MGB GT for everyday use?
Discussion
I ran my 66 MGB GT everyday. It was interesting.
On a nice day, it was great fun, but the daily commute was far from fun, long traffic jams, lots of dual carriageways etc. Clear runs through were fine but 9/10 times there was traffic.
I broke down a couple of times, first one lost the clutch cylinder so had to change gears without the clutch, not a massive issue but not fun in stop start traffic. Second time the alternator packed up and I spent 2 hours standing by the side of the M3 in November, a bit cold.
It was fun, but I wouldn't do it again..
On a nice day, it was great fun, but the daily commute was far from fun, long traffic jams, lots of dual carriageways etc. Clear runs through were fine but 9/10 times there was traffic.
I broke down a couple of times, first one lost the clutch cylinder so had to change gears without the clutch, not a massive issue but not fun in stop start traffic. Second time the alternator packed up and I spent 2 hours standing by the side of the M3 in November, a bit cold.
It was fun, but I wouldn't do it again..
I ran a 1974 Chrome Bumper GT for 3 years as a daily from 1990 to 1993 - even collected newborn son and partner from hospital in it! No problems at all, and it was one of the best cars I've ever had in the snow . I remember having to stop on a hill to let the postman in his front wheel drive Escort van out and him laughing at me saying I would never get moving again. Not only did I help push him up the road , but I jumped back in the "B" and simply drove up after him.
When properly maintained (which should be quite straightforward and inexpensive), the mechanicals and electrics should not be an issue.
The one thing that has held me back from using mine as a daily driver in the past, was the impact it (can) have on the body. Mind you, I assume even that risk can be minimised...
The one thing that has held me back from using mine as a daily driver in the past, was the impact it (can) have on the body. Mind you, I assume even that risk can be minimised...
Arcnewal said:
Providing it's looked after properly, what are the main pitfalls with using an MGB everyday?
the owners not using the car enough or for only short rather than reasonable length journeysprevious and present owners are what often make things more difficult than they need be for daily/regular use
use the car a lot and keep on top of the maintenance and servicing and you can get the car to be reliable, nippy, reasonable handling but most MGB owners make their cars slow, unreliable and poor handling
I am thinking of using my Elan as a daily when I finish it, I used one in the 70's for work every day. The big issue I had in the 70's with cars was they need a good battery to start, being Welsh this was never aproblem just use to bump start down the hill, but If I used an older car today I would invest in a jumper pack.
Mine was fantastic as a daily, overdrive is essential it means comfortable cruising upto 90mph. The handling is shocking, even by the standards of the times when mine was built in 71, and before Nigel has his say, mine has new shocks all round, every bush replaced and new springs. All that made it a lot smoother, but it still doesn't want to go round a corner. On the plus side, you do get easily provoked oversteer at low speeds. The condenser failed on mine which left it just about possible to drive home at 20mph in a cloud of black smoke, not the best choice but I've never had breakdown cover. The fuel pump diaphragm began to fail but it held out for the 2 days it took to get the new parts and was easily fixed after work.
I'd say you'll be just fine as long as you keep on top of regular maintenance.
I'd say you'll be just fine as long as you keep on top of regular maintenance.
Berw said:
but If I used an older car today I would invest in a jumper pack.
as far as I'm concerned absolutely not - get a good battery keep the post, clamps, main leads and earths all clean, secure and protected and you'll be fineI've be using various classics as dailies for the last 20+ years, including my first a BGT and a B V8 roadster and a Spridget and now for the last 7 years a Midget and I've never been let down by a battery(ies), I couldn't afford to be let down as I used the cars as dailies also some for work, some for commuting (two at 300 and 500 miles a week for about a year), all for club events and weekend tours and all for holidays
buying new to me classics brought me lots of problems but never with batteries, I made sure of that - prevention is better than cure
Edited by nta16 on Wednesday 15th October 10:23
Church of Noise said:
When properly maintained (which should be quite straightforward and inexpensive), the mechanicals and electrics should not be an issue.
The one thing that has held me back from using mine as a daily driver in the past, was the impact it (can) have on the body. Mind you, I assume even that risk can be minimised...
Hmm, whilst I see your point, this doesn't mean it will be as reliable as a modern car.The one thing that has held me back from using mine as a daily driver in the past, was the impact it (can) have on the body. Mind you, I assume even that risk can be minimised...
