Vauxhall FE as a daily driver
Discussion
As long as it's got something in the cavities and on the underside, washed and kept up together there is no reason why it shouldn't stay in good condition if driven daily.
As far as the mechanicals go, it will do it good. And really, what is the point of a car if you can't drive it and enjoy it for what it is?
Like it.
As far as the mechanicals go, it will do it good. And really, what is the point of a car if you can't drive it and enjoy it for what it is?
Like it.
T0nup said:
As long as it's got something in the cavities and on the underside, washed and kept up together there is no reason why it shouldn't stay in good condition if driven daily.
As far as the mechanicals go, it will do it good. And really, what is the point of a car if you can't drive it and enjoy it for what it is?
Like it.
Glad someone likes to see cars used, I' not banger racing or pimping my ride just using it whilst maintaining it. Personally I like to see classic cars being used which is very rare these days. I like to visit classic car museums like many people but we cant hide all the cars away.As far as the mechanicals go, it will do it good. And really, what is the point of a car if you can't drive it and enjoy it for what it is?
Like it.
Vauxhall did experiment with a V8 version but the bodyshell fractured on the A posts due to weight and torque issues.
I had mates that worked at Millbrook when it was owned by Vauxhall and all sorts of weird and wonderful stuff was being tried (4x4 CF Bedford with 2.3 magnum engines)
Some of the experimental cavalier parts may have fallen out of their skip into my engine bay ?
I had mates that worked at Millbrook when it was owned by Vauxhall and all sorts of weird and wonderful stuff was being tried (4x4 CF Bedford with 2.3 magnum engines)
Some of the experimental cavalier parts may have fallen out of their skip into my engine bay ?
After 1 week and 300 miles whats it been like using a classic everyday.
I have really enjoyed the last weeks driving, the mileage is very high for me, this being 180 miles to drive the car home and 120 miles for the rest of the week which is still much more than my usual mileage.
The car runs beautifully starting first and every time straight away, I have never stalled the car and it ticks over without choke after a mile even on a cold morning.Given the wet and cold week we have just had the car does not have any leaks and defrosts only slightly slower than a modern car. The traffic is quite heavy where I live and the car copes well and keeps up with everything you just have to watch out for the idiots who try and dive in front of you.
The only things that needed attending to were the failed main beam and speedo bulbs (which did work when I picked the car up), and the faulty temp sender unit turned out to work fine but an airlock was preventing any hot water getting to it (found quickly thanks to an infrared thermometer which are great for checking cooling systems are working well) getting the airlock out took a couple of hours though.
There is nothing needing attending to with this car its the best used car I have ever bought, the dealer who I bought it from had his mechanic go over it and he has been very thorough, the oil is still clean which I was going to change to flush out any crud but will wait a few weeks now. All tyres including spare are new so no problems with old rubber needing changing.
After running an Audi A6 with all the toys what do I miss most, heated seats, full a/c and climate control, Bose audio system, integrated sat nav and phone kit, none of these I miss having a clock but i dont miss wondering which fault light will come on next and which specialist will I have to get to plug it in and tell me it might not be that sensor but thats what the computer says so ive got to change it. Back to simple times where a simple bloke like me can fix his own car
I have really enjoyed the last weeks driving, the mileage is very high for me, this being 180 miles to drive the car home and 120 miles for the rest of the week which is still much more than my usual mileage.
The car runs beautifully starting first and every time straight away, I have never stalled the car and it ticks over without choke after a mile even on a cold morning.Given the wet and cold week we have just had the car does not have any leaks and defrosts only slightly slower than a modern car. The traffic is quite heavy where I live and the car copes well and keeps up with everything you just have to watch out for the idiots who try and dive in front of you.
The only things that needed attending to were the failed main beam and speedo bulbs (which did work when I picked the car up), and the faulty temp sender unit turned out to work fine but an airlock was preventing any hot water getting to it (found quickly thanks to an infrared thermometer which are great for checking cooling systems are working well) getting the airlock out took a couple of hours though.
