Driving a classic in the current weather
Discussion
Old Merc said:
...I see no pleasure in driving your pride and joy in freezing crap weather on filthy roads...
I can assure you driving the Aston over the Flüela Pass was exceptionally pleasurable! I guess you are at complete odds to me but it's a bit of dirt and it washes off I assure you. 
And after a wash and a polish at the St James Hampton Court Concours this year
Gosh Rich.. that is a truly glorious motor car...
RichB said:
can assure you driving the Aston over the Flüela Pass was exceptionally pleasurable! I guess you are at complete odds to me but it's a bit of dirt and it washes off I assure you.
And after a wash and a polish at the St James Hampton Court Concours this year
And after a wash and a polish at the St James Hampton Court Concours this year
Old Merc said:
To me the whole object of owning a classic is to keep it immaculate and preserve it,especially if you have spent £££££££`s restoring it.I see no pleasure in driving your pride and joy in freezing crap weather on filthy roads.My classic was stored in an old wooden barn,which was paneled,had plenty of ventilation and had a concrete floor,absolutely perfect place.Mind you I went to extreme measures making sure the car was bone dry,plenty of WD40 in places,dust cover,etc etc before it went into winter hibernation.Every Easter it was a quick polish and ready for the first rally/show or what ever,hood down and out for a drive in the sun.Providing it was not raining!!
different strokes i suppose, but to me a car is for using. My morgan had covered only an average of 1000 miles a year before I bought it - it still had its original 18 year old tyres one it. over the next 4 years I put 40k on it, but in the early days had no end of little mechanical glitches, pretty much all due to previous lack of use and general degradation of parts which would probably have been slowed by regular use. by the end of my 4 year ownership the sr was mechanically in a much better place, and the muck washed off, it was my only car and so went out in snow, wind , rain etc
My biggest concern of driving a valuable car in winter lies with the increased risk of damage through collision than salt and dirt which can be cleaned off.
The roads are greasier, colder, wetter. Visibility is poorer and at this specific time of year the number of drunks is off the chart.
The biggest reason for keeping a personal treasure off the road in winter is the risk of sliding it off yourself or some mug sliding into you.
Only yesterday while crossing the A44 roundabout under the A34 an old couple in a small Hyundi lost traction on the inside lane and started washing out into me only to miss by a few inches thanks to my ninja like reflexes.
Winter driving is best done with something like a BMW where if anything happens you just bin it and buy another without giving a damn.
The roads are greasier, colder, wetter. Visibility is poorer and at this specific time of year the number of drunks is off the chart.
The biggest reason for keeping a personal treasure off the road in winter is the risk of sliding it off yourself or some mug sliding into you.
Only yesterday while crossing the A44 roundabout under the A34 an old couple in a small Hyundi lost traction on the inside lane and started washing out into me only to miss by a few inches thanks to my ninja like reflexes.
Winter driving is best done with something like a BMW where if anything happens you just bin it and buy another without giving a damn.
AndrewCrown said:
Gosh Rich.. that is a truly glorious motor car...
And it's used properly, great to see RichB said:
can assure you driving the Aston over the Flüela Pass was exceptionally pleasurable! I guess you are at complete odds to me but it's a bit of dirt and it washes off I assure you.
And after a wash and a polish at the St James Hampton Court Concours this year
And after a wash and a polish at the St James Hampton Court Concours this year
RichB said:
DonkeyApple said:
My biggest concern <clip>
Don't get me wrong, I wouldn't dream of punting around in the s
t and the grime just to go to Tesco or whatever but on the other hand if there's a purpose to the drive and it rains or snows then fine. 
Each to their own but driving a mint classic in this weather would kill me
I restored my Etype to use regularly but using it would halve its value so I sold it having covered 50 miles and bought a shed of an E and restored all the mechanical bits so it drives like new but looks like a shed
I restored my Etype to use regularly but using it would halve its value so I sold it having covered 50 miles and bought a shed of an E and restored all the mechanical bits so it drives like new but looks like a shed
Fitted the winter tyres to my (admittedly only a 1999) Mini Cooper a couple of weeks ago.
Up until this time last year it was my daily driver, and my commute is 60 miles each way.
When I think my nice new Merc C Class (also with winter tyres and snow chains)might struggle, I'm pretty sure the mini will help me make the journey.
Loving seeing the Aston and E-Type being used properly too!
Up until this time last year it was my daily driver, and my commute is 60 miles each way.
When I think my nice new Merc C Class (also with winter tyres and snow chains)might struggle, I'm pretty sure the mini will help me make the journey.
Loving seeing the Aston and E-Type being used properly too!
vpr said:
Each to their own but driving a mint classic in this weather would kill me
I restored my Etype to use regularly but using it would halve its value so I sold it having covered 50 miles and bought a shed of an E and restored all the mechanical bits so it drives like new but looks like a shed
Love that. I restored my Etype to use regularly but using it would halve its value so I sold it having covered 50 miles and bought a shed of an E and restored all the mechanical bits so it drives like new but looks like a shed
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