Old and Dated(They Say)

I’ve been contemplating changing my car for ages already. As a matter of fact, soon after I bought it in 2021, I was already looking for a newer one because it was old enough even back then. The bull market was in full swing that year, and literally, the sky was the limit.

My Audi is now 21 years old. Honestly, I never pictured myself, at any point in my childhood, driving a 21-year-old car at 38... What can I say, I’m probably a failed project who kept on hoping.

The bull market in 2021 ended right on time—but way sooner than I expected. So, my chances of getting a newer (not necessarily better) car dropped to zero... That’s how I ended up driving this one for almost 60,000 kilometers over the past four years. That’s something like 15,000 kilometers per year.

That’s quite something for someone who’s mostly in and around town and only drove maybe 3,000 km total for vacation purposes during these four years... Luckily, the old fart got me safely everywhere and proved to be pretty damn reliable.

It’s old and dated though, and most of the cars around it are at least a decade younger—but are they better? Yes and no... There are a few models that are reliable, comfortable to use, good-looking, and way younger than mine. But not all of them.

Newer cars are notorious for not being as reliable as older ones, and it’s easy to see why. Manufacturers use cheaper, lighter materials; they have to throw in all sorts of particle filters, AdBlue systems, and God knows what else just to meet exhaust regulations. All of that takes a toll on long-term reliability.

Sure, the new models are packed with displays, lights, sensors—but how much of that do we really need? Like, what’s wrong with analog gauges or no ambient lighting? I don’t even like ambient lights, frankly...

Sure, I’d love to afford a newer car. But I’m not about to sell this one, bust my ass, and get into debt just to buy something newer that’s less reliable, full of cheap plastics, and stupid expensive to maintain.

EVs are here, and they’re here to stay—but they’re not going to retire ICE vehicles anytime soon. Their main problem is low autonomy compared to traditional engine-powered cars, plus the poor charging infrastructure.

In my town, for example, there’s literally no charging station for EVs...

But anyway... One question I get asked pretty often is when and if I’ll change my 21-year-old Audi. Well, if this bull market decides to somehow replicate 2017, I’ll probably go for it. But I’m not going to buy anything fancy. I’d probably go for a Volkswagen Passat or a Renault Megane. A diesel, of course. I don’t believe in man-made climate change.

Anyway, that’s about it from my side. I wish you all a great day and catch with you all next time.

Thanks for your attention,
Adrian