Realistic Running of a Daily Shitter

[Lord Sterling]

My Sterling is about 22 years old and is my daily. It needs some a little more maintanence than your avarge newer car but thats to be expected on an 20+ year old car. Being that its a top-spec 800 it has its advantages, what with a big engine, comfy seats, electric everything, air con and so on, makes it that much easier to use and enjoy on a daily basis. A mk1 Fiesta as a daily, as has already been pointed out, might be a little strenuous on yourself and the car if it is to be used doing big mileage every year. However, for small town mileage it might be perfectly acceptable, thats what they were built for.

 

Its a bit like going on holiday, you might fall in love with the place whilst you are there, but living there is a whole lot different to actually just being there for a couple of weeks.

[Adrian_pt]

Live in the city centre so no need for a daily driver. But the 85 Saab 90 hasn't really missed a beat since 2005, including several years of daily use. My parents' cars are both 1990 models (Saab 900, XJS) - both in very regular use. At the moment I can't imagine circumstances where I'd want to get rid of the 90 - and at 122k it's barely run in. City centre parking without power steering isn't a problem (although it provides comedy for passengers). In fact I've found to my pleasant surprise that people deliberately leave spaces around the car, which they wouldn't do for a typical modern supermini. It makes "good progress" on motorways (often to the bemusement of VAG / BMW company car drivers distraught at the sight of the nearside rear of a B reg) and generally has vast charm and character. So yes - realistic - but pick the right one.

[coalnotdole]

I've driven a 1972 Scimitar as my main car for 18 months now, At one point I was doing 130 miles a day and never had an issue that meant I couldn't get where I was going. I did have the overdrive stop working, which cut the mpg a bit and a timing gear go which put it out of action for 10 days. but generally its been brilliant. Its great over long distances has enough power to handle the motorway without feeling like your holding up the traffic... The equiptment is pretty good too for a car of its time, heated rear window, reasonable heater, blowers, decent lights, even a rear wiper!

 

I've recently supplemented it with the rebel van which has given me another option should the Scimitar ever be unavailable.

[Shep Shepherd]

The Volvo was my daily driver from December 2003 until April 2009. If I didn't have TV2, it still would be

[Cavcraft]

A Fiesta Mk1 would be great for a daily. Cheap to run, reliable and easy to service or fix. When you think the Ka had an engine that first surfaced before the battle of Hastings you can't really go wrong mechanically with an elderly Fiesta.

[Micrashed]

Well, thank you to all that have taken the time to reply and PM.

 

I'll start hunting now, as so far (and Ok I have only been looking 2 days) everything I have seen is rather too messed with for my liking. Still think its going to be a Mk1 as this was Mrs Micrasheds first motor....

[Betaboy2.0]

Joining this thread late....... the 89 Croma 2.0ie auto has been my daily driver for the last 6000 miles / 6 months. So far, it hasn't missed a beat. It starts, stops, wafts down the motorway on the daily 50 mile return journey to work, is almost fun to press on through the lanes in, and returns 35+ to the gallon. The only downside with the Croma?? - it is an almost totally invisible car. Hasn't ever turned a head, raised a comment or been noticed (but maybe that's a good thing!!)

 

So, yes - running a 20+ year old car isn't an unrealistic prospect. Good luck with the Fester hunt.

 

Andy

[John F]

It's not quite 20 years old, but I've done over 60,000 miles in my 18-year old Calibra (including a 108-mile daily commute for 3 years) and in terms of component failures I've only had to replace the alternator.

 

It's never needed welding, either.

[eddyramrod]

It's been said quite a bit already, but: one very important factor is, what's the car going to do? For round-town work I totally approve of the mk1 Fiesta, or anything similarly-sized from the likes of Fiat, Peugeot, Yugo or many other contenders. Hell I'm bringing over a Metro, which says something! For a longer commute it's clear you want something a bit stronger, like a Volvo 740 (hammering the point, lol), Saab, even a w123. It may not be wise to step too far into free-tax-land; no further than say a Rover or Triumph 2000. Yes, they're lovely, yes, I'm using my Granada as a daily, but.... age does bring its own issues, which might hurt if you're depending on the thing to get you 40 miles away at 7am.

 

Of course it's always possible that I could be wrong.

[warren t claim]

I have to disagree on the Long distance capabilities of a mk1 Fiesta. Mine was happy to do 100+ miles a day without complaint and used to sit at 85 mph all day.

