Everyday Classic
Discussion
Marquis_Rex said:
I want to hear from people who use their classic as an every day car/daily driver.
What do you drive?
What kind of engine?
What kind of fuel economy do you get?
What's the yearly mileage in said classic?
Do you commute to work in said car- if so how far?
Who looks after the car- you-or someone else?
What do you do about rust?
Is rust even a problem?
just interested mainly, that who in the face of new cheap cars all over is eccentric enough to use an old car as every day transport....
What do you drive?
What kind of engine?
What kind of fuel economy do you get?
What's the yearly mileage in said classic?
Do you commute to work in said car- if so how far?
Who looks after the car- you-or someone else?
What do you do about rust?
Is rust even a problem?
just interested mainly, that who in the face of new cheap cars all over is eccentric enough to use an old car as every day transport....
1987 Mercedes Benz 560SEL
5.6 litre V8
16.5mpg average
About 8K typically
It's used for everything, if it's the car I pick for the day
It's looked after an M-B indie - basically the same guys who used to look after it at the main dealer. When they left, "the duchess" followed them.
I've not done as much I should about the rust.... Last had it full-body, glass-out repainted in the late 90s. Needs doing again - this time with all new panels!
As for the Espada that's popped up in the thread, sometimes my Espada gets "picked" so answers for that....
1977 Lamborghini Espada S3
3.9 litre V12
15.3mpg average
Did over 5K miles in it in 2007
As with Merc, it's used for everything, if it's the car I pick for the day - and wonderful it is too!
Looked after the supremely talented "Jim the Bentley" at the car store
Rust? RUST?
None!excel789 said:
Those Espadas are just stunning, my favorite Lamborgini by a mile. If the lottery win ever materialises one of them will be be joining a Bristol 411 and a Quattroporte in my "cruising down to the Med" fleet.
That's what Espadas are ALL about.... that continent crushing jaunt to the Cote D'Azur!! Ambition 1: Get one
Ambition 2: Drive to Monte Carlo
Some Route Napoleon...
Some Autoroute...
Casino Square...
...then on to Sant'Agata, the Passo Stelvio and all around the Swiss Alps...
What a car! The everyday bit of the title seems to be used in a loose sense here by perhaps, maybe, possibly, some posters to include cars that are classic by the populist terms of old and rare rather than used as everyday cars
It's the same as having track cars on the track in the spotted section
Just my opinion of course others will disagree
And yes I am jealous I wish I could afford these rare old classics - I wouldn't want them just the moey to afford
I can just hear Mrs Merton saying "Lets have a heated debate"
It's the same as having track cars on the track in the spotted section
Just my opinion of course others will disagree
And yes I am jealous I wish I could afford these rare old classics - I wouldn't want them just the moey to afford
I can just hear Mrs Merton saying "Lets have a heated debate"
To be absolutely honest, my intention when I was looking for an Espada was to use it daily as my primary car.
I ended up with one better than I imagined I would and - at the risk of sounding prissy - it's a bit too good to do that to.
Having had the Merc for 16 years, I still wonder at their "classic" status but I suppose at over 20 years old they are? It gets zero "old person" special treatment, still gets wound of the speedo when opportunity arises, thrown around like a rally car, lives outside and if it EVER failed to start I'd feel wholly justified in writing to The Times to complain.
I ended up with one better than I imagined I would and - at the risk of sounding prissy - it's a bit too good to do that to.
Having had the Merc for 16 years, I still wonder at their "classic" status but I suppose at over 20 years old they are? It gets zero "old person" special treatment, still gets wound of the speedo when opportunity arises, thrown around like a rally car, lives outside and if it EVER failed to start I'd feel wholly justified in writing to The Times to complain.
excel789 said:
Be interested to see if my Merc is still around in 20 years time, I think the rust will have claimed it by then. The Lambo looks immaculate in the photo's you've posted, is it left in the garage on wet days? If it was mine I'd be reluctant to get good old English weather over it.
I try to avoid rain with the Espada. And salt's a no-no. It's stored in a controlled environment most of the time.
