got a 98 Boxster for 8 grand. she did have a a PPI done, and all it needs is a fluid change in the transaxle, and a new convertible top - hard to beat that and 16 owners, and 40k Miles
WitnessLucky2522@reddit
For me it's not necessarily the value, it's about conserving something that is getting rarer and rarer. Personally putting mileage on a classic car doesn't bother me, but only in ideal or near ideal conditions. For example I live in a place with copious amounts or road salt so I'd never drive a classic in the winter.
Beautiful_Ad_4813@reddit
it's not gonna rot from road salt, its gonna rot from not being used - and that is analogous to throwing hard currency into a fireplace and wondering why it's gone.
fluid film, regular car washes, and if you're so inclined, regular elbow grease to coat the car with a proper wax or even ceramic coating.
I live in michigan, where winters the cars are two tone with salt spray from MDOT caking the salt down. my neighbor still drives a Ford Fairmont from 83 and it looks perfect. day in, day out, he's driving that Fox Body.
Psychological-Cry221@reddit
That’s a ridiculous statement. I live in NH and road salt destroys cars. Especially cars made in the 80’s. To each their own, but I think it so stupid to drive a classic in the snow. Especially if they aren’t even good in the snow. You are so much more likely to get into an accident. How much value does an accident take away from a classic??
Beautiful_Ad_4813@reddit
Of course salt destroys but only if left to sit and eat away at the metal. Keep it washed / cleaned, apply fluid film , regular maintenance - they’ll last.
Cars are built to be driven, not sitting in a garage rotting away and rubbed with a diaper
It’s not the that car isn’t good in the snow, it’s the driving ability that’s not good.
Before I got my Vanagon, I was driving my grandfathers Comet he got new in 68. she did just fine for him and my grandmother, she did fine for me. The car is still around today, too
Edelbaum@reddit
After climate change kills a few billion future generations will hate cars as much as we hate Auschwitz so I figure you might as well enjoy your cars now because you might not get a chance in the future
BossIike@reddit
Are you, personally, suffering from an advanced case of climate change?
IntroductionOk5999@reddit
I drove mine all winter long in Michigan this year. I spray it with enzymatic salt remover after driving
WitnessLucky2522@reddit
How long have you been doing so? And do you spray the undercarriage?
IntroductionOk5999@reddit
Only had it this last winter, there is no body rust on the vehicle anywhere.
I meant to hit the undercarriage with fluidfilm, just didn’t have time to properly clean first and had other maintenance things to get to first.
I had good results with fluidfilm in the past.
Beautiful_Ad_4813@reddit
I fluid film the fuck out of my vehicles, and it's so worth it.
WitnessLucky2522@reddit
I've had good results with fluid film as well. I was just curious about the effectiveness of other options like neutralizers and such.
IntroductionOk5999@reddit
I will say, the previous Michigan owner used salt remover. And the owner before that was Ohio, so this Porsche has been around winters in the last 34 years
WitnessLucky2522@reddit
Nice, I tended to be into classics from the big 3, they tend to rust pretty easily. Trying to find a GM g-body with a good frame is pretty difficult for example. But that's due to bad design tbh.
IntroductionOk5999@reddit
24*
Background_Culture14@reddit
Ya everyone and their mother on this site has a Porsche.
animalmom2@reddit
Yes, I use mine. I have a 2006 997 Turbo and I drive it everywhere and have bike racks on top. Every time i fire it up it makes me happy an in this world thats a big deal
dsdvbguutres@reddit
Some cars are collectibles, and people bet theirs will become one. That does not necessarily mean that they are not enjoying it, they may very well enjoy knowing that they own a low mileage example of it more than beating it on the track.
AThrowawayProbrably@reddit
I think you can definitely enjoy a car while also keeping the miles down. You just have to have another car to commute and run errands in.
Psychological-Cry221@reddit
When you only drive the car to drive it and not run errands it is really hard to put a lot of miles on it. 1,000 miles is actually a lot of work if you aren’t taking it on a trip and putting in 300 to 500 in one wack.
jhumph88@reddit
This is the answer. I have an Audi RS5 coupe which is comfortable enough to daily, but I save it for nice days mostly. I probably drive it twice a week on average. It’s a ‘21 and I’ve got about 7k miles on it. For my daily, I have a Cayenne. Comfortable, practical, and still fun to drive.
12LetterName@reddit
That's exactly it. I have a company vehicle, but my wife and I have a camaro ss and an FJ cruiser. We don't get snow, but if it's rainy, take the 4x4, not the 455 hp camaro with summer only racing tires. It's nice to split the miles. It's not like it's got super low miles (2018 w/55k), but why drive it to sit in commute traffic or park it in a packed parking lot to get dinged up. We enjoy the shit out of it and want it to last. Not worried about resale, we'll drive it till it's dead.
norcaltobos@reddit
That is the other part of it though, people who want to drive their car into the ground don’t care as much about resale or how it’ll look to others in 15-20 years. My 2017 Honda Accord is mine until the wheels fall off and even 7 years later people get in my car and think it’s new.
I don’t really do much, I do basic maintenance and don’t use my car as a trash can. Yet my car still looks like it’s in great condition.
12LetterName@reddit
Same... We keep the Camaro pretty spotless, rarely will eat in it, only re-closable drink containers. Looks good as new. The FJ on the other hand... That's the workhorse that we can load with dirt if we wanted.
