How often do you use your classic?

[Baz2000]

Do get to use your classic as much as you'd like, how many miles do you typically do in a year?

[Sideways Tim]

Just took the Spitfire for a blast to Edinburgh and back, off to Italy in it in June. Does about 5000 miles a year.
The Chevy will probably do less than 500 localish miles.
The 2CV will do do 3000 or so over summer.

[TR4man]

Not as often as I'd wish

Both the Stag and the TR are on 3,000 miles per year policies. Each year we will go to Europe in one or the other, but mainly they are used from April to September and both would tend to be used only at weekends however I have occasionally used them for commuting to work.

[Yertis]

As above. To be honest the TR isn't a lot of fun in the winter.

[Benbay001]

My '86 Excel is insured for 10000 miles per year.
Ive done 2500ish since october.
Its used most days.
I have a motorbike aswell which i try to use as much as possible to keep the fuel costs dpwm and wear, tear and mileage off the Excel.

[Riley Blue]

I took my Riley out for the first time this year on Tuesday, just a ten mile 'shake down' run after a winter in the garage. Enjoyed it so much we went out again yesterday, around 70 miles. Today I have to work

4000-5000 miles a year is about average though I must increase its limited mileage allowance to 7000 to be on the safe side.

[jdw1234]

Bought a 1989 300sl in December.

I have used it about 3 or 4 times, maybe 20 miles in total (that includes driving it home).

Seems I over estimated how often a fun car would get used with 2 small kids.:-(

On the plus side, when they are a bit bigger they can sit in the back.

[dpp]

I drive a Vauxhall Victor everyday as it is my company car and insured as a regular car with unlimited miles and business use.

For fun I drive an Interceptor and managed almost 3000 miles last year, it has been used a couple of times during the winter but only now is it starting to get used properly.
I expect to do almost 1000 miles this month and have lots more plans for it during the year so will be speaking to my insurer as its only covered for 3000 miles.

Each to their own but for me not to drive them is worse than any wear and tear they may suffer out on the roads.

[droopsnoot]

I usually don't drive mine over winter, largely down to the road tax thing, but that should change this year so I might use it a bit more. I do find that the more it gets used, the better it seems to feel, and of course some of that is down to me getting used to how it runs compared to my daily driver. Fortunately it's kept somewhere with a long driveway, so even over winter I can pick a dry day and run it up and down for half an hour to stop stuff seizing up.

[Humper]

I have a V8 Merc convertible that drinks like Gazza at a free bar and i live in Scotland so not that often.... 😀

[Faust66]

Use my Amazon every other day depending on the parking arrangements at work. Plus the odd long drive at weekends etc. and other general driving duties - think I do about 7k a year in all weathers.

IMO the amount of 'wear and tear' inflicted on a classic through regular use is offset by the lack of breakdowns you get on well used cars. Cars are designed to be driven and not tucked away for months on end "in case they get wet" - the more you use a classic then the better it'll drive.

You might pick the odd scratch on your paintwork, the engine will get dirty or the dreaded Tim Worm may make an appearance, but so what? Enjoy your car and don't be too precious about it. After all, the days of unlimited classic use may well be numbered if the environmental brigade get their way… so drive 'em while you can!

[lowdrag]

Nowhere near as much as I used to I fear. I used to average 5,000 p.a. in the E-type but last year it was 1,500, and the XKSS less. Anno domini, I feel, is taking its toll. Which I fear is also happening to a lot of other members on this site, or a lack of interets; one only has to look at how few posts are made compared to a couple of years ago.

[M3John]

Not nowhere near as often as I'd like to. Combination of things are a contributing factor but the biggest is her unpredictability in traffic. Temp gauge rises rather rapidly after (what seems like) only a few minutes so trips are usually planned in. When the weather is nice though I'll use her for local stuff.

[v8250]

lowdrag said:

one only has to look at how few posts are made compared to a couple of years ago.

You've noticed this too...

[Mr. Magoo]

3 times a year. FoS, Day trip to Cambridge and usually a wedding.

[//j17]

I've only got classics so whenever I need to drive anywhere, be it B&Q or Burgundy.

[swimd]

Faust66 said:

IMO the amount of 'wear and tear' inflicted on a classic through regular use is offset by the lack of breakdowns you get on well used cars. Cars are designed to be driven and not tucked away for months on end "in case they get wet" - the more you use a classic then the better it'll drive.

You might pick the odd scratch on your paintwork, the engine will get dirty or the dreaded Tim Worm may make an appearance, but so what? Enjoy your car and don't be too precious about it. After all, the days of unlimited classic use may well be numbered if the environmental brigade get their way… so drive 'em while you can!

You are probably right but in my eyes easier said than done. I had the same attitude until the prices exploded, our original 911 2.4S turned from a cherished daily summer driver into an "investment" that does less than 2000 miles per year. I can only imagine how the people feel that bought a "cheap" Miura or '73 2.7 RS ten years ago — I for one would not feel comfortable leaving either of these cars unattended on a parking lot.

I hope that the bubble bursts soon but "experts" have been predicting it for years now and the values just keep going up.

[benjj]

I'd say I average around 8-10k per year split over whatever it is I own at the time.

That's a mix of summer driving, rallying, road trips to and around Europe and occasional commuting.

[lowdrag]

swimd said:

You are probably right but in my eyes easier said than done. I had the same attitude until the prices exploded, our original 911 2.4S turned from a cherished daily summer driver into an "investment" that does less than 2000 miles per year. I can only imagine how the people feel that bought a "cheap" Miura or '73 2.7 RS ten years ago — I for one would not feel comfortable leaving either of these cars unattended on a parking lot.

I think that this has a lot to do with it. I've used my cars through hell and high water, but the pair were worth then an "affordable" sum. I have passed over 140,000 miles at the helm, but I no longer do track days worrying about the kids inheritance. It is a terrible state of affairs, one I dislike intensely, but we don't control the market. I discussed the market with "experts" at Retromobile and the concensus was that cars are now works of art, not for driving, a manifestation of wealth, just like a Hermes handbag or a pair of Hollanbd and Hollands. We are sadly out of our time.

[55palfers]

Only about 2K miles per year, but I enjoy every mile immensely.

Presently SORN in garage but spring will be here very soon.