There are plenty of items on an old car that can fail with little/no warning which are not service items. Knackered old wires that break internally, Fuel pumps, alternators (Dynamos), wiper motor, brake/clutch cylinders, spring inside the Dizzy, little plastic clip that connects the accelerator cable to the butterfly in the carb. [All of these have happened to me over the years]
Then there are a lot of secondary items that can be spotted but require rigorous maintenance, fuel and water hoses, is the bottom of the radiator/fuel tank about to rust through, is that shock absorber leaking. Is the diaphragm in the carb perished and about to give up, how old are the HT leads/coil/condenser. Is the rust inside the tank about to block the fuel line.
If you have some mechanical canniness, most you should spot before you actually break down (but not all!), but it may mean that you suddenly need alternative transport until you have the time to get the parts and fix the problem.
I've run older cars, love them and expect to do so again, but don't kid yourself that it will be pain free like modern consumer items. modern engineering is better than it was 30 years ago, so not only are the parts old on a classic, but they were less well designed so tend to have a shorter life.
Do Bs have trunions like midgets? (I love the word trunion) get that grease gun out, but DON'T put grease in it.
Edited by balls-out on Wednesday 15th October 10:56
my Midget is more reliable than my wife's 6 year old modern
OP if you buy and read a relevant copy of the Driver's Handbook you'll know more about the car than most long term owners, get the book before even going to look at examples to buy - http://www.mgocshop.co.uk/catalog/Online_Catalogue...
test drive as many good mechanical examples as you can including those out of your budget so you can see if you need to increase your budget, do bear in mind shiny red examples (particularly with chrome wire wheel) are possibly not the best mechanical examples
when you get the car carry out a full and proper 36k-mile service/check-up staggered between driving the car regularly on reasonable length journeys - this should take care of many of the faults mentioned about
people buy old bangers or old cars called classics, treat them as old cars only doing the minimum on them and then wonder why they're unreliable
OP if you buy and read a relevant copy of the Driver's Handbook you'll know more about the car than most long term owners, get the book before even going to look at examples to buy - http://www.mgocshop.co.uk/catalog/Online_Catalogue...
test drive as many good mechanical examples as you can including those out of your budget so you can see if you need to increase your budget, do bear in mind shiny red examples (particularly with chrome wire wheel) are possibly not the best mechanical examples
when you get the car carry out a full and proper 36k-mile service/check-up staggered between driving the car regularly on reasonable length journeys - this should take care of many of the faults mentioned about
people buy old bangers or old cars called classics, treat them as old cars only doing the minimum on them and then wonder why they're unreliable
There is no reason why you cannot run an MGB every day: do however go through the car from end to end - BEFORE you start using it.
Replace any item that does not perform 100% and make some small modern amends to make it more reliable:
- Waterless coolant.
- Electric cooling fans.
- Better upgraded lights.
- LED instrument bulbs.
- Electronic ignition or a 123 distributor replacement (if the budget allows).
- Unleaded conversion.
- New largest battery you can fit.
- Really check the electrics and upgrade the alternator to the max Amp.
I am sure there are other items to add but starting from this point will prove invaluable. Remember ANY car can and will break down - next doors new (2 week ago) Toyota Yaris was recovered back to the dealer last Saturday...
Good luck.
Replace any item that does not perform 100% and make some small modern amends to make it more reliable:
- Waterless coolant.
- Electric cooling fans.
- Better upgraded lights.
- LED instrument bulbs.
- Electronic ignition or a 123 distributor replacement (if the budget allows).
- Unleaded conversion.
- New largest battery you can fit.
- Really check the electrics and upgrade the alternator to the max Amp.
I am sure there are other items to add but starting from this point will prove invaluable. Remember ANY car can and will break down - next doors new (2 week ago) Toyota Yaris was recovered back to the dealer last Saturday...
Good luck.
.An MGB GT is ok for everyday use and servicing is pretty simple, DIY. Very good spares availability and sensible upgrades.
I have had my GT for 30 years, but not used regularly.
Body work is important, especially floors and inner and outer sills. If they are in good condition use plenty of waxoyl or similar. Economy is poor by modern standards - mid 20 mpg. If you are looking for a car overdrive is a must for modern everyday use , it works on 3rd and 4th and gives you a choice 5 gears from an available 6.
Upgrades not mentioned above; a brake servo kit on older cars, and uprated heater and fan for demisting, etc. Keep an eye on the front king pins, you will need to grease them on a regular basis. On an older car switch the twin 6v batteries for a single 12 volt (type 26) will fit in one of the battery cradles under the token rear seat. The windscreen washers are vacuum hand operated and very poor, a kit is available to convert the switch and system to an electric pump.
cheap to insure and no car tax for pre 74.
TJS
I have had my GT for 30 years, but not used regularly.
