I am going to buy my very first car. Is it a good Idea to buy a Classic car?

Thats another good point wrenchtech 1974 is the cut off for smog exempt in california. So 1975 and up needs smog checks every 2yrs.

Good luck and be sure to have it checked out first. If you're like many car owners you will appreciate moving up to something newer in the future but you'll always have fond memories of your first car.

Saturntech9 made the best case for new technology. We're always moving forward. Hmac 300 also has valid points, but again, my complaint is not with anti-lock brakes, air bags, fuel injection, emission controls, and other things that really have a legitimate benefit. Bring it on, but let me get trained on it and work on it without having to work at a dealership. What I don't appreciate is when the technology is unnecessary. Computers running backup lights is the example I always refer back to. All that's needed is a switch, not a switch to run a computer to turn on lights.

I can fix tvs, dvd players, and vcrs because I can buy parts and service manuals, ... Until those items appear in cars; then suddenly everything is top secret and locked up. GM and Ford had some of the best radio service manuals in the industry until they chose to not share them with independent shops in the '90s. Sorry, didn't mean to get off topic again.

You'll notice I have never even mentioned the throttle-by-wire systems which concern me. I know there is a legitimate benefit to that system, (emissions-related, I think), but I can't remember what it is. I've driven cars with that system, they performed fine, but until someone can prove they're safer than a throttle cable, I choose to not own one. I know the lawyers are involved in every aspect of designing new products so if they are satisfied the systems are safe, I should be too, but I'm not so far. Hope that doesn't open up a whole new can of worms.

Remember Drew, you can come back here with any questions. Maybe next time we'll take the time to give you a longer answer with more detail!

As far as the throttle by wire the first time I actually got a close look at them is when I went to factory training for the saturn LS model in 2000. Saturn first used it on there 3.0L V6 which is the same engine the used in the caddy catera model with a different intake and its front wheel drive mounted unlike the caddy.I ask about the safety of it to the instructor he told me to shove a a screw driver handle in the throttle plate to hild it open like it stuck open.I did and the computer retarded the timing so much your not going to speed out of control. You have two tps sensors in the throttle body and two throttle pedal position sensor that cross check each other. So a lot of safety is built in.I can only speak for gm cars on the throttle by wire and I feel completely safe driving those cars.

Thank you. I heard too that the motor running the throttle blade was strong enough to break a pencil. I guess a I rely too much on a comment a Chrysler instructor shared years ago when they came out with flex-fuel vehicles. The sensor in the fuel system had just two probes and little if any circuitry. Testing showed that if extrapolated out, that sensor should last 400 million miles. She said, "you know what that means, ... There's going to be a rash of failures". Very entertaining and knowledgeable instructor. She was a former Cadillac mechanic and really knew her stuff.

Still don't know what the benefit is with the system but it seems to me it had something to do with the throttle holding steady on bumpy roads while a cable would be vibrating in response to your foot on the gas pedal, then the computer would be constantly adjusting in response to the bouncing throttle position sensor voltage. I can still recall hearing old-timers grumping about "them new-fangled alternators" that came out in the '60s, and how they didn't understand them. I suspect before long this will be another old technology too.

Yes the throttle by wire is ran by a throttle servo which is very strong. Also throttle by wire doesnt have to use a idle air control valve it just uses the throttle servo to adjust the throttle plate for the correct idle rpm.

I'VE BEEN OUT OF POCKET FOR A WHILE. IF I HAD JUMPED IN EARLIER, YOU WOULD WOULD SEE THE LOGIC IN. NOT GETTING A CLASSIC CAR.

CARS ARE JUST TOO LOW ON THE GROUND. EVEN OLD ONES ARE COMPLICATED TO AN EXTENT. BODY/ TRIM ALONE!

YOU DON'T WANT ONE!

WHAT YOU WANT IS TO OWN IS WHAT YOU'VE ALWAYS DREAMED OF OWNING. JUST LIKE EVERYONE ELSE HAS DREAMED OF.

I HAVE TWO---ONE IS A '77 THE OTHER IS A '46. AFTER 36 AND 66 YEARS. THEY STILL TURN HEADS. FEMALES SWARM ON 'EM LIKE LOCUSTS!

I'M 48. HAVE HAD FIVE CJs PRIOR TO THESE TWO, NEVER HAD A CAR FOR A PRIMARY DRIVER. HAD THESE TWO SINCE THE EARLY 90s

MY DAUGHTER WAS PROFICIENT IN DRIVING "WILLY" AT AGE 10, FOUR WHEEL DRIVE (USING IT), CHANGING TIRES, MINOR MAINTENANCE (INCLUDING AN OIL CHANGE). SHE'D MUCH RATHER SHOW OUT BY HAND-CRANKING HIM, THAN TO USE THE STARTER.

NAME ANOTHER RIG THAT HAS SORTA KEPT THE SAME/ SIMILAR LINES FROM 1940-PRESENT DAY.72 YEARS OF DOMINATION

DON'T LIKE SEAT BELTS."WILLY" (MY '46) DIDN'T COME WITH 'EM. AIN'T GOTTA HAVE 'EM

LONGEVITY. SIMPLICITY. LOVED BY ALL (ENVIOUS PERSONNEL HAVE BEEN KNOWN TO LIE). HOW CAN YOU GO WRONG?

IF YOU HAVE MADE AN UNWISE DECISION ALREADY. IT'S NOT TOO LATE TO JOIN OUR TEAM. THAT GOES FOR THE REST OF YOU TOO!

