Classic as a Daily???
Discussion
Used to run my old 1967 Volvo 1800S on a 20 mile each way commute for a couple of years back in the mid-90s and it never let me down once. Don't think there's a day that goes past that I don't miss that car. 
Especially the prices they are now.
You could run an Amazon as a daily easily.
http://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C234386
As long as there was no rust on this, this would be a perfect tax exempt daily.
Especially the prices they are now.
You could run an Amazon as a daily easily.
http://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C234386
As long as there was no rust on this, this would be a perfect tax exempt daily.
Edited by vixen1700 on Thursday 7th July 16:42
Classic encompasses a massive range and age of cars. I ran old cars for many years through necessity rather than choice. I also ran a 1985 Corvette which was 9 years old when I bought it and which I ran for 3 years as a daily where fuel was the main expense (though even this wasn't that bad as I used to look at the dash and see 16mpg and never twigged back then that it was the smaller US gallon and overall I got 21 US mpg which actually isn't half bad in UK gallons).
The trick is to find a car with plenty of backup and cheap readily-available spares that won't dissolve.
The trick is to find a car with plenty of backup and cheap readily-available spares that won't dissolve.
What sort of classic do you have in mind?
I ran my previous 635csi as my only car for 18 months, about 5 years ago, with routine (albeit regular) maintenance. And I've run late 1980s Mercs and a 1981 924 as daily snotters.
If you're looking at something older, try to find something that has been well looked after, used regularly and already in fine fettle.
You need to be prepared to have to spend a little more money a little more often on preventative maintenance. But given that you're potentially looking at much cheaper clasic insurance, zero depreciation, potentially free tax, and servicing costs outside the stealer networks, there's a fair chance the costs will balance out.
I ran my previous 635csi as my only car for 18 months, about 5 years ago, with routine (albeit regular) maintenance. And I've run late 1980s Mercs and a 1981 924 as daily snotters.
If you're looking at something older, try to find something that has been well looked after, used regularly and already in fine fettle.
You need to be prepared to have to spend a little more money a little more often on preventative maintenance. But given that you're potentially looking at much cheaper clasic insurance, zero depreciation, potentially free tax, and servicing costs outside the stealer networks, there's a fair chance the costs will balance out.
Gruber said:
What sort of classic do you have in mind?
I ran my previous 635csi as my only car for 18 months, about 5 years ago, with routine (albeit regular) maintenance. And I've run late 1980s Mercs and a 1981 924 as daily snotters.
If you're looking at something older, try to find something that has been well looked after, used regularly and already in fine fettle.
You need to be prepared to have to spend a little more money a little more often on preventative maintenance. But given that you're potentially looking at much cheaper clasic insurance, zero depreciation, potentially free tax, and servicing costs outside the stealer networks, there's a fair chance the costs will balance out.
It wasn't so much thinking for me to get one...more as an enquiry on whats out there being driven as daily's. Having said that...im particular to a MK1 Golf Clipper or GTI convertibleI ran my previous 635csi as my only car for 18 months, about 5 years ago, with routine (albeit regular) maintenance. And I've run late 1980s Mercs and a 1981 924 as daily snotters.
If you're looking at something older, try to find something that has been well looked after, used regularly and already in fine fettle.
You need to be prepared to have to spend a little more money a little more often on preventative maintenance. But given that you're potentially looking at much cheaper clasic insurance, zero depreciation, potentially free tax, and servicing costs outside the stealer networks, there's a fair chance the costs will balance out.
Challo said:
Gruber said:
What sort of classic do you have in mind?
I ran my previous 635csi as my only car for 18 months, about 5 years ago, with routine (albeit regular) maintenance. And I've run late 1980s Mercs and a 1981 924 as daily snotters.
If you're looking at something older, try to find something that has been well looked after, used regularly and already in fine fettle.
You need to be prepared to have to spend a little more money a little more often on preventative maintenance. But given that you're potentially looking at much cheaper clasic insurance, zero depreciation, potentially free tax, and servicing costs outside the stealer networks, there's a fair chance the costs will balance out.
It wasn't so much thinking for me to get one...more as an enquiry on whats out there being driven as daily's. Having said that...im particular to a MK1 Golf Clipper or GTI convertibleI ran my previous 635csi as my only car for 18 months, about 5 years ago, with routine (albeit regular) maintenance. And I've run late 1980s Mercs and a 1981 924 as daily snotters.
If you're looking at something older, try to find something that has been well looked after, used regularly and already in fine fettle.
You need to be prepared to have to spend a little more money a little more often on preventative maintenance. But given that you're potentially looking at much cheaper clasic insurance, zero depreciation, potentially free tax, and servicing costs outside the stealer networks, there's a fair chance the costs will balance out.
You'll need to beware of rust and a leaky roof. There's a good buyers guide for the Clippers kicking around somewhere.
Dad drove his (now my) '72 MGB Roadster as his daily from the day he bought as an early retirement present in 2000 until he could no longer drive. Unless it was bucketing down, he would have the roof down too. His reasoning was that when he first owned them in the late 60's/early 70's, it was just another car, so as long as everything was maintained properly, why shouldn't he?