-serious-@reddit
None of my sports cars are particularly fun to take to the grocery store and they aren't practical for the purpose either. They are fun to drive when you feel like driving, the weather is good, and you have someplace fun to drive them. I don't see the point of putting miles on a car just to put miles on it when those miles are more expensive than miles on a regular car. If I keep the miles down, I can trade it in for more money when I'm done with it and get another car. That helps a bit with the cost of this very expensive hobby.
meanrisefifty@reddit
I don't own a particularly expensive sports car, but this is exactly how I think when it comes to which car to drive.
ChrisBattles@reddit
Yeah, I have a Camry with plenty of dings and dents that soaks up a lot of highway miles and parking lot time. Totally worry-free and between mileage and maintenance, it's just way cheaper to drive.
Pdb12345@reddit
If you have multiple cars it's actually hard to put miles on. I have a couple of cars that I feel like I drive often but I've only put 5000 or so miles on them in 10 years. If you're not commuting and have choice , it's hard to accumulate miles.
LS-CRX@reddit
I had a '95 F150 that was like that, I used to daily drive a sedan so I semi-regularly needed the truck for something... then I started to daily an Expedition Max. All of a sudden the Expedition was a better option for 99% of the things I would have used the F150 for so the truck barely got driven... and it wasn't driven much to begin with. Thanks to the pandemic I was able to sell the truck for three times what I paid for it pre-pandemic and I was tired of replacing batteries/tires/etc on something I wasn't using.
WiredHeadset@reddit
Because it's mine and I bought it.
If you buy my car, or my steak, or my house... You get to tell me what to do with it.
Until then, well....
I_AM_DEATH-INCARNATE@reddit
This reminds me of the movie In Time with Justin Timberlake. He buys a car and the guy asks him where he will display it, and Timberlake's character replies, "What? No, I'm gonna drive it!"
Agent_Dutchess@reddit
1) The car is an investment
2) the car is extremely expensive to repair and maintain, parts may be discontinued and unavailable 2nd hand leading to major modifications.
For example, say the transmission blew up beyond repair and there's no transmissions available, whether it's a direct swap or not. You're now forced to engineer a totally new drivetrain unoriginal to the vehicle. That impacts the value.
See also: body panels, interior, etc.
bluerog@reddit (OP)
They're poor investments. Compare to average 10-year returns in any stock market, a car would need to triple it's value every 10 years. Few do. And it would have to be worth 10x the original cost over 20 years.
Why have a car if it can never be fixed if you drive it?
Agent_Dutchess@reddit
Many do. Classics continue to appreciate. My dad's first car that he paid a few hundred bucks for is now a 6 figure vehicle 30 years later.
Everything can be fixed with enough money.
Spam138@reddit
Just roll the odometer forward if you’re so obsessed with having more miles. If your boy enjoys not driving a Toyota why be jealous?
Spam138@reddit
Do you own your wife? What is this nonsense
eeggrroojj@reddit
Well mine is a 2011 RX8 I keep in storage for like 11 months out of the year to preserve the engine as long as possible. That particular car has a particular engine that's been known to "not be reliable" so I need to baby it. Chicagoland living, bad weather.
But when I drive it, I fucking drive it.
carbogan@reddit
Iv got a 1980 corona I hardly drive. Not because it’s too nice or anything. I just don’t really have the time. I daily a mx5, have a Corolla wagon for my weekend missions. Which leave the corona for enthusiast type events, which I rarely find the time for these days.
Could/should I sell it? Probably. Do I need that money? Not really. The car is pretty sentimental to me, having done a ground up nut and bolt restore on it, and only worth maybe 10-15k tops. I’d rather keep it with the option to sell whenever I want, than sell it knowing I’ll never have it back. Shit I might even donate it to a local car museum one day.
2001sleeper@reddit
Sometimes it is not convenient for the destination, other times you don’t want it to get damaged, and then interests change but you don’t want to sell just yet.
SadSack4573@reddit
NEVER EVER UNDERSTOOD THAT ATTITUDE!
things are meant to be used and as long as you keep it in decent shape, then enjoy it!
or run it to the ground.
i seen people leave the plastic cover on their furniture, to keep it “nice” is RIDICULOUS!!
Only people should be treasured and loved
Signal_RR@reddit
I can understand the reasoning for cars to just be practically investment ornaments. Not me though, if I had the wealth to afford some of those, I'm going to ruin that value and potentially just make it a track car.
Revolutionary-Gain88@reddit
Like saving your gf for the next guy .
oldbaldpissedoff@reddit
Taking pictures is perfectly fine, we bring them to shows so people can see them , ask about them,take pictures of them. We want people to get interested enough to buy their own and join us in our obsession. Just don't touch them, don't sit in them .
Goingdef@reddit
I bought my e39 bmw and e46 with practically no miles, C6 corvette was the same way…I drive the hell out of them, I wonder a year or two after buying them how someone owned them for years and never put any miles on them??? Were they saving them for me?
Ok-Communication1149@reddit
The reason people have gold, or rare coins, or stamps, or savings accounts and IRAs. They value the asset, not the machine.
Tatvo831@reddit
It is simple to understand. Driving a car wears it out. The more miles you put on a car, the more wear and damage you’re doing to the parts of the car, some of these parts are hard to get, expensive or nonexistent. You want to keep it as nice and original as possible for as long as possible.
It’s like having two pairs of shoes: One pair of shoes you do everything in like working in the garage, repairing a car or running errands. The other pair you wear when you go to work (if your in an office environment) or a nice event with friends and family.
