Classic car daily driver?
Discussion
Yertis said:
Hippea said:
So, given the choice between a VW Beetle, Citroen 2cv and Morris Minor what do you think would be the best daily driver. This is taking into account initial cost, keeping it on the road, reliability, ease to live with etc.
It would cover around 6000 miles a year, no motorway use only B roads in a rural location.
Having owned/driven all three at one time or another I'd choose the 2CV every time:It would cover around 6000 miles a year, no motorway use only B roads in a rural location.
1 Amazing ride
2 Sweet handling
3 Open top in summer
4 Sprightly performance within its own limits – nice revvy little engine.
5 Great in the snow and crap
6 Just great fun.
By comparison the others seemed turgid. I just don't get the love for Beetles at all. The Mog had its own charm but felt heavy and slow.
I'd get another 2CV tomorrow if I had the space. When I had the 2CV all I wanted was TR6 or Quattro (or a 308GTB4). Now I've got both of those I want a 2CV again. Driving a 2CV puts me in the same mellow place as when sailing a dinghy.
I used to motorway mine weekly, roof down...
I still miss it - I paid £75 for it, and a few years later gave it away to a friend who was on his uppers & living in the sticks.
skwdenyer said:
Yertis said:
Hippea said:
So, given the choice between a VW Beetle, Citroen 2cv and Morris Minor what do you think would be the best daily driver. This is taking into account initial cost, keeping it on the road, reliability, ease to live with etc.
It would cover around 6000 miles a year, no motorway use only B roads in a rural location.
Having owned/driven all three at one time or another I'd choose the 2CV every time:It would cover around 6000 miles a year, no motorway use only B roads in a rural location.
1 Amazing ride
2 Sweet handling
3 Open top in summer
4 Sprightly performance within its own limits – nice revvy little engine.
5 Great in the snow and crap
6 Just great fun.
By comparison the others seemed turgid. I just don't get the love for Beetles at all. The Mog had its own charm but felt heavy and slow.
I'd get another 2CV tomorrow if I had the space. When I had the 2CV all I wanted was TR6 or Quattro (or a 308GTB4). Now I've got both of those I want a 2CV again. Driving a 2CV puts me in the same mellow place as when sailing a dinghy.
I used to motorway mine weekly, roof down...
I still miss it - I paid £75 for it, and a few years later gave it away to a friend who was on his uppers & living in the sticks.
It ended up parked up on our drive as an MOT failure for years then in the late 80's a neighbours boyfriend asked my Dad about it and he said you can have it, the lad was dead chuffed!
I ran a 2CV as a daily for seven years (along with a Turbo R which I had for fifteen years). Vulnerability aside it was great. Fun to drive, astonishing grip and handling, lovely ride and very comfortable. A touch cramped though and heating/ventilation was woeful in winter. It was really cheap to run and cost almost pennies to service, I'm no mechanic but could DIY loads of things on it. It was lovely in the summer with the roof rolled back and was fine keeping up with modern traffic and it would sit at the limit on a motorway all day long. I also did a number of Continental tours in it too. After seven years I fancied a bit of power and luxury again so I sold it in May last year within two hours of putting it up for sale to the first enquirer, I got back what I paid for it despite putting 50K on it and the deterioration of using it as a daily. Great off roader too and brilliant in snow, comically so on a set of winters. I don't know whether I'd bother with having another but I'm so glad that one was part of my motoring life. It's one of those cars that imo every petrolhead should experience.
Status of the Gilbern so far....
Apart from one test drive of 1/2 mile, its broken down everytime I've driven it.
It seems to be fairly well trained now, most recently, on Friday, after about 6 or 7 miles it started to misfire, finally konking out as I pulled up outside the house, where I could then roll it straight back onto the drive!
No need to call Steve, the very pleasant RAC man!
Float bowls are full of crap, fresh fuel coming through piss coloured!
Hey ho, all good fun, knew it would take some sorting.
Apart from one test drive of 1/2 mile, its broken down everytime I've driven it.
It seems to be fairly well trained now, most recently, on Friday, after about 6 or 7 miles it started to misfire, finally konking out as I pulled up outside the house, where I could then roll it straight back onto the drive!
No need to call Steve, the very pleasant RAC man!
Float bowls are full of crap, fresh fuel coming through piss coloured!
Hey ho, all good fun, knew it would take some sorting.
It took me some time to sort my Riley One-Point-Five after collecting it. Perhaps I should have stayed well clear as it broke down when I test drove it prior to purchase when a HT lead came loose. After that it was a split hose, hole in radiator, brake failure (twice), failure to start (several times) plus any number of rattles, squeaks and niggles. Some of the rattles and squeaks are still there years later. I tell myself they add 'character', O/H is not convinced.
