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Keith’s Blog: Resolutions and Conundrums

Keith Martin

It’s that time of year when we sit down and try to wrestle with the way we collect and use our cars.

For me, there’s a new topic on the list: I want my cars to be easy to drive.

I’ve driven cars from a replica Type 35 Bugatti to a 1947 Siata. I’ve driven cars with terrible brakes and no acceleration. Twice when driving Alfas to Monterey along the Lost Coast in California I have had master cylinders partially fail, and had to use a hand brake to keep from careening end-over-end off a road with no guardrail.

I feel I’ve earned an easier life.

My 18-year-old son was thrilled to drive our 1975 Porsche 911S with no A/C on an 1,800-mile trip in the Oregon summer heat. He said popping open the rear side-windows made a big difference.

But I’m not 18.

At this stage in my collecting, having owned over 200 cars and driven in nearly every type of event, from the Argentine Millas to the Mille Miglia to the Colorado Grand, I have nothing left to prove in terms of my credentials as an enthusiast.

So my first resolution for 2026 is to not be afraid of “wimping out” if my next cars are easier (read that as more modern) to drive. I might even upgrade their sound systems to Apple CarPlay!

My second resolution is to attend as many regional and national conventions as I can. We are reaching the end of an era for our classics from the ’50s and ’60s, and chances are these conventions will be the largest ever. Some 600 Big Healeys are expected at the Healey 75th anniversary convention in Lake Tahoe in 2027, and I’d like to buy one (with prices down nearly half, it’s a good time to do so) to drive to the event.

You may have noticed a contradiction here. My first resolution is to drive a more comfortable car. My second is to drive to events in an example of the classic that is the featured marque.

How would you solve my dilemma? I look forward to reading your answers below.

One classic and one modern. Which would you choose?

Read my previous blog posts here.

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Keith Martin Avatar
Keith Martin
Keith Martin has been involved with the collector car hobby for more than 40 years. As a writer, publisher, television commentator and enthusiast, he is constantly on the go, meeting collectors and getting involved in their activities throughout the world. He is the founder and publisher of the monthly Sports Car Market, now in its 37th year. Keith has written for the New York Times, Automobile, AutoWeek, Road & Track and other publications, has been an emcee for numerous concours, and had his own show, “What’s My Car Worth,” shown on Velocity. He has received many honors, including the Lee Iacocca Award, the Edward Herrmann Award, was inducted into the Concorso Italiano Hall of Fame, and more. He has served on the board of directors of The LeMay Museum and Oregon Ballet Theater, and was formerly the chair of the board of the Meguiar’s Award.

14 responses to “Keith’s Blog: Resolutions and Conundrums”

  1. alan Avatar
    alan

    you’ve earned the right to do as you damn well want to do, whose to judge?

    Reply
  2. Mike Kieley Avatar
    Mike Kieley

    I feel your pain! I have had the good fortune to have owned 39 air-cooled Porsches in my 70 years, but #38 was a lovely ’72 911T that drove me crazy always needing something done, and as I age I have less patience for this. So I moved up to an ’82SC that had been all rebuilt – much better, but now after a year of ownership, it suffers from the well-know intermittent odometer malady, seems to have a broken heater cable, and no A/C, so….I am considering a slightly used Jag F-Type convertible. But I still want to go to Porsche and other classic car events, so I’m putting a lift in my garage so I can have both! I think you have the space – buy a Healey!

    Reply
    1. Doc J. Avatar
      Doc J.

      I love the 1972 Porsche 911 2.4L “oil-klappe”

      Reply
    2. G. F. 'Mat' matecko Avatar
      G. F. ‘Mat’ matecko

      I was invovled with an interview with Randy – he was dirivng a 1972 Black 911T Targa A ratther unique car in the Philippines and at Clark AB.

      The assassins came out at the end of a two lane bridge and started shooting. He acvcel;erated by them, but spun out, and they were shooting at him through his drivers side door/window.

      He accelerated away from the ambush, taking rounds in all sides of his car, and in all windows.

      He didin’t realize they had shot a tire.

      https://elmercato.blog/2018/11/04/lone-survivor/

      Reply
  3. Richard from Chicago Avatar
    Richard from Chicago

    Keith, I know the article is focused on you driving easier cars, however, I am stuck by your son, Bradley, driving 1800 miles in an old 911S. Most kids his age would not even know how to drive an old 911 let alone enjoy driving it. Good for him and kudos to you for raising him right !!! As far as driving easier cars? I’m with you, the older I get the less and less I drive the uncomfortable ones but still love admiring them in the garage.

