Your daily runner - what made you choose it?

[Guest]

So Guys and Gals what made you chose your current daily runner? Was it a cheap price or a recomendation from a friend to buy a make / models like his? Any problems - what have you got and would you buy another one?

[HillmanImp]

Mine is currently the ex LankyTim Audi 100cc.

 

 

I had the ex Benzboy, Dollywobbler & M'Coli (there are probably others I have forgotten) Saab beforehand......

 

 

......which was great for carting around mountian bikes with its cavernous boot but when, for instance I was travelling from Leeds to Cannock on my own did cost a fair bit in fuel (especially with my lead foot). The reason I had replaced the Scenic behind with the Saab was because of the classic insurance as the Scenic went from £350 TO £580 in a year! I was not looking for another car but when a cool as milk LPG estate car came up for £600 I could not say no so a deal was done. I had seen it at Cholmondley Castle and thought it was pretty fly at the time too.

 

However due to the money I spent on the Audi and the fact my bike has been sent away for a proper service which has taken 2 weeks (I let someone else do it once a year for my own safety) and I have not actually had a chance to use it for its mountain biking purpose but it will be in a couple of weeks time once the parts I need arrive.

 

I would defo have another Saab. I really liked that car (despite Dollywobbler and M'Coli not being so sure). I love the look of the Audi and it cruises along nicely but would like to give it a bit more poke. I dont really have any need to it perfectly suffcient, its the boy racer in me speaking there.

[Pete-M]

I have a list of things I like to have in a car, if a car has them then I'll use it as a runner.

 

1. Aircon.

2. Armrest.

3. Automatic

4. Good stereo

5. Cruise control

6. A decent amount of poke.

 

Bonus items are 4wd, LPG and a towbar. That way I can go anywhere, carry tools and whatever other bits I need now and then, and drag things from place to place when needed.

 

The buying decision was based entirely on price and condition. If it looks tidy and isn't expensive I'll give it a go.

 

Edit: As you've all added pictures...

 

[dollywobbler]

2CV. Cheap to run, practical, easy to work on and it does this.

 

Range Rover. Iconic and it does this.

 

BX. Because it's quirky, cheap to run, massively practical and it has funky suspension.

 

The Saab taught me that just being capable isn't enough. I don't really want or need luxuries. What I do like - and what all the above have - is really good brakes. I also like good, accurate steering (the Range Rover's pushing it a bit here) and dependability. A comfortable driving position is essential too.

[Cavcraft]

A seperate thread beckons L8R but the sole reason for my daily is the mingebagness. It'll run on pretty much any old crud and is pretty good on juice anyhow so it's ideal.

 

Also, because it's an estate, the boot can be (and is) ram full of of all manner of chod such as jump leads, towing pole, booost pack, fuel cans, tow rope, old wheels/tyres, bit os newspaper etc. Had a towbar fitted for the boat trailer too.

[r.welfare]

Not mine in the picture, but similar.

 

Reason for choosing? Free from my dad three years ago (it was only worth £500 trade back then), so why turn it down. Now tickling 167,000 miles, has needed nothing other than servicing by the book (cambelts and waterpump every 72k, transmission fluid and spark plug change every 36k, oil & filter every 5k - the latter being my choice). A/c still blows cold and the autobox is still smooth. ABS light comes on now and again for no rhyme or reason, and a couple of dashboard bulbs have blown, but that's it for faults.

 

Would I have another? Maybe, if I knew it would be as reliable and painless to own as this one. Downsides are so-so fuel consumption (I get just under 30mpg on my fairly urban/backlane commute) and poor space in the rear seat, such that I have to slide the passenger seat forward to stop my 3 year old kicking it from her carseat.

[John F]

I replaced my truly brilliant 110,000 mile Cavalier SRi hatchback with my (at the time) 66,000 mile V6 Calibra because

 

a) the Cally was extremely tidy and very, very cheap

it also came with a full Vaux service history, a brand new OE exhaust and a set of front discs that I've still not needed to fit (60,000 miles later)

c) The Cally will cruise all day at 90 mph and still deliver over 30 mpg

d) the Cav's gearbox was starting to get a bit notchy

e) I got quite a bit more for the Cav than I paid for the Cally

f) with the rear seats folded flat, the Cally is long enough in the back to use as a tent

[scooters]

interesting question - much depends on what you use the car for obviously.