Body work is important, especially floors and inner and outer sills. If they are in good condition use plenty of waxoyl or similar. Economy is poor by modern standards - mid 20 mpg. If you are looking for a car overdrive is a must for modern everyday use , it works on 3rd and 4th and gives you a choice 5 gears from an available 6.
Upgrades not mentioned above; a brake servo kit on older cars, and uprated heater and fan for demisting, etc. Keep an eye on the front king pins, you will need to grease them on a regular basis. On an older car switch the twin 6v batteries for a single 12 volt (type 26) will fit in one of the battery cradles under the token rear seat. The windscreen washers are vacuum hand operated and very poor, a kit is available to convert the switch and system to an electric pump.
cheap to insure and no car tax for pre 74.
TJS
adamInca said:
Shezbo said:
Replace any item that does not perform 100% and make some small modern amends to make it more reliable:
Agree with some of those, but not sure how LED bulbs, an unleaded conversion and (to a lesser extent) waterless coolant would make it more reliable?LED bulbs don't break from vibration & consume less power, hence are becoming popular in classic bikes too.
Sorry I'm a bit late to this - not had any broadband for a week - modern tech' eh?
Having run "old" cars (mainly Triumphs, kit cars, roadsters etc.) for decades I'd say that most of the comments regarding reliability have been made above - summed up, old cars can be as reliable as a modern if the right parts are used (not cheap pattern rubbish) and the right maintenance is carried out - the amount of sheared trunnions I have repaired for folk who believe them to be a design fault rather than an item that fails due to lack of regular attention. As reliable but not, maybe, as convenient. Handbooks and owners' clubs can be invaluable.
As for pitfalls - I always find it comes down to heaters, wipers and lights. It can be immensely tiring driving distances at night, through spray in a low slung car with inefficient wipers whilst the windows steam up... keeping these items uptogether will help but they will rarely be as good as those in a modern. As just one example, look at the size of the screen, if only half of it is being cleared effectively...
Best of luck with it, I miss running old cars as dailies and hope to do so again in the near future (if the prices don't soar beyond my reach!!)
Having run "old" cars (mainly Triumphs, kit cars, roadsters etc.) for decades I'd say that most of the comments regarding reliability have been made above - summed up, old cars can be as reliable as a modern if the right parts are used (not cheap pattern rubbish) and the right maintenance is carried out - the amount of sheared trunnions I have repaired for folk who believe them to be a design fault rather than an item that fails due to lack of regular attention. As reliable but not, maybe, as convenient. Handbooks and owners' clubs can be invaluable.
As for pitfalls - I always find it comes down to heaters, wipers and lights. It can be immensely tiring driving distances at night, through spray in a low slung car with inefficient wipers whilst the windows steam up... keeping these items uptogether will help but they will rarely be as good as those in a modern. As just one example, look at the size of the screen, if only half of it is being cleared effectively...
Best of luck with it, I miss running old cars as dailies and hope to do so again in the near future (if the prices don't soar beyond my reach!!)
Shezbo said:
There is no reason why you cannot run an MGB every day: do however go through the car from end to end - BEFORE you start using it.
Replace any item that does not perform 100% and make some small modern amends to make it more reliable:
- Waterless coolant.
- Electric cooling fans.
- Better upgraded lights.
- LED instrument bulbs.
- Electronic ignition or a 123 distributor replacement (if the budget allows).
- Unleaded conversion.
- New largest battery you can fit.
- Really check the electrics and upgrade the alternator to the max Amp.
I am sure there are other items to add but starting from this point will prove invaluable. Remember ANY car can and will break down - next doors new (2 week ago) Toyota Yaris was recovered back to the dealer last Saturday...
Good luck.
I find this list somewhat perplexing - maybe nice to have, but to make the car more reliable? Very few of these items are the cause of breakdowns. A good nick engine shouldn't over heat in standard form nor require uprated batteries or alternators. They just need the items to be in proper condition.Replace any item that does not perform 100% and make some small modern amends to make it more reliable:
- Waterless coolant.
- Electric cooling fans.
- Better upgraded lights.
- LED instrument bulbs.
- Electronic ignition or a 123 distributor replacement (if the budget allows).
- Unleaded conversion.
- New largest battery you can fit.
- Really check the electrics and upgrade the alternator to the max Amp.
I am sure there are other items to add but starting from this point will prove invaluable. Remember ANY car can and will break down - next doors new (2 week ago) Toyota Yaris was recovered back to the dealer last Saturday...
Good luck.
bulbs and unleaded? Again not really about reliability.
Electronic ignition is a good idea, but it mainly to compensate for wear and tear in old items and to require less maintenance.
Edited by balls-out on Thursday 16th October 17:13
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