Now, it helped that he had rebuilt several, and knew them inside and out. He always said that it needed very little other than normal maintenance though. He took it everywhere.
Now, would I? No, it doesn't fit my needs most of the time (3 kids). However, when the weather is good I drive it as much as possible. In the last 2 years, it's been to Spain, France, the Highlands, Cornwall (we live in the NE). It just soaks it up and keeps on trucking.
Now, it helped that he had rebuilt several, and knew them inside and out. He always said that it needed very little other than normal maintenance though. He took it everywhere.
Now, would I? No, it doesn't fit my needs most of the time (3 kids). However, when the weather is good I drive it as much as possible. In the last 2 years, it's been to Spain, France, the Highlands, Cornwall (we live in the NE). It just soaks it up and keeps on trucking.
I've also used MGs (BGTs) as daily drivers and they work very well too. Used an 1800 and a V8 for daily commutes in the past and they didn't let me down.
Makes me feel old when people are talking about whether it's possible to use cars from the '80s as daily drivers.
I use a 40 year old TVR to get to work some days now too.although my fingers are always crossed
Makes me feel old when people are talking about whether it's possible to use cars from the '80s as daily drivers.
I use a 40 year old TVR to get to work some days now too.
although my fingers are always crossedYou can run any car as a daily. if you bought a new car in the 60's you would have done. They will take more looking after. serviceing every 3000 miles, greasing every 1000 miles etc. Once the car is sorted which can take a long time it will be fine. It won't be as fast as a modern car. It will rust away after a few years even if protected. But then again you would were out a modern car over time as well. I don't drive a classic as my everyday car, but I do as many miles in classics as I do my modern car. Done 140 miles in my 1966 vitesse 2 weeks ago, and it's going 150+ miles tomorrow. Our morris minor has been the wifes only car for 13 years, she doesn't use it every day, but where ever she needs to go she uses the morris. it has broken down 3 times in 60000 miles. each time if I was there it would have been fixed and on it's way again in 10 mins or so. If you don't know how to fix cars you will struggle to run one as your only car. My vitees took a while to get sorted. new clutch, carb rebuild, suspension rebuild, new fuel tank, general tnkering and plenty of driving before it behaved properly.
buy a classic and use it as often as possible before getting rid of a modern car.
buy a classic and use it as often as possible before getting rid of a modern car.
ARH said:
You can run any car as a daily. if you bought a new car in the 60's you would have done. They will take more looking after. serviceing every 3000 miles, greasing every 1000 miles etc. Once the car is sorted which can take a long time it will be fine. It won't be as fast as a modern car. It will rust away after a few years even if protected. But then again you would were out a modern car over time as well. I don't drive a classic as my everyday car, but I do as many miles in classics as I do my modern car. Done 140 miles in my 1966 vitesse 2 weeks ago, and it's going 150+ miles tomorrow. Our morris minor has been the wifes only car for 13 years, she doesn't use it every day, but where ever she needs to go she uses the morris. it has broken down 3 times in 60000 miles. each time if I was there it would have been fixed and on it's way again in 10 mins or so. If you don't know how to fix cars you will struggle to run one as your only car. My vitees took a while to get sorted. new clutch, carb rebuild, suspension rebuild, new fuel tank, general tnkering and plenty of driving before it behaved properly.
buy a classic and use it as often as possible before getting rid of a modern car.
Not quite any, our 500 is too slow, no safety features and is just generally about as far off the pace compared to modern vehicles as it is possible to get, cars generally back then were smaller and slower, i.e. an Anglia wasn't that fast but its modern equivalent is a lot faster and heavier, never mind the number of 3 tonne off roaders and the sheer number of cars on the road, also the reliability is iffy at best though more regular use would probably help. Motorways would be terrifying and I really cant imagine a dark, wet motorway in November with the feeble lights and 55 mph max. Ok its an extreme case and most cars from then are better but it will be degrees better, not modern performance unless improved or a model with enough capability from the time, Moggies, A40s and the ilk are better but not quite there, would be thinking either newer or more substantial.buy a classic and use it as often as possible before getting rid of a modern car.
Fairly thorough discussion of this topic last year in the classics area http://www.pistonheads.com/xforums/topic.asp?h=0&a...
Challo said:
It wasn't so much thinking for me to get one...more as an enquiry on whats out there being driven as daily's. Having said that...im particular to a MK1 Golf Clipper or GTI convertible
They have quite an appetite for curling tongs and scissors... Well, someone had to say it...
Go for it!
I run a 1969 Volvo Amazon and a 1990 Sierra XR4x4 - I'd happily drive either of them the length of the country at the drop of a hat.
True, 1960/70's/80's metal will need more care, attention and tinkering than a modern car but as long as you enjoy doing this, the effort is well worth it.
Case in point: last winter my cars always started 1st turn of the key. My neighbour's people carrier? Well, it didn't!
I run a 1969 Volvo Amazon and a 1990 Sierra XR4x4 - I'd happily drive either of them the length of the country at the drop of a hat.
True, 1960/70's/80's metal will need more care, attention and tinkering than a modern car but as long as you enjoy doing this, the effort is well worth it.
Case in point: last winter my cars always started 1st turn of the key. My neighbour's people carrier? Well, it didn't!
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