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I’m a sucker for a well-kept classic, so much so that when I see one for sale, it’s tough not to make a purchase. I like vehicles that are simple, reliable, and that I can get hands-on with. At 24 years young, the old Ford is the newest vehicle in my modest collection and one of my favorites. It has OBD II with four-wheel antilock brakes and only one airbag (for me). Mechanically, this advanced erector set rolls on 31 x 10.5-inch tires, while big analog gauges relay all the cockpit information one could ever need. By today’s standards, it’s a Conestoga wagon with a V-8 engine, which, if I’m being honest, suits me just fine.
 
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Since moving to California ten years ago I’ve made a conscious effort to always run a classic as a daily. The journey started with a low-mileage 1992 Chevrolet Caprice wagon, which morphed into a 1970 Chrysler Newport, then onto a 1972 Chevrolet Monte Carlo, a 1986 Porsche 928s, and now onto the aforementioned Ford. As a native New Yorker, salted winter roads meant driving a classic year-round was nearly impossible due to rust, but here in California it simply feels like the right thing to do.
 
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Classic vehicles on the West Coast are just looked upon differently than in other parts of the country. Out here they’re not classics or collectables per say, in as much as they’re just old. Sure, smog regulations can be a nightmare, but if you’re going to drive an older vehicle then you best get used to keeping it in tip-top shape. In regard to that, I get asked all the time about the availability of parts, qualified mechanics, performance on today’s modern roadways and so on. My response to this is always the same – I’ve never had an issue, and modern roadways are no problem. Parts have always been readily available, and great technicians are just a phone call away. And, as far as performance and safety goes, everything can be updated close to modern standards IF you’re willing to take the time and spend the money.
 
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Another plus for the classic daily is the complete and utter lack of a car payment. Call me crazy, but I don’t want a 72-month car loan at 6 percent interest, nor do I ever want to step foot in a dealership again. That’s especially true in 2020, where, according to Kelly Blue Book, the average price of a new car is $37,851. Are there some exceptions to the rule? Sure, but not for me, at least not yet anyway. I think this is partly true because as a journalist, I’ve driven just about every new car produced in the last 15 years. Not only do I know their strengths, weaknesses, and reliability issues, but I’ve also seen how most just crater in value, and that fact scares the hell out of me.
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Then there’s the new technology. I’m not saying it’s bad, it just doesn’t fit in my wheelhouse. I don’t want a vehicle that parks itself, yanks the wheel from my hands or applies the brakes when it feels like I’m doing something it doesn’t agree with. Nor do I want anything with an inset screen that’s bigger than the one in my living room. Instead, I prefer a vehicle where I’m in control. I’ll take the one with the service manual that I can understand, and the one where it’s parts won’t be obsolete or out of production in 20 years. In short, I’ll take the one that lets me make all the decisions, because let’s face it, as a driver, that’s what you’re supposed to do.
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This is a quick piece, I know, but in closing, I’d like you to try a little experiment. Next time you’re in traffic or stopped at a light, take a moment, look around, and observe how many people aren’t doing the same. My guess is they’re buried in their phone, or fiddling with an overly complex infotainment system, or trying to figure out how to make the color on their dash go from blue to green. Then, once that light turns or the traffic begins to move, see how quickly the other drivers react – my bet is that it’s not too quickly.
 
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My old cars and trucks keep me on my toes. They keep me grounded in an automotive world that I control and enjoy. Will I be able to drive them forever? Who knows? What I do know is that for now, I plan on putting as many miles on my classic dailies as I possibly can because I fear that one day, driving old cars as a main form of transportation will be a thing of the past. I’m simply not ready for that.