Got Chewed Out Today

I find that both types of vehicle have their place.

I have my Swinger, it's parked at my garage in Florida, and when we go down to stay at the condo, I use it as my second car. It's also my hobby car.

I drive an extraordinary amount of miles each year. Near 40 miles a year. When I do that, I prefer to do it in a new(er) vehicle. Why, 3 reasons, comfort and reliability, with far lower maintenance requirements, not to mention bumper to bumper warranties.

When I'm on vacation, or traveling around the country with my wife, we can travel 6000 - 8000 miles in one trip. That will include various climates, elevations, and conditions. We almost always take such trips in my Crew cab. More room, better visibility. Also, great reliability. That's what electronics brings to road trips.
No distributor, no points or condenser, no rotor, cap, etc. Mobile one oil and the truck's oil change requirements even eliminate the need for an oil change in that distance. Plugs an plug wires will serve for 100,000 miles.

What long distance driving in a new vehicle does for you is it eliminates the need for on the road maintenance.
I've driven from Georgia to Washington State and back again, and the only time I opened the hood of the truck was to check the oil level, and I never added a drop in that round trip, nearly 10,000 miles, in 3 weeks.

Made 3 round trips to Albuquerque, NM, for Georgia. Towed a trailer with a Chevy Silverado on it that I delivered to my son on one trip, and towed a full side Ford van back. No issues.

I've heard all the, so called horror stories about driving computer vehicles, and they are usually exaggerations of a rare incident.
I've also hear all the anecdotal evidence form anti- new car people who tell stories of a friends car that cost a million dollars to fix, and no one could find the cause of the issue. No offense to anyone. but most of those stories are BS. Sure, it happens, but not nearly at the frequency claimed.
The truth of the matter is, electronics have made cars for more reliable, and given them far more trouble free miles than any other advancement in the automotive industry.

We tend to over look the amount of preventive maintenance our A bodies need. Like most of you, I do most of the work on my own cars, except for that which is covered by warranty. No other mechanic has touched my Swinger since I bought it in 1973 with the only exception being the A/C service, the re-covering of the driver's ( actually the whole front) seat, and tire replacement and wheel alignment. I've personally done all of the rest of the service, maintenance, and repair to the car either as needed, or on regular PM cycles.

My truck is a different story. It requires nothing accept an oil change and tire rotation every 10K miles. I do them both myself, still.
I can trouble shut my truck with a lap top computer for the most part, and it tells me everything for, tire pressure, to rear axle lube temp.

I hook up my computer to the truck once a month. I get a complete diagnostic read out, in a few minutes, and as long as I keep up with the data input ( last oil change, last tire rotation, etc.) the read out will also tell me what needs to be done on a timely basis.

I can plug in my lap top, and take a short drive down the road, and if I vary that drive enough, interstate, back roads, urban driving, etc. I can get actual performance read outs both in real time, and in report form, that I can print if I want to.
By doing this once a month, I'm able to keep track of any changes in the truck's performance, any issues with sending units and electronic hardware, even engine wear.

Another thing. I'm a firm believer in oil analysis. My trick get's a oil analysis every third oil change. My old truck and my Dart get them twice a year. My wife's car is still under warranty so I don't worry about it, and it will probably be replace before the warranty runs out, anyway.

The amount of info you can get from oil analysis is unbelievable. Not only can it tell you about over heated oil issues, but if there is any appreciable wear on the reciprocating, and moving parts, but also the bearings. By identifying the materials in the oil sample, it can also pin point which parts are affected. It's cheap insurance.

If you do a lot of long distance driving, far from home, and your personal circle of friends, like I do, you'll learn to appreciate reliability, and convenience of modern electronics.

All that said, none of these new vehicle can ever replace the pleasures of driving my Swinger, either. The last time out on a long trip with the Swinger I put over 9000 miles on it, in 5 weeks. It involved 3 oil changes plus 2 extra quarts of oil, one plug wire replacement ( #3 plug), 2 carb adjustments, one timing adjustment, and a brake adjustment. I was pulling a small pop up camper, too.

I love my 71 Swinger, but, on long trips it's more convenient, and more comfortable, in my truck. It's just better suited for that kind of use, than a classic is.