Ok_Score1492@reddit
I would be more worried about the 🤡 driving distance recklessly on the roads these days.
Also classic cars appreciate more when the age and kept in their original condition
averyboringday@reddit
It's a giant collectible that you can drive sometimes.
It's risky because those cars if theyre in an accident cant be easily replaced or repaired. Requires special type of insurance that is very expensive even more so if they're a daily driver. We have insurance on some classics and they're only covered if in a closed door garage, and while being driven or transported to special event. Insurance wont cover if your just out for a daily commute.
LilEngineeringBoy@reddit
My Focus RS is the last interesting hot hatch Ford will make for the US. It needs to last indefinitely. I drive it sparingly because I want it to last the rest of my driving years. It's not going to be worth $1000000, but I appreciate it.
My MR2 Spyder is a built not bought car. It was damaged when I got it and keeps getting upgraded as I go doing. The car on a good day is $10k, but I have more than that invested in blood sweat and tears.
Neither of these get driven at all with salt in the road. I don't want to deal with corrosion and more I'm importantly I don't want it taken away by some broke dumbass is a 4x4 with bald tires.
TactualTransAm@reddit
It could have been difficult for them to achieve it, and they simply want their achievement to last as long as possible. For most people mileage is their view of a cars condition so they want to keep the mileage down. Also if it was difficult to achieve it then they see it as a possibility that they might have to sell it later in life and just want the most from their hard work. Sure they take it out when the weather is absolutely perfect, but the ones I know are simply too protective to do anything else
purpleboarder@reddit
This post describes why I would get a 10 yo beck Porsche Speedster. handles better, has more power. and if it has a subie engine, it's fuel injected. it's a fake. I'd have a garage for it, but I'd drive it everywhere, and wouldn't be afraid to get it in the rain.
OldTurkeyTail@reddit
They say that being rich is owning a car that can get scratched up in a parking lot, without it ruining your whole day.
SpaceMarine33@reddit
I don’t trust other people. I’ve seen a 1960vet all original get t boned by some kid in a clapped out civic trying to race another clapped out civic
-Never-Enough-@reddit
None. The car was sold with a battery in it because it was built to be driven.
noldshit@reddit
This is why i like rats and beaters.. i can enjoy it and not sweat it
John_B_Clarke@reddit
If it's a true classic it's an appreciating asset so you want to take the same kind of care of as you would of an art work of similar value. Not to mention repairs can be horrendously costly--might be necessary to make the part (Jay Leno has a machine shop that does that kind of thing for his collection).
SmellyBalls454@reddit
I did a frame up restore of a 1984 jeep cj7…. It is freaking amazing!! I swapped in a 360.. I have everything you could think of on that jeep… I drive the absolute piss out of it :)
ScuffedBalata@reddit
Same reason as people put their pokemon (or baseball) cards in fancy sealed acrylic boxes or keep a vintage hat in a showcase with the tag still attached or buy funko pops.
Collecting cars is as much a hobby as collecting stamps to some people.
"why not mail something with that stamp, that's what stamps are made for?"
You don't need a $100k joe dimaggio card to feel like you want to collect and protect even the $7 ones.
Bodywheyt@reddit
Well, cats get destroyed on accident. So any time you drive a car you risk its safety.
If it’s an old car that cannot be easily replaced or repaired…then…
wlveith@reddit
A book can be a valuable investment, easy to store, and cheap to insure. No comparison to a collector car.
whatashittyargument@reddit
lol of course you don't touch mint condition 1st editions
kh250b1@reddit
I have 2 cars. A daily driver and a Porsche for the weekend and trips away. It does 2000 miles a year.
DrivingHerbert@reddit
This is why I bought a 1995 Buick Roadmaster Wagon for $4500. It looks like a classic and I can enjoy it daily. Easy to work on and (mechanical) parts are still wildly available.
I do get not wanting to wear out something special though, saving it for special occasions and what not.
Designer-Travel4785@reddit
A former coworker rebuilt a Corvette that was wrecked. He put a ton of time and energy into it. Chipped, nitrous, the works. I believe it was over 500HP to the wheels without the nitrous. He was supposed to drive it to work to show a customer. When I asked why he didn't he drive it, he said it was because it was raining. I laughed at him and asked if he forgot the windshield wipers. He got mad and asked if I would take my laptop out in the rain (I was working in IT at the time). I told him that I actually did a few weeks earlier when I was copying images from the cards in my trail cams. He was not happy with me. 😂
DomesticatedParsnip@reddit
Your wife is aging either way. Not every part of your car is when it’s sitting pretty! And you can’t openly sell your wife (DM if you’re interested, uh, unrelated).
charoula@reddit
Ewwww, that analogy. Touch grass.
Own-Ad-503@reddit
The great thing about the car hobby is that you can enjoy it anyway you want. If you want to go out to the garage and look at a pristine garage queen and appreciate it, thats cool, if you want to put hundreds of thousands of miles on it , or just go to car shows.. or drive it like you stole it, its all good. Its up to the owner how he wants to appreciate his/her car.
Known-Delay7227@reddit
Perhaps the risk of an accident ruining the asset’s value while on the road?
