Building a replica car kit is not as easy as it sounds. You really have to know what you are doing. Especially if you are looking at an AC cobra kit or some other type of muscle car for performance driving. Even replicas need to be up to a certain standard to even be compared to the original. If you are upgrading parts of an original or making changes, these will also be known as replicas because it is not the original way that the car was initially manufactured for use. But how can you buy a brand new classic car? It sounds like an oxymoron. Well, by buying a replica! If you want a classic car you probably will appreciate the thin steering wheel, carbureted engines and long hoods but you get a lot more than that when buying an old car. Here are some pros and cons to owning a classic.
Cons
Cost– If you are going to own a classic car, you need to really appreciate the vehicle as well as understand it. It is going to need a lot of care and attention, frequently. Classic cars initially cost quite a bit more than non classics right off the bat. On top of that, there are usually things that need to be repaired right away which costs money; and not just money. Classic car parts are significantly more expensive than other types because of how hard they are to find. Plus, there may only be certain car shops and garages that can do repairs on classic cars.
Reliability– While you might like to think that older cars are built better than newer ones and you might be right, older cars are still more prone to severe rust problems. That’s because they were made more often with a lot more steel than modern cars and steel has a tendency to rust. Other than the steel problem, old cars are just not as reliable anymore. After all those years of wear and tear, cars can have a hard time. They need to retire just as much as people do, sometimes!
No Technology
If you are buying a classic, you probably don’t care about the technology but it’s worth mentioning. It’s difficult to even upgrade to the mod cons that come in modern cars today. Navigation packages, Bluetooth availability and smart phone syncing are not going to be included in your classic car. But it’s not just the top of the line technology that is missing; electric windows and even air conditioning might not be in the car that you are looking at.
Pros
Look
These cars are full of style and character like nothing you will find elsewhere. Your car will definitely get noticed and will stand out from the crowd of cookie cutter modern cars that most people have. A classic car is a great conversation starter and will gain a lot of attention, especially from car lovers.
Culture
While modern cars have been designed to be more insulated in order to be more comfortable, they can often cut you off from the rest of the driving world. A class car will allow you to feel much more of the road from noises, smell and the feel of the car in order to let you in on the culture of driving as you make your way from one place to another.
Financial
While the initial costs might be higher, you can save money afterwards. Any car built before 1974 is eligible for a zero rated tax disc meaning that the car will literally be tax free and not have to pay taxes. Also, classic cars don’t depreciate in value like modern cars do. They tend to hold on to their value for a very long time. If they are properly maintained and looked after they can even increase in value over time.
So, if you want a classic car, there are definitely some great things about it but if the pros are not enough, you can still get a replica and spend less money and still have the same great look and feel with a little more upgrades, usually. You just have to figure out what will be the best fit for you.
