When I was a little girl and I'd dress up for a special occasion, I'd ask my Dad how I looked. He always said, "Like the last rose of summer."

Oh, I so wish I could tag along with Casey!!

Annie, these little girls in my just finished puzzle are looking like the last roses of summer.

I love your photos, Casey. I saved the first one to use on my desktop photo rotation - hope you don't mind.

Casey's photos would make for beautiful puzzles

And a cat too:

24yrsl? wow! Alisande, I have a 14yr. old Chevy Cavalier Coupe that I bought new (first ever new car) and I love this car. Nearly no problems over all these years. Just turned over 90,000 miles. Only it's starting to rust along the runner boards and has a rip in the upholstery. :( Even then the Chevy dealer wants it so bad, but I always hold out.

Good for you, Schoolhouse! My Caprice is in demand too. It's a '92, but since they're always manufactured a year early, that would make it 25 years old. I've been driving it since 1996, but not in the winter. Our winters are no place for a rear-wheel-drive powerhouse. My DH managed quite well with our Caddies in the 1970s, but I did not. :-)

Carol, that's a gorgeous rose!

Butterfly visitor just now

Lovely photos.

The best reason to replace older cars is that newer models, no matter which you prefer, would likely be much safer to ride around in.

Make the car payments for me and I'll buy one.

Do whatever you want, it doesn't matter to me. I suggested that because newer cars are much safer, that's a good a reason to not hold on to an old one. Perhaps that's why alisande says her family is divided about her keeping her old car.

If you can't afford to buy another car, then keeping what you have is your only option and it isn't because you worship your older model as you alluded. That's all.

No, I haven't heard the safety argument from my family. My daughter drives late model, high-end cars and thinks the Caprice is a) old, and b) will nickle-and-dime me to death. That doesn't seem likely. My son loves it as much as I do.

My other vehicle is a Subaru, which is noted for safety. I'm glad it has that reputation, with air bags galore, but I feel just as safe in the Caprice. I love having all that metal between me and the drunks.

Murraysmom - beautiful rose! I can almost smell the lovely scent! I have your photo of your cute pups on my desktop photo rotation, hope you don't mind. Now I get to look at them regularly.

I didn't allude to anything. I like my 2004 Cavalier.

A newish Subaru is safer to drive in than a large and lumbering 25 year old car, the size is more a problem than an asset. Your Subaru probably has ABS brakes, crumble zones to absorb impact, disc brakes, airbags (as you mention), more nimble handling and capable road traction, perhaps stability control, and on and on. All things to protect passengers and minimize or avoid risks in collisions.

You're so rude, Elmer. My Caprice does not lumber. It's very responsive. Cops drove them for years. I've talked with State Police who say they still miss them. It's big and fast, has disc brakes and ABS. My favorite brakes, actually, of all the cars I've ever driven. And oh yes, an airbag. Just one, but I drive it alone.

I'm sorry I'm responsible for this nice photo thread taking such a turn.

Sorry. You said you hadn't heard any safety arguments so that's what I offered. Be happy with what you're happy with, it matters not to me. My only aim was to suggest newer cars are considerably better than their predecessors. Those choosing or having no choice but to hold on to older cars are missing out on quality, safety and reliability of most newer models that older cars can't offer.

Stacey, thank you. That rose brought me a lot of pleasure! :) You are welcome to use my picture of the pups. I'm happy you like it. Of course they are adorable. :)