Mechanically it's reliable(-ish) at last, enough for us to drive alone from Land's End to John O'Groats last year. We lost horn and indicators in torrential rain on our way to the start but once they were fixed it's now as good as gold - apart from the two sumps I've holed over rough roads however a sump guard is being fitted before our next big adventure (Scotland again).
Tyres are most likely going to be swapped for 'all season' rubber, the idea being to drive it 'all seasons'. Possibly.
Mechanically it's reliable(-ish) at last, enough for us to drive alone from Land's End to John O'Groats last year. We lost horn and indicators in torrential rain on our way to the start but once they were fixed it's now as good as gold - apart from the two sumps I've holed over rough roads however a sump guard is being fitted before our next big adventure (Scotland again).
Tyres are most likely going to be swapped for 'all season' rubber, the idea being to drive it 'all seasons'. Possibly.
Riley Blue said:
Tyres are most likely going to be swapped for 'all season' rubber, the idea being to drive it 'all seasons'. Possibly.
The roads here on Isle of Wight tend to be wet and muddy, although we rarely get a frost, I'd like all season tyres, but choice seems limited in 165/80/14. Might have to try a 175/80/14And so the fun continues...
Disaster last night! I stripped out float bowls, cleaned out the jets, pulled the jet tubes out of the float bowls. Put that back together, rigged up a bit of plastic tube, ignition on and pumped a bit of fuel into a clean white bucket to look at it. Decided the tank does have to be drained, called it a night and came in to the house.
Went to go to bed an hour later, stong smell of petrol in the kitchen. Started closing and opening windows and doors to get rid of it from the house, went to investigate in the garage. Gilbern had syphoned the contents of the tank onto the garage floor. Gallons of petrol everywhere, was clearing up until midnight.
Since the Rayburn is alight in the kitchen and its an open flame device, I was a little concerned that I might be about to blow the end wall off the house!
Still, no harm done, by this morning it had all evaporated away and not stinking at all.
At least there is less to explode/drain.
Disaster last night! I stripped out float bowls, cleaned out the jets, pulled the jet tubes out of the float bowls. Put that back together, rigged up a bit of plastic tube, ignition on and pumped a bit of fuel into a clean white bucket to look at it. Decided the tank does have to be drained, called it a night and came in to the house.
Went to go to bed an hour later, stong smell of petrol in the kitchen. Started closing and opening windows and doors to get rid of it from the house, went to investigate in the garage. Gilbern had syphoned the contents of the tank onto the garage floor. Gallons of petrol everywhere, was clearing up until midnight.
Since the Rayburn is alight in the kitchen and its an open flame device, I was a little concerned that I might be about to blow the end wall off the house!
Still, no harm done, by this morning it had all evaporated away and not stinking at all.
At least there is less to explode/drain.
Huntsman said:
And so the fun continues...
Disaster last night! I stripped out float bowls, cleaned out the jets, pulled the jet tubes out of the float bowls. Put that back together, rigged up a bit of plastic tube, ignition on and pumped a bit of fuel into a clean white bucket to look at it. Decided the tank does have to be drained, called it a night and came in to the house.
Went to go to bed an hour later, stong smell of petrol in the kitchen. Started closing and opening windows and doors to get rid of it from the house, went to investigate in the garage. Gilbern had syphoned the contents of the tank onto the garage floor. Gallons of petrol everywhere, was clearing up until midnight.
Since the Rayburn is alight in the kitchen and its an open flame device, I was a little concerned that I might be about to blow the end wall off the house!
Still, no harm done, by this morning it had all evaporated away and not stinking at all.
At least there is less to explode/drain.
That car doesn't like you...........Disaster last night! I stripped out float bowls, cleaned out the jets, pulled the jet tubes out of the float bowls. Put that back together, rigged up a bit of plastic tube, ignition on and pumped a bit of fuel into a clean white bucket to look at it. Decided the tank does have to be drained, called it a night and came in to the house.
Went to go to bed an hour later, stong smell of petrol in the kitchen. Started closing and opening windows and doors to get rid of it from the house, went to investigate in the garage. Gilbern had syphoned the contents of the tank onto the garage floor. Gallons of petrol everywhere, was clearing up until midnight.
Since the Rayburn is alight in the kitchen and its an open flame device, I was a little concerned that I might be about to blow the end wall off the house!
Still, no harm done, by this morning it had all evaporated away and not stinking at all.
At least there is less to explode/drain.
Huntsman said:
Apart from one test drive of 1/2 mile, its broken down everytime I've driven it.
