[mod]

I've already decided the same, and my current vehicle is a 2015, before they started this new wave of nonsense.

I drive a truck. I think I'm going to get my favorite body style of F150 (late 70s/early 80s) and put a brand new engine in it, and whatever else it needs to make it 100%. I don't need any tech except one of those things that turns AUX into FM radio.

When I bought this truck, it replaced a 1996 Jeep Grand Cherokee with 318,000 miles (512,000km). I can live without luxury. I'll miss my heated steering wheel, though.

[agentwiggles]

As a young man I used to drive a 1980s Ford Ranger. It had manual transmission, an AM/FM radio, shitty A/C, bare metal interior, crank windows, and a bent driveshaft that meant it could really only safely go about 50 mph. You had to carry a few gallons of water in the bed in case the radiator needed a refill.

It was genuinely, with no sarcasm, my favorite vehicle I ever owned. It was mine and it felt like freedom. (Also, with no upholstery, no amount of smoking could stink it up, so an extra helping of freedom).

I miss the shit out of that busted old pile of junk.

[jws]

For someone considering this, to expound on I don't need any tech except…

• depending on your era the radios are easily replaceable with something that has aux in and bluetooth.

• towing insurance, the kind that actually pays for the tow, not the garbage my insurance includes which will pay part of a really expensive tow leaving you with more than you will find if you shop around.

• a flexible schedule.

• a greater than average tolerance for vehicular death.

I use a 1990s F250HD when I need a truck, love it, can't stop to put fuel in it without someone coming over to talk truck stories. It has more miles on it than the Artemis space capsule. But, it does strand me from time to time (water pump bearing, transmission, instant total brake failure on a downhill grade into a contested intersection with 4 tons of boat on the hitch…)

As much as I use it for its truck super power, I would be money ahead to sell it and just rent Home Depot/Menards truck for in town use and an Enterprise 3/4 ton for long distance towing. But, its "my truck", and I'll keep it until the next transmission or engine.

[mrguyorama]

>instant total brake failure on a downhill grade into a contested intersection with 4 tons of boat on the hitch…

You're free to drive into a tree of your own accord, but please don't let your personal choices kill my girlfriend or mother. If you drive an old vehicle, especially if it's a large truck used for towing, ensure before any drive that the brakes will not fail, and that you have the requisite backups required by local law.

[jws]

I totally agree! The truck was recently safety inspected for the state, and brake systems are supposed to fail front and back independently. Front and the rear failed in different ways, though the front failure was precipitated by the extra pressure when the rear failed. The mechanical emergency brake was fine.

[ryanianian]

Safety features and emissions regulations might put a dent in that as a long-term plan.

[mrguyorama]

Old cars are nearly always grandfathered in to those kind of things. In my state we have yearly inspections, but they are waived if you have an """antique""" which is 25 years old or if you go through the work to get it certified as a "hot rod" type vehicle, IE a custom build.