OK having owned and worked on both new and old cars, like most folks here I will say that newer cars are without a doubt better built and have much improved service intervals. My wife's 2010 Hyundai SUV weighs about the same as a Ford Galaxy (sp) get twice the gas milage, corner and stops better..............sure they could be better BUT at a certain point it's cost prohibitive. Additionally car companies that don't make a profit don't employ people.

Now I'm keenly aware of the likes of ADM making bank on putting food in our gas tanks but that doesn't change the facts that despite our love of old Datsuns new cars are better and over the long haul will be cheaper to run...................I work with at least 3 people that have 250K on thier camry's.....................basically I can build a wazoo fast Miata race car way cheaper than any Datsun.

As far as the legendary car tha tgets 150MPG and the like, IF a company had one don't you think they would sell it? They would put the competition out of business pure and simple. Building a new car is tough, all the crash protection people have come to expect adds weight (hence why new cars are so heavy). Americans have come to expect a car with serious power but it still needs to get 18-22 MPG...............try that with an old 396 Chevelle.

OK my .02 point of view........................interesting topic though.

Tom