The Gilbern was incredible, it managed a breakdown ratio of about 90%.... It sat around for 18 months, 'rona, house move, redundancy, start a business all got in the way.I decided really early on that it was too small on account of me being a big fat old fart.
So the Gilbern is sold.
This arrived!
Huntsman said:
The Gilbern was incredible, it managed a breakdown ratio of about 90%.... It sat around for 18 months, 'rona, house move, redundancy, start a business all got in the way.
I decided really early on that it was too small on account of me being a big fat old fart.
So the Gilbern is sold.
This arrived!
Great looking car. Much envy. Hope it proves a tad more reliable that the Gilbern and it gets the use it deserves. I decided really early on that it was too small on account of me being a big fat old fart.
So the Gilbern is sold.
This arrived!
Excellent choice
anonymous said:
[redacted]
Ha! I thought you'd say that.I have been in a Daimler auto and I didnt want one, I would have bought a manual, but the only one for sale was more dosh that I wanted to squander.
Steering seems ok, just need to be moving, which is how I was taught to drive.
Brakes are schocking.
There's a million things to sort out but its not rusty.
I've been doing 26 mile rounds trips regularly for the last 3 weeks in my 1975 Triumph Toledo. Not a problem. Even warms up fairly quickly.
Never had so much positive reaction in 37 years of driving from other road users, and even pedestrians! Even though it's only a 1.3 single carb, it's struggling to average 30 mpg, but the free VED and MoT exemption is compensating for that.
I wouldn't want to be using it in proper winter though. No ABS, no power steering (although it's not THAT heavy), poor wipers, huge blind spots and a non-functional heated rear window will stop me using it when it gets proper cold.....
Never had so much positive reaction in 37 years of driving from other road users, and even pedestrians! Even though it's only a 1.3 single carb, it's struggling to average 30 mpg, but the free VED and MoT exemption is compensating for that.
I wouldn't want to be using it in proper winter though. No ABS, no power steering (although it's not THAT heavy), poor wipers, huge blind spots and a non-functional heated rear window will stop me using it when it gets proper cold.....
sixor8 said:
I've been doing 26 mile rounds trips regularly for the last 3 weeks in my 1975 Triumph Toledo. Not a problem. Even warms up fairly quickly.
Never had so much positive reaction in 37 years of driving from other road users, and even pedestrians! Even though it's only a 1.3 single carb, it's struggling to average 30 mpg, but the free VED and MoT exemption is compensating for that.
I wouldn't want to be using it in proper winter though. No ABS, no power steering (although it's not THAT heavy), poor wipers, huge blind spots and a non-functional heated rear window will stop me using it when it gets proper cold.....
I’ve never driven a Toledo but I’ve driven a 1500TC and I’ve had a Vitesse for 20 years... agree with most of what you say but I’m really surprised that you say you have blind spots. I find modern cars are terrible for this whilst my old Triumph is fairly goodNever had so much positive reaction in 37 years of driving from other road users, and even pedestrians! Even though it's only a 1.3 single carb, it's struggling to average 30 mpg, but the free VED and MoT exemption is compensating for that.
I wouldn't want to be using it in proper winter though. No ABS, no power steering (although it's not THAT heavy), poor wipers, huge blind spots and a non-functional heated rear window will stop me using it when it gets proper cold.....
I had a new Toledo as a company car in 1976 and it was sadly a Friday/Monday morning build. At first it wouldn't go higher than 40 mph which the dealer said "was a tight engine - needs running in" I insisted and it needed a new carby. Two new windscreens broken by gravel and other niggles did not, however, spoil the charm of the inside, and it was a pleasant place to be. Primrose yellow was a comfortable colour to live with too.
As regards the Jaguar above, is it a 240 or a 340? The price of the former cars is starting to rise when people realise that the Solex has gone and replaced with better breathing and SU's. Good ones are now around £12,000 - good value for a comfortable saloon that can hit the ton.
As regards the Jaguar above, is it a 240 or a 340? The price of the former cars is starting to rise when people realise that the Solex has gone and replaced with better breathing and SU's. Good ones are now around £12,000 - good value for a comfortable saloon that can hit the ton.
Edited by lowdrag on Monday 25th October 08:34
lowdrag said:
As regards the Jaguar above, is it a 240 or a 340? The price of the former cars is starting to rise when people realise that the Solex has gone and replaced with better breathing and SU's. Good ones are now around £12,000 - good value for a comfortable saloon that can hit the ton.
240. Quite deliberate choice. I think very hood 240's are now £15k. Mine was half that, but runs and drives.Edited by lowdrag on Monday 25th October 08:34
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