 

I have a slight dialema at the moment and this could be a good place to ask for opinions

 

My daily drive between now and the spring will involve 40 miles a day with about another 2k a month on business trips.

 

Now it had been my plan to use the 306 TD to do the above until such time as I can afford to replace it (probably with a Rover 75 D). As you know I have done a lot of work on this car to get it through it's MOT and to ensure it is a safe and reiable long distance motorway cruiser (despite being small, 306 oil burners feel like big cars due to unstressed engine if driven on momentum rather than on turbo) I'll get 45-50mg out of it and the mileage of 185k means that the XUD has probably got another 40k in it before any serious wear and tear occurs - if it does, no matter as it cost me £200 to buy.

 

However, the cost of insurance is high - a whopping £850 a year - our premiums have shot up due to two not at fault claims last year. Add to this the running costs of th4 Scoobaru then it begins to hurt.

 

Mark's BX16 Meteor is coming up to Scotland in late October, kindly driven by The Moog and his doris. Now this BX hasbeen very well looked after but is a very rare car -there are only about 20 of these souped up 1.6 cars left and it had been my intention to use it a couple of times a week for commuting and as a toy, gradually fettling it.

 

The question being, do I sell the 306 and press the Meteor into daily service

pros:

BX suspension makes it a first class long distance car

I save the crippling cost of insurance on at least one of the cars

it's a hot to drive

Mark has looked after it very well and it has a comprehensive list of recently dobe things and a detailed todo list

 

cons:

it's fragile compared to the 306 and an old lady now

it's getting very rare especially in 1.6 Meteor form (20 odd left)

I don't want to trash it

it returns 30+mpg

 

or Do I keep the 306 as planned

pros: it's a tool

much of the mechanical work has been sorted

it returns 45+ MPG

It is a hoot to drive

there MAY BE less to go wrong than in the BX as it is a more straightforward car

I don't really give a crap about it

 

cons

Insurance cost

185k on the clock already

worse ride than BX for long distance

 

of course - lurking behind all this is the cost of new rear shocks, discs, pads and a bit of welding for the Scoob which will take priority over both the above.

 

My instinct is to keep the 306 but much depends on how confident I am in using the BX as a daily over the winter - it could end up being redundant

[John F]

I'd also keep the 306, scooters.

 

(edited 'cos I just read that scooters has a couple of claims so my suggestion for an alternative insurer might not be cheaper)

[dollywobbler]

Lots of classic companies do 'fleet' policies. I've got three of mine all through Peter D James for about £160. Unlimited mileage (membership of at least one car club helps) and full breakdown bundle. That's why while my three may look like an odd choice of daily, it works out very nicely! (well, that and working from home...)

[nigel bickle]

I use three of these in the UK:-

 

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16valve for mileage, 20valve for local motorways, 20valve turbo for hooning. Cheap,depreciation free, pretty easy to mend, reliable.

 

In France -I use this:-

 

 

 

Fun - & a bit different there (you dont want to be TOO different -in France!!

[scooters]

Lots of classic companies do 'fleet' policies. I've got three of mine all through Peter D James for about £160. Unlimited mileage (membership of at least one car club helps) and full breakdown bundle. That's why while my three may look like an odd choice of daily, it works out very nicely! (well, that and working from home...)

 

 

I plan to insure the BX through P James - they seem very flexible and consultative in their sales process. Do you not have to have a main car on a normal policy to insure a car classically? They had sourced me a Trade policy including business use for £1200 but it had to be paid in a lump

[meggersdog]

My choice came down to this.

It was cheap at the time (£200.00)

Runs on various fuels.

Is used for towing (including broken down 5 berth campervans off the A1)

Can be a mobile workshop,a farm jack under the towbar is ideal for tyre bead breaking.

Is easy to work on.

and does this

[trigger]

My 2005 Ford Mondeo ST TDCI at Lands End, Cornwall by Trigger's Retro Road Tests!, on Flickr

 

Hmm... Why did i buy it?, Well I've always fancied one since they came out, I love the colour as well, I decided to splash out and spend some proper money on a car that i could keep a few years instead of swapping and changing all the time, I didn't want something too boring as I knew I'd get bored of it quickly and as i have a dog i wanted a hatchback or and estate to put the dog crate in.

