Driving your classic / older car through winter. Cruel?
Discussion
My daily driver is a 30 year old Volkswagen Scirocco. I've owned it for 15 years now. It's been driven through the last 15 winters and has spent every single night of the past 15 years under the night sky. The car is 100% reliable and has a superb heater the likes of which seems to be unavailable at any price on modern cars which was handy when we had ten days of -10 night time temperatures a few years ago.
Problem - despite all cavities being drowned in Bilt Hamber Dynax S50 and the floor pan and rear arches being fully undersealed, I've now got to the stage where there's a hole the size of a 5p in the rear valance, surface corrosion near the rear axle mounts etc. I treated both of these and and undersealed them with S50 UB a few weeks ago. It is however very sad to see some (admittedly minor) envitable deterioration of my car which lets face it, isn't going to be helped running the car through winter. We're not taking the odd run on a Sunday, more continual daily use through winter for commuting no matter what the weather. It did nearly 12k miles last year.
Possible solution - my brother had treated himself to a new Audi and I have first refusal on his 2006 1.2 Fiesta, 37k and 'museum piece' condition. Ideal winter transport? The idea bores me to tears - my interest in modern cars is zero.
I'm beginning to think that if I want to keep the car long term, it might be wise to accept I can't drive it November to March anymore? PH'ers, what would you do in my position? I also have an old W124 (much more rust prone than the Scirocco) and an Elise (laughably poor heater) so neither is an option for winter duties. I am feeling cautious about the expense of running a fourth car too!
Cheers
Problem - despite all cavities being drowned in Bilt Hamber Dynax S50 and the floor pan and rear arches being fully undersealed, I've now got to the stage where there's a hole the size of a 5p in the rear valance, surface corrosion near the rear axle mounts etc. I treated both of these and and undersealed them with S50 UB a few weeks ago. It is however very sad to see some (admittedly minor) envitable deterioration of my car which lets face it, isn't going to be helped running the car through winter. We're not taking the odd run on a Sunday, more continual daily use through winter for commuting no matter what the weather. It did nearly 12k miles last year.
Possible solution - my brother had treated himself to a new Audi and I have first refusal on his 2006 1.2 Fiesta, 37k and 'museum piece' condition. Ideal winter transport? The idea bores me to tears - my interest in modern cars is zero.
I'm beginning to think that if I want to keep the car long term, it might be wise to accept I can't drive it November to March anymore? PH'ers, what would you do in my position? I also have an old W124 (much more rust prone than the Scirocco) and an Elise (laughably poor heater) so neither is an option for winter duties. I am feeling cautious about the expense of running a fourth car too!
Cheers
The 1985 onwards Scirocco's (smaller spare wheel, larger fuel tank) were much much better rustproofed than any that came before. They were pumped full of cavity wax and I'd estimate make up 90% of the survivors today. Earlier models were indeed very rust prone!
The thoughts of driving a modern Fiesta leaves me with the impression it'll be a long and boring winter! I need to accept that if I want the car to last me another 15 years, November to March may be prohibited from here on in!
Thanks for your collective thoughts.
The thoughts of driving a modern Fiesta leaves me with the impression it'll be a long and boring winter! I need to accept that if I want the car to last me another 15 years, November to March may be prohibited from here on in!
Thanks for your collective thoughts.
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