Avocado510@reddit
A physician I once knew had a nice vintage ride and he told me he rarely drives it bc the of his insurance. I assume there are mileage stipulations.
af_cheddarhead@reddit
There's a reason my S2000 has 220K miles on the odometer. Yes, I put all but 10 of those miles on it. The other 10 were put on teaching my daughter to drive a manual before she bought her Abarth 500. :-)
pukef@reddit
My wife and I both drive 32 year old Miatas. It brings too much joy to leave them in the garage.
_EnFlaMEd@reddit
Humans aren't commodities.
dadzcad@reddit
I collect vintage Mercedes and it’s my experience that the worse thing you can do is just let a car sit.
Even old cars are meant to be driven. They’re just machines. 🤷🏽♂️
Mrofcourse@reddit
Some people enjoy having things just to have them. Sneaker collectors who never plan on wearing them, video games or action figures staying in the box. Cars are just a much more expensive version of that. I do appreciate when I see people using these items as intended. I kinda see the car thing like a boat my dad had. It was his dream fishing boat and the first few years he had it he took it out a bunch. Once me and the other kids moved out it was just him and his health started declining so it was too much of a hassle to take out. He would maintain it and keep it in good working order but it sat in his driveway. I asked why he hadn’t sold it and he said on days when he’s sitting outside with a drink it’s nice to look over and see it and be reminded that he achieved a dream of his. He did eventually sell it but he held on to it as I type of trophy for a long time.
RealCheyemos@reddit
Rest in peace to your dad (assuming he’s not here anymore based on your comment of his declining health). And happy cake day.
Mrofcourse@reddit
Not gone yet, He’s to stubborn. I appreciate the sentiment though!
RealCheyemos@reddit
Oh well fantastic! You betcha… My dad passed in 2019 and it was completely shocking- never expected it and certainly not in the way it happened.
sphinctersouffle@reddit
Built a house for a man who has a Chip Foose Camero. Heated and cooled garage. He's never started it, was so proud of the fact that it has never been on asphalt, has only been pushed on and off of a trailer for shows and put back in the garage. Makes me kinda sad that that badass car is wasting away not being enjoyed the way it was meant to be.
GrimReefer365@reddit
Because some people like to keep nice things nice.
BLINGMW@reddit
Perfectly good question, only tainted by the "wife" comment.
Late-External3249@reddit
To paraphrase James Glickenhaus, not driving a Ferrari is like not sexing your girlfried so she is more valuable to her next boyfriend.
hellothere9922331@reddit
Cars like that are treated more as an investment vs. a vehicle. I find it sad, really. I'd drive anything i own. however i want/wherever i want if i can afford to buy/maintain it properly. The closest i got was a 1975 Cadillac Sedan Deville. I daily drove it every summer for 3 years. She got plenty of looks, especially on the highway; cruising comfortably at 75mph. Packed my 3 kids in it, got groceries with it, went to the mall, family visits out of town, drove it to work, pumpkin patch visit, the beach, wherever really. Not that she was a super collectable car nor super expensive (at the time 2017-2019) but i enjoyed it as did my kids.
I'd do the same with any vehicle i own though 🙂
kick6@reddit
There’s a lot of people with money that aren’t car guys. They’re either speculators, or wealth-flexors. Neither of those require driving all that much if at all.
lituga@reddit
Because these people are greedy or neurotic Aholes who never learned how to enjoy life 😎
landob@reddit
I guess it depends on how much you dont drive.
I have a SRT8 challenger that I keep in the garage and pretty much only pull it out once a week. I daily drive a motorcycle to work. I don't think I could afford to keep it anymore If I drove it daily. Really eats gas. Its getting pretty old and I don't see myself being able to justify buying a new one so I'm keeping it around long as I can. Its a fun toy on Saturday evenings or Sunday mornings.
But yeah I don't really get people with cars that drive it like twice a year.
animalmom2@reddit
Is this really a thing or is it a made up thing that everyone agrees exists but doesn’t?
Background_Culture14@reddit
Trophy's. I had a few cars passed down to me 7 years ago. 71 Ranchero GT, 69 Nova SS and a 70 GTX. All under 75k miles. My mom hated my dad's hobby as it cost thousands in storage, time in garage and shows, and maintenance over the decades. Actual vehicle costs were quite low being he bought these new when cars were cheap, but 40+ years of owning them cost much more. We auctioned them off together in 2019 along with the cars left to my younger brother, a 68 Camaro and a 69 VW van(11,000 miles exactly when sold) and another I forget. And the dozen or so he left my mom who ironically didn't give a crap about cars because she was a car dealer for 20 years and hated every minute of it but she was great at it.
We split everything three ways and we each bought new property and built homes. So for my dad it was a love as his days this hobby was affordable. His newest car was a 07 Vette but next closest was a mid 70s Elite? Maybe a Torino? 22 cars total sold for for 1.1 million at 3 auctions over 3 months. So for me it was my father still providing for us after death. Neither of us were very close to him because he was never around but his hobby was a windfall for us in the end. I wish I could of appreciated him and them more but dad's are dad's, he wasn't great but he provided.
So answer is INVESTMENT! Other could be insanity. Thank Jay Leno for the unaffordable hobby this now is.
Hisune@reddit
If you don't drive a car because you want to save it and not put miles on it you basically bought a car that is way out of your league and you probably should get something cheaper. Cars are for driving and unless it's an extremely rare or a really old car it should be driven.
mmmmmyee@reddit
The emotional upside it provides for me is nice. Already got the house, career, 401k, daily driver (hybrid minivan), kids, wife. This econobox driftcar that rots in my garage is my last remnants of my true identity. Sad as it sounds (which in hindsight is honestly whatever to me), it brings me joy that I still have it, and it still can boogie when i want it to. It just needs a new motor and I can go back to taking it to the 3 cars and coffees then whatever 2 drift events per year I can make it to lol.