 

Since I bought it back in April I've covered over 6000 miles in it and already want to sell it!, It's juicy on a short run which is all i really do, I find myself driving it quickly due to the nature of the car, between 3rd and 4th gear it pulls like a train, The suspension is so hard that i get back ache, the low profile tyre are too easy to curb, the gearbox isn't that nice and I've recently had to spend £400 getting the lower pulley replaced due to a common fault were they get noisy.

 

I wish i bought the Skoda Octavia i was going to by instead now!

 

My 1994 Volkswagen Golf 1.8 Cabriolet by Trigger's Retro Road Tests!, on Flickr

 

This is my wife's daily driver, bought in June for £700 with only 70000 miles on it, Mrs T was moaning that i always buy cars i like and not her and after buying her the Mk3 Escort which she didn't like (especally after she loved the Mk4 Escort that i sold to buy it ) I decided I'd better treat her too something she wants.

 

Since I've had it I've had to change the electric window motor and fix a clip on the door lock for the central locking and get it a bloody good clean but that's all, It's not the cheapest car to run petrol wise but it does drives lovely and on a nice day it's lovely having the hood down, Mrs T loves it too which means i got lots of sex when i bought it. lovely!

[Spottedlaurel]

Now the Sport has gone, the ’93 Camry 2.2 estate is my official daily. TBH, I’d been using it in that role ever since I bought it, it’s just so useful.

 

Another Camry joins the fleet by Spottedlaurel, on Flickr

 

My fondness for this generation Camry stems back to the first 2.2 estate I had, bought in 2006 I think. I was after a biggish estate and that one just happened to be the right car at the right price. It did a great job despite having done lots of miles, and it’s still with me for spares after Wuvvum had it for a bit.

 

Another Camry joins the fleet by Spottedlaurel, on Flickr

 

Toy count in the 2.2 isn’t particularly high, no AC for example, but it just has this incredible feeling of built-in quality and solidity combined with 30+mpg. Lovely and smooth to drive, decent handling and brakes, torquey engine, light controls and bags of space. It just gives me a sense of well-being whenever I drive it.

 

Camry already at work by Spottedlaurel, on Flickr

 

Mrs SL has a Welfare-type Accord, a high-spec, big-engined model which is full of toys like heated leather seats, climate control, cruise etc but when I drove it to work today it didn’t have the same feel as the Camry. I know what I want to be driving for the next few years, I can’t immediately see what would do the same job, and that’s why I’m stockpiling some for spares.

[Rocket88]

Just bought an ex taxi 2004 Mondeo td estate auto. Comfy, aircon works, just had gearbox rebuilt. I love turbo diesel autos, loads of grunt and 40 mpg..............

[barefoot]

My daily is the ex-HillmanImp Scirocco.

 

Now I originally bought this for two reasons;

1, the Bay Window was going off to the body shop for a month for doors & stuff &

2, Mrs barefoot's daily 944 had proved itself to be utterly undrivable in the previous winters snow.

So based on that twat "Honest John" saying that a Lotus Elise on snow tyres had been ace due to its low weight

I thought I'd give the 875kg Scirocco a go... and we used to have one many years ago & remembered it with fondness.

 

However, it has turned out to be much more useable than the Bay in day to day use, it's not as rapid as I remember,

but we've been driving a 944 since 94 so its possible we've been spoiled.

It's actually a lot of fun to drive with minimal engine revs (it'll pull from 20mph in top) and here's the clincher - it does over 40 mpg.

 

So the Bay, has been relegated to just occasional use for holidays & whatsisname.

I may even SORN it over the winter.

[michiel]

We/I chose:

Small (just the two of us 98% of the time) +

Light (roadtax is weightbased) +

Cheapish to run/reliable +

Enough power to have a bit of fun if I ever feel like it =

 

1991 Starlet, followed by 2002 Sirion 1.3.

[carlo]

I have a list of things I like to have in a car, if a car has them then I'll use it as a runner.

 

1. Aircon.

2. Armrest.

3. Automatic

4. Good stereo

5. Cruise control

6. A decent amount of poke.

 

Bonus items are 4wd, LPG and a towbar. That way I can go anywhere, carry tools and whatever other bits I need now and then, and drag things from place to place when needed.

