Is your daily driver over 20 years old?

[Jasandjules]

Don't tend to go past 10 years old for a daily. The toy on the other hand.

[3xpendable]

I used to be all about old cars as dailies, and I still have old cars for toys but I found since I;ve moved 100 miles from 'home' with no access to a garage etc it's a bit harder. I've never bought a daily driver car UNDER 10 years old, but 20 might be pushing it for me.

I had an 88 325i from 2007-7 then a 1993 (E36) 325i from 07-12 but then it started breaking regularly and eventually died on the M5. I was doing 500 miles a week at the time so needed something more suitable. Luckily that came in the form of a 2001 Mondeo 2.0 that was part-ex at a dealership my brother worked at. 1 owner from new and looked after, for just £400! The first year I had it I had to fix some common problems (coil pack, leads, waterpump & thermostat) but since then I've touchwood done nothing except a set of front brakes and tyres/oil changes. Love the car even though I've had it 3 years.

The only thing is, as I grow up a bit I have tended to like something relatively mordern (i.e. with airbags etc) just in case the worst happens. I loved my E30 but it was a bit tatty, and I wouldnt have fancied it against my Mondeo in a crunch. That said, I won't go the other way and buy new cars regularly either.

[V8forweekends]

JB! said:

If the rolling 25year tax thing comes back in,

It won't.

[Levin]

Yes, but I'm playing fast and loose with the definition of 'daily driver' as I probably cover fewer miles in it than some of you would in the weekend cars.

Very limited mileage though as I don't really need to cover any big distances at present. Within 100 miles a week, if not within 50 most weeks, unless I decide I fancy taking it out for a run. So far running costs have been acceptable enough but I see a few hundred being spent yet to tidy the car up cosmetically, as the bonnet is looking a bit faded and there's some bubbling at the arches.

I'm running it out of choice - I've wanted one for a long, long time and I don't see myself wanting to sell it in the future - it brings me far too much joy to finally own it, and to be able to say it's my first car.

It's a Ford Sierra and it's older than I am.

[SuperHangOn]

My E39 is nearing it now. Apart from a split coolant hose no major troubles for a year/10k now.

Also ran a few old mercs without any major issues.

With a well built car and a good maintenance plan its totally viable if you want. In some countries ancient mercs are used as taxis with untold mileages. There are 20 year old jumbos in the sky. 40 year old tube trains still on the daily grind.

[8Ace]

Nearly 20.

19 y.o Jag XJ. 12k miles p.a., was 18k for the last 2y. Reliability is brilliant. Economy less so, but no depreictaion / monthly payment.

Mizture of choice and necessity I suppose, I love my car, but at the same time I can't afford to go and buy a new one .

[Khaki Suit]

I have a BMW 325i on a K (92). I had to put a new engine in it last year due to the abuse I give it but that was only a few hundred quid as I bought a parts car and sold the rest on. Apart from that minimal costs. done the clutch at the same time the engine was out as it would have been stupid not to. A few upgrades like m3 brakes but they came from the parts car too. The car is currently on about 113k and the replacement engine slightly less.

I also have a Merc W124 Estate. 95 N plate. It's a bit juicy as it's supercharged. So far needed a wiring harness due to an engine bay fire. About £300 all in. Me and Merc's don't get on. 120k on the clock and hopefully not even half way through it's life. Great car for loading the dogs into and buggering off. Will use it to go on holiday this year as it's just so roomy.

Forgot to ad that my mileage per week is not that high. I live a couple of miles from work but wouldn't hesitate to get in either and go for miles.

The current weekend car is newer though which is arse about face for me. My other toys, that are off the road right now, are a 1986 and 1978.

Edited by Khaki Suit on Friday 24th April 10:40

[Matt UK]

Thanks for all the replies, giving me the confidence to continue...

I really fancy a 90s Merc. I also do 100 miles a day and cannot afford to be left stranded.

Just working out if these two requirements are mutually compatible.

[t4thomas]

I get the train most days, but on the days that I don't I'll be using a 1994 106 Rallye.

I do have access to another car if there are reliability issues, but it's currently in the garage for a total refresh - and I am anticipating good reliability once this is done.

[SuperHangOn]

I did quite similar with a diesel 124 a few years without breakdown but I wouldnt again on that mileage.

It's not that I would fear a breakdown but just constant time off the road for clonks etc from worn suspension would becoming tiring. You could of course replace everything as a preventive measure but that would cost a fortune.

[0llie]

My Range Rover Classic is 24 years old, I used it everyday for almost a year until very recently (started the restoration on it). It's under 70k miles from new, I was doing about 500 miles per month (some nearer 750-800). Fuel economy is atrocious, but service parts are extremely cheap, so it cancels out. Car has been super reliable, never let me down and everything works.

I ran it out of choice, though I'd probably only change it for a new Discovery 4, and I can't yet afford one of those

[Vincefox]

My e36 m3 evo is 18, daily driver.

[t4thomas]

Depreciation is a good point too.

I actually expect the 106 Rallye to rise in value.

[john2443]

These posts make me feel better about my 10 yr old 115k MG ZT daily driver . It's quite modern by the standards of this thread!

[Fuzzarr]

I'm quite a fan of running something older as a daily. Before I met the missus, the newest car I had was built in 1994.

One of the tidiest and most reliable cars I ever had as a daily was a 1988 (E) Nissan Sunny 1.3. It was light blue, had a 4-speed gearbox, made a lovely bassy thrum and the first MOT I put it through it didn't pass because the tester broke off the wiper stalk. Got it re-tested after pulling apart a K10 Micra on the same day. Hardly any rust anywhere, loved it to bits, and the seats were amazingly comfortable.

Now running a 15-year-old Toledo TDI which has just ticked over to 40,000 miles.

Edit:

The Sunny was doing about 8k a year and all it needed was a replacement rear anti-roll bar after the original cracked on a road with loads of up and down elevation changes. Luckily the scrappage scheme was in full swing when that happened and I found a mint car to take the bits from.

I ran it purely for cost reasons as I needed something dependable that didn't cost much to buy. Paid £390 for it.

I guess 20 years old today goes back to 1995, so the options are a bit different. You're more vulnerable to tired parts wearing out, but find a well looked after car and you should be ok. Just budget a bit of a buffer for random bits.

Edited by Fuzzarr on Friday 24th April 11:17

[juliethotel]

94 Eunos roadster, I'd trust it to drive me to Neptune. Fuel economy is notoriously poor with mx5's.

95 XJR6 - currently has a gearbox fault, luckily not a mechanical one so I can still use it. I average about 17mpg

[99t]

I think my fleet qualify overall, bear with me!!

Newest to oldest

2004 Monaro 11 years old
2003 Octavia 12 years old
1996 Saab 9000 19 years old
1990 Saab 900 25 years old
1975 Saab 99 40 years old

All are taxed, insured, MOT'd and currently working so daily is whichever one I fancy on a given day, average age 21.4!!

[Drums]

My MX-5 is just approaching 20 years old, nearly 110K on the clock and never misses a beat! I've had to sort a couple of rust issues but mechanically it's the most reliable car I've owned.

[MrBarry123]

No.

[J4CKO]

last car, a 91 944 Cab put me off running old cars as a daily a bit, not ruling it out but it did prove to be a pain in the arse.