Of course i pay registration and insurance on it (when i runs). I’m grateful that I am in this position in life to do this for now. Maybe I’ll do more motorsports stuff when the kids are older. Hell, maybe it’ll be a barnyard find 10 years from now (hopefully not). Either way the joy it brings me stepping into the garage is worth it. Building up the motor is worth it. The joy it brings is hard to describe, but the money that goes into it is fine for now.
(Honestly wish i could throw more at it, but daycare is expensive yo).
chunger2000@reddit
Another thing - and I see this all the time - many guys don’t even work on their own stuff anymore, especially with classic cars. they are concerned that it might break. They won’t know what to do then.
SAEftw@reddit
This is the dumbest shit ever.
In the unlikely event that any of these people own a documented low-mileage car, my advice is “disconnect the speedometer”. 10/10 works every time on a true classic.
(If your car has any sort of factory installed computer, control module, or other digital processor, it’s not a “classic”.)
If the true original miles are not documented, who cares? There are skilled individuals who can reset the odometer to any mileage you want.
The reality is either the car has issues preventing it from being driven any distance reliably, or they can’t obtain/afford the insurance.
Kadorja@reddit
I daily drove a supercharged 08 Corvette back in 2013ish so personally it's not my thing to have a nice car and not enjoy it but the whole 'wife/girlfriend' comparison makes no sense at all.
You can sell a car and gain money (especially if its a well kept classic) but you're probably not getting any extra cash out of divorcing your wife.
ibonek_naw_ibo@reddit
Because the best of both worlds is to drive it occasionally to keep things from failing due to sitting, while keeping the miles down so wear and tear does not ruin the car. A sort of savoring. You can own a car reliably for decades this way. How many cars last for decades being driven every single day? About as many that sit for years on end.
ArseBlarster420@reddit
I’m the opposite. I’ve got the classic car that people wonder why I’m still driving it, but theirs have broken down and been replaced while I’m still driving mine.
Complete-Ad-4215@reddit
I get it for actual rare/super cars that can actually be used as investments. But that is a tiny minority of those peeps yeah a lot of classic cars are “rare” but not really. Everyone and their dog has a 65-68 mustang (they’re amazing ofc) but tons out there
Lux600-223@reddit
Did you also ask the book guy if you can sleep with his wife?
Javelin-x@reddit
without those people those cars would be gone and you'd only ever see pictures
-00--@reddit
Some just like to experience different cars. So they purchase them with a lot of consideration for current maintenance records and mileage. They'll figure out how much depreciation additional mileage will cause and drive with resale in mind.
Some cars are hard to insure for more than 10,000 miles a year. Particularly exotics and high six figure cars.
With the exception of COVID years most cars don't increase in value. Many have only increased thanks to inflation.
CardiologistOk6547@reddit
For the same reason that people believe in God. They believe what they believe, for a variety of different reasons, and those reasons make sense to them, even if nobody else understands.
And trying to understand is a lost cause.
DisasterHour2531@reddit
I drive mine all the time I just do it very late at night less traffic less chance somebody will hit it.
Mammoth-Record-7786@reddit
The best way I’ve ever heard it put was that these are the guys who wouldn’t fuck their wife so they could save the pussy for the next guy.
Brief-Frosting405@reddit
I think you can own a car and derive a lot of value from it even without driving it. I’ve never done that, but I suppose it’s possible. Like a trophy.
Aside from that, I think most collectible car owners drive them, just very sparingly. If you put 2-300 miles a year on a car, you can still enjoy that.
Sanjuko_Mamaujaluko@reddit
Why own literally anything that is a decoration?
That-Resort2078@reddit
It’s not the mileage that bothers me, it’s all the idiots on the road. It’s not a daily but a weekend treat.
Pogs4Frogs@reddit
64 GTO Tri Power with just over 15k in miles. I inherited it and she goes out once a month to the gas station about 2 miles down the road and back. It’s special to me and something I don’t want to have an accident in. I’ll spend most my time in the garage just staring and reminiscing and that’s all I want out of it.
375InStroke@reddit
Exactly. I drive my '69 Charger every day. She is very thirsty.
Agile_Session_3660@reddit
I own a 2002 M Coupe with only 27k miles and I’d rate it basically 9/10 condition for being a driver. I only put 1k miles per year on it at this point. It’s just worth to much to put more on, and a lot of this is due to the insurance requirements/restrictions with my agreed value policy. Also, it’s easier keeping it in amazing condition only putting that mileage on.
I never want to be the trailer queen douchebag, but at the same time I’m not a wealthy person and the car is worth enough now that I can really only afford to put 1k miles per year.
kinkyboy2424@reddit
I had a 69' chevelle with 383 stroker. Had it for 20 years, until gas got to $4/gallon. The car got 7mpg. I wasn't paying for gas anymore in that...i do miss it
Actraiser87@reddit
I’m not that bad but I do keep my special car to under 5K a year. It still gets driven, often hard.
refriedconfusion@reddit
Who are you saving it for? the next owner? enjoy it and let the next owner worry about the milage
foolproofphilosophy@reddit
My mechanic recently had a BNW Z8 come in with ~2400 miles on it. I don’t understand why you’d buy something like that and average around 100 miles per year.
