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Old 11-03-2019, 08:39 AM   #1
JoeDe
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Default when does a car become a classic?

what makes a car a classic and not just an old car. my son and i are in disagreement over a 2005 legacy gt wagon manual transmission with 150k miles on it. thoughts?
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Old 11-03-2019, 08:43 AM   #2
JoeDe
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Default when does a car become a classic?

what makes a car a classic and not just an old car. my son and i are in disagreement over a 2005 legacy gt wagon manual transmission with 150k miles on it. thoughts?
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Old 11-03-2019, 09:00 AM   #3
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Typically 20-25 years old is when a car becomes a "classic" So I would say not yet.
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Old 11-03-2019, 09:03 AM   #4
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Nice car but hard to say it's a classic for me. The last 20 years hasn't produced many cars that will become classics. Styling between manufacturers is just too similar these days. Look at the early WRX and EVO models. They were different. They stood out and developed a cult following. Same thing with the R32-R34 Skylines. Rarity is another factor.
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Old 11-03-2019, 10:13 AM   #5
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In NY the car needs to be 26 years from manufacture to be able to go on historic plates, so cheaper insurance but also only 3k miles a year. But no one checks that.
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Old 11-03-2019, 11:17 AM   #6
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In my humble opinion, an 05 Legacy GT manual wagon is and never will be a classic. It's a disposable mid sized wagon. I don't even consider a Ferrari F-355 to be a classic yet. It's still too new.

This is, of course, completely subjective.

It is certainly not an age thing. The Pontiac Aztek was made from 01 to 05. Older then the LGT in question. Will it ever be a classic? No, it won't. It's not just age.
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Old 11-03-2019, 11:25 AM   #7
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Ernest View Post
In NY the car needs to be 26 years from manufacture to be able to go on historic plates, so cheaper insurance but also only 3k miles a year. But no one checks that.
exactly, are you discussing for "classic car" registration? or for the sake of "car show classic" status?
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Old 11-03-2019, 12:42 PM   #8
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for a nameplate like Subaru, I'd say the only things that really count as "classic" to the general population are the originals - so the 360 - even then, it's not going to have the same cult status that the American nameplates will have.

For the more modern cars, I'd say the only ones which really are going to have a shot at being considered "classics" by the masses are going to be things like the 02 WRX - when it first showed up on the US marketplace (and really had no competition at that price point) - it was sort of a revival of the sporty compact cars - and lot of folks were happily paying a premium/dealer pad to get their hands on one.

The 05 Legacy wagon is a great car, but I don't see why it would end up being a classic for many, many years.
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Old 11-03-2019, 01:54 PM   #9
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Old 11-03-2019, 02:00 PM   #10
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to be a valuble classic has to be loved.
25 year old car is a classic. valuble??? does not mater only age.

they made tons of regular 60's mustangs and they have value in good condition.
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Old 11-03-2019, 04:39 PM   #11
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how old is your son?
living on his own?

if so tell him he's welcome to store that wagon for the next 15-20 years until he finds out if anybody else thinks its a classic too.
I've watched tons of cars come and go that now I 'wish' I had, but if I had to store them over the last two decades that would have been a total deal breaker.
First on my list was an 85 mercedes 300D turbo diesel.

nobody is storing an 05 legacy wagon until 2040 for the love of that model
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Old 11-03-2019, 05:25 PM   #12
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in pa a car has to be 15 years old to have a "classic" tag , be garage kept and not be the primary car

25 years for "antique" tags , with mileage restrictions as well as the above stipulations

then there are "collectable" and "historic" tags too
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Old 11-04-2019, 05:50 AM   #13
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Quote:
Originally Posted by motorbykemike View Post
in pa a car has to be 15 years old to have a "classic" tag , be garage kept and not be the primary car

25 years for "antique" tags , with mileage restrictions as well as the above stipulations

then there are "collectable" and "historic" tags too
I don't think he was asking if the car could 'technically' be classified in one of the many categories, it was more of a general question about it being realistically a classic car one day.

You know, like the Ford Pinto could be classified as antique, but nobody wants one.
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Old 11-04-2019, 08:32 AM   #14
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+1 yeah terms are too general, few people are all going to agree what 'classic' cars are- "Antique" cars is more appropriate in most cases, or, 'late-model' or just 'Old.'
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Old 11-04-2019, 11:44 AM   #15
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Quote:
Originally Posted by motorbykemike View Post
in pa a car has to be 15 years old to have a "classic" tag , be garage kept and not be the primary car

25 years for "antique" tags , with mileage restrictions as well as the above stipulations

then there are "collectable" and "historic" tags too
15 years for a classic tag? Damn, imagine seeing Ford Probes everywhere with blue classic tags.
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Old 11-04-2019, 11:58 AM   #16
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While I would definitely hoard a MT LGT wagon, I'd say the first gen Imprezas (coupe specifically) would be more of a classic with a first gen LGT included (rally heritage and all that).
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Old 11-04-2019, 12:14 PM   #17
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Quote:
Originally Posted by rtv900 View Post
...You know, like the Ford Pinto could be classified as antique, but nobody wants one.
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Old 11-04-2019, 12:32 PM   #18
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Quote:
Originally Posted by bizzlezx10r View Post
15 years for a classic tag? Damn, imagine seeing Ford Probes everywhere with blue classic tags.
I think the 'rules' are a lot like many state and gov't regs that have been created.