There is nothing needing attending to with this car its the best used car I have ever bought, the dealer who I bought it from had his mechanic go over it and he has been very thorough, the oil is still clean which I was going to change to flush out any crud but will wait a few weeks now. All tyres including spare are new so no problems with old rubber needing changing.
After running an Audi A6 with all the toys what do I miss most, heated seats, full a/c and climate control, Bose audio system, integrated sat nav and phone kit, none of these I miss having a clock but i dont miss wondering which fault light will come on next and which specialist will I have to get to plug it in and tell me it might not be that sensor but thats what the computer says so ive got to change it. Back to simple times where a simple bloke like me can fix his own car
I envy you, they are a joy to drive... And there has to be something said for owning the oldest and coolest car in the car park at work. I used to drive a 1980 3.0 Capri a few years back and worked for a well known bank. The envy in the eyes of many as they saw my car on the front row always made me smile.
Bet it's the same for you.
Bet it's the same for you.
This topic, i.e. taking a rare museum quality old motor and flinging it back into the everyday chaos of modern traffic, seems to be creating a bit of a stir in the classic car world. I suspect the OP is rather enjoying the attention/infamy and no amount of posts will persuade him in any particular direction. There was an excellent resume on Autos
te which sums it up rather well, forgive me for reposting in it's entirety;
[i]Of course it´s nice to see a car used for what it was built for. But the normal use is the reason why at least 99% of the cars in our climate don´t survive to become a classic car. So when a car has the luck to be one of the very few survivors, especially if it´s a very rare model like this Vauxhall, it deserves to be a cherished classic with only a few thousand miles a year, living in a garage and getting stashed away from October until April.
I´d like to drive my old cars everyday, but I don´t. I´ve got a bland and boring 07 Mazda6 as a daily and I am glad I have. Because otherwise, one of my old cars wouldn´t be with me anymore. I had an accident, someone drove into my car, I could not do anything. Of course it could happen on one of the days I drive my old cars, but it did happen while driving my daily. It´s all about probability. Just looking at the (repaired) Mazda6 now with all the muck and salt on it makes me feel good because I know my old cars don´t have to do this.
So to make a long story short:
I can only approve everyday-use of a classic car when the car is not a rare one (use a VW Beetle or a Mercedes-Benz W123 or something like that), not a special version (very low miles, special edition etc.) and parts are easy available if something happens.
"Quote: Buy the best you can is a good motto, use it and enjoy it is another one."
Of course! But don´t run it into the ground should be another motto![/i]
te which sums it up rather well, forgive me for reposting in it's entirety;[i]Of course it´s nice to see a car used for what it was built for. But the normal use is the reason why at least 99% of the cars in our climate don´t survive to become a classic car. So when a car has the luck to be one of the very few survivors, especially if it´s a very rare model like this Vauxhall, it deserves to be a cherished classic with only a few thousand miles a year, living in a garage and getting stashed away from October until April.
I´d like to drive my old cars everyday, but I don´t. I´ve got a bland and boring 07 Mazda6 as a daily and I am glad I have. Because otherwise, one of my old cars wouldn´t be with me anymore. I had an accident, someone drove into my car, I could not do anything. Of course it could happen on one of the days I drive my old cars, but it did happen while driving my daily. It´s all about probability. Just looking at the (repaired) Mazda6 now with all the muck and salt on it makes me feel good because I know my old cars don´t have to do this.
So to make a long story short:
I can only approve everyday-use of a classic car when the car is not a rare one (use a VW Beetle or a Mercedes-Benz W123 or something like that), not a special version (very low miles, special edition etc.) and parts are easy available if something happens.
"Quote: Buy the best you can is a good motto, use it and enjoy it is another one."
Of course! But don´t run it into the ground should be another motto![/i]
Lots of differing opinions here.
I'd just drive it everyday and maintain it as per 1970's VX service schedule. Run it for a while to enjoy the experience then try something else and pass it on to another real VX enthusiast.
If someone wants to buy it to put it in their living room as a piece of 70's art then so be it.
Put up the ££££ . . . !!!?