THE MEDIC

LOOKS LIKE A COUPLE DIDN'T MAKE IT

HERE'S A TYPICAL MASSIVE "NEWER VEHICLE" COMPUTER GLITCH

(YOU WILL NOT FIND IN A CLASSIC CAR)

https://www.2carpros.com/questions/1999-ford-f-150-99-front-brake-job-leads-transmission-failure

I'VE BEEN FOLLOWING THIS ONE, I ALSO PRIVATE MESSAGED THIS FELLER

EVEN AFTER HIS ON GOING BRAKE PROBLEM WITH A REALLY LOW MILEAGE SUNDAY DRIVER TRUCK---HE NOW HAS WHAT LOOKS LIKE A SUDDEN AND MYSTERIOUS COMPUTER PROBLEM, AFTER TAKING IT IN FOR THE BRAKE REPAIR (HE TAKES IT TO THE DEALER FOR ALL SERVICE)

HE TOLD ME THAT AFTER THE *** 2 WEEKS + *** THEY HAVE HAD IT FOR THE BRAKE AND NOW "GLITCH".....THEY TOLD HIM IT WAS FIXED, AND TO COME GET IT.

HE SAID HE DROVE IT OUT OF THE PARKING LOT AND WHEN HE HIT THE STREET......HIS GAUGES GLITCHED UP, IT WOULD NOT SHIFT OUT OF 1ST GEAR, HE SIMPLY DROVE IT BACK INTO THEIR LOWER DRIVEWAY AND HANDED THEM THE KEYS.

SO NOW THAT'S TWO TO THREE SUNDAYS HE HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO DRIVE IT!.....ALL BECAUSE OF A BRAKE ISSUE TURNED SOUR!

HE ALSO ADDED THAT THEY ASKED HIM IF THERE WAS ANYONE ELSE HE'D LIKE TO TAKE IT TO?.........."The Experts" said this?????

I'M GUESSING IF "I" WERE DEPENDENT ON THE "DEALER".....THE NEXT PLACE I'D WANNA TAKE IT FOR A CORPORATE FIX WOULD BE "RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT" OR "A COMPANY TRAINING FACILITY"

MORAL HERE, IS DON'T LET SOMEONE CONVINCE YOU THAT A NEWER, MORE COMPLICATED VEHICLE IS EZer AND CHEAPER TO FIX...AND PARTS ARE FASTER TO OBTAIN..........'cause it just ain't so!!!

WITH MOST OF THE '40s ON UP PRODUCTION VEHICLES, COMMON STUFF CAN BE OBTAINED WITHIN A COUPLE OF DAYS (IF NOT, RIGHT THERE ON THE SPOT). BIGGER LESS FAILING ITEMS, WITHIN A WEEK, THRU A PARTS STORE OR ON THE INTERNET.

PLEASE POST A PIC OF YOUR JEEP!

THE MEDIC

The only people that run and hide from technology are the people that don't understand it. I certainly wouldn't be taking automotive advice from a plumber that moonlights as an auto adviser.

LOOKY HERE!

DAYLIGHTS AT ADVANCE AUTO TOO. THIS FELLER CAN DO IT ALL!

DECLINED "SUPER HERO" STATUS AS HE WAS TOO BUSY DOIN' WHAT HE DOES!

THIS IS A SORTA A PROTOTYPE OF A HOMEMADE AD FOR THESE MICROFIBER TOWELS WE HAVE AT THE STORE. THEY'RE HIGH TECH!

TOOK THESE PICS WITH MY HIGH TECH CANON EOS T-3 I GOT FOR CHRISTMAS. AND STARTED COMBINING THEM

I HAVE'T HAD TIME TO FINISH IT UP WITH PHOTOSHOP (HIGH TECH PROGRAM ON THE COMPUTER)

THESE MICROFIBER TOWELS SORTA ABSORB DIRT AND TRASH AND WILL NOT SCRATCH YOUR BABY!

I WIPED MY MONITOR JUST ABOVE THIS ANSWER WITH ONE---WAH-LAH---'SORBED IT RIGHT UP!

YA'LL HAVE A WONDERFUL DAY!

(YOU CAN STILL SEND THEM PICS)

THE MEDIC

You cant post a link to a crazy we dont even know if its a computer problem could be a wire harness terminal tighteness issue or any number of other issues. Also its a uncommon not run of the mill every newer car problem. When I worked at the dealerships I would get all kinds of crazy problems to fix electrical computer drivability water leaks gotta love those lol. But was it the norm that every new car had these problems no it was more the exception.I had to fix all the cars the shop that everyone else in the shop didnt want to fix because they were too busy making money doing services or brakes etc. Or they just didnt want to embrace technology and learn how to fix it. Do I hate new cars because I have seen all these crazy weird issues that some of them have?No I dont I have owned 60'S 70'S cars my family as well and I had to fix and maintain all these cars for me and my family.I can tell you this I like a lot more now that I have a newer cars to maintain for me and my family members.I do miss my old camaro and caddy though but not as every day drivers as they were when I had them. As a sunday driver though I appreachiate the old cars dont get me wrong. But in most cases people who have older cars dont use them as every day drivers ethier unless they have no other choice.

I have to get in on this too. Ahhh, wait, never mind. This could be used to create 20 novels. All cars are good when they run but they all break. CJ, nice shirt. Is it really that bright red?

You know, the poor guy asked a simple question. It is his first car. My guess is that he is so confused at this point, that he is dusting off the old bicycle and saying the heck with everything.