I want a Classic!
Discussion
I don`t wish to sound negative here and I wish you good luck with your search but please be aware that if you intend using a classic for everyday use it will require reqular maintainence and lots of TLC,attention and care.You say you are not a technician,unless you are willing to learn and use spanners then you will have to pay someone to maintain it which will cost you.MGB`s etc are a good way into classic car ownership but be prepared for it to let you down one frosty morning!
esso said:
I don`t wish to sound negative here and I wish you good luck with your search but please be aware that if you intend using a classic for everyday use it will require reqular maintainence and lots of TLC,attention and care.You say you are not a technician,unless you are willing to learn and use spanners then you will have to pay someone to maintain it which will cost you.MGB`s etc are a good way into classic car ownership but be prepared for it to let you down one frosty morning!
Thanks Esso I know by no means is this a practical idea, all the techs I work with have said it's costly, unreliable, difficult in some cases to source parts, have suggested buying a kit car with a new engine and classic body shape. I have no problem with learning the mechanics of the classic I go for to an extent for that frosty morning but more than anything i'm trying to find out which would be one of the most reliable classics and cost effective to run/ maintain.... which I guess is a bit like how longs a piece of string, dependant on build quality, history, mileage etc so just trying to jump the first hurdle to find the right path to go down lol, thanks for your comment 
V1C said:
Thanks Esso I know by no means is this a practical idea, all the techs I work with have said it's costly, unreliable, difficult in some cases to source parts, have suggested buying a kit car with a new engine and classic body shape. I have no problem with learning the mechanics of the classic I go for to an extent for that frosty morning but more than anything i'm trying to find out which would be one of the most reliable classics and cost effective to run/ maintain.... which I guess is a bit like how longs a piece of string, dependant on build quality, history, mileage etc so just trying to jump the first hurdle to find the right path to go down lol, thanks for your comment
A late XJS one which Ford had sorted out can still be used as a very reliable every day Car.V1C said:
and replace it with a classic to be driven daily. Haven't got a fortune to spend and am not a technician.
I'm sorry, but this is not going to work for you. Especially the Jaguars that have been suggested.But it's a great hobby, if you need a weekend car, and can put the money and personal effort into learning how to maintain a classic car. Good luck.
MGB GTs are common enough that for your budget you should have your pick of several good ones and a whole wad of change. NTA will be along soon to explain that it's all about how well they are maintained and serviced - not easy if the parts are uncommon or expensive. Again, with an MG buying parts is like dealing with Screwfix, order the bits and there they are, fitting them will require little more than common sense and a few basic tools (for general upkeep)... The situation is similar with Triumph Spitfires and Morris Minors (but you might find a Minor a little lacking in modern traffic). Breaking down is not inevitable - I've run small chassis Triumphs for decades and the worst source of problems is generally the quality of cheap pattern parts - most owners' clubs can warn you of this tho'. Best of luck.
P.S. After many years of running old stuff I finally succumbed to the hype surrounding MX5s and found them to be far from an old classic with out the old vices, they have plenty of their own... cheap tho', but we got bored with ours and it was sold on within the year.
P.S. After many years of running old stuff I finally succumbed to the hype surrounding MX5s and found them to be far from an old classic with out the old vices, they have plenty of their own... cheap tho', but we got bored with ours and it was sold on within the year.
SV8Predator said:
I'm sorry, but this is not going to work for you. Especially the Jaguars that have been suggested.
But it's a great hobby, if you need a weekend car, and can put the money and personal effort into learning how to maintain a classic car. Good luck.
A good condition six cylinder XJ-S should be fairly painless and reliable, shouldn't it? I have an early 90s Sovereign and the only problem using that as a daily driver would be high-ish fuel consumption by the standards of a lot of modern cars. It certainly wouldn't fall to bits!!But it's a great hobby, if you need a weekend car, and can put the money and personal effort into learning how to maintain a classic car. Good luck.
Would the XJ-S be more of a handful?
I drive a 1991 mercedes 300e - it's perfect as a daily driver.
It might not be a traditional 'classic' but it now seems driving anything over 3 years old is a bit weird, so a 23 year old car is seen as a bit strange!
If you are like me an need a daily driver and cannot be bothered with any old car reliability issues then the W124 merc is what you need - the reason why there are so many on the road is that these cars were engineered for massive miles, to be repaired with minimal tools, and can be found with modern equipment - air con, etc.
I love mine.
It might not be a traditional 'classic' but it now seems driving anything over 3 years old is a bit weird, so a 23 year old car is seen as a bit strange!
If you are like me an need a daily driver and cannot be bothered with any old car reliability issues then the W124 merc is what you need - the reason why there are so many on the road is that these cars were engineered for massive miles, to be repaired with minimal tools, and can be found with modern equipment - air con, etc.
I love mine.
Edited by 0a on Friday 29th August 22:53
dbdb said:
A good condition six cylinder XJ-S should be fairly painless and reliable, shouldn't it? I have an early 90s Sovereign and the only problem using that as a daily driver would be high-ish fuel consumption by the standards of a lot of modern cars. It certainly wouldn't fall to bits!!
Would the XJ-S be more of a handful?
They're old, old cars. I've been a Jaguar owner since I was 17, there's always been one in the family. I think I've owned 10 examples and still have one. Very heavy on suspension and exhaust components and at that age electricals will be becoming unreliable. They need to be sympathetically maintained by a skilled and enthusiastic owner. Remember, the OP has said "he is not a technician".Would the XJ-S be more of a handful?
Jags/TVR's etc are an expensive way into classic car ownership,MGB,Triumph Spitfire/Vitesse/GT6 etc shouldn't cost you so much.What you need to make sure of is the body/chassis is in good condition as bodywork costs money. Mechanicals on these cars should be easy to fix and not that expensive. The best thing to do is decide which car/ model you want and go along to an owner's club meet and talk to the owners, that way you will find out what the particular cars faults are and someone will usually tell you where there is a good example for sale, good luck!
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