Do you believe this is the greatest car generation?

[Scalded Dog]

Originally Posted by el ess A

As far as the best of every world, THIS generation is the best in HP and handling. But if you're an old-schooler, I advise you to buy soon. It WILL NOT LAST. Unless you think 4-cylinders are cool. And they're not. But there will be some to try to convince you they are. Don't take that bait.

But it doesn't have to be all about HP. Back in the 80s, you mainly had looks and a tad bit of handling as HP continued to suck for the most part. So I bought this 1985 Olds 442 new, and still keep it as original as I can 60K miles later. It's one of the best cruising cars I've ever owned.

Just have to say: THAT is one sweet 442!!!!

[kevint]

Originally Posted by jd10013

it took a little more than 4. I don't think the last parts of it were complete till the 80's. anyway, your right. kids now a days will never know how great things were. I'm only 41, but a lot has changed in those 40 yrs. things like the interstate highways, golden gate bridge, hoover dam...............they wouldn't even be possible now.

VERY possible to design and build in the modern era. The red tape slows it down a bit, but it's not impossible. Not by a long shot. Remember that 2014 Hennessy Corvette that just did 200mph? Of course you do. It was on a newly-build road, with sensors and cameras that captured a license plate traveling at 200mph.

I think the cars are of the highest quality now, and they will always improve. Manufacturers have the best scientists, engineers and designers available to develop the cars, components AND the equipment to build them. We're readily building vehicles with materials that were once too expensive to purchase, let alone manipulate into a car. Shit, who would have thought we would see the day where our cars came with free-flowing exhausts that DON'T RUST (they do, to an extent, but anyway)? We have the capability to take a factory car and put more than 500hp to the wheels without having to touch the inside of the motor, the trans or the rear. Touch screens, satellite radios and 400+ hp engines with gas mileage >20mpg. Composites. Just...composites, everybody.

[Norm Peterson]

I don't think coping with activist opposition to building highways or other major civil engineering projects at this point in time fits within any reasonable definition of slowing a schedule down by only "a bit".

Let's also add funding to the list of difficulties as well, keeping in mind the status of national and state budgets.

Cars are without question better built and better performing than ever before. Better in most respects . . . and worse off in a few.


Norm

[TheReaper]

I was born in the 50's and owned my share of 70's muscle/pony cars. Since 2003 the quality and performance of this generation is so much better.

[72MachOne99GT]

Everyone is bashing todays styling....

If someone could take a new Camaro or Mustang back to the 60s they would be swarmed in the same way a pristine classic is now at car shows.

As others have said, there may have been a healthier perception and culture of autos back in the "golden years", but those vehicles aren't even in the same class as many modern sedans, let alone performance and high end models of today.

[Number 3]

Well two issues in the same question.

Is this the best crop of cars for enthusiasts ever? Likely yes. Technology has certainly improved the breed. Modern cars are far safer, stop better, are far more reliable, better performance by far all around. Compare any car available now that was available 15, 25 even 50 years ago. 63 Corvette vs. 2014? Yes there are people that would still pick the 63 (a split window would be very sweet to own) but the C7 is far more car in every respect except styling and nostalgia. A 73 Camaro or a C5? Not much of a question there.

The big issue in past vs. present was back then you could get a big block in a Corvette, a Camaro, a Monte Carlo, a Chevelle on and on and that was just the Chevy choices. Buick GS, Pontiac LeMans and GTO, Trans Am, Oldsmobile on and on.

Today you are far more limited. A real performance car from Chevy is Corvette, Camaro or SS. From Buick? Best you can get has a 2.0L Turbo. Corvette on the other hand has provided far better choices today than through out it's history. V and now V-sport are awesome performance cars.

Now for the more important part of the discussion, at least for me, is this the best generation of car enthusiasts? And I have to say NO, it is not. Kids today are far less into cars as a performance entity than when I was in High School. Yes, a car still provides status, but there are far fewer in their teens and twenties that are truly into cars as a performance tool, to be lusted for, objectified and driven.

I know this site has a huge younger following and many will say I'm not seeing this clearly, but as always, your audience here are all car enthusiasts. That's why you come here. I do keep up with a few family and friends kids on FB and I can't recall any of them posting a picture of a car or their car in any way shape or form. A very low sample size mind you but it's just not what I see younger folks being into.

