Using low mileage classic cars as dailys?

[Lukas]

I´ve a different opinion.

 

Of course it´s nice to see a car used for what it was built for. But the normal use is the reason why at least 99% of the cars in our climate don´t survive to become a classic car. So when a car has the luck to be one of the very few survivors, especially if it´s a very rare model like this Vauxhall, it deserves to be a cherished classic with only a few thousand miles a year, living in a garage and getting stashed away from October until April.

 

I´d like to drive my old cars everyday, but I don´t. I´ve got a bland and boring 07 Mazda6 as a daily and I am glad I have. Because otherwise, one of my old cars wouldn´t be with me anymore. I had an accident, someone drove into my car, I could not do anything. Of course it could happen on one of the days I drive my old cars, but it did happen while driving my daily. It´s all about probability. Just looking at the (repaired) Mazda6 now with all the muck and salt on it makes me feel good because I know my old cars don´t have to do this.

 

So to make a long story short:

 

I can only approve everyday-use of a classic car when the car is not a rare one (use a VW Beetle or a Mercedes-Benz W123 or something like that), not a special version (very low miles, special edition etc.) and parts are easy available if something happens.

 

 

Buy the best you can is a good motto, use it and enjoy it is another one.

 

Of course! But don´t run it into the ground should be another motto!

[Manbearpig]

^^^^^^^^ All of the post above with knobs on, bravo

 

The owner of that Vauxhall obviously has more money than sense, doesn't really give a fuck about it, and I suspect is getting a bit of kick out of riling up the "traditional" classic community in the same way a banger racer would.

[Lukas]

 

I suspect he is getting a bit of kick out of riling up the "traditional" classic community

 

Good point! I would say so too.

[Adrian_pt]

Nah. You pay the penny, you take your choice. Plus you'll never completely eliminate the risk of something bad happening to the car even if you do a hundred miles a year. Far better to enjoy it for the task it was designed. And prolong the pleasure by maintaining the thing properly.

[The Reverend Bluejeans]

How long before the "STOLEN  - VAUXHALL FE VICTOR' threads? A rigger booted banger racing cretin would love to smash that up.

 

Big mistake using that everyday IMO. It's the last minter left, and they're not making any more. It's interesting but not really desirable - a low mileage Mark 3 Cavalier SRi would be a lot nicer and that would stand up to daily use far better than those things ever did.

If it were mine (and not for 7 bags), I'd do 2000 miles a year in it, use it when the weather was okay, waxoyl it to buggery and absolutely never EVER do a concours event with it. But it would be garaged.

 

I genuinely feel for this old car - there's just something wrong with what he's doing with it.

[Largactil]

I'm having thoughts about this for next year - Myself and SWMBO are looking to buy a house in the summer, and this means getting rid of as many outgoings as poss.

 

The modern will thus be flogged next May and the bank loan paid off, leaving a couple of bags to find a replacement.

 

Given the, quite frankly, insane cost of motoring in Ireland, I'm looking at buying a 'classic' to use as a daily.

 

Advantages:

No crazy VRT / Import tax bill (20-30% of the value of the car) - Anything older than 30 years has a flat rate of €200 

Cheap road tax - €20 ish a year

Cheap insurance (although I'll probably need to add myself to SWMBO's 2011 Clio, so that the classic isn't seen as my only car).

 

I keep finding myself drawn to a Mk1 XR2 - yes, the scene is strong with that one, but they can still be had within budget and should hold some value.

 

Amusing to pedal / practical / 30mpg ish - Better spares availability than most (although I know things like front wings & XR2 headlights are rare).

 

Definitely food for thought...

[mercrocker]

^^Go for it, I reckon....At least in principle  - I have no direct experience of XR Fezzas  (Mk1 povo was more my line) but coming off the modern depreciation/microprocessor stupidity bandwagon just has to be a good idea especially if you want to rationalise your motoring costs.  Good luck!

