The Golden Age of automobiles is...

I'll agree with the depends on what you can tolerate and "afford" line. This is GRM afterall.

I believe for gassers and like most of what I see, late 80's upto early-mid 2000's are the sweet spot. If you want to talk diesel, I don't think they have quite hit the end of their peak. The mid to late 90's until now is their spot in line.

Now is certainly the golden age for new cars that are reliable, comfortable, handle well out of the box, are safe, fast, and get good gas mileage... If you can afford them.

The price of a new car has certainly gotten out of hand. A performance economy coupe like the CRX was less than $10k for a loaded example 25 years ago. Now anything similar would run you $25 - 30k. It would be a more pleasant driving experience, but you pay through the nose for it.

I think the golden age has passed. While yes, today's cars are faster and more efficient, (generally) the driving experience is dulled by nanny controls, grossly over weight cars, high purchase prices and $4 a gallon gas. Styling is not great and nearly every car has a distracting computer screen shoved in the dash.

In reply to bastomatic:

Car and Driver has the range of a 1988 CRX between $8,300 and $10,200, which in today's dollars is $16,766 and $20,604 (that's 2.75% average inflation since 1998)

There are a lot of cars in that price range right now, but I'll use an example of a car I just got, a basic Festa SE, manual. The sticker price of my car was right in the middle of that at ~$18k.

One could say that they are similar cars, but they are really not what so ever. The Fiesta is faster, more powerful, generally the same fuel economy, safer, cleaner, quieter, more comfortable, and has more stuff to make the drive to work more enjoyable.

A better comparison is a Civic, since they are both small, 4 seat cars.

Even then, the Fiesta is better in every measureable aspect but fuel economy, and it's cost window is exactly the same as a CRX adjusted for inflation. How cars are that much better, yet cost roughly the same, I don't really get.

So a better question is- why do you get the impression that a CRX or Civic like in 2014 car costs so much when it does not?

The Golden Age of Automobiles is always today. The cars of yesterday didn't have the advances of the cars of tomorrow, but the cars of tomorrow lack the purity of the cars of yesterday. That's been true since the second car model was released.

pinchvalve wrote: The Golden Age of Automobiles is always today. The cars of yesterday didn't have the advances of the cars of tomorrow, but the cars of tomorrow lack the purity of the cars of yesterday. That's been true since the second car model was released.

You've got a good point.

Gearheadotaku wrote: I think the golden age has passed. While yes, today's cars are faster and more efficient, (generally) the driving experience is dulled by nanny controls, grossly over weight cars, high purchase prices and $4 a gallon gas. Styling is not great and nearly every car has a distracting computer screen shoved in the dash.

I read almost the same quote in an Automoble Quarterly. But it was from the 50's.

alfadriver wrote: One could say that they are similar cars, but they are really not what so ever. The Fiesta is faster, more powerful, generally the same fuel economy, safer, cleaner, quieter, more comfortable, and has more stuff to make the drive to work more enjoyable. A better comparison is a Civic, since they are both small, 4 seat cars. Even then, the Fiesta is better in every measureable aspect but fuel economy, and it's cost window is exactly the same as a CRX adjusted for inflation. How cars are that much better, yet cost roughly the same, I don't really get.

Except for the fun to drive part.

The 90s and late 60s- '72 were the golden ages of motoring. New cars are too hard to work on and too many nannies.

Now, next year, and then the year after that, etc..

93EXCivic wrote:

alfadriver wrote: One could say that they are similar cars, but they are really not what so ever. The Fiesta is faster, more powerful, generally the same fuel economy, safer, cleaner, quieter, more comfortable, and has more stuff to make the drive to work more enjoyable. A better comparison is a Civic, since they are both small, 4 seat cars. Even then, the Fiesta is better in every measureable aspect but fuel economy, and it's cost window is exactly the same as a CRX adjusted for inflation. How cars are that much better, yet cost roughly the same, I don't really get.

Except for the fun to drive part.

I knew someone was going to say that.

Well, IMHO, my GTV that you see to the left is a lot more fun to autocross than a Miata. Yet I know the Miata is a better car is all other aspects.

I'd bet that a Model T would be fun to drive, too.

Sucks to realize that 99.99% of the drivers are not buying a car because it's fun.

bastomatic wrote: The price of a new car has certainly gotten out of hand. A performance economy coupe like the CRX was less than $10k for a loaded example 25 years ago. Now anything similar would run you $25 - 30k.

You forgot to adjust for inflation. My folks each bought new cars in 1991. My dad got an E30 318is for $23,000 and my mom bought a VW Fox 5-speed for just $9500. Sounds cheap, right? After all, these were both "bare bones" cars; the bottom-of-the-line models that BMW and VW offered.

According to the inflation calculator from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the 318is would be $39,000 in today's money. A 128i starts at just $31,500 and you can pick up a 428i for $40,500.

