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Ironically, when Toyota started the Scion brand, they expected young drivers. Surprise! Old folks liked the practical, roomy, and fairly inexpensive xA and xB.
So how old do you have to be to buy a Vette? Asking for a friend.
A younger person can drive a C3-C4 as a fashion statement, and they are a ton of style for the money. Later ones still seem to be the purview of grouchy boomers who drive it 500 miles a year and baby it more than Cameron's dad did with his Ferrari. (maybe uplanderguy is an exception )
@fintail said:
A younger person can drive a C3-C4 as a fashion statement, and they are a ton of style for the money. Later ones still seem to be the purview of grouchy boomers who drive it 500 miles a year and baby it more than Cameron's dad did with his Ferrari. (maybe uplanderguy is an exception )
So … I’ll this story because the stereotype for Vettes is pretty real. We had friends down with us at the shore all last weekend. Sunday was my birthday so we headed up to a restaurant in Atlantic City which is a 40 min or so drive from our shore place.
Our friends have a fairly recent Chrysler van so we all piled into it. We had a few martinis at dinner so my Mom who was also with us drove us home. At one point during the drive my 71 year old Mother says “I gotta get rid of this old guy in the Corvette” he was doing 55 in a 65 and she blew right by him at 75 and kept that speed all the way back.
A younger person can drive a C3-C4 as a fashion statement, and they are a ton of style for the money. Later ones still seem to be the purview of grouchy boomers who drive it 500 miles a year and baby it more than Cameron's dad did with his Ferrari. (maybe uplanderguy is an exception )
So … I’ll this story because the stereotype for Vettes is pretty real. We had friends down with us at the shore all last weekend. Sunday was my birthday so we headed up to a restaurant in Atlantic City which is a 40 min or so drive from our shore place.
Our friends have a fairly recent Chrysler van so we all piled into it. We had a few martinis at dinner so my Mom who was also with us drove us home. At one point during the drive my 71 year old Mother says “I gotta get rid of this old guy in the Corvette” he was doing 55 in a 65 and she blew right by him at 75 and kept that speed all the way back.
This is pretty much a meme now:
(no offense meant, I swear )
Just needs more fanny packs/phone holsters, now-quaint bluetooth earpieces.
Just needs more fanny packs/phone holsters, now-quaint bluetooth earpieces.
I’m impressed with the older guys that drive them. I’m a big guy and getting into a Vette is a pretty interesting thing to watch and it’s not the most comfortable thing for me either!
Just needs more fanny packs/phone holsters, now-quaint bluetooth earpieces.
I’m impressed with the older guys that drive them. I’m a big guy and getting into a Vette is a pretty interesting thing to watch and it’s not the most comfortable thing for me either!
Yeah, I know that demographic doesn't like low seating. My mom is 75, and even my wagon is a little lower than she likes - I raise the seat for her to aid in egress/ingress when she rides in it. She really liked the Tribeca my ex-BIL had, and likes riding in my sister's Model Y as well. A little height helps. I think she'd enjoy a small CUV, but she virtually never drives more than ~10 miles from home anymore, and she'd see a new car as a massive waste of resources when her Camry will probably outlive us all (it seems to sit higher than my wagon, she has fewer issues in it).
I suspect a new Vette is a pretty nice place to be once one gets seated.
The low seating (and associated awkward access) is a major reason I’m not pushing harder for a sports car. My wife hates it and will have issues getting in and out of a low rider. I’m more
Limber but with my occasional back issues might not be better off!
Maybe I should go totally opposite and get a raptor instead and just buy her a step stool?
Thinking a middle ground option (sports sedan or jacked up “hot hatch”) is the way to go. Something like a GTI or Wrx, or an Audi SQ3 (just not an Audi!). Still small and fun and “sporty” but still practical enough to be useful.
Just needs more fanny packs/phone holsters, now-quaint bluetooth earpieces.
I’m impressed with the older guys that drive them. I’m a big guy and getting into a Vette is a pretty interesting thing to watch and it’s not the most comfortable thing for me either!
I had to drive mine with my head tilted.😫
2019 Kia Soul+, 2015 Mustang GT, 2013 Ford F-150, 2000 Chrysler Sebring convertible
My wife is not much for climbing at this point. A grab handle and running board on a taller truck would be OK. Wonder how high a Ranger raptor is? would still fit in the garage!
Not yet. It sits waiting for the right buyer. My son thinks I have it priced very well already and shouldn’t go lower. He has the disease of surfing car listings all the time.