[Dippy]

Well I seemed to stir up some mixed reactions when I bought this 2 years ago, and I found this forum after it was mentioned in the piston heads thread.

 

I now seem to spend much time here and rarely visit piston heads anymore, as the atmosphere here is very nice with lots of like minded people.

 

Exactly 2 years to the day I picked up this car and as promised have used it everyday even through winter and have shunned the use of my wife's modern or one of my company vans

in favour of some retro motoring fun.

 

Some folks seemed to think I was a millionaire buying this but what has 2 years cost me, well for servicing and repairs I have spent £700 keeping it in tiptop condition

and that includes items that were done as a prevention such as flexi brake hoses, timing belt etc and the only major costs were a full new exhaust and large battery.

 

In the time of my ownership I have not needed to pay for any servicing or repairs as its easy to do yourself for just the cost of the parts.

 

I have not really had a FTP but just a couple of starter motor sticking issues which are quickly remedied with a hammer until the unit can be removed and cleaned.

The car does take longer to warm up on a frosty morning but its only another few minutes on odd days so no real hardship.

 

Buying this was one of my better decisions and I have saved a fortune on depreciation and main stealer bills, who knows what its worth now but at 13000 miles its still only

just run in and im not planning on selling anyway.

Its been so much fun I am now tidying up a Princess to share the daily driving duties and hopefully keep the 2300s in good condition.

[Spottedlaurel]

Interesting to hear your update. Are you more mindful of where you leave it, other drivers, grotty road conditions etc? I try and use my Laurel for work and everyday motoring whenever I can (if I didn't it would barely get any use, which is pointless), but consideration to such matters means something else in my fleet is often used instead.

[Dippy]

Interesting to hear your update. Are you more mindful of where you leave it, other drivers, grotty road conditions etc? I try and use my Laurel for work and everyday motoring whenever I can (if I didn't it would barely get any use, which is pointless), but consideration to such matters means something else in my fleet is often used instead.

Even with a boring modern or any vehicle I try and avoid idiots and park away from possible danger, as for driving in bad weather it gets used regardless of snow, salt rain etc but I do put it on a ramp every 2-3 months to check the underseal is not damaged and there are no problems.

I only get fussy about weather, road conditions and other idiots when im out in my Sunday best car but even so I have managed to put 5000 miles on that last year and it did get very wet and dirty.

 

Our Greyhound also gets to travel in the back of all my cars.

[vulgalour]

Buying the best you can and maintaining it is utterly sensible, as you've proven.  Using a Princess daily is a great idea, the only problems I've really had when I was running mine daily, including commuting down the motorway, was failed suspension units and OMGHGF.  The latter can happen to any car, the former is a problem unique to Hydragas/lastic cars.  The main things that make a Princess unreliable or unsuitable is rust, the suspension units (you can only replace with second hand, nobody is making new ones, NOS are unobtanium) and the annoying habit of leaking oil everywhere.  If you can get on top of these you shouldn't have any issues, regular maintenance will keep everything tip top.  I would also suggest fitting a high level brake light in the Princess for modern traffic, I found a lot of drivers got so close to the back of the car that they couldn't see my brake lights when applied which did make me nervous a time or two at roundabouts and junctions.

[Uncle Jimmy]

I used to be more precious about old cars and 'stuff' in general. I think there's a compromise to be made, so I'd say use it!

Get it valued properly, insured with a company that gives a shit about 'classics',

Try to keep garaged and look into cavity wax, underseal. I'm bored with all the mincing about fretting and poncing over old cars and treating them as 'investments'.

[xtriple]

I'm using mine as a daily, now it's my only car. I just noticed today that it has acquired a shallow dent in the rear wing... where and how I have no idea! Also, the fuel consumption is a killer, but that was my choice, so tough.

 

My dogs also go in the back for each and every journey. I have covered the seats in thick blankets and then a quilt with cover over the top of that. The seats themselves are fine, the slobber marks all down the side are not!