 

The buying decision was based entirely on price and condition. If it looks tidy and isn't expensive I'll give it a go.

 

Interesting, that's more or less the identical criterea I look for, would just add a very good ride aswell. That's why I've driven these for the past six years.

 

 

And I fully intend to buy every single one of the remaining buggers an 'all (automatics that is)

[Lord Sterling]

 

Now that it works (just)

 

- I like Rover 800s, everyone knows that.

- Big

- Fast

- Smooth

- Comfortable

- Cheap insurance - I paid it off in one payment for the whole year! Never done that before.

- I've got nowhere else to store it

- It was the only thing I could just about get on the road at the time

 

 

Not really a daily anymore for me, but was once. Its small, easy to park and pretty easy to maintain.

[Negative Creep]

I noticed it on ebay, and thought it would be a good idea at the time. In hindsight - it was, actually

[worldofceri]

This:

 

Why?

 

My mate and I were going halves on something quick but cheap to take to the Nürburgring.

But I still wanted four seats and doors.

It was cheap and local.

We got carried away on Ebay one night after a few beers.

 

I've had it over a year now and it's been pretty good. Not great on fuel, but you wouldn't expect that.

 

Has only* needed tyres and an exhaust. Suspension is getting increasingly klonktacular and I'll probably need discs and pads all round soon. I'd recommend them if you like torque steer and enjoy mastering an awkward gearchange.

 

*Touch wood.

[Negative Creep]

Is that Bluewater car park?

[The Moog]

Mine was dictated by in house finance director. Micra so cheap, easy to run, handles well (after I insisted fitting new shocks and springs all round .. .for .. cough.. safety) and is very nippy.

[AlsoMike]

I bought this a couple of weeks ago:

 

 

I had 2 reasons for buying it; I needed something economical (it's the TD version) and years ago my stepdad had 2 of these and didn't manage to kill them. The bloke is incredibly hard on cars, I figured they must be fairly robust.

[Father Ted]

Following:-

going into the tarmac at speed resulting in:-

 

I needed a car PDQ - £150 later and this became my runabout for 9 months:-

 

Frilly crossmember, buggered shocks and non working electricals saw it go the way of the Bay and the holder of the purse strings allowed me to buy another identical one on the grounds that it was cheap to run, insure, had not broken down once unlike "those f***ing BX's", and that as I only do 20 miles a day I dont need a big car.

 

Now driving this and bored titless with it:-

[Polystratus]

 

Now driving this and bored titless with it:-

 

That wheel looks a bit off the ramp

[oldford]

My Sierra is my only car, it's not garaged and is parked on the street. After owning the same Cortina for 12 years, the Sierra was part exchange from work, which I purchased for £500.

 

 

I fancied a change of car and thought that the Sierra would fit the bill, a Ford, rear wheel drive, mechanically basic and easy to upgrade parts of it. The warranty I got on it is absolutely amazing, unlimited time and mileage with only two conditions, I supply 100% of the parts and 100% of the labour.

 

Now this may seem stupid to some of you, over the 3 years that I have had it I have spent £2000 on it, so it stands me in at £2500. For this I have a 1.8LX hatchback that drives like new, it's been upgraded with an electric conversion for the sunroof, electric mirrors, heated front windscreen and washer jets, remote locking with an alarm, variable intermittent wipers, alloy wheels, front fog lamps, heated 3way electrically adjustable front seats, uprated Ford stereo and few other minor things. My car is also my hobby.

 

I've got the car how I want it and don't see that I'll have to spend alot of money on it in the future, it's worth £500 now, it'll be worth £500 in a few years, so depreciation of £700 a year isn't exactly eye watering and the longer I keep it the lower the annual depreciation will be.

 

I'm happy with it, the performance is adequate for me, I got all this driving flat out everywhere out of my system years ago and I do get to drive some better performing cars at work. As these cars become a rarer sight on our roads maybe it'll become more desirable.

[Rusty Pelican]

Cheap , local , old and not an Astra

 

[Father Ted]

That wheel looks a bit off the ramp

Meh, I shook it a bit, it didnt wobble so figured it was stable enough to crawl under whilst gunking the cross-member and changing the oil.

At least I used ramps rather than bottle jack and bricks, this time.