What brand new cars do you think would be worth buying with the aproach that you will never sell it? I know of an old guy that bought a ford F150 RHD back in the early 80s and still drives it daily. I could see that a landrover defender would be a vehicle that you could own and keep. I was wondering if the new mustangs could be a car that would fit that. What vehicle do you think that will stand the test of time and in say 15 to 20 years be a car that you would still be proud to drive?
woody1946,
Apr 13, 2:29am
1925 Model T Ford ?
robotnik,
Apr 13, 2:30am
Tesla Model S. Gasoline powered cars won't be sold in a few years, so not much point getting any of those.
survivalkiwi,
Apr 13, 2:33am
That would be perfect if I could buy a 2015 1925 Model t.
muzz67,
Apr 13, 2:33am
Future classic? cant think of one 'normal' car that'd be a keeper! having said that,, who'd have thought esky's etc would be worth what they sell for now.
They were saying that the internal combustion engine would be dead within a few years when I was a kid. Even with the advances in alternative fuels, I think there is a bit of life left in them yet awhile.
I'd be more worried about buying any modern vehicle for long term use that relied in any way shape or form, on computerisation, any form of software and plastics that degrade with or without exposure to UV.
My gut feeling is more along the lines of repairable and able to be reconditioned, than something with a load of bells and whistles.
Even five year old cars are getting to the stage where it may well cost you $400 for a new remote key (they do wear out) or sat nav upgrade.
Goodness knows what happens when the sound system packs a sad and the dealer can't fix it without flogging you a brand new one.
We are also at the stage of maybe buying something for keeps, so will be interested to see how this thread goes.
woody1946,
Apr 13, 3:25am
Thats why a Morris Minor or a VW beetle would be a good choice
socram,
Apr 13, 3:40am
I was going to say Morris Minor, but maybe a Riley 1.5 would suit me better. "SMILEY the RILEY"
tigertim20,
Apr 13, 4:00am
chap at work has owned exactly two cars in 31 years. bought both of them brand new. Fords both of them.
I think most cars have that ability now if they are looked after properly, i think the limiting factor is that probably less than 10% of private vehicles are actually serviced according to all their normal intervals throughout their life.
morrisman1,
Apr 13, 4:03am
You should get a morris minor, a ute even, that would be more practical.
i think your way off the mark there. i think the days of long term reliability of cars ended in the 90's. i cant imagine being able to find a stability control module or passenger airbag for a 20 year old car in the future. cars will be rendered instantly scrap metal if stuff like that fails.
brapbrap8,
Apr 13, 5:12am
Plenty of 80's Toyota Hilux utes still going perfectly. I know a guy who has had one since brand new and still treats it like his baby. Just had new paint, flatdeck and wheels and is in better than new condition despite being over 400km. No rust on it and no reason it won't still be his daily driver another 30 years from now.
mals69,
Apr 13, 5:36am
Low build top of the range FPV coonmobile or HSV dunnydore - cause not making anymore
kdcentralni,
Apr 13, 2:59pm
If you go for a commercial heavy duty vehicle, like a patrol or land cruiser and only do 14k a year it will last for a long time. Just rust proof them. Likened to a rural postie wearing out a 323 or Corolla not designed for that type of usage.
serf407,
Apr 13, 3:42pm
The electric car in many countries is a bit dubious as an enviromental benefit when fossil fuels are still used to make electricity. It is just shifting the fuel use from petrol to coal. e.g USA electricity generation http://www.eia.gov/tools/faqs/faq.cfm?id=427&t=3 (2/3 rds fossil, 1/5 nuke, 13% Hydro, renewable) The Japanese are going down a few different routes now. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hydrogen_highway_%28Japan%29 A hydrogen network is unlikely in NZ, so fewer used Japanese cars might be available to the NZ used market. For NZ it is likely to be an electric car that has longevity. http://www.greencarreports.com/news/1097235_2017-nissan-leaf-what-we-know-so-far-about-new-electric-car (e.g The Nissan Leaf in a few years time when the range is extended, more and faster rechargers in an NZ network) It is likely to be a car people have the knowledge to fix because there is a sufficient volume of them, the batteries can be upgraded and recycled or reconditioned through the car's life, annoying little parts that fail on every car (always picked off ones in wreckers) can be 3d printed when the model goes out of production. The electrics are simple enough to be maintained, replaced, upgraded.
richardmayes,
Apr 13, 3:57pm
Our previous-shape Toyota Corolla that we had for an office hack at work is one of VERY FEW new cars I've driven where every part of it - interior and exterior - feels solid, well-made and just generally built like cars used to be.
Sure it was tall, ugly, had a beam rear axle and pretty dead handling, and is not really a car that anyone could fall in love with.
But the assembly quality of it seemed FAR better than the 5-year expected life disposable cars we see almost everywhere else. Plus it had a good straightforward manual gearbox, and a throttle-body EFI engine with variable timing, which is all pretty mature technology and should be able to be kept going for a long time.
Whereas many other recent cars I've driven feel like they will rattle themselves to bits within 10 years or 200,000km. Thin tin, thin rattly plastic everywhere inside, rubbish fabric on the seats, instrument faces that look like they were laser printed on the kind of plastic foam that press-out toy gliders are made of. Not to mention the whole plethora of CVT transmissions, common rail diesel engines with frighteningly expensive injector pumps, little highly stressed eco turbo engines, etc etc that all sounds like a bomb waiting to go off.
petal_91,
Apr 13, 4:30pm
Porsche 911, latest 991 version. Porsche maintains a good parts inventory for past models and there are always specialist workshops that will know how to work on them.
robotnik,
Apr 13, 8:09pm
Does it really have throttle body EFI, as in single point with a big central circular air intake that looks like the car is fitted with a carby? That is pretty primitive for a 2000s car!
mals69,
Apr 13, 9:32pm
Agree Lot say yota had their hay-day in the 90's - one of the best cars I've driven was old lady's 92 corrolla sedan diesel - use togo exactly where you pointed it at pace - unlike 2014 VF dunnnydore drove for aweek. MacPherson Strut front and strut rear on the 92 corolla.
nzdoug,
Apr 13, 9:55pm
+1. You would never look back.?
tamarillo,
Apr 13, 9:59pm
Can't agree on electric as this is such new tech and batteries will be revolutionised soon making an electric car bought now unwanted and untenable in 10 let alone 20 years. Electric will take off, but that leave less people using petrol. And there is plenty left. When lots is produced but demand goes down, price goes down. So petrol may be best bet for long term ownership. my choice would be falcon 6 cyclinder. Notice the huge milage on some used as corporate taxis. Relatively simple. Little change in each update so good commonality of parts, meaning more choice when finding them and more available. You could, in 10 yrs time, buy a crashed one cheap and keep it for parts. If that's too big a manual Toyota Corolla. I don't include hilux as you said 'car'.
socram,
Apr 13, 10:42pm
What we really need is an updated Reliant Scimitar with a long life modern engine. Apart from the racing incidents, the 1970 fibreglass body on my own car is as good as new structurally, so a removeable (ie bolted, not bonded) fibreglass body on a protected spaceframe chassis, with appropriate running gear, would be the ideal.
By the way Morrisman, one of Dad's company's vehicles was a Morris Minor Ute, which he always started on the handle in winter, as it lived outside when at our place, but just two seats isn't really enough for a family vehicle. Not quite enough oomph or brakes for me either.
You really need something that cruises well at 100kph, in a high gear. TD4 Freelander is about 1700rpm at 100kph, making it very unstressed and economical, but I still have reservations about the electronics, long term.
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