Another Car Question

[nachoman]

88 has it right - all the things like brakes, tires, and suspension can be fixed and inspected far cheaper than a new car. In fact, I would not necessarily trust a new car's brakes any better than an old car with new brakes. The only difference is design - perhaps the old car had inadequate brakes by design (I have not heard of any complaints about 1998 Honda brakes), or if you want a car that handles a crash better (more airbags). I don't know how a 1998 Honda compares to a new Honda in crash tests.

I drive a 45 year old car with manual drum brakes and manual steering. I replace the parts when worn and keep things in like-new condition. I did make one safety upgrade to the brake system by separating the front and rear brakes as separate systems (as a modern car has it). This keeps from rendering the entire brake system useless in the event of a broken brake hose or loss of fluid. I can make up for the inadequacies of the 45 year old design through driving habits. I have been driving the car almost daily for over 10 years, and I am sure a lot of newer cars have crashed because of brake or mechanical failures over that time. The most important thing is to keep everything inspected and in working order , and know the abilities and limitations of your car as it was designed.