Basically, somebody wrote that up 60 years ago, in a totally different era, when a 15 year old car was a really old car and there weren't many of them out there. And like most idiotic regs, they NEVER update them to bring it into the context of modern times or modern technology.
Working in a regulated sector of manufacturing is ridden with these archaic specifications that in some cases don't even make sense anymore.

I mean hell, 25 years will get you Antique plates at this point. That's ridiculous to call a 1994 Jeep Grand Cherokee an antique vehicle, but doing nothing but filling out a form and sending in a few pics will get you that plate which comes along with:
Permanent registration
NO annual safety inspection, EVER

IMO it should be at least 30 years for classic, and 40 for antique.
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Old 11-04-2019, 12:43 PM   #19
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Quote:
Originally Posted by rtv900 View Post
IMO it should be at least 30 years for classic, and 40 for antique.
Agreed! If i ever come across a Dodge Diplomat with an antique plate i'm kicking the door in.
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Old 11-04-2019, 02:32 PM   #20
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Here's what I wrote on your other post:

"Classic" IMO, has the subjective component to some degree. It has to be of age, and have a following. It has to have made its mark on the automotive landscape to some extent. I guess there's a strict definition of age if you want to argue that. But the legacy gt wagon doesn't stand up. Don't get me wrong...I'm not hating on it. I like them. Just that when it's 30 years old, you're not going to remember it for having done something in it's time, nor do I see there being a strong enough following to keep attention on it. It's more likely going the way of the Ford Taurus, or Chevy cavalier.

So when we say "Classic" are we simply talking about the Department of Motor Vehicles type aged based definition? Or are we talking about the definition that Car Collectors, gearheads, and automotive admirers might use that includes emotion and achievement?
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Old 11-04-2019, 02:52 PM   #21
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Quote:
Originally Posted by bdubblu View Post
Or are we talking about the definition that Car Collectors, gearheads, and automotive admirers might use that includes emotion and achievement?
we're talking about this definition^

His son needs a good whoopin thinking a 2005 legacy wagon is a classic just because it meets the minimum age criteria

He's also got some fanny packs new in box to prepare to sell on Ebay and some of those blousey pants like M.C. Hammer used to wear, and a DVD box set of ALF.
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Old 11-04-2019, 06:11 PM   #22
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If it was never on a magazine cover and its age isn't measured in decades it's probably not a classic.
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Old 11-04-2019, 06:31 PM   #23
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thank you, all good information. Trying to figure out how to price it to sell/or keep it. appreciate the feedback
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Old 11-04-2019, 07:18 PM   #24
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I am a fellow 2005 Legacy GT Wagon 5MT owner here with 160k. I am at the you-need-a-new-shortblock stage with smoke at idle and wide open throttle. I'm pretty sure it isn't the turbo or PCV, so that leaves something major, either valves or ringlands.

So many things have been going wrong lately too from worn driveshaft, to bushings, to TGV, to door blender, oil cooler gasket, broken exhaust flanges, axles, wheel bearings, rattles, you name it. Yet I am thinking very hard about doing the short block replacement against the more practical consideration of spending almost as much as it is worth on a repair. That "I've already put so much into it now, I can't walk away.." mentality comes up every time something else goes.

Is it a true classic in the definition of a classic car? I'd say no. Is it rare? Given the low numbers there were produced in and the fact that 2005 is the only year for a manual wagon with turbo, yes.

Are there many new cars today that can compare to it? The choices are limited in manual wagons with turbos. There are no new WRX hatchbacks and no Levorgs in the US.

It will always be rare and more desirable than a regular Legacy. There will always be someone that wants that sleeper or to be different. But every year, I'm sure the appeal decreases vs a true classic car that uptick.

I haven't decided yet. The general consensus for new shortblock is to go with a new EJ257, and refresh stock heads. With all the parts, seal kits, etc. and labor from a decent shop it's in the $5500-$7k range. Is that worth it compared to a $25-$30k used much newer car or a cheap new car with car payment? I don't know yet.
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Old 11-04-2019, 07:45 PM   #25
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No one is going be lusting after Legacy station wagons in 20-30 years, sorry.

Now, bugeye WRXes stand a decent shot at being coveted, mostly because it's near impossible to find one that hasn't been modded to the moon and ragged to within an inch of its life. Same for 2004-2005 STis.

Everything else?

Not likely. Maybe some of these newer models Subaru has been bringing over as of late like the RA and the S209, but that's 25-30 years away at a minimum.
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