Old and new, which is better?

**Virago** · 18th July 2011, 10:58

Originally Posted by shrub

I did the same thing 5 years ago when I bought my 1992 Bluebird - fortunately all I had spare was $560.00. The car is still going flawlessly and is about to cost me the first money in that time for 2 second hand tyres, a new battery and an oil change, so I'm guessing it will cost me about $350.00 all up and that's just over $5.00 a month in maintenance costs. I've turned down $1000 for it so depreciation isn't an issue.

My partner can't understand why I insist it's the best car i've ever owned and refuse to sell it.

Aye. My wife has a 1995 Bluebird SE - bought it in 1998 - the newest car we've ever bought. It's now the oldest car we've ever owned. Over 250K on the clock. Oil changed every 10K, it used to go between changes without a top up, now requires 500ml at the 5K mark - not bad.

It's showing its age bodywise (my wife tends to reverse in braille...), but she won't part with it.

Bikewise, I've yet to find a replacement for my 1990 Virago - no rush...

**Edbear** · 18th July 2011, 11:06

Originally Posted by Virago

Aye. My wife has a 1995 Bluebird SE - bought it in 1998 - the newest car we've ever bought. It's now the oldest car we've ever owned. Over 250K on the clock. Oil changed every 10K, it used to go between changes without a top up, now requires 500ml at the 5K mark - not bad.

It's showing its age bodywise (my wife tends to reverse in braille...), but she won't part with it.

Bikewise, I've yet to find a replacement for my 1990 Virago - no rush...

Now with parking sensors, I hope that will no longer happen...

**shrub** · 18th July 2011, 11:14

Originally Posted by Edbear

We had to upgrade though due to my accident and requiring a more upright driving position and we couldn't alter the Pulsar enough

Unfortunately cars are appliances and like all appliances sometimes you need them to do things they can't. I'm lucky in that my partner has quite a flash car (in my terms) that I use when I'm doing the suit and tie thing because it looks a bit odd when this joker is telling you how to run your business charging money for the privelege and he pulled up in a 20 year old car that hasn't been washed for 5 years. Once they get to know me I turn up on my bike, but first impressions count.

**Edbear** · 18th July 2011, 11:39

Originally Posted by shrub

Unfortunately cars are appliances and like all appliances sometimes you need them to do things they can't. I'm lucky in that my partner has quite a flash car (in my terms) that I use when I'm doing the suit and tie thing because it looks a bit odd when this joker is telling you how to run your business charging money for the privelege and he pulled up in a 20 year old car that hasn't been washed for 5 years. Once they get to know me I turn up on my bike, but first impressions count.

True! One thing the Kizashi guarantees is business cred in spades! Shame that appearances count, but that's the reality of business these days. The Boulevard was good for that, too! Our second car, the MX5, even though it's 17 years old also strikes the right chord but it's not practical.

**Paul in NZ** · 18th July 2011, 12:08

Originally Posted by Edbear

It could well be the '70 model. It's not quite all original, but Gary's kept it as period as he can. Was it '71 the oil-in-frame model came out? I think his is the last of what he calls the genuine original models.

71 is thew first oil in frame model and has a higher seating position (rear frame rails attach higher up)

The '70 frame is the only one with the wee triangluar plates for the front motor mounts and that bike also has the 70 grab rail. Looks like a nice bike...

**Edbear** · 18th July 2011, 14:38

Originally Posted by Paul in NZ

71 is thew first oil in frame model and has a higher seating position (rear frame rails attach higher up)

The '70 frame is the only one with the wee triangluar plates for the front motor mounts and that bike also has the 70 grab rail. Looks like a nice bike...

Yeah, it's his pride and joy! I love hearing him start it up! He's been riding more regularly since he moved here from Palmy way. Shame is I can't ride with him now...

**Voltaire** · 24th July 2011, 07:46

Old or new...?
Took my newly aquired '04 Thruxton for my first out of town run yesterday, did about 250 kms. I put new tyres on it on Tuesday so was taking it easy.
Went down SH 22 across Hetherington Road and around the back of TeKawata.
First impressions are:
Well built machine
Nice and loud with aftermarket pipes
good mid range stomp
Gets up to licence loosing speeds very quickly.
Rear shocks need replacing and front is a bit soft.
Riding position is better than the '99 SS I had for the last 3 years.
It wants to go fast around bends and I had the back step out on me once..... oh yeah...new tyres....
Nothing on this bike that I will need to take it to a dealer for either...

Lots of info and goodies on the net too.

How does it compare to the Norton Commando.....?
From a strictly practical point of view the newer bike is better....as you would expect.....saying that its easier and cheaper to get parts for the Norton.
Power wise there is probably not much in it, although I'm more comfortable reving the Thruxton to red line thru the gears.
The Norton has more torque so you don't need to change down very often.
Fortunately I don't have to choose so the Thruxton can be the everyday bike and the Norton can be on those fine summer days.
Classic Bike did a test in the latest issue and said something like " when you stop the Norton you can smell the oil on the hot metal....like a piece of industrial machinery"
Possibly the last moden bike I will own....can always move the bars up when I'm older.

**scumdog** · 24th July 2011, 08:51

Originally Posted by shrub

I did the same thing 5 years ago when I bought my 1992 Bluebird - fortunately all I had spare was $560.00. The car is still going flawlessly and is about to cost me the first money in that time for 2 second hand tyres, a new battery and an oil change, so I'm guessing it will cost me about $350.00 all up and that's just over $5.00 a month in maintenance costs. I've turned down $1000 for it so depreciation isn't an issue.

My partner can't understand why I insist it's the best car i've ever owned and refuse to sell it.

Our newest car is normajeanes NZ-new '84 Laser Ghia. bought it almost ten years ago with 84,000 original km, now has 241,000km.

Starts every time and so far have replaced the water-pump and one fan-belt, it gets 42mpg on a trip.

Looking at trading up but still thinking it's too good and relaible to give up.

If only it was a 1970 car we'd have cheap rego and it would be perfect...but then there's the bikes and even the XN85 has 12 years to go before it's on cheap rego.

**Bonez** · 24th July 2011, 19:22

Bought a '78 CX 5 years ago for $300. Use it everyday. Money well spent. Of course I've got the '76 Cb 550 as a backup. The '88 GB400 was a bit of a mechanical let down though.

**BurningPlastic** · 24th July 2011, 22:10

Originally Posted by Voltaire

Old or new...?
How does it compare to the Norton Commando.....?
Classic Bike did a test in the latest issue and said something like " when you stop the Norton you can smell the oil on the hot metal....like a piece of industrial machinery"

I grew up pillioning on the back of my Dad's 750 Commando until I was 16 when I got my first road bike of my own. He had it from new in 1970 and has ridden it as his everyday bike for most of the time since. As far as I know it's only had one real ride stopping issue which was a broken clutch cable sometime in the 80s. The one thing he did do to make it more useable as an everyday machine was to replace the standard Norton bars with BSA A10 ones as they sit a bit lower and closer in, making it more comfortable for regular long rides... I've ridden it a little myself as well as my Mum's A10, and the Commando in particular still feels more 'right' than any modern bike I've ridden.

**Howie** · 24th July 2011, 22:39

Originally Posted by Edbear

Yeah, I guess that would be the final decider, what you bought it for. They've both had some interesting bikes, Phil had an RG500 Gamma and Gary had an NSR400 among some great classics.

If it's the same Phil that I knew ask him what happened to the RG