Classic car as an everyday motor

[washerboy]

Always fancied one of these, my mates dad had one for years, he used it for just about everything, including shooting, it amazed me how good it was off road, he must of owned it for 20+ years and it never missed a beat.

 

There's still plenty about and parts are easy to get.

 

Still silly money for anything that doesnt need work and is running .

I wanted one 30 yrs ago when I took my first ever driving lesson, a friends dad took me out in his pickup moggy and it was truly awful

[Pumpkin]

Always fancied an E30 M3.

[Dunkield]

Same. But unless you have deep pockets or don't mind doing a ratty one up you may have missed the boat on that one

 

I got some glossy high end shooting magazine through the post a year or so ago and there was a page on gold plated car investments, the E30 M3 and the Cosworth 190 Merc were, at the time, top tips.

 

A nice usable, appreciating everyday classic would be a 997 Porshe.

As air cooled prices have gone stratospheric, they will get dragged along with them, and never be any cheaper than they are now.

[lancer425]

One aspect of any everyday car is parts availability, you need your own spares from donor cars or personal stock in hand, or you need to be able to get them easy online or local specialists is often more practical.

Morris minors MGBs Minis as in original version LRS RRs and Many Small Fords VWs all have readily available spares as do others Triumphs and other BL BMC cars, once you start venturing into Mercs and BMWs although specialists do exist with plenty of aftermarket pattern spares they are not as readily available and more expensive.

Choosing the MGB for my Daughter the good parts availability made it an easy choice, another thing being a youngster is inssurance and the fact the car is something to respect look after out of a desire to keep the car rather than use abuse and throw away or trade up like the typical corsa fiessta swift or BMW mini.

[Mungler]

Gave mine a wash at the weekend - I probably shouldnt have bothered as its now covered in the Sahara.

 

https://imgur.com/gallery/0kTxP

 

The guy who did the paint just over 2 years ago, did a really cracking job. That being said, and with all old cars, youre always fighting time and the elements - its always a cheery thought to wonder when its all going to need doing again.

[arjimlad]

Gave mine a wash at the weekend - I probably shouldnt have bothered as its now covered in the Sahara.

 

https://imgur.com/gallery/0kTxP

 

The guy who did the paint just over 2 years ago, did a really cracking job. That being said, and with all old cars, youre always fighting time and the elements - its always a cheery thought to wonder when its all going to need doing again.

Gorgeous car. One of my all-time faves.. I need to get an empty garage before thinking about owning one though.

[KB1]

Sounds like a mid life chrisis

 

Seriously though - I've had many a classic as a daily when I was running my workshop.

(8 years ago)

 

Would I swap back to any of them now and give up the modern day luxury and safety devices of our Altea??? I doubt it.

 

What is 'Altea'?

[KB1]

lakelandmotormuseum.co.uk

 

This place is well worth a visit for some great nostalgia

[guzzicat]

lakelandmotormuseum.co.uk

 

This place is well worth a visit for some great nostalgia

+1, For this,Campbell stuff, & loads of bike interest.

[sandspider]

I had a 1986 Porsche 944 as my only car for 5 or more years and it was great. I still have it, and it's running better than my current and past modern cars! I'm using it today as my Skoda is in the garage for a new EGR valve. Porsche has only really let me down once in about 10 years, and that was when I ignored a grinding noise for a few months as I thought it was minor and it turned out to be the retaining pin for one the handbrake shoes, which eventually snapped, leaving me stranded with the handbrake jammed on. It's carried logs, dogs, people, luggage, my new wife etc. - all with style and aplomb.

 

Porsche are good at supporting their old models, and there are lots of aftermarket parts available and enthusiast forums etc. Having said that, it is an old car, and it's needed welding for several recent MOTs, and it's starting to leak exhaust fumes into the cabin. Old cars need to be used, and I probably don't use it enough. I'm going to do a 40 mile round trip in it tomorrow, and that's always fun. If a little unnerving as it gets older and less used.

[chrisp]

Ive got a 1972 landrover airportable and recently used that to get to and from work for a week as my mum borrowed my astra

 

It was great ,got alot of looks and way more fun than a euro box but wouldnt fancy it everyday in the winter months as it draughty as **** !

[buze]

I wanted to get a smaller car than my X3 as a run-around earlier in the year. My office is 10 minutes away and I always felt bad that the car barely gets to temp by the time I arrive.