'11 GMC Sierra 1500; '98 Alfa 156 2.0TS; '08 Maser QP; '67 Coronet R/T; '13 Fiat 500c; '20 S90 T6; '22 MB Sprinter 2500 4x4 diesel; '97 Suzuki R Wagon; '96 Opel Astra; '11 Mini Cooper S
A friend of mine resurrected an 454 C3. Says it's a fun car. Even though he is pretty slim and limber, says no way it's an every day car. Even after a day trip with a Vette group, he feels it.
For some reason that I probably should discuss with a shrink, I always longed for a 4-door version of that generation T Bird.
Do you mean like the silver one stored above it? Call that guy and make an offer!
Hey, good catch. I hadn't made it to the end of the pictures. Think I could get the price down by mentioned the vacuum leak? I had one of those in the 78 Bird my wife brought into the marriage. It proved tricky to track down; it was a slow one. I loved the car, though. Of course the car I brought into the relationship was a diesel Rabbit. With the Bird available we didn't use it for anything longer than about 30 miles round trip.
2009 BMW 335i, 2003 Corvette cnv. (RIP 2001 Jaguar XK8 cnv and 1985 MB 380SE [the best of the lot])
Hey, good catch. I hadn't made it to the end of the pictures. Think I could get the price down by mentioned the vacuum leak?
Get it down even more by telling him you're concerned that the headlight actuators are shot and it needs an expensive rebuild of those by Tony's Car Care in Illinois. Should be worth at least a thou.
Speaking of which, last night I saw a very sad yet also funny video from Tony that was right out of the blue. It began with him in his pickup driving through Illinois back roads with him narrating in a choked-up voice that his parents had been hit in their '89 Town Car and he was en route to the spot. He was understandably emotional as he is very close to them and they are not young, I believe 80 and 78.
He arrives at the site, a T-intersection of 2 rural paved roads in the middle of large cornfields. There is a yellow Mitsu Fast and Furious recreation there with the front end severely bashed in and his parents TC on its roof in the ditch. It appeared to have been T-boned in the front right, rolled over, and slid down into the ditch. The young Mitsu driver survived as did Tony's parents, with his mom just shaken up and his dad having a neck injury of some sort but nothing particularly serious. Tony was quite emotional until he was able to see they appeared generally OK, and were loaded into the ambulance.
Where it became funny was that before leaving to join them at the hospital he stuck around to wait for the tow truck to haul away the remains of the TC. While there he started a walkaround of the wreck and started assessing it like it was a junkyard find. As in "that center cap is good", "oh damn, the dash pad got cracked", and after finding the keys, "all the power locks are good", etc. It absolutely broke me up, he just couldn't help himself. Apparently just a week or two ago he had it in his shop and did a lot of work to it. After a while he recognized that it might sound strange, but he was so familiar with the car and his dad loved it so much that it was like it was part of the family.
Later on after it got to the impound lot he actually was able to get it to start quite easily which I found rather amazing. He said this was the 3rd crash his parents had in TCs, two in their previous one and now this. I think he is going to buy it for salvage, strip off what he can use on other TCs and send off whatever remains of it to its reward. He ended the video with a short segment of his folks after they left the ER and were back home, looking rather the worse for wear emotionally but generally OK. Assuming his dad is able to resume driving at some point the current plan is for another TC to be procured.
Sad about that white TC looks like it was a nice car, appears that it held up pretty well anyway.
As Tony said, these things are tough! Panther platform must have been well-engineered given how well they hold up in heavy-duty applications. He was impressed how it had virtually no roof deflection despite landing upside-down.
The Panther platform is legendary. The box era (79-91) are basically indestructible. The later models had some issues through the years but they are workhorses.
I’ve been in NYC taxis that read over 500K on the odometer. They basically run 24 hours a day.
I miss my 89 Town Car… someday there will be another in the fleet
I watched the video of the ‘89 for sale in NY (or is it NJ?) and it is pretty. The one that got wrecked had the aluminum wheels he was talking about and I like them better than the wire caps, but whatever. Price seems a bit stiff but I guess you’re paying for the low mileage and rarity.
I greatly prefer the wheels to wire caps. Wire caps always looked like material from the K-Mart auto accessory area to me.
I remember back in 1989, one of my best friend's dads bought a new TC - not sure if they were blowing out the old ones in advance of the new style, or if he liked the oldies and wanted one before they were gone. I can't clearly remember all details of the car, but I think it had wire caps and velour. I recall driving by the house maybe 10 years ago, and caught a glimpse of the car parked by the garage - I will have to stop by the next time I am in the area and see if I can spot it.