Outside_Reserve_2407@reddit
i have a vintage Land Rover which I put maybe 2,000 miles on it per year. Half the fun is tinkering with it and also it's fun to drive to the local Cars & Coffee and chat with everyone. During covid getting together during Cars & Coffee was one of the few social events that didn't get cancelled and it was a lifesaver.
starter-car@reddit
Old Rovers are the best. I’m 100000000% in the LR cult. :)
BlueArcherX@reddit
I work from home, so it happens naturally 😂
imbrickedup_@reddit
That first line is wild lmao
starter-car@reddit
Had to scroll way down to find this comment. You phrased my thinking succinctly.
PainterEmpty6305@reddit
It just went into the shed one day and never really came back out. Cars tripled in the last few years.
ProbablyUrNeighbour@reddit
It’s not so much about not putting miles on it, but putting useless miles on it. If I’m just going to pick up my child or grab quick groceries, or run to pick something up - it’s just not really the same as a nice sunny day where I’ve got a couple of hours to kill.
In one scenario I’m doing a task and the other I’m out to enjoy the day.
maybach320@reddit
No idea, I buy a car to use it, it so rare that a car can become an asset that I would never buy a car thinking I was going to make money owning it. Best case is break even and those odds are fairly limited to used 911s and Mercedes SLs.
Mastermind_Maostro@reddit
Because alot of classic cars were built in low numbers and people don't want to possibly destroy history knowing that it could be gone and not replicated or repurchased due to low build numbers. Ie, pretty much every hemi powered mopar muscle car ever
cherrypopper666@reddit
Classics imo the mileage is largely irrelevant considering all of the work that goes into keeping a 50-60 year old classic car on the road. Not uncommon for drivetrain to be completely rebuilt if it's actually been taken care of and restored.
Really it's because it's costly to rack of miles on a gas guzzler and wear & tear items on a classic car. Plus you really only wanna drive them on the weekends because new cars are all around more efficient and safer.
aamberlamps@reddit
Don’t drive it in the winter
Professional_Buy_615@reddit
https://www.reddit.com/r/Autocross/s/mAzzDpa4w9
Yes, it was being driven as God intended.
Bob4Not@reddit
Stop comparing women and wives to objects
Snakedoctor404@reddit
Not driving your car to keep the miles down is like not fucking your gf because you want to keep her fresh for the next guy...
Alternative-Week-780@reddit
I've known people that go both ways. And in the end the guys who don't drive their nice cars end up regretting it bc they ended up selling at a major loss and never really drove their nice cars.
thedr777@reddit
If I won’t the lottery I’d be the guy at the dump with a McLaren. I have somewhat rare car, and I drive it as much as possible. I let kids sit in it, and generally anyone that asks, I’ll give rides, pop the hood, and do burnouts wherever possible. Cars should be enjoyed. But hey, if that’s your thing, to look at it and preserve it, that’s cool. I’ll drive you around real fast in mine. The. We can stare at yours over coffee
vikingjedi23@reddit
The more miles the less its worth. There will come a time I have to sell my Corvette. If I took care of it and didnt put a ton of miles on it I might get all my money back.
MuttJunior@reddit
Why have a stamp collection if you aren't going to use them to mail letters? Why have a coin collection if you're not going to use them in the gumball machine?
The answer to these and your question is VALUE. It has value to that person. And you keep the milage down on the car because it is more valuable that way, and also reduced the chances of an accident.
BengalFan2001@reddit
Older cars from a time before the 1980's are dropping in price as cars from the 80 and 90 are seeing an increase in price. It all depends upon supply and demand.
CarGullible5691@reddit
If it’s a really rare car then it makes sense to keep the miles down. Example, a friend of mine bought a Lotus 2/11 in 2017 from a lotus specialist in Hampshire, one of 85 left at the time. He kept it for a year, some of it in my garage. I was on the insurance to drive it. Between us we put 1000 miles on it. Did several track days and a couple of days out in it. After a year made £4000 selling it to a collector in Scotland
Creative-Dust5701@reddit
many classic cars are investments as much as they are vehicles, so while the owners may enjoy showing them they dont want to run up the miles or risk an accident. so these cars travel mainly on trailers
CinesterDan@reddit
For me, it's mainly just because I don't want the wear and tear. My daily driver is modern and basically expendable, and cheap to upkeep. If it needs a replacement part, I just go to the store and buy one, it doesn't need to be, like, special ordered from Japan or something.
And it helps keep it clean and looking good. If I were to daily my nice car, the paint is going to deteriorate, there's going to be more chips on the hood and in the glass, UV damage, and on and on....
Finally, and this is the big one: I have to share the road with other drivers. No matter how carefully and defensively I drive, I can't control other cars. So the more time that a classic/nice car is on the road, the more likely it is that someone is going to crash into it.
Purpose_Embarrassed@reddit
Allowing any car to sit and not drive it is basically killing it. I don’t understand these people either. These barn find reality shows are garbage. Sure it might run. But you will have to dump a ton of money into it for it to be anywhere near a reliable vehicle.
Expensive_Honeydew_5@reddit
Same reason people keep their expensive wine/liquor for special occasions
iwantac8@reddit
In the same sense, that not everyone enjoys driving an auto, or a manual. Some people get more joy out of babying the car then actually drive it.