Loose_Cannon said:
This topic, i.e. taking a rare museum quality old motor and flinging it back into the everyday chaos of modern traffic, seems to be creating a bit of a stir in the classic car world. I suspect the OP is rather enjoying the attention/infamy and no amount of posts will persuade him in any particular direction. There was an excellent resume on Autoste which sums it up rather well, forgive me for reposting in it's entirety;
c]
Had a look at this and it was quite funny to see a few people getting wound up about something trivial like this, this is about using an old car everyday but with respect to its former life and condition.te which sums it up rather well, forgive me for reposting in it's entirety;c]
Especially liked the comments that see me as some sort of millionaire doing this just to wind them up, in truth I sold my Audi for £500 less than I bought the Vauxhall for, so changing my car after 7 years with a £500 additional payment hardly makes me a millionaire.
Anyway just a quick report to say the car has performed perfectly over the last month with the total repairs being a pair of wiper blades, I have used it everyday but on the very windy night I parked it inside at work and took a van home just in case something was blown into it. Im loving every minute of driving it and took it for a run to Holmfirth with the wife the other weekend for a pub lunch.
I have now added 600 miles to the car and it is all the better for it as a vacuum gauge showed a slight sticking of the valves when I first got it and this is now ok.
Surprisingly (according to some opinions) with all this rain nothing has rusted and fallen off yet, nor is there a stream of mechanical failures.
I gave her a polish as the weather report looked good last week for some photos
Ive now done a 1000 miles and had my first problem since sorting out the few minor niggles when I bought it.
I had noticed a smell of petrol but struggled to trace it until my wife pointed to the mark on our drive where a small drip of petrol has taken the sealant off our drive.
Even with the car up on the ramp I could not trace the leak but the only likely candidate was a 6" piece of flexible fuel hose joining the solid fuel lines near the engine.
Luckily I had some of this in stock along with new hose clamps left over from replacing the fuel lines on my other car. I gave the car a good inspection whilst up on the ramp and adjusted the handbrake cable and gave it a quick oil and filter change for good luck.
The oil and filter had been changed 1000 miles ago when I bought it but for piece of mind I decided to change it again and have a good look at the old oil which looked great. So in the 2 months of using the car every day I have had very few problems considering it had stood unused for many years.
I had noticed a smell of petrol but struggled to trace it until my wife pointed to the mark on our drive where a small drip of petrol has taken the sealant off our drive.
Even with the car up on the ramp I could not trace the leak but the only likely candidate was a 6" piece of flexible fuel hose joining the solid fuel lines near the engine.
Luckily I had some of this in stock along with new hose clamps left over from replacing the fuel lines on my other car. I gave the car a good inspection whilst up on the ramp and adjusted the handbrake cable and gave it a quick oil and filter change for good luck.
The oil and filter had been changed 1000 miles ago when I bought it but for piece of mind I decided to change it again and have a good look at the old oil which looked great. So in the 2 months of using the car every day I have had very few problems considering it had stood unused for many years.
I just showed the missus your piccies on this thread. Gave her a brief resume of the story. She said wouldn't you like to do something like that. Find a time warp vehicle and use it as your daily driver. I applaud you, it must me like reliving the 70's all over again. My old man was mainly a Ford and Vauxhall man. He did stray accasionally. I remember a brand new white Sunbeam Rapier when they first came out in 67. My favourite a Daimler Majestic Major. Blue over Silver. I'm not sure why but at one point he had two VX4/90's, along with a Cresta, a Viscount, a Zodiac and an Executive all at the same time.
graemel said:
I just showed the missus your piccies on this thread. Gave her a brief resume of the story. She said wouldn't you like to do something like that. Find a time warp vehicle and use it as your daily driver. I applaud you, it must me like reliving the 70's all over again. My old man was mainly a Ford and Vauxhall man. He did stray accasionally. I remember a brand new white Sunbeam Rapier when they first came out in 67. My favourite a Daimler Majestic Major. Blue over Silver. I'm not sure why but at one point he had two VX4/90's, along with a Cresta, a Viscount, a Zodiac and an Executive all at the same time.