I watched that video - I wonder if those cars have specially reinforced A-pillars (as they look thin) or if that was just an anomaly of the crash. It was amusing with the narrator going back and forth from going crazy about his parents to worrying about the car. I wonder if they had a collector policy on it, as I suspect a normal policy will lowball them and give them $1500 for it or something.
Had the old dear out today - temps near 90F, so usually about when I keep it in the garage, but it had been a couple weeks and I was itching for a drive. Car ran perfectly, started right up and presented zero issues.
One funny incident, I pulled over at a scenic spot where I like to snap a pic, area was empty, no cars parked for blocks, and almost immediately a woman in a Subaru parks right behind me - several other spots to park, and that was the one. By then I was hot and a little irritated, so I just drove off and found another spot as a pic without an Outback nosing in wasn't going to be possible. I drove by maybe 20 mins later and the car was gone - I wonder if she wanted to say something about the car? Oh well. Reminded me of the universal experience of parking way out in the lot, no cars around, and returning to someone parked next to you with nobody else around. Gratuitous pic on a somewhat hazy and smoky dog days of summer day:
I watched the video of the ‘89 for sale in NY (or is it NJ?) and it is pretty. The one that got wrecked had the aluminum wheels he was talking about and I like them better than the wire caps, but whatever. Price seems a bit stiff but I guess you’re paying for the low mileage and rarity.
Had the old dear out today, no issues starting or driving, got a "nice car" from a guy in a MDX and the usual few stares:
I remember the shop told me they used a brand of oil that isn't sold in big box stores - I need to remember to find out what it was, I believe a heavier weight too. Car seems to like it fine.
Most pleasant weather here in a few months - highs in the mid 70s make a car like this more enjoyable than the ~90 of last weekend where the car felt like an oven after being outside a bit, or even warmer for what seems like the past 8+ weeks. Summer still has time to go, but with a few days of lows in the 40s in the forecast, I can sense that winter hibernation for the car will be here in what will feel like no time.
Comments
2019 Kia Soul+, 2015 Mustang GT, 2013 Ford F-150, 2000 Chrysler Sebring convertible
Also a BRZ/B9; a Supra; some Mustangs; Jeep Wranglers
If I didn’t already have too many projects, I would rescue this in a heartbeat.
https://www.facebook.com/share/BpoCypFFxwhw3ufV/?mibextid=79PoIi
'11 GMC Sierra 1500; '98 Alfa 156 2.0TS; '08 Maser QP; '67 Coronet R/T; '13 Fiat 500c; '20 S90 T6; '22 MB Sprinter 2500 4x4 diesel; '97 Suzuki R Wagon; '96 Opel Astra; '11 Mini Cooper S
Those were popular in Anchorage back in the day, alternative to Subaru wagons.
So … I’ll this story because the stereotype for Vettes is pretty real. We had friends down with us at the shore all last weekend. Sunday was my birthday so we headed up to a restaurant in Atlantic City which is a 40 min or so drive from our shore place.
Our friends have a fairly recent Chrysler van so we all piled into it. We had a few martinis at dinner so my Mom who was also with us drove us home. At one point during the drive my 71 year old Mother says “I gotta get rid of this old guy in the Corvette” he was doing 55 in a 65 and she blew right by him at 75 and kept that speed all the way back.
2025 Ram 1500 Laramie 4x4 / 2023 Mercedes EQE 350 4Matic
That Tercel is cool. Great buy at that price if it isn’t rotted out.
2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.
2017 Cadillac ATS Performance Premium 3.6
So … I’ll this story because the stereotype for Vettes is pretty real. We had friends down with us at the shore all last weekend. Sunday was my birthday so we headed up to a restaurant in Atlantic City which is a 40 min or so drive from our shore place.
Our friends have a fairly recent Chrysler van so we all piled into it. We had a few martinis at dinner so my Mom who was also with us drove us home. At one point during the drive my 71 year old Mother says “I gotta get rid of this old guy in the Corvette” he was doing 55 in a 65 and she blew right by him at 75 and kept that speed all the way back.
This is pretty much a meme now:
(no offense meant, I swear
Just needs more fanny packs/phone holsters, now-quaint bluetooth earpieces.
Did you sell the Charger?