Embarrassed-Water664@reddit
Personally, I don't have that kind of money. If I owned a '66 GT350, sure. Otherwise, it's getting driven like I stole it.
Scuffed_Radio@reddit
Idk man.. people have an odd obsession with miles on vehicles. Like that's their job, is to drive. Many miles. And most of the time a car with 300k on the clock works just as good as a car with 50k.
Slowvia@reddit
I never used to understand it either, but as my cars have appreciated in value and rarity, and as I’ve restored them, I get it now.
My wife and I used to daily drive my S13s. They’re both pretty low, so they’re not very well suited to that kind of driving in town. Some places just have parking lots that I can’t get into without causing some damage to the bumpers. Back when we would daily drive them, it wasn’t such a big deal to scrape the bumper up a bit; it was just a cheap old Nissan.
But now that I’ve restored one, and working on restoring the other, I’m a lot more careful with them. I bought them back when they were dirt cheap. The one I’m currently working on restoring had 95k on the clock when I bought it for $2,500. But now they’re worth much more than that, and I can’t afford to buy one again. Sure, I have insurance, but I would have to fight them tooth and nail to get them to pay out (already had to do that with the one that I’ve restored).
So now I’m very careful about when, where, and how I drive them. They’re not daily drivers anymore, and I value them a lot more (for all kinds of reasons, not just monetarily). They still get driven (well, the finished one does anyway), but it’s not as often as it used to be.
SteamyDeck@reddit
Oof. Don't get into playing guitar. It's 10x worse with us.
TVSKS@reddit
Try synthesizers. The GAS in that community is unreal. I'm in a currently 2 year long process of slimming down from around 40. It's hard to let my babies go.
Currently I have a black gen 1 manual Subie Forester I'm fixing up to be a battle car. I'm torn between keeping it immaculate or 4 wheeling the hell out of it. Chances are it'll see a lot of dirt though. Might be cool at a c&c but what's the purpose of yet another pavement princess?
SteamyDeck@reddit
I’m in that community, too 😅 but I gig my boards whenever I can. Need to find a band that will let me play my OB-X8 🤔🤔
Docod58@reddit
I have a 2014 FX4 F150 with 90K miles on it. I garaged it after buying a 2004 Honda Civic to commute and grocery getter. I want to save the truck for off-roading, vacations, fishing and hunting. I don't want to spend 60-70K to buy a new truck after I retire.
Blu_yello_husky@reddit
That's exactly my thought. That's why I always say I'll never own a car in "good condition". Because then I'll be afraid to ruin it by driving it all the time
slutstevanie@reddit
Many probably don't know how to drive it....
wadenelsonredditor@reddit
Lot of reasons. Say you've got a classic 1969 Corvette "Stingray."
Some of the time it's under repair and not drivable. Probably more than you think.
You're not gonna drive it in ice, snow, bad weather where you might wreck it.
even IF the wiper system works, why would drive it in rain and then have to wash it? Take the beater!
It gets terrible gas mileage. Not the ideal car for a LOT of trips.
It's not the most COMFORTABLE car for long rides, either.
Park iin parking lots, you're gonna get dings, perhaps even vandalized. You only take it where you know it will be ok, probably.
There's also the possibility of theft attempts. You don't leave it in unsafe places. Take the toyota.
These are SOME of the reasons I wouldn't drive a 1969 corvette "regularly."
It's also why I own a 1968 instead!
Friz_Poop@reddit
I don't think it's hard to understand. Putting more miles on a car theoretically inches it closer to its dying day, and when someone owns and has passion for a classic car, they want to have it for as long as they can. The problem of course is that a car that sits un-driven in a garage is likely to have all sorts of other issues unrelated to milage, but that's easier to put out of mind than seeing that odometer tick.
originalpanzerlied@reddit
My wife has that same attitude with new cars. She's always been like this.
The point of having a new car is so you don't put more miles on the old car. Good grief.
jcarlosfox@reddit
Agree. I bought a 1981 Ferrari 308GTsi in 1989, and put 88,000 miles on it. Was my daily driver. Loved every minute of it. Currently daily a restored '68 Corvette Convertible.
(Maintenance on both was/is a challenge.)
Chance815@reddit
Love the comparison between a car and a human.....
Either-Durian-9488@reddit
No one that has a classic car has this sentiment, you have to drive them, it’s part of keeping them running right, the goal is to drive them in a way that doesn’t break much not very often.
moparsandairplanes01@reddit
I daily mine in the summer.
komeau@reddit
dailying a classic car in this day and age is simply not practical or safe. They’re not fuel efficient, they’re not fond of sitting in stop and go traffic, you get in a wreck with one of these modern F150s or Rams or something it won’t turn out well for you, etc.
Have a 2015 Mustang GT that I daily’d for a few years, but after numerous chips on the front bumper/hood/windshield from unsecured loads in dump trucks on the interstate and dings from people that insist on parking next to you in a store parking lot even if you park as far away from the entrance as humanly possible, kind of got tired of it. I still drive it once in a while when it’s nice out and off peak traffic hours(and never to stores), but I have an old 10th gen F150 to acquire those rock chips and door dings now.
also been meaning to get a set of front and rear facing dash cams, the stories of people getting hit by uninsured drivers that drive off have become more and more common in recent years.
AccurateShoulder4349@reddit
Depends on the car. You shouldn't own a car you don't want to put a lot of miles on if it's your ONLY car. You should have a beater in that situation.
But If I had a super clean all original low mileage E46 M3 or an older Supra or something, of course it's not a 250k car but you don't want to use it as your daily either.
warwgn@reddit
I have a 1990 Lincoln Mark VII with 530,000 kms (330,00 miles).
I’ve had it for almost 17 years. I used to daily it for 5 years, but I put some work into it, and I’ve been storing it for winter for the last12 years, but I drive it as much as I can in the summer.
This year is only the 2nd time I decided to not take it out for the summer. My reason is that I had a significant career change, and I don’t have time to enjoy it. The 1st time was because of Covid lockdowns.
mrsclausemenopause@reddit
Sometimes, the ownership experience isn't about driving as much as owning and enjoying something. I'm building a Cafe Racer bike that I know will suck to ride, but it's the build that excites me more than the finished product or using it. Sure, I'll ride it to events and I might do a miserable road trip on it just to do ot, but for me, this bike is about having a vision and making it a reality.
My 56 International Harvester pickup I love to drive as much as possible, but it's often parked waiting for me to find some unobtainable parts because I try and keep it as original as possible. I would daily that truck if I had the resources to keep it in good condition and daily it. Even parked, I smile every time I see it and would make it yard art before I would ever consider selling.
splyd36@reddit
I wouldn't let it bother you. Ultimately it's the car owner that decides what to do with their own vehicle lol
Trusteveryboody@reddit
Idk, but I can understand keeping a car for the Weekends. So it stays nice.
RelevanceReverence@reddit
Those are people who see these objects as investments instead of enjoyments.
Sirlacker@reddit
The only time it gets me is when they're thrown under a cover never to be looked at again.
Some people just want to collect them to look at, like art. I get that, providing you look at it and start it up once in a while to circulate the oil and keep the parts moving. But the people who get something and never look at it again just upsets me. Like these barn finds everyone has every now and again, some sort of rare or unique car and it's been left in a dilapidated literal barn with dust and all sorts of shit on it.
SHD_Tech@reddit
My wife’s next husband isn’t paying me based on a counter that tells how many times she got a pickle tickle.
I’m not saying cars shouldn’t be driven, I’ve dailies things ranging from a 66 Mustang to a 370Z to a 58 Cadillac Series 62. I’m just saying the analogy is flawed. A car IS worth more if you don’t wear it out. A wife isn’t lol.
run_uz@reddit
Nope.
bitzzwith2zs@reddit
For the most part: they're delusional.
There is a TINY number of vehicles that appreciate in value, maybe 0.01% but for the most part inflation rises faster than car prices. The stock market out performs.
I'm into motorcycles, particularly old Ducatis. I seek out clapped out shitters that I restore to RIDE. I have a '73 GT750 with over 80,000 miles on it, or a '96 900SS that I just beat on... the thing has been totalled twice. Ride 'em, don't hide 'em
ztimulating@reddit
Money.
roger_ramjett@reddit
Good question to ask Jay Leno. He definitely drives the cars he owns.
lol_camis@reddit
I have a desirable 18yo car that's in very very good condition for its age. It's not classic quite yet. But I wouldn't bother keeping it nice if it were a daily. Since I only put 500km on it a month though, it's easier to keep it nice and clean and undamaged.
Honestly having a nice car kinda sucks. I prefer having something a little beat up so it doesn't matter when something happens. But oh well. This is the situation I'm currently in and I'm not gonna sell the car just because of that.
Kegomatix@reddit
I have a really nice condition 77 280z that I absolutely love to drive, but haven't in the last few years. Haven't made the effort to insure and register it again. I'm not concerned with keeping the miles low, and certainly not an investment even if the prices have gone up substantially in the years I've owned it.
No matter what I do with it I just love seeing it in my garage. Tinkering with it. I see it as timeless and owning it will only get better whether I drive it a bunch right now or not again for another 10 years.
Vegetable-Compote-51@reddit
For me, with 7 cars, I don't need to drive and put miles on my most valuable car. I drive what I want on any given day, but I prefer to keep one of them as a special occasion car.
mr34727@reddit
People enjoy things in different ways. Go figure.
Federal_Fuel_7864@reddit
I don't get it either. but I guess it's the same as collecting anything else.
IMO, cars are made to be driven. I love seeing rare or cool cars actually our there on the road.
rudbri93@reddit
Cause they like owning it. People enjoy different things in different ways. Some made it a life goal to own a clean example of a specific car, and now they do so they wanna keep it clean. Its theirs so they get to choose.
ClockWorkWinds@reddit
My situation has nothing to do with preserving a "nice" or "valuable" car, but my driving habits tend to change depending on how much of a necessity my car is to my life. If all else was chill, I would absolutely be out enjoying scenic drives way more often, especially with the recent spring weather. But I try to save it for a special occasion.
These days, if my 20 year old car found a way to total itself, I'd be in majorly deep shit. Cars are expensive af, and my savings are still in recovery from a different thing. Fingers crossed it keeps on rolling until I could reasonably afford anything 🤞🤞.
Slightly less relevant, but I also notice myself unconsciously tending to drive more like a grandma whenever gas prices spike.
Kytoaster@reddit
No idea, my classic is about to roll over 100k and I'm planning on trying to hit 200k in the next few years
Amplidyne@reddit
It reminds me of a bloke I knew who bought a used, but immaculate XJ6 Jag, a while back. It still had the plastic covers on the seats, and the first thing he did was to take them off. "Why should I keep the seats looking new for the next owner?"