jeb@eisx.UUCP (05/26/83)
This is inpspired by Dave Hayes posting on his search for low cost highway travel. I see lots of interest these days in the "alternative forms" of transportation, and of course many people buying new small cars which get impressive gas mileage. All well and good, I suppose, but missing the real solution -- the 10 to 15 year old American car. I currently have a 1964 Fairlane (260 V8, 3-speed manual) in my garage which will hit the road as soon as my 1965 Chevelle bites the dust. I paid $450 for it and invested about $200 in parts. Should get 18-20 mpg. If you figure most people are spending around $8K for a new car (and that's low), $7K should be worth around $700 a year in interest, which makes up a lot of the gas mileage difference. Other good points: I save on insurance, I don't have a car loan to pay interest on, I can park it anywhere and seldom bother to lock the doors, I can drive in New York (even out-bluff the cabbies), and if anything happens to it (engine blows up, tree falls on it, etc.) I can just take the plates off, pull out the stereo, and call the junkyard to take it away. In comparison to the cyclecar hybrids, I feel a whole lot safer in my Detroit iron (I put seatbelts in, and I use them). Now the Big Drawback: Is it any fun to drive? Well, no, but then driving in New Jersey is almost never any fun. I used to drive sportscars (Lotus, TR6, 124, etc.) but what with the insurance companies, 55mph, state DMV, and NF traffic, it just wasn't worlth the hassle. One alternative may be classic cars. I also own a 1952 GMC panel truck (hey, this guy really is out of it). I fiddle with the mechanicals, and use it as a backup if my regular junker is out of commission. I can haul lots of tools around in it, furniture, branches, junk to the dump, etc. I put classic plates on it, which means I don't have to renew the registration and I DON'T HAVE TO HAVE IT INSPECTED!!! My insurance (high liability numbers, plus $2K collision) costs me $40 per year. It's fun to drive because it's weird, and I sit up way above the other cars where I can see all the traffic. Dogs bark and little kids wave at me. In the meantime, since I have to waste my disposable income somehow (keep the economy ticking) and I'm not doing it on cars anymore, I put the money somewhere where the government still leaves me some freedom, and where the traffic is less congested --- AIRPLANES!! Jim Beckman ABI South Plainfield, NJ vtxb!jeb or eisx!jeb
mjb@brunix.UUCP (05/27/83)
Here in RI you can get 'Antique' license plates, which is great for little old ladies because you can only drive the car on Sundays! -Mike