What 20 year old car would you choose as your daily drive?
Discussion
Too new! 
I am doing 70 miles a day in this 21 year old impreza on an M3/M25 commute. It's not ideal in terms of road noise or comfort, although averaging 34mpg isn't as bad as expected. It just happened to be the car I had when I started commuting, and would probably find an E36 6 cylinder more suitable. I am going to get a much more modern replacement soon though, as lack of aircon and overall comfort is an issue.
I bought a 1996 Volvo 85 T5 manual as a daily a couple of months ago. Classic car insurance almost offsets the crippling fuel bill but that 5 pot warble is bloomin' addictive, especially with the high-flow backbox.
It does everything it need to in comfort and relatively quickly and although it is 20 years old it's far younger than my other cars ('67 Triumph Herald and '56 Austin A30)
It does everything it need to in comfort and relatively quickly and although it is 20 years old it's far younger than my other cars ('67 Triumph Herald and '56 Austin A30)
I've got the choice two which I run as my dailies. 20 years, and 26 years old respectively:
Sensible(ish) family and/or winter car:
Summer car:
My wife drives around in this - the youngest of our fleet at only 17 years old, so not really valid for this thread, but I thought I'd post it anyway as the average age of them all, is still over 20 years and they're all in daily use:
With out first child due in just over a month's time, we're not planning on changing any of them. They'll suit our needs fine! :-)
Sensible(ish) family and/or winter car:
Summer car:
My wife drives around in this - the youngest of our fleet at only 17 years old, so not really valid for this thread, but I thought I'd post it anyway as the average age of them all, is still over 20 years and they're all in daily use:
With out first child due in just over a month's time, we're not planning on changing any of them. They'll suit our needs fine! :-)
It's 30 next year but I run a mint Volvo 740 as a daily over the summer months, in complete comfort and reliability. Gets plenty of looks, especially since I'm not the typical old Volvo driver age.
upload pic
upload pic
j_s14a said:
My 20 year old daily
550hp, comfortable, same reliability and fuel economy as an LS400 (when driven accordingly). Absolutely brilliant cars.
Nice! Do these have shallow boots? It has been a while since I had a look at one. Would love one as my daily but I need something that will take suitcases! 550hp, comfortable, same reliability and fuel economy as an LS400 (when driven accordingly). Absolutely brilliant cars.
So the last three cars I've owned all fit in some way into this bracket and have all been dailies at some point in their lives.
Started with a 3rd Generation Mazda RX7 which I used daily for about 4 years.
The RX7 was then supplemented with an E36 318is which was a little more practical (particularly for MTB weekends in Wales).
The 318 was replaced a few years back with an E39 530i (auto I'm sorry to say).
All three have been immensely enjoyable to use daily for their own reasons. The RX7 is just an occasion to drive at any time, I really do love the way the rotary delivers its power. The 318is once you got it revving was fun but still had good storage for camping trips and could fit a couple of bikes on the roof and the 530i is just so comfortable and effortless.
I'd happily go back to any of them, and indeed right now my driving is split 50/50 between the RX7 and the 530i.
Started with a 3rd Generation Mazda RX7 which I used daily for about 4 years.
The RX7 was then supplemented with an E36 318is which was a little more practical (particularly for MTB weekends in Wales).
The 318 was replaced a few years back with an E39 530i (auto I'm sorry to say).
All three have been immensely enjoyable to use daily for their own reasons. The RX7 is just an occasion to drive at any time, I really do love the way the rotary delivers its power. The 318is once you got it revving was fun but still had good storage for camping trips and could fit a couple of bikes on the roof and the 530i is just so comfortable and effortless.
I'd happily go back to any of them, and indeed right now my driving is split 50/50 between the RX7 and the 530i.
Has to be an E36 coupe
318iS for the economy.
I had one for 80000 miles 1999-2004
http://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C834928
318iS for the economy.
I had one for 80000 miles 1999-2004
http://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C834928
lel said:
Byff said:
For the last three years, I have been using this recently turned 20yr old as my daily driver.
I like to try and keep it clean, but it's usually filthy....
1997 TVR Cerbera - a genuine daily driver
Is this in Sunderland? If so, I've seen it a good few times! I like to try and keep it clean, but it's usually filthy....
1997 TVR Cerbera - a genuine daily driver
MorganP104 said:
It may well look that way, but there's a reason for that. The only stuff reliable enough to use as a daily driver at 20 years old is going to be German.
Utter rubbish. Anything properly maintained will make it past 20. There were more Germans around to begin with: law of averages. angels95 said:
Was using an N-reg 306 D Turbo up until earlier in the month and added 54k miles to it in less than three years. Averaged 57mpg and was more than capable of daily duties. A surprisingly good steer too!
Just replaced it with an S-reg 306 GTI-6. So far, so good. Obviously quite a bit thirstier than the diesel, but 37mpg isn't that bad! Nice to finally have the power that the chassis was crying out for on the last one!
I'd rather drive around in a 20-year-old 306 than a modern equivalent as they handle amazingly well and don't seem to rust like their rivals of the same era (Mark VI Escort, Mark III Golf, etc.).
+1E6. OK, it's not 20 years old yet, but my 306 Rallye is fapping great. Genuinely can't think of a car to replace it with. (So I bought an Elise to complement it!)Just replaced it with an S-reg 306 GTI-6. So far, so good. Obviously quite a bit thirstier than the diesel, but 37mpg isn't that bad! Nice to finally have the power that the chassis was crying out for on the last one!
I'd rather drive around in a 20-year-old 306 than a modern equivalent as they handle amazingly well and don't seem to rust like their rivals of the same era (Mark VI Escort, Mark III Golf, etc.).
ETA: having read the other six pages, I see we aren't the only ones.
Edited by bitwrx on Wednesday 31st May 18:38
HustleRussell said:
I've got a '96 525i touring (E34) which does everything. I chose it over lots of newer cars and have spent an amount on money sorting it which could've bought a 5-7 year old alternative, but the E34 has standout qualities which newer cars don't.
I depend on it to tow my Caterham race car and it doesn't let me down.
I love hearing stories like this, good for you! E34 is indeed a special car which thankfully has a quite high survival rate.I depend on it to tow my Caterham race car and it doesn't let me down.
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