It’s quite fancy to see old cars going strong and people sticking to their old steed to travel the country and the world. In a world where approval or appreciation from social media is everything, old cars get quite social attention as they are rare and also because the past is often gloriously remembered.
The quintessential question is should one stick to the newer generation car or the older car to achieve world tour and social media ambitions?
Arguments in favor of building an overlander on an older car- (Typically 25 to 30 years old
They are cheaper to own: Since an Instagram-worthy car is typically more than 25 to 30 years old, these cars are usually cheap to own. They have million-dollar looks and have even bigger emotional value to both the owner and the follower.
Less complicated: Older cars are purely mechanical without complex electronics in them. A well-engineered car, if properly tuned can be a reliable long-distance partner. These cars specifically work very well for deep hinterland travel. If and when they go wrong, there’s a good chance that you can find a mechanic to bring it back to life without it having to be put on a flatbed.
Tolerance to bad quality fuel and roads: Older engines have good tolerance to bad quality fuel. The injectors or the fuel pump won’t go kaput at the first instance of dirt or water in the fuel. There is a good chance that the car will continue to operate despite skipping a beat or a two. Modern cars would just stop working in such a scenario to protect their expensive components from further damage. On really rough roads to older cars have an advantage. Good old leaf or coil suspension can take a lot of hammering where the modern air suspension might just give way due to a leak from some corner seal. Plus more the complex linkages, the more it is difficult to fix or overhaul the suspension.
Wheels and tires: Older cars have a typical non-alloy and tube-type tire combination. While tubeless tires are inherently much safer, they aren’t preferred in the back or beyond places. Older cars have higher-profile tires which give them an excellent bad road capability and are less prone to wheel damage. They are easy to fix. While steel wheels can be just hammered down, the tubeless tires with a puncture repair kit can still be used on the steel wheel rims. Lower profile tires on modern cars can be a pain in the event of sidewall rupture. Also, modern cars do not leave much scope to upgrade the size of the tires due to limited wheel-well clearances.
While one may now be almost convinced to buy an older car to travel to the far ends of the earth, following are some of the compelling arguments in favor of vehicles that are relatively new (not more than 10 to 15 years old)
Reliability: while the older cars might score better on reparability, modern cars score on reliability. A reliable and dependable 30-year-old car is a myth. One needs to spend considerable time, effort, and money to bring a 30-year-old to its original specs for it to perform reasonably well. However, due to the lack of availability of genuine parts and the knowledge to fix those cars, an old car on a world tour could be a pain. Modern-day electronics are pretty reliable and seldom one would see a vehicle with its bonnet open due to a fault in the engine management system for example.
Safety and security: 30-40 years of engineering advancement means that a modern car is much safer on road. With highways allowing better speeds, it’s imperative that the safety of the passengers becomes a priority. Older cars do not have proper crumple zones, leave alone passenger airbags, and things like electronic stability programs.
Lower running costs – while the initial acquisition cost of a relatively modern car might be higher, due to advancement in engineering, the running costs are much lower in a newer car. While the fuel economy is better, other consumables like worn-out bushes, oil seals, excessive engine oil consumption, broken hoses, electrical clips, and joints, etc do cost a lot. 30-year-old cars are at their end of life cycle and hence would consume more to bring them back to life. Plus they are heavy on emissions too.
Comfort and conveniences: Gone are the days when one could survive to tell the tale of how one crossed continents in vehicles without power-assisted steering and air conditioning, non-booster-assisted brakes, etc. As we have progressed, our needs too have evolved. A nice quiet cabin, smooth controls, dust-proof interiors, pliant suspension, a great music system, etc. go a long way in providing a fatigue-free driving experience. One can cover more distance safely without fatigue-related accidents.
The above arguments make a compelling proposition to opt for a newer car for long-distance travel. However, that doesn’t mean one needs to spend a fortune to buy a brand new car and again wait for an eternity to save up to travel the world. The key is to adopt a middle path where one can choose a modern classic kind of car that is reliable and yet won’t burn a big hole in the pocket.
Which car do you think finds a middle ground that could be a great globe trotter in India? Do let us know in the comments box below
Regards
Quintessential off roader