2. misc-audio
  3. 156663-2319

Audiophiles and nostalgia,

As seen on ebay and other sites, us boomers are buying things from our youth.  The '55 throuth '57 Chevys are classics, can they compete with the performance, etc. of many more modern cars...well that is up to the Buyer.  Having owned much audio gear over the years, most of the older audio items are just that.  Having a vintage set up can be fun and memory filled, but in my experience most of the items are more nostalgia than audiophile.  When I sunk much money in a '56 Chevy, you know 327 motor, Muncie 4 speed, mags, new paint and interior, my Dad took a look at it and said "you know what you have there?  An old car"  Fun, cool looking, went fast in a straight line...........but. 

whatjd
arion's avatar
arion
162 posts
 
I have a 73 De Tomaso Pantera with many serious performance mods. It's fast and handles great but crude by comparison to new performance cars. Sometimes it makes me feel young, sometimes it makes me feel old. Nostalgia, reality?
whatjd OP
1,139 posts
 
Oh yes, my love for cars and driving has been a lifelong journey.  Lotus Turbo Espirit, Porsche 944S2, Formula Fords, a mint 1967 Stingray and '60 Corvette, original Lexus SC-400, Volvo P-1800 modified, BMW 5 series, a couple of Mercedes, and more that are hard to remember.  Because of a business I had there was need for vans and trucks...several.   The driving courses I took at Road America were the best gift I ever gave to my driving skills and enjoyment, threshold and trail brake skills, and aiming for the back of the apex on a curve and more. 

As I may have posted in an other thread...a car joke, "what's the difference between owning a Ferrari and being with a pretty woman,  in the long run the Ferrari is cheaper and more reliable"..  Not politically correct, but............
 
arion's avatar
arion
162 posts
 
I guess some of us are attracted to expensive hobbies. I always have a sports/performance car or two in the garage. My greatest automotive adventure was designing and building (most of it, I wouldn't weld anything critical like suspension parts) my GT-2 race car and racing it for about 14 years. I even won a few races.

Like race car tech advances so does audio tech. I find it a rare occurrence when old equipment outperforms well designed new equipment (within the same price point but "adjusted" to today's dollars). 
ohlala
1,238 posts
 
I had a beautiful example of a 71' Chevelle I inherited as well as modern Porsche. No doubt the chevelle is cooler; it was like driving your own parade float around town, sharing joy with others. A nice guy repairing my garage door stated - without any prompting of the hypothetical - he would prefer to have the Chevelle over the Porsche. Sitting in the garage he is right, but behind the wheel there is a grand canyon of difference.  
More to discover