Domain age and 301 redirect

Google seems to use domain age as an important ranking metric

[rescendent]

Google says they are quite good with the 301 redirects, but if you 301'ed a old domain to a new domain (with the pages going to the right pages) would you loose the benefit of the domain age on the new domain? Or will they use the 301 to transfer the domain age as well?

[rescendent]

Or do you just get the benefit of the links pointing to the old domain, and a lack of duplicate content filter (given time)?

[steveb]

A 301 won't tranfer domain age and of course it shouldn't.

[rescendent]

Ah so it would be much like 'Coca Cola' calling themselves NewUnheardOfBrand, they'd still have all their retail outlets and advertising (links); but they'd have lost the cache of their well established brand (domain age).

So its best not to change your domain name if its old (in terms of Google) as you'll loose the domain age bonus. But you will keep your links if 301s are done to the correct pages?