What 20 year old car would you choose as your daily drive?

[TooMany2cvs]

Back in the late 90s, I was running a series of company cars - 45-shape 416, E36 318, widebody 155, Mk3 Golf GTi 8v and VR6. Then I decided to take the money, and put 70k on an 89 CX GTi in three years, then a 96 XM turbo petrol, then for a 90 (proper) 900T16.

Now? The sensible daily is a 97 ZX TurboD. The much-vaunted 306's plainer sister.

[shedweller]

white_goodman said:

Not sure specifically who that was aimed at but actually I don't own a BMW. I just think for what I need from my daily drive and relatively affordable running costs, an E39 would be a great choice. What alternatives would you suggest? I think also that there are more Audis/BMWs/Mercedes around from this era than say Ford/Vauxhall/Rover because they were more expensive cars new, so worth repairing. Most 1997 Fords/Vauxhalls/Rovers would have been virtually worthless at say 10 years old, so any major repair would have meant that they got scrapped. Those that still survive and have been kept in good condition have likely appreciated, as you can see from the silly prices that some people are asking for any old Ford in particular.

Just to redress the balance, I am surprised that no-one has mentioned one of these. Not quite as refined or comfortable as an E39 but I could put up with one of these as my daily I think. Good luck finding a decent one at this age though!

We run a 97 legacy - faultless and a perfectly decent car all round, its done more miles in the last year (20k) than it did in the last 10yrs so bushes need doing but otherwise sound and just ticked over 54k, Leather, climate, dual roofs , heated bits, 21 subaru stamps one owner..... £660

We will run it til the bitter end, which I hope will be a long time in the future!

[RenPug]

PTF said:

PomBstard said:

I reckon a 20 year old 306 GTi6 would be OK if it had a reasonable life to date. Pugs from that era are pretty tough.

Once a few things are sorted, i'd agree.

Mine is only on 80k miles, but needed a new clutch as the pedal was HEAVY, and the throttle cable needed replacing and routing like the phase3 cars which makes it nice and light, and the gear linkages needed looking at.

It's going in for new timing belt/tensioner/water pump/etc soon and then need to decide what to do with it.

It's not my daily driver, but could be!

Mine is only just reaching 19 years old but has clocked up just under 170k, used daily for the last 4 years I've owned it.

[Gunk]

TooMany2cvs said:

Back in the late 90s, I was running a series of company cars - 45-shape 416, E36 318, widebody 155, Mk3 Golf GTi 8v and VR6. Then I decided to take the money, and put 70k on an 89 CX GTi in three years, then a 96 XM turbo petrol, then for a 90 (proper) 900T16.

Now? The sensible daily is a 97 ZX TurboD. The much-vaunted 306's plainer sister.

I owned a ZX 16V back in 1993, not a bad car, I can't imagine many have survived.

[55palfers]

My "daily" is a 24 year old petrol G Wagen.
Thank God I don't do many miles at its usual 15 mpg

[SidewaysSi]

MorganP104 said:

Agent XXX said:

Oh god. YET another thread that decends into "I've got a BMW"

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.

But we can discount Mercedes from that, as late '90s cars suffered very badly with rust. Which leaves us with 20 year old Audis (they really weren't very exciting back then), or 20 year old BMWs.

Before anyone starts getting all adenoidal about their 20 year old French/Japanese/Italian car they use as a daily, I know that not ALL 20 year old cars on the road are made by BMW.

Indeed. Old BMWs are great if you enjoy driving - look good (to my eyes ), practical and oversteerable.

Not sure what's not to like.

[PGNSagaris]

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....



It gets used year round too, even in slippery stuff which is a bit



1997 TVR Cerbera - a genuine daily driver

Hero. Total hero.

[tombar]

Here is mine. 20 in September. Creamy...

[PGNSagaris]

JS1500 said:

Yes it does.
Do you have a thread on it?
I have a 996 so very interested in the details... Such as which side skirts are those? They go tnicely with the ducktail.

Cheers dude. No thread yet. But here is the link to the car ad what's it's all about. I think a 996 is an awesome proposition and ripe for some good mods

https://rpmtechnik.co.uk/csr-conversions/996-csr-r...

Edited by PGNSagaris on Tuesday 30th May 19:54

[so called]

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....



It gets used year round too, even in slippery stuff which is a bit



1997 TVR Cerbera - a genuine daily driver

I'm about to start using my 1998 Cerbera as my daily.
Do you use winter tyres? Never bothered on my Chimaera or previous Tuscan.

Edited by so called on Tuesday 30th May 20:59

[haddock82]

As with a few others on here, it's not strictly 20 yet... well its 18 so old enough to buy me a drink!....

Used daily to get to and from work. Everything works as it should apart from the dash LCD is a bit naffed (seen worse though!), heated seats for the winter and air con for the summer.

And no I cant come round and cut your hair.... (I left me scissors at work!)

[Tickle]

To run as a daily for my short station run it would have to be an EK9 civic.

[Travs]

I've been driving a NC MX5 for the past 10 and a bit years and 133,000 miles. I'm conscious that I'm getting to be an old fart and getting out of the car is proving, occasionally, to be a bit of a challenge. I'm looking around at long term keepers and keep getting drawn to Japanese import W124 estates. Has anyone any experience of them as they seem to be almost too good to be true. I've owned a fairly ratty one in the past and loved it but fear that I may be wearing rose tinted glasses.

[Evolved]

:lol: I know, I've had three so well aware how expensive they are to keep. It's only a weekend car this time so helps to keep the cost down

Currently in for a full respray and refresh so will update once I've got it back.

Gary C said:

Evolved said:

Mitsubishi Evo 5 in