 

I don't like leaving it outside but I have zero choice at the moment - no garages round here to rent and the few that are available, are too short!

 

I admire you running your low mileage Vauxhall through cities, we need more classics on the road daily not fewer!

[captain_70s]

Cars are built to be used and driven, nothing worse than seeing a pristine car sat in a museum that probably hasn't run in several decades. I once spoke to the owner of a very scruffy Bentley 3 litre who had taken it to go shopping at Morrisons, he'd had the car for over 20 years and said the worst thing about the car was that they are now worth so much money most are sat aside as investments, a concept that would probably have W. O. Bentley spinning in his grave and developing 70bhp at 3,500rpm.

Besides the 2300S isn't a unique car. Rare, yes, but don't Vauxhall have a mint example? Also is it the same model as AngryDicky's recently sold car?

 

 

The question of "originality" is an interesting one. I consider a minter completely unremarkable even if it's been like that since new. A car can be restored back to that "as new" condition, more or less. Bodywork can be fabricated, engines and gearboxes rebuilt, paint can be re-sprayed, trim can be repaired or replicated, very little is completely out of grasp, out of budget is another matter!

What I consider more important is the myriad of imperfections and modifications that a car gains over it's life, I suppose it could be considered it's "character".

 

I must say Mr Dippy has been lucky in spending only £700 as the Dolomites cost me that every couple of months!  Of course neither were properly nice cars to start with, which was reflected in the purchase price! If I'd paid £7k my cars might have had less holes and patchwork metal hidden under the underseal! In fact I wish I'd saved up a bit more and bought a £3k example, much easier to keep up and repair than a "well used" example that's full of bodgery.

I'd say spending £7k on a really NICE car is a better motivator to keep it nice than buying a cheap example to blat about in. The Dolomite forum is littered with sad tales of *ahem* "misguided" owners who bought £500 cars with great aspirations of engine swaps, restoration or daily use only to scrap them a few months down the line.

[D Spares & Tyres]

A restored car can be restored again if needed but a good original car can never be replicated so I would never use a good original every day

[fordperv]

Fuck it you only live once, I wish I had the money to buy a real sierra rs500 I'd use that as a daily, drive what you enjoy

[Barry Cade]

People who tuck away their classics wind me up- like having a big old castle and only using 1 room. Part and parcel of owning an old car is the care and maintenence of it, and the understanding that it is a mechanical item which needs adjusting and fettling. If you don't want to do this, then buy a yaris on PCP. Your old precious car was just another box 30 years ago, that came off the line with 1000's of others, and is only here because someone cared for it.

 

[D Spares & Tyres]

Yes but my 59 Standard with 34,000 miles and no rot and having never been welded is only here in that condition due to the fact is has been loved and never seen salt.

 

It is only in the last couple of years I have taken it out in the rain but it still makes me feel slightly guilty.

 

I have other non original cars that can take the abuse but this one needs to be preserved in its original state.

 

Sorry that winds you up.....

[Barry Cade]

If it's a show car, then fair enough, but don't see the point in buying a car to drive and enjoy, and only deciding to do that after you've checked the weather forecast.

 

I do laugh everytime I pass my local bike dealer. See loads of bike for sale saying "never seen rain". Their showroom stuff sits outside every day, beside a puddle on a road that is gritted regularly...

 

Whatever floats your boat, but piano's are for playing, paintings are meant to be looked at, and cars are for driving IMO.

[D Spares & Tyres]

That's why you need lots of cars!

[lisbon_road]

Use them, enjoy them, but take an original low miles car out in salty weather?  No.  We easily forget that some of these cars were rotten in 4 years of that.

[cros]

This is what can happen to your chrome if you use an old car on salty roads. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

But that is the bumper I had rechromed in 2015. The original chrome has slight pitting after 58 years worth of winters, but nothing like as bad as the outer blades I've just had re-done. Just about everything you buy these days is inferior with the possible exception of oil and tyres. Today I drove 120 miles in the Rover and I'll do the same trip again on Thursday.