[Micrashed]

  eddyramrod said:

It's been said quite a bit already, but: one very important factor is, what's the car going to do? For round-town work I totally approve of the mk1 Fiesta

 

The maroon one above was used daily on a commute from Hoghton to Wythenshawe and back for about 12 months before being retired, that was in 1995 when a T plate Fiesta was a bit newer than it would be today.

 

For now it would be used for the daily work commute (16 mile round trip) and the occasional jaunt up the motorway to the caravan (80 mile round trip).

 

I would prefer one pretty much as standard with the possible exception of fitment of the electronics and dizzy from a later Mk1 or Mk2 to eradicate the points.

[KruJoe]

My 24 year old BX14 has been my daily and works van for the last year and a bit, I've done about 12,000 miles in it, and I can't fault it. One 'breakdown' on the way to Shitefest (loose battery terminal on an old battery). All I do to it is check oil, water and LHM levels once a week.

Expenditure to in the last 12 months:

MOT: £40

Tax: £130 for the year (low band)

Insurance: £120 fully comp (cla$$ic)

Oil+ filter: £20

2nd hand battery: £10

LHM: £10

That's £330 to keep it on the road for a year, plus pez. 30mpg up hill, down dale, 50mpg on a run. Ace brakes (better than any other car I've driven) and a comfy ride.

Am I doing it wrong? I think not.

Oh, and it hasn't depreciated.

[DSdriver]

  KruJoe said:

...Oh, and it hasn't depreciated.

 

This is something that has to be taken seriously. The lack of depreciation on a shitter can pay for a lot of repairs and still leave you in pocket.

[Lankytim]

Although its not really old enough to be classed as shite (maybe just an old banger) the Saab 9-5 I picked up recently seems to be just the ticket for cheap motoring. Mega cheap to buy and is VERY comfortable, GR8 for a daily you can just jump into and tootle to work without worrying about. Parts should be no problem to find, it should be reliable and it's no big deal if it gets damaged or destroyed.

[warren t claim]

  DSdriver said:

  KruJoe said:

...Oh, and it hasn't depreciated.

 

This is something that has to be taken seriously. The lack of depreciation on a shitter can pay for a lot of repairs and still leave you in pocket.

 

I think mk1 Fiestas will be appreciating in value offsetting any running costs.

[cms206]

  meshking said:

I'm reading this with interest. My "daily" at the moment is a 1975 2cv. However, my more regular daily is one of these badboys:

 

 

Usually to be found sipping a g&t, not piloting it.

 

 

Wildly off topic but this has just reminded me of one of those "How the fuck?" moments I was party to in the airport; a colleague of mine ended up causing about £5m worth of damage to BA Airbus A319 G-EUPY by hitting it with a set of stairs in a place that wasn't even in the Airbus manuals for "places you can hit an Airbus". Caused much head scratching and half a dozen Airbus engineers heading to Glasgow from Toulouse...

 

[idiotboy]

I like driving the old stuff, I feel more part of it somehow and more connected with the road.

 

I've driven new cars and all they do is separate you from actually driving.

 

Anyway there's something thrilling by knowing just how little is actually holding the engine together and the front wings on, especially at 70mph.

[MrDuke]

  idiotboy said:

Anyway there's something thrilling by knowing just how little is actually holding the entire bodyshell together, especially at 70mph.

 

EFA

[STUNO]

SD1 Rover as a daily? I do it every day. It has only failed once ( in the car park at work ) and that was fixed with a new distributor cap. I live in a place where the dreaded rust is not an issue, that helps a lot.

[barefoot]

  warren t claim said:

I have to disagree on the Long distance capabilities of a mk1 Fiesta. Mine was happy to do 100+ miles a day without complaint and used to sit at 85 mph all day.

 

How old was it when it did that?

& how long did it manage it for?

Why did you ever sell it?

[catsinthewelder]

I did stop to think about this recently as my fleet of 3 vehicles all broke at the same time. I even phoned the insurance company about a cheap pug 306 but sanity prevailed, I made do with an utterly knackered 1974 van as sole transport for a couple of weeks then bought a E reg Citroen on the other side of the country the day before my summer holiday. The Austin is still broken but once I've got round to fixing it, we'll be using it as a daily driver taking 3 kids to school. It keeps up with the traffic, is comfortable and is a pleasure to use as a daily. chasing rust is a pain but even if I paid for the welding it would still be cheaper than the depreciation on something new and plasticy.