With all the automation and technology arriving in the car world, the classic car experience will only be more desirable in the future.
Nowadays, cars are getting more expensive, thanks to the manufacturers looking for larger profit margins. To try and squeeze more money from their customers, some manufacturers find it reasonable to offer subscription-based access to features like remote start key access and heated seats.
Even though this is an issue common with modern cars, it's bound to worsen with future vehicles. Classics offer a connection with the past that most enthusiasts love. They are simple, and with how the automotive market is evolving, they seem to be the only remaining vehicles that will be fun to drive.
Gone are the days when 200 hp on a car was a lot of power. Most classic cars might not be as powerful as modern or future cars, but their meager horsepower figures made them usable and fun to drive. Even nowadays, these cars can still offer a thrilling experience around your local twisty road.
Future cars, especially most upcoming electric models, offer a lot of power. For example, the Lucid Air Sapphire promises to provide over 1,200 hp. The figure will help make it the most powerful electric sedan in the world, but most people rarely try to use all the power on the road.
One of the reasons why we love classics is their simplicity. This makes for an engaging driving experience where you don't have to fiddle through multiple driving modes until you find the ideal choice. The simplicity also trickles down to the sheer number of electronics used in most modern and future vehicles.
Even though these electronics serve a purpose, most get in the way of a great driving experience. Take an example of the aggressive traction control settings in most modern vehicles. Only a few manufacturers will allow you to turn it off entirely.
Future cars will eventually have self-driving capabilities, eliminating the need for driver engagement. Even though we already have autonomous driving vehicles like Tesla, we're yet to get a fully driverless car. Future cars will end up being soulless modes of transport compared to classics.
Even though some classics had groundbreaking technology like cruise control, they still gave the driver all the power to control the car. These vehicles helped keep drivers engaged, allowing for more fun. In short, autonomous cars suck all the fun out of driving.
Most future cars promise to offer electric performance as we've never seen before. Nowadays, we already have fully electric vehicles that provide blistering acceleration. Unfortunately, we will be losing ICE-powered cars in the future.
Companies like Mercedes-AMG have started the electric switch with the EQ lineup, while their high-performance iterations are getting hybrid setups like the C63 S E Performance. However, even with their impressive performance figures, EVs have heavier batteries that affect their driving experience. Classic cars, on the other hand, are lighter and underpowered but still offer a thrilling driving experience.
Thanks to BMW, we know what the future holds for us. You'll buy your car one day, and the next, you'll have to pay a subscription to use your heated seats. Brands are always looking for more ways to make money, and some future cars seem to be leaning towards charging for features that should otherwise be free on their models.
Due to the uncomplicated nature of classic cars, this was never an issue. Once you buy a car, you can use it as you want without having to pay extra to access any additional features. Even though the modern subscription system leaves a sour taste in most people's mouths, other brands like Toyota, Volkswagen, Porsche, Cadillac, Tesla and Audi seem to be embracing it.
Classic cars tend to signal taste and style. No matter where you go, a classic car will garner more attention than most modern vehicles. Classic cars draw crowds thanks to their unique designs and nostalgia factor.
In contrast, most modern cars tend to look similar. Some tend to go for smoother futuristic looks with a low drag coefficient. These designs make most of these cars lose their identities, making it hard to distinguish one from another.
Classic cars were simple machines built by humans for humans. However, this is something of the past, with machines building the most modern and future cars in factories. The simplicity of classic cars made it easy to work on from a garage at home.
Having cars that men built made it easier to understand how everything worked. The same simplicity makes classic cars an excellent option for anyone looking for a project car. You can easily repair, rebuild or replace any component without worrying about complicated wiring or computers.
Cars have grown a lot over the years. For example, the Mini Cooper is almost double the weight of the original Mini. Cars like the Volkswagen Golf have grown in length, while the Porsche 911 has gotten wider. All these changes add weight to the vehicle.
The weight goes through the roof when you factor in a battery pack. It's widely known that light sports cars make great vehicles. In that case, classic cars are not so bad after all. They are lighter, thus offering a good driving experience than most modern and future vehicles.
Classic cars are like fine wine; they only get better with time. They carry with them a history and have a nostalgia factor that no future car will ever possess. These cars are near immortal symbols of years past and contain stories from the time of their production.
Classic cars also offer a glimpse of what it was like before the domination of electric vehicles and crossovers. The advantage of these cars is that they can touch many people during their lifespan. In short, classic cars remind us of simpler times which means a lot in today's fast-paced world.
Nowadays, cars have multiple driving aids that easily suck the fun out of driving. Take an example for something as simple as a reverse camera. Most people are dependent on them. In classic cars, such technology was absent, forcing drivers to use their rearview mirrors.
While some driver aids like cruise control are helpful during long journeys, others get in the way of having a great driving experience. The simplicity of classic cars and lack of technology helped make them engaging to drive, especially with the manual transmission.
Brian is a husband, father and freelance writer. He's also a tech and automotive junkie passionate about cars and motorcycles. Brian is also an F1 fan – team Mercedes (LH). When he's not writing, Brian goes for impromptu drives and walks.