 

 

The '37 Morris 10 took me to from Lincs to central London and back in December and again this weekend. I thrashed the bollocks off it both times and enjoyed it greatly. Sure it will rust, but what the fuck, I'm not going to last for ever so no point in preserving it for some cunt who just wants to sit in front of it with his fat Mrs. at a car show.

 

 

 

 

 

[Angrydicky]

This is why I no longer have classic cars in really nice condition. I actually like to use my cars daily in all weathers, and I care too much about them to see a nice example deteriorate in my ownership. If anyone opens a car door onto my A40 Somerset - so what, the car's really battered anyway. I used to own a 30k from new, almost completely original A35, and while it was a beautiful car, ownership was a nightmare of not wanting to take it out of the garage if it was threatening rain. 

 

I bought the Maestro in 2010 with one owner and just under 30k on it, but it had still suffered with corrosion in all the usual places. It's since had a load of new metalwork and a full respray, so of course I do have the responsibility of trying to keep it from deteriorating. It's not that perfect though, with nearly 60k on the clock now.

[cros]

I speshially like being overtook by old tat being hammered. Some years back the A35 was clattering along at 70 on the 4 lane bit of A1 near Petershithole when a red mini went past. It was a pre suffix car, unwashed and unmolested, and I like to think there was an 850 absolutely flat out under the bonnet.

The new BMW M. something that darted round me at St. Neots on Monday produced some kind of short deafening rasp from its many exhaust pipes before diving back into the inside lane quick so he didn't get pulled. I assume it was the 2016 equivalent of that ancient 'swan' car that could leave a pool of fake bird shit on the road; wanker.

[LC Torana]

My daily is a 40-year-old V8 Rover.

 

Mind you, it has more than 300,000km on the clock.

 

I've had it for 30 years now, and I'll probably be buried in it.

[Dippy]

I forgot the other good reasons to run an old car the insurance is about £400 a year cheaper than my Audi used to be and that's insured for full business use on a standard policy not classic insurance.

The car will also be tax free in another 2 months so all,in its very cheap motoring and lots more fun than some modern box.

[danthecapriman]

I've got to use a company van for work so have no real choice now, but in previous jobs, yes I only used classics daily. My Capri did the daily use thing all year round for ages. As long as it's kept clean, under sealed and serviced/checked often where's the problem?

 

I'm even using the Mercury still now and again through winter, most other old yanks will be hidden away in heated garages by now. It'll be out on salted roads next week and I can't say I'm worried. I'll just give it a wash afterwards!

Fair play to anyone who can use an old or classic car all year round I say. The more of them kept in use the better.

[Skoze]

I speshially like being overtook by old tat being hammered. Some years back the A35 was clattering along at 70 on the 4 lane bit of A1 near Petershithole when a red mini went past. It was a pre suffix car, unwashed and unmolested, and I like to think there was an 850 absolutely flat out under the bonnet.

 

I'm absolutely with you here. Back when the Capri was still new (and shiny) to me, I was cruising round the M25 at 70-odd when a mint Lotus Elan came alongside, guy and a girl happy as larry in there waving. We gave them absolute hell before I eventually bottled it realising they were faster and I liked my license quite a lot, but as they sped off at legal* speeds I pissed myself when they flashed a BMW out of the way while trying to send the rockers through the bonnet. 

[Alexg]

 

The owner of that Vauxhall obviously has more money than sense, doesn't really give a fuck about it, and I suspect is getting a bit of kick out of riling up the "traditional" classic community in the same way a banger racer would.

 

So your conclusion is this guy is spending his money on a classic car he actually doesn't care about and driving it everyday to piss off some faceless internet naysayers? Seems a tad extreme. I'd wager he just feels like a major league winner and loves it.