Marquis_Rex said:
I want to hear from people who use their classic as an every day car/daily driver.
What do you drive?
What kind of engine?
What kind of fuel economy do you get?
What's the yearly mileage in said classic?
Do you commute to work in said car- if so how far?
Who looks after the car- you-or someone else?
What do you do about rust?
Is rust even a problem?
just interested mainly, that who in the face of new cheap cars all over is eccentric enough to use an old car as every day transport....
What do you drive?
What kind of engine?
What kind of fuel economy do you get?
What's the yearly mileage in said classic?
Do you commute to work in said car- if so how far?
Who looks after the car- you-or someone else?
What do you do about rust?
Is rust even a problem?
just interested mainly, that who in the face of new cheap cars all over is eccentric enough to use an old car as every day transport....
- SAAB 900 turbo 16S
- 2.0 16v B202 full pressure turbo
- Over the last 4.5 years I've averaged about 26mpg, low 30s on a run, the odd low 20 tank. At the moment have some slight running problems and it's drinking 23-24mpg.
- When it was my only car I was doing about 13k a year. Now I'm only doing 4-6k and bizarrely it's become less reliable
- I work freelance and have to drive myself all over the country - the car's used for this as well as short runs to local sites I work at.
- I do all the work on it that I can, but most of its needs are taken care of by a SAAB specialist - again, they're main dealer mechanics who trained on classic 900s and left the dealership and started up on their own.
- Rust, ah yes... I have had a few bits done by a bodyshop (one arch is bubbling again 18 months later ) and the rest is bodged by me with a wire brush, kurust, and hammerite... It's solid Swedish steel but there are some bits that rust (door bottoms, n/s/r arch, driveshaft tunnels) in our climate. Sadly the car's not been garaged since I've had it so despite being almost rust free when I bought it there are a few areas needing attention
![](http://lh6.ggpht.com/_9cAWgHOnFZo/R-b3lTnOQuI/AAAAAAAABds/twSsgu16OIk/s800/DSC_0237.JPG")
Edited by NiceCupOfTea on Saturday 6th December 22:45
NiceCupOfTea said:
Marquis_Rex said:
I want to hear from people who use their classic as an every day car/daily driver.
What do you drive?
What kind of engine?
What kind of fuel economy do you get?
What's the yearly mileage in said classic?
Do you commute to work in said car- if so how far?
Who looks after the car- you-or someone else?
What do you do about rust?
Is rust even a problem?
just interested mainly, that who in the face of new cheap cars all over is eccentric enough to use an old car as every day transport....
What do you drive?
What kind of engine?
What kind of fuel economy do you get?
What's the yearly mileage in said classic?
Do you commute to work in said car- if so how far?
Who looks after the car- you-or someone else?
What do you do about rust?
Is rust even a problem?
just interested mainly, that who in the face of new cheap cars all over is eccentric enough to use an old car as every day transport....
- SAAB 900 turbo 16S
- 2.0 16v B202 full pressure turbo
- Over the last 4.5 years I've averaged about 26mpg, low 30s on a run, the odd low 20 tank. At the moment have some slight running problems and it's drinking 23-24mpg.
- When it was my only car I was doing about 13k a year. Now I'm only doing 4-6k and bizarrely it's become less reliable
- I work freelance and have to drive myself all over the country - the car's used for this as well as short runs to local sites I work at.
- I do all the work on it that I can, but most of its needs are taken care of by a SAAB specialist - again, they're main dealer mechanics who trained on classic 900s and left the dealership and started up on their own.