2021 VW Arteon SEL 4-motion, 2018 VW Passat SE w/tech, 2016 Audi Q5 Premium Plus w/tech
I’m impressed with the older guys that drive them. I’m a big guy and getting into a Vette is a pretty interesting thing to watch and it’s not the most comfortable thing for me either!
2025 Ram 1500 Laramie 4x4 / 2023 Mercedes EQE 350 4Matic
I’m impressed with the older guys that drive them. I’m a big guy and getting into a Vette is a pretty interesting thing to watch and it’s not the most comfortable thing for me either!
Yeah, I know that demographic doesn't like low seating. My mom is 75, and even my wagon is a little lower than she likes - I raise the seat for her to aid in egress/ingress when she rides in it. She really liked the Tribeca my ex-BIL had, and likes riding in my sister's Model Y as well. A little height helps. I think she'd enjoy a small CUV, but she virtually never drives more than ~10 miles from home anymore, and she'd see a new car as a massive waste of resources when her Camry will probably outlive us all (it seems to sit higher than my wagon, she has fewer issues in it).
I suspect a new Vette is a pretty nice place to be once one gets seated.
The low seating (and associated awkward access) is a major reason I’m not pushing harder for a sports car. My wife hates it and will have issues getting in and out of a low rider. I’m more
Limber but with my occasional back issues might not be better off!
Maybe I should go totally opposite and get a raptor instead and just buy her a step stool?
Thinking a middle ground option (sports sedan or jacked up “hot hatch”) is the way to go. Something like a GTI or Wrx, or an Audi SQ3 (just not an Audi!). Still small and fun and “sporty” but still practical enough to be useful.
2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.
2019 Kia Soul+, 2015 Mustang GT, 2013 Ford F-150, 2000 Chrysler Sebring convertible
I’m impressed with the older guys that drive them. I’m a big guy and getting into a Vette is a pretty interesting thing to watch and it’s not the most comfortable thing for me either!
I had to drive mine with my head tilted.😫
2019 Kia Soul+, 2015 Mustang GT, 2013 Ford F-150, 2000 Chrysler Sebring convertible
Maybe I should go totally opposite and get a raptor instead and just buy her a step stool?
Somehow my Mom gets in my pickup with relative ease.
2025 Ram 1500 Laramie 4x4 / 2023 Mercedes EQE 350 4Matic
2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.
Not yet. It sits waiting for the right buyer. My son thinks I have it priced very well already and shouldn’t go lower. He has the disease of surfing car listings all the time.
'11 GMC Sierra 1500; '98 Alfa 156 2.0TS; '08 Maser QP; '67 Coronet R/T; '13 Fiat 500c; '20 S90 T6; '22 MB Sprinter 2500 4x4 diesel; '97 Suzuki R Wagon; '96 Opel Astra; '11 Mini Cooper S
Really hard to find these in nice condition anymore
Early model
If I was looking for a malaise car, I would be into this. Price might be close to fair if it all checks out, or negotiate a little and smile.
Jeanie Bueller
I saw one of these on the road not long ago - private imports are arriving en masse here
For the brave
Looks nice, good affordable classic
Showing how SLs are valued compared to sedans - a nice sedan with this mileage might even bring more money. Tons of style for the dollar.
Caramel
I believe the Caramel color Deville is the same color that Ray Liotta drove in the final scenes of Goodfellas
2025 Ram 1500 Laramie 4x4 / 2023 Mercedes EQE 350 4Matic
I like the S10
2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.
-
100% would be impossible to find an unmolested S10 in that shape here. I'd love it for a 4th carWhat's with the kid that turned down the Integra? Just needs a wrap and some wheels
Those Fieros are getting some love these days. Nostalgia sells, even if it's for a ..... checks notes.... Fiero
That Toyota Sera is trippy.. I've never seen one before
The T Bird is not a great year but if you want a clean affordable old car, it fits the bill
2009 BMW 335i, 2003 Corvette cnv. (RIP 2001 Jaguar XK8 cnv and 1985 MB 380SE [the best of the lot])
2009 BMW 335i, 2003 Corvette cnv. (RIP 2001 Jaguar XK8 cnv and 1985 MB 380SE [the best of the lot])
Speaking of which, last night I saw a very sad yet also funny video from Tony that was right out of the blue. It began with him in his pickup driving through Illinois back roads with him narrating in a choked-up voice that his parents had been hit in their '89 Town Car and he was en route to the spot. He was understandably emotional as he is very close to them and they are not young, I believe 80 and 78.