 

So I bought a Z3 as an extra car for the both of us. 1999, 60k miles, 200bhp 2.8l straight 6, makes a formula 1 noise in the forest road I take to go to the office. It's actually a pocket rocket. A bit of a handful to drive obviously on **** roads, but quite safe.

 

It's not *yet* a classic, however it's a small luxury car, so I got ABS, airbags, traction control, heated+electric seats and pretty much all refinements from a 'modern' car, while still being serviceable, parts are still available (quite a few are interchangeable with the E46) etc. Oh, pretty much everything about these is 'known' and generally easy to fix, and it was cheap as there's quite a few about.

 

[JohnfromUK]

I had a 1979 Daimler Double Six for several years - and was 'just about' a classic when I sold it. For daily use;

 

Pros

Reliable, supremely comfortable and quiet, relaxing and lovely to drive, 'all (well most) mod cons', superb for a long journey. Fantastic engine and gearbox. Very fast even by today's standards. Lovely looks and wonderful wood and leather interior.

 

Cons

Massively thirsty in town (10 mpg) and only fair (16 - 18 mpg) on a long run. Frequent servicing (fluid changes) and greasing of chassis greasers needed. Hard to park (poor turning circle), rusted easily. Hard to work on (access to even routine things could be difficult). Could be temperamental (fuel vapour locks) in heavy traffic.

 

Have a 24 year old 200 TDI Defender now, and two 'future classics', Mercedes SLK and BMW 335D estate. (12 years old and 10 years old)

[washerboy]

 

What is 'Altea'?

[washerboy]

Altea 👍🏻....

On my second, its basically a big fat golf , plenty of room , good on fuel (ok mines 2 litre and isnt great at 40 mpg) .

They can be picked up cheap as they are a bit of an old mans car 🚗...

Well I am 47 😂

[defender]

I mostly use a motorcycle for my commute (1999 gs500e), but if traffics quiet or weather is realy bad I have my 1985 land rover 90 with an eberspacher heater on a timer for when it's really cold

[Me matt]

 

What is 'Altea'?

This - freetrack Haldex four wheel drive.

 

[Scully]

I’ve been using my 1975 Landrover for work on a daily basis for around four years now. It suits me fine.

[getthegat]

We have a 1984 VW double cab ex German Army pickup. 1.9 water boxer engine. We converted it to a draw through turbo with an inch and three quarter SU carb. Never lets us down, great heating system, moved tons of used and new parts when we took over our present workshop and goes just about everywhere I want it to for shooting. Just got through its MOT with no costs incurred.

[theshootist]

On 10/26/2017 at 17:33, buze said:

I wanted to get a smaller car than my X3 as a run-around earlier in the year. My office is 10 minutes away and I always felt bad that the car barely gets to temp by the time I arrive.

 

So I bought a Z3 as an extra car for the both of us. 1999, 60k miles, 200bhp 2.8l straight 6, makes a formula 1 noise in the forest road I take to go to the office. It's actually a pocket rocket. A bit of a handful to drive obviously on **** roads, but quite safe.

 

It's not *yet* a classic, however it's a small luxury car, so I got ABS, airbags, traction control, heated+electric seats and pretty much all refinements from a 'modern' car, while still being serviceable, parts are still available (quite a few are interchangeable with the E46) etc. Oh, pretty much everything about these is 'known' and generally easy to fix, and it was cheap as there's quite a few about.

 

I agree with buze absolutely on the z3. 

There are a lot of cars that have enjoyed huge price increases on their "modern classic" status. Some of them I think are crazy! That XR2 above maybe in great condition but its still not a great car! 

I started looking at getting my wife an MGB this year since their prices are still a bit more reasonable, their being more common. However, all she wanted was a Z3, having previously owned one and unfortunately being dragged out of its upside down carcass whilst unconscious.  I trotted out the arguments that probably are keeping the prices lower on the Z3 - "it has the rear suspension from an E30"; "the Boxter or S2000 are much better handling and possibly better built cars", etc. However, she just wanted the Z3 because of the way it looks. 

The Z3Ms have already gone well beyond reach but I found one with the 3L straight 6 engine. It stops and goes very well and everything works. I've poached it from her a few times over the summer. Great little cars and very much undervalued. Even the 1.9 will likely outperform an V8 MGB and I say this as a 20 year member of the MG car club!