    Reply
  4. Frank from SoCal Avatar
    Frank from SoCal

    Agree with you about wanting easier driving vehicles…In 1984 my now ex wife came home and wanted a new car…Choices were a Pontiac Fiero or Mazda RX-7…She being a plus size we landed up getting a RX-7…And so began a on again off again and on again ownership of rotary powered cars…Currently have a 85 RX7 GSL-SE and 73 RX-2 sedan…Owned the RX7 for six years and purchased the RX2 eariler this year on Superbowl Sunday…Love the driving experience when I take them out..People mistake the RX-2 for a Datsun 510…..But for daily driver its a 24 Subaru Legacy Sport with turbo as its auto and a/c…In stop and go traffic you can’t beat it and don’t have to worry about if its hot outside…If Mazda still sold the 6 I would have bought one…Don’t need a SUV (space useless vehicle) and the Mazda 3 is too small..

    Reply
  5. Michael P Miller Avatar
    Michael P Miller

    Keith: I understand your situation. I have an SUV for everyday driving but also have a ’75 Triumph TR6 that I love but unfortunately sits more than it is driven. I am now in mid ’70s and look for creature comforts which my Triumph with black interior and no air conditioning does not provide. It is special to me with its limited French Blue exterior and perhaps also sentimental as my late wife and I use to take trips in it. Unfortunately, I can’t pass it on to my son who is 6′ 5″ and calls it “Stuart Little’s car” so maybe I will keep it a few more years until I am unable to get in it and go for a spin.

    Reply
  6. John Lobre Avatar
    John Lobre

    I bought a new Honda Civic Hybrid last January. It is the first automatic transmission car I had bought since 1970. As they say, my other car is a 1967 Citroen D wagon that I have had for 34 years. Along with me approaching 80 years old, the Honda convinced me of the same proposition. I just don’t want to drive anything other than the super smooth and super easy Honda.

    Reply
  7. Dave Hedderly-Smith Avatar
    Dave Hedderly-Smith

    This one’s simple! You get the right seat , and your son does the driving. And you’ll have a great time.

    Driving an older, less safe three-pedal car with a bum left leg simply isn’t safe for you or the others on the road. Safety has to come first. End of story.

    Reply
  8. Bruce greenberg Avatar
    Bruce greenberg

    My last manual was a ’91 300Z just before my knee problems started. Things I thought were not important that I automatically use: keyless, auto headlights and wipers, heated seats and steering wheel, infortainment system. All on my F Type. Not even mentioning computer driven performance. Who new back when I was 17 and in heaven with a ’59 TR3A!

    Reply
  9. anatoly arutunoff Avatar
    anatoly arutunoff

    almost every car built beyond the lotus 7 philosophy was considered by its builders to be at least ‘comfortable enough.’ driving thousands of miles in my lotus 7a and a couple frontengined cooper sportscars gave me a feeling of accomplishment when i got to my destination. other circumstances in my present life being different i might well do something similar again…those trips were kinda like one-man rallies! happy new year and be well!

    Reply
  10. Leslie Roberts Avatar
    Leslie Roberts

    There is much to be said for a daily driver about which you never wonder if its AC will keep you cool enough, or if the top will keep the rain out. Nothing says that daily has to be boring, though. And of course you can keep the classics for days with perfect weather.

    Reply
  11. Glenn Krasner Avatar
    Glenn Krasner

    Keith,
    It’s not wimping out to be comfortable!!! Get the Healey, and use it as much as possible – you only live once!!!

    As far as comfort, I must share with you this experience I had in October while on vacation. I needed a rental car, and was scheduled to rent a 2024 Mitsubishi Galant for 3 weeks. For more space and window vision, I “upgraded” to a 2024 Toyota Corolla for only $2 extra per day.

    So, I had this car, and drove it all over then New York City Tri-State Area (Long Island, Connecticut, New Jersey, Queens, Brooklyn). I already shared with you my Brooklyn driving “deathmatch” experiences, and because of them, I actually returned the car 3 days early.

    You mention comfort throughout your article. This car had the most terrible seats of any vehicle I have ever rode in in my life, not just for me, the driver, but also my wife, the passenger. No matter what or where, after only 10 or 15 minutes on the road, my wife and I would experience severe back pain and “butt” pain. It was just horrific driving this car with these horrible seats. I googled “Toyota Corolla Horrible Seats”, and it seems this is a common complaint that Toyota does not care about solving for their customers. I talked to my co-workers about it, and they told me that it is a well-known characteristic of Toyotas that they have terrible seats, and that they will not address the issue because they sell so many cars no matter what. The severe physical pain was another reason why I turned in the car early.

    I know that you and your son drive in very long rallies. Perhaps as part of your comfort series, you can share with us the cars that you had the most comfortable seats to ride in and the ones that had the worst ones to drive in. It seems like a very trivial matter, but at age 62, I learned otherwise. By the way, in my 45 years of driving, other than this one time, and even with other rental cars, I have never, ever had this problem.

    Thanks for my favorite car magazine!!! I am beginning to read the current issue tomorrow. HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

    Glenn in Brooklyn, NY

    Reply
  12. David Andersen Avatar
    David Andersen

    At our advancing age it’s not wimping out to want a modicum of comfort. We’ve earned that right and should make zero apologies. Let somebody else be miserable in their classic ride.

    Reply

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