The Fox (one of the cheapest cars you could buy at the time) would run $16,000 today. That's still a great price. It's also the price of a new Jetta and $2k more than the price of a new Fiesta.

There's no doubt you get a lot more car for your money today: more electronics, more comfort, more safety. I love cars like the E30 325is ($43,800 today), E30 M3 ($61,400 today), and 190E Cosworth ($71,400 today). But you definitely paid through the nose for them!

mazdeuce wrote: I think we might be close to the peak of gasoline only cars. Super cars are going hybrid. Look at the Porsche 918. Hell, look at the Tesla. There are distinct performance anvantages to adding at least some electric power to cars. If you look at the Volt or the Prius, there are also distinct economy advantages. The barrier is cost. On very high performance cars cost is less of an obstacle than on regular cars, so I expect that the very high end will soon be made up of cars with a significant electrical component. These will be better in pretty much every way, but we will lament the loss of our gas only super cars.

Ugh; but, all these hybrids have excessive maintenance cost long term. You can't rebuild batteries like you can an engine and motors wear out over time as well (well not as bad as combustion engines). So I don't consider that part of being "golden age"

I'm with the folks that said early to mid 2000s. Great cars from Japan like the EVOs, WRX/STIs, S2000, RX-8, 8th gen Civic Si, and Miata. Mericuh had 4th Gen F-body, C5 Vette w/ Z06!, Terminator Cobras, S197 Mustangs, Viper was still hanging around, Saleen S7, etc. Euros gave us S4, M3, R32, etc.

Almost too many qualities to pick just one era.

The apparently upcoming shift toward electric power has another major downside but it's an intrinsic part of the driving experience: SOUND.

V12, I6, Boxer 4, Flat 4, LSx... All incredible sounds. I hate to think that'll be extinct someday.

1900... If you wanted an automobile it was whatever you could imagine and build.

You people are all wet. BEST automotive era EVER was the mid 70's.

In reply to OldGray320i:

Agreed, Maverick (I actually like those), Vega, Grenada, Pacer, Gremlin, Diplomat, Volare...

Wait, I like ALL of those!

oldtin wrote: 1900... If you wanted an automobile it was whatever you could imagine and build.

It all went downhill after they quit using wood wheels.

Like many said, it depends on your criteria. I would also argue that it depends on your age as well. I like the 50's; you have TR3s, Alfas, Healys, Jaguar XKs, fuelie Corvettes, etc., but I also like the '60's and '80's. Unlike some, I'm not overly fond of the '90s, with a few exceptions.

Today though, cars are almost too good. My 370 would have been roughly $5,800 in the mid '60's. Most closely matching it would be the 2000GT which sold for what, $7,200? Maybe roughly the same as a mid spec Corvette, and similar to the E Type. In terms of performance, it's vastly superior in most every measurable aspect, but, if I had a choice today in terms of fun, it would mostly likely be the E-Type.

I don't really think in terms of the golden age, more in terms of what I like. Even the '70's had a few good cars!

Totally agree.
Even used car performance/style/comfort & tech gizmo's are incredible. Most for around $10-$15k.

I know it is not the mid 70s to early 80s.

I'd say there's a lot out there right now.

I've always been a used car, mod and build guy, but there's brand new cars that are reasonably priced hitting the market right now with amazing performance metrics, efficiency, and reliability.

300hp v6's that knock out 30mpg highway? check.

New Fiesta ST's with Recaros and a 1.6litre cranking out nearly 200hp with a warranty?

Ford's saying the new Mustang GT Perf. Pack will best the S197 Boss performance on a track.

Z06's even as recent as C5's (which were incredible in their own right) are being surpassed by the new base models.

Incredible performance in non supercar priced territory.

My parents freaking Chevy Equinox SUV makes over 300 horsepower and does a mid 6 second 0-60. That's ridiculous.

I'll admit that American muscle is getting a 2nd coming in recent years, but most of you guys seem to have been born to late. Call me retro grump if you want, but there was absolutely no time like the 1960's. Now that truly was a golden age.

Now, if you're rich (All sorts of awesome high-end options) or generally want a great car out of the box. If you want a great car to work on I'd say the 70s because although most 70s cars sucked (worst decade IMO), iconic 50s and 60s cars could be had for a song. All of us who've been around for a while have any number of stories of $5000 Shelby Cobras, $3000 E-types and such. Now but for the occasional freak happening, those deals are long gone.

ebonyandivory wrote: In reply to OldGray320i: Agreed, Maverick (I actually like those), Vega, Grenada, Pacer, Gremlin, Diplomat, Volare... Wait, I like ALL of those!

A bit heavy on the wacky tobacky? Those cars are great.... if you also dig plad suits, velvet wall hangings and lava lamps. Kinda like saying man, I loved those 286 computers! They'd run DOS like anything!

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