You might wonder why old cars feel better to drive than a new car. In the era of advanced driver assistance systems, electric steering, stability control and more and more electronics, cars dont feel as connected as they used to be. Definitely, modern cars are safer, faster, and more efficient, but lack the soul which was there in the older cars.
If you have driven an old car, you would know that an old car feels more exciting and engaging to drive at 50 kmph than a modern car at 80 kmph. This comes down to three main reasons, according to me: tactile feedback, weight, and mechanical transparency.
Let’s break down each of them, and by the end, you will understand why old cars feel better to drive.
Tactile Feedback
Tactile feedback is very important while driving, as it lets you know more about your car and the road. Modern cars are designed to isolate the driver from the surrounding environment, to make the drive more relaxing and easier. The electronic steering reduces the road feedback, and NVH (Noise, vibration, harshness) levels have significantly dropped to make the cabin quieter and more comfortable. Though these things are good and help a commuter drive safely, they reduce your engagement while driving.
Older cars have hydraulic steering, which offers more feedback to the driver about the road and about what the front wheels are doing. This helps you engage with the car better and drive in more control. This tactile feedback is one of the most important aspects that makes an old car much better to drive. Modern electronic steering is precise, but offers little to no feedback to the driver.
There is a physical “click-clack” rhythm to a manual transmission that a modern automatic (no matter how fast) cannot replicate. This seamless connection of changing the gear with the clutch require cordination and connection with your car, which makes it much more engaging than any modern automatic transmission.
Weight (Less is more)
Most modern cars weigh too much because of all the complex electronics, safety regulations, and a lot of modern luxury features. An average hatchback weighs around 1000 KG today, but in the 1990s it weighed around 700 KG.
Any old light car feels more alive than a heavy modern car, you dont need 500 HP to enjoy a car, you need a light car with decent power. Just try this out, drive an old small car at 80-90 kmph, and see how nimble that car is to drive and manoeuvre in the corner, and compare it to a modern car, which is heavy; it will not feel that nimble to drive. Especially an electric car, which weighs a lot more and feels lifeless, though off the line it is quicker compared to an equivalent ICE car.
Also light car is much better in terms of braking and handling, you will feel more confident in these conditions in a lighter car.
Mechanical Transparency
In most modern cars, there is a computer between you and the engine. Modern cars use driver-by-wire, brake-by-wire and more. In this system, when you press the throttle, the computer decides how much throttle has to be applied based on the traction and emissions. But in older cars, physical cables are used, which react instantly to your pedal inputs.
Overall NVH (Noise, vibration, harshness) levels are not that great in older cars because it has lot less sound deadening foam inside the car. This, in turn, filters engine sound and tyre noise to the cabin. which also helps you engage with driving, and none of that fake noise piped through the speakers.
Overall Visibility
Modern cars have thick A-pillars and C-pillars for an added layer of safety and airbags, and overall, the car has thicker exterior panels to improve overall safety, which is good, but it greatly reduces visibility and increases the blind spot. Your overall spatial awareness is reduced because of that, and also, the sense of speed is dampened.
But in older cars, the pillars are smaller, the overall body structure is thinner, which reduces blind spots and increases overall visibility, also your spatial awareness and sense of speed are much better, so you feel the speed you are travelling in.
Conclusion
New cars are built for commuting from point A to point B with zero effort, but old cars were not just for that; they were meant to be driven hard and fast and enjoyed. Yes, modern cars are fast and safe, but they lack the character and soul that old cars have. Old cars have vibrations; they can have issues that need to be fixed, but old cars are a character in your life that you enjoy every time you crank them and drive them. That’s why old cars feel better to drive when compared to modern cars.