- Rust, ah yes... I have had a few bits done by a bodyshop (one arch is bubbling again 18 months later ) and the rest is bodged by me with a wire brush, kurust, and hammerite... It's solid Swedish steel but there are some bits that rust (door bottoms, n/s/r arch, driveshaft tunnels) in our climate. Sadly the car's not been garaged since I've had it so despite being almost rust free when I bought it there are a few areas needing attention
Not quite a classic yet but my 1998 5 Door Subaru Impreza Turbo is the regular driver, all original and I love it. Like the Bossman's Lambo, my 1970 Corvette is used most days as well, wet is avoided as is salt but aside from that its out most days. I couldnt tell you the MPG of either since, because I dont put many miles in, the Subaru has done 35k miles in the last 8 years, that amount's to just over 4k a year and I probably do another 2k in the Stingray. Rust on the Subaru has not been a problem - yet and the vette has a fibreglass body and a very clean chassis all nicely painted in POR15 and waxoiled inside. The Subaru is looked after by Classic racer George Leitch in Edinburgh and I look after the vette myself.
G
G
Edited by VetteG on Sunday 7th December 21:53
What do you drive? Vauxhall Victor 2300S or a Mercedes G wagen 300GD
What kind of engine? 2.3 Fourpot petrol in the Vic, 3 litre 5 cylinder diseasel in the Merc
What kind of fuel economy do you get? Really not brilliant
What's the yearly mileage in said classic? 15k in both approx
Do you commute to work in said car- if so how far? Yes, about 800 yards but I drive anyway
Who looks after the car- you-or someone else? I do
What do you do about rust? Kill it early and properly
Is rust even a problem? It's a seventies Vauxhall.....
The Victor is currently getting all the usage and is proving most reliable and comfortable, seems strange that there is only 6 years between the two cars!
I used to commute the 20 odd miles to a previous job in my 1986 Monza GSE and that was a killer on fuel, up to £350 a month...... still, it's worth the bank balance pain for the car you want.
What kind of engine? 2.3 Fourpot petrol in the Vic, 3 litre 5 cylinder diseasel in the Merc
What kind of fuel economy do you get? Really not brilliant
What's the yearly mileage in said classic? 15k in both approx
Do you commute to work in said car- if so how far? Yes, about 800 yards but I drive anyway
Who looks after the car- you-or someone else? I do
What do you do about rust? Kill it early and properly
Is rust even a problem? It's a seventies Vauxhall.....
The Victor is currently getting all the usage and is proving most reliable and comfortable, seems strange that there is only 6 years between the two cars!
I used to commute the 20 odd miles to a previous job in my 1986 Monza GSE and that was a killer on fuel, up to £350 a month...... still, it's worth the bank balance pain for the car you want.
What do you drive?
A future classic: '95 Honda Civic (5g) DX 1.3
What kind of engine?
Nippy 1.3 on a carb.
What kind of fuel economy do you get?
Letting her warm up for 15 mins before I start stepping hard - and you must to make progress. About 50 mpg.
What's the yearly mileage in said classic?
35k kms = 22k miles
Do you commute to work in said car- if so how far?
Yes, 60 kms up and 60 kms down.
Who looks after the car- you-or someone else?
I have a few garages around who know what to do and know what I want.
What do you do about rust?
Hammerite is my friend . . . since the car is black
Is rust even a problem?
Yes, under the doors and next to the rearwheel arches. I have gaffertaped a hole at the moment.
This car keeps going and keeps on getting better. I'll probably die in it one day.
BTW: Hi Graeme
A future classic: '95 Honda Civic (5g) DX 1.3
What kind of engine?
Nippy 1.3 on a carb.
What kind of fuel economy do you get?
Letting her warm up for 15 mins before I start stepping hard - and you must to make progress. About 50 mpg.
What's the yearly mileage in said classic?
35k kms = 22k miles
Do you commute to work in said car- if so how far?
Yes, 60 kms up and 60 kms down.
Who looks after the car- you-or someone else?
I have a few garages around who know what to do and know what I want.
What do you do about rust?
Hammerite is my friend . . . since the car is black
Is rust even a problem?
Yes, under the doors and next to the rearwheel arches. I have gaffertaped a hole at the moment.
This car keeps going and keeps on getting better. I'll probably die in it one day.
BTW: Hi Graeme
dinkel said:
BTW: Hi Graeme
Hi Albert, be in touch soon about next year, but in the mean time how do you fancy being my passenger on http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...Drop me a note.
G
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