If it appeals to you I would say go for it, your wife being behind you is a big help my wife gets what I am doing whereas many people just don't get it.I've lost count of the number of people who are amazed I sold my modern car and didn't keep this as well but that would have defeated the object of this exercise.
I have absolutely no plans to go back to anything built after the 80s but do fancy changing every year or so to experience lots of different cars and if it doesn't cost me any more than the depreciation on a new car I have lost nothing and had some fun along the way. I also think classic car owners should use their cars more so I'm taking a lead here.
dpp said:
Please be aware that I have been told this car is advertised in classic car weekly and on the net. It is not for sale as im having far too much fun driving it.
Oh that's good news! I saw it in the week's CCW. And I did wonder what had happened to change your mind....so you're keeping it, are you?I've used various classics as dailies for over 20 years now and they all sat (sit) outside 24/7, 365/6 and all used all year round
I know you've had no problems yet but a 1,000 plus miles isn't a long test, I advise all new owners the same, based on the mistakes and hassles I've had over the years
carry out a full 36k-mile service/check up, you can stagger it between regular use on reasonable length journeys, I'd include -
changing brake (and clutch?) fluid,
old and hard brake pads, etc, flexi-hoses(?),
old tyres regardless of tread depth left,
a thorough clean and flush/back-flush/flush-again of the cooling/heating system including engine block, rad and matrix replacing any parts or components required along the way,
HT lead set, dissy cap and rotor (but not CB points or condenser)
watch out for modern made parts that involve rubber or small electrics as they tend to be p*ss poor quality
all this is to find and prevent issues before they become a problem, prevention is better than cure
keep driving it regularly on reasonable length journeys with occasional long and blow-out runs all the year round and keep up with full and proper regular servicing, maintenance and repairs
there I've put my oft repeated piece
I know you've had no problems yet but a 1,000 plus miles isn't a long test, I advise all new owners the same, based on the mistakes and hassles I've had over the years
carry out a full 36k-mile service/check up, you can stagger it between regular use on reasonable length journeys, I'd include -
changing brake (and clutch?) fluid,
old and hard brake pads, etc, flexi-hoses(?),
old tyres regardless of tread depth left,
a thorough clean and flush/back-flush/flush-again of the cooling/heating system including engine block, rad and matrix replacing any parts or components required along the way,
HT lead set, dissy cap and rotor (but not CB points or condenser)
watch out for modern made parts that involve rubber or small electrics as they tend to be p*ss poor quality
all this is to find and prevent issues before they become a problem, prevention is better than cure
keep driving it regularly on reasonable length journeys with occasional long and blow-out runs all the year round and keep up with full and proper regular servicing, maintenance and repairs
there I've put my oft repeated piece
Just been for a fresh MOT and the mileage is now 7804 with the previous reading being 3261 so it averaged 88 miles per year over the last 37 years and 4500 this year and the car has run faultlessly with the exception of a new exhaust system.
I will be pulling it off the road over christmas to service and carry out a few preventative maintenance jobs, I will also carry out some additional rustproofing (it cant do any harm).
I have managed to drive classic cars for most of the year with an additional 2500 miles in my weekend classic, but hope that 2015 sees more use of both cars and they will both be on the road throughout the winter although there are less opportunities to pull a weekend car out at this time of year, I need to remove a faulty a/c pump but still cant bring myself to put the car out of action with the holidays looming and the hope of a run out on a brisk sunny day.
I say get your cars out and use them thats what they are for.
I will be pulling it off the road over christmas to service and carry out a few preventative maintenance jobs, I will also carry out some additional rustproofing (it cant do any harm).
I have managed to drive classic cars for most of the year with an additional 2500 miles in my weekend classic, but hope that 2015 sees more use of both cars and they will both be on the road throughout the winter although there are less opportunities to pull a weekend car out at this time of year, I need to remove a faulty a/c pump but still cant bring myself to put the car out of action with the holidays looming and the hope of a run out on a brisk sunny day.
I say get your cars out and use them thats what they are for.
Gassing Station | Classic Cars and Yesterday's Heroes | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff