Post
by petefarrell360 » 15 Aug 2007 11:30 pm
So many wise words. John says some spot on things like, "I actually rather enjoy being pitied by every other motorist, and feel no real need to compare salaries." I can't recall how many times someone has asked why I haven't got a better car, why I don't get a better car, why I can't afford a better car, made fun of me having an old car etc etc as it happens so much. Most people would give in to peer pressure and feel obliged to conform to accepted standards just because everyone else does. I'm not a sheep, I don't follow, I enjoy being different. If someone has to judge me by what I'm driving because it isn't new and shiny, meaning I'm poor and unacceptable to them, then I have no wish to socialise with them!
Like Mac says, let some other sucker lose the money on buying the car new. If they feel they need to prove to their neighbours they have lots of money etc by displaying a new car on their drive, let them get on with it! I do things for my enjoyment and for practical reasons. I could go out tomorrow and buy a brand new car, something with no character, I'd be unable to service it, play with it and do anything to it due to all the electrics and covers, and I'd lose a lot of money on it. No thanks!
I've had some drivers mention, oh I USED to have one of those, in a "Oh it's so outdated and rubbish now, how can I even admit to owning such a car, oh I pity you," sort of way! And quite frankly, I couldn't care less! Infact, things like that often make me chuckle and feel glad that I'm different.
Most people don't even know what a 300 is, and as Tom said in another thread, people think you mean V40 instead of 340. I get the comment of trying to make a good one out of all of them then, due to the amount of 300's I have. Erm no, the main two are MOT'd, taxed and insured, the other is awaiting some tuning fun. I
The other thing that annoys me is if you ever stop anywhere and check under the bonnet, people always make comments like, oh the oold banger gone wrong again, what's broken now etc. It's called maintenance, I'm either checking oil and water etc, or doing some simple checks. I often get such comments everytime I work on my car at my workshop, oh what's wrong now!? My reply never changes, I call it maintenance.
I like being the only car in a carpark that is over 4 years old. At least mine doesn't stand out for someone wanting to steal a new car! I was at a sporting even about a month ago and realised there wasn't a car there that was over 5 years old other than mine. Most of those people wouldn't judge me on my car, as I know them and they know more about me than first impressions give, but several would, and I think it's stupid.
The only thing that driving an older car does give you is it makes you more approachable by drivers of other older cars, as we tend to stick together. I had a lady in a 400 come up to me in a petrol station, as I was driving the 360, as she was worried about a reading on the dash, and thought I might be able to help. It was the info centre reading the outside temp and because it was approaching freezing it was flashing or displaying something she hadn't seen before. Would you get anything like that happen with a newer car, I doubt it.
Back to the original question! In 20 years time, I personally don't think there will be the same quantities of older cars about as there are 300's in this day and age. Purely because we are becoming such a throw away society. So, there will probably be a big gap appear between classics and current cars and cars of the 80's like the 300 will be one of the last cars that might make classic status in any numbers.
As companies like Ford stop supplying parts for cars over ten years old, this will get shorter and shorter, so won't encourage anyone to keep a car either.
I don't think we can generalise too much, it all comes down to each person and their own thoughts and ideas. I mean some are company cars to present an image. Others are just because they can, like Mac says, for safety features, reliability and reassurance etc.
However I've noticed that a lot of current 300 drivers won't acknowledge you, or don't respect that you actually like the car, they are using it as a cheap runaround, they may be forced to buy a cheap car, and assume it is the same for you. So they see you as being in the same boat.
My way more than 2 pence worth!
Pete
G reg 360 GLT, G reg 340 GL Variomatic, plus many more..........
and while the newer volvos are nice, I prefer my 300 by miles. It just has so much more character and simplicity.