He arrives at the site, a T-intersection of 2 rural paved roads in the middle of large cornfields. There is a yellow Mitsu Fast and Furious recreation there with the front end severely bashed in and his parents TC on its roof in the ditch. It appeared to have been T-boned in the front right, rolled over, and slid down into the ditch. The young Mitsu driver survived as did Tony's parents, with his mom just shaken up and his dad having a neck injury of some sort but nothing particularly serious. Tony was quite emotional until he was able to see they appeared generally OK, and were loaded into the ambulance.
Where it became funny was that before leaving to join them at the hospital he stuck around to wait for the tow truck to haul away the remains of the TC. While there he started a walkaround of the wreck and started assessing it like it was a junkyard find. As in "that center cap is good", "oh damn, the dash pad got cracked", and after finding the keys, "all the power locks are good", etc. It absolutely broke me up, he just couldn't help himself. Apparently just a week or two ago he had it in his shop and did a lot of work to it. After a while he recognized that it might sound strange, but he was so familiar with the car and his dad loved it so much that it was like it was part of the family.
Later on after it got to the impound lot he actually was able to get it to start quite easily which I found rather amazing. He said this was the 3rd crash his parents had in TCs, two in their previous one and now this. I think he is going to buy it for salvage, strip off what he can use on other TCs and send off whatever remains of it to its reward. He ended the video with a short segment of his folks after they left the ER and were back home, looking rather the worse for wear emotionally but generally OK. Assuming his dad is able to resume driving at some point the current plan is for another TC to be procured.
Here's the video:
2017 Cadillac ATS Performance Premium 3.6
2017 Cadillac ATS Performance Premium 3.6
The Panther platform is legendary. The box era (79-91) are basically indestructible. The later models had some issues through the years but they are workhorses.
I’ve been in NYC taxis that read over 500K on the odometer. They basically run 24 hours a day.
I miss my 89 Town Car… someday there will be another in the fleet
2025 Ram 1500 Laramie 4x4 / 2023 Mercedes EQE 350 4Matic
2017 Cadillac ATS Performance Premium 3.6
I prefer them with the turbine wheels.
Lacy spokes aren’t too bad either.
2025 Ram 1500 Laramie 4x4 / 2023 Mercedes EQE 350 4Matic
Fun fact … those two center caps are not the same! Ask me how I know.
2025 Ram 1500 Laramie 4x4 / 2023 Mercedes EQE 350 4Matic
I remember back in 1989, one of my best friend's dads bought a new TC - not sure if they were blowing out the old ones in advance of the new style, or if he liked the oldies and wanted one before they were gone. I can't clearly remember all details of the car, but I think it had wire caps and velour. I recall driving by the house maybe 10 years ago, and caught a glimpse of the car parked by the garage - I will have to stop by the next time I am in the area and see if I can spot it.
One funny incident, I pulled over at a scenic spot where I like to snap a pic, area was empty, no cars parked for blocks, and almost immediately a woman in a Subaru parks right behind me - several other spots to park, and that was the one. By then I was hot and a little irritated, so I just drove off and found another spot as a pic without an Outback nosing in wasn't going to be possible. I drove by maybe 20 mins later and the car was gone - I wonder if she wanted to say something about the car? Oh well. Reminded me of the universal experience of parking way out in the lot, no cars around, and returning to someone parked next to you with nobody else around. Gratuitous pic on a somewhat hazy and smoky dog days of summer day:
2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.
2009 BMW 335i, 2003 Corvette cnv. (RIP 2001 Jaguar XK8 cnv and 1985 MB 380SE [the best of the lot])
Imagine taking that rocket car to work.
2019 Kia Soul+, 2015 Mustang GT, 2013 Ford F-150, 2000 Chrysler Sebring convertible
I remember the shop told me they used a brand of oil that isn't sold in big box stores - I need to remember to find out what it was, I believe a heavier weight too. Car seems to like it fine.
Most pleasant weather here in a few months - highs in the mid 70s make a car like this more enjoyable than the ~90 of last weekend where the car felt like an oven after being outside a bit, or even warmer for what seems like the past 8+ weeks. Summer still has time to go, but with a few days of lows in the 40s in the forecast, I can sense that winter hibernation for the car will be here in what will feel like no time.
My sister took the summer to attend to a few issues on the Jetta - two new tires, and a repair to the heater. I think it has 117k on it.
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2015 Subaru Outback 3.6R / 2024 Kia Sportage Hybrid SX Prestige