Great discussion.

[JAX CAMARO]

I owned a 67 chevy Malibu convertible that only had a 283 in it but with the headers it sounded good and was fun. Then I moved onto a 70 Chevelle SS 396 and had a 70 Cougar with a 351 in it at the same time. Blew the 396 racing every day and had a 454 built and that was totally awesome. I was actually looking at buying a Chevelle when my wife talked me into test driving my 2011ss/rs and when I weighed it all out it was a no brainer and never looked back and I have have made it make me feel like I did in my Chevelle days anyway the car you get today is way over the cars of days past. Would I like to have an old muscle car again sure but I am keeping the Camaro !

[Norm Peterson]

Originally Posted by Number 3

Now for the more important part of the discussion, at least for me, is this the best generation of car enthusiasts? And I have to say NO, it is not. Kids today are far less into cars as a performance entity than when I was in High School. Yes, a car still provides status, but there are far fewer in their teens and twenties that are truly into cars as a performance tool, to be lusted for, objectified and driven.

I know this site has a huge younger following and many will say I'm not seeing this clearly, but as always, your audience here are all car enthusiasts. That's why you come here. I do keep up with a few family and friends kids on FB and I can't recall any of them posting a picture of a car or their car in any way shape or form. A very low sample size mind you but it's just not what I see younger folks being into.

Have to agree.

I also think that along the way more than a few of your contemporaries and mine lost their enthusiasm. Forums such as this one are where you find out that not all of them did, even if you've never quite managed to meet any other members face to face.

But every so often (or maybe frequently) it's kind of fun to give these folks who either forgot or never had much clue about what enthusiasm is just a little glimpse of what it's all about. And later on, wonder if you'd managed to set the hook.


Norm

[King Sun]

as someone being born in the 80's of course. Look at the cars we have available now vs in the past regardless if their affordable or not.

[ssrs396]

I paid 1800 dollars cash for a used 1968 Camaro when I was 15 in 1980 with a part time job, this was the greatest generation for cars... These were the coolest cars on the road at the time during the late 70s and early 80s and you could buy them on dealer lots for not a lot of money. They soon jumped in price however but it was a fun time back then. New Camaros were going for about 10 to $11000 for a brand new Z28 I believe.

As far as dynamics and performance todays cars rock, but the average kid in high school cannot pay cash for one.

[shrinkdoc]

Originally Posted by 2011ss/rs

Isn't every car ever built a cookie cutter car ? 40 years from now the cookie will be far and few between.

No..back then is was easy to distinquish a Ford product from a GM product or Chrysler product. Nowadays you almost lust look at the badging to determine what it is.

[shrinkdoc]

Originally Posted by Dakota Kid

To me, the most iconic designs of cars were between 1955 and 1970. Those cars will live forever.

As some have pointed out, today's cars are MUCH faster and more reliable, but the vast majority of them (Camaro, Mustang and Challenger excepted) are freaking appliances.

Agreed.

[Scalded Dog]

Originally Posted by Number 3

...Now for the more important part of the discussion, at least for me, is this the best generation of car enthusiasts? And I have to say NO, it is not. Kids today are far less into cars as a performance entity than when I was in High School. Yes, a car still provides status, but there are far fewer in their teens and twenties that are truly into cars as a performance tool, to be lusted for, objectified and driven....

It is different... on the day I turned 16, I scored myself that driver's license, and that was way too late in life for me! Indeed, I lusted after cars, but for the first 20 years of my driving, spent a lot more time in hunks of junk than in dream cars... and I therefore learned how to fix ANYTHING that could possibly go wrong with a car, because believe me: If it can happen, it has happened to me! However, my kids? They don't really care about driving. None of their friends do, they feel no "driving force." It does not stir their soul, inspire them to drive. My kids friends? While generally in the age range of 16- 24 years of age, I don't know any (other than my own two, who I have taught!) who could change a flat, check a fuse, or put oil into the correct hole... let alone CHANGE oil, jump a battery, or fix a leaking hose.

[Russo]

I don't know which era was the best, but I can definitely tell you the 80s was the worst and when you speak specifically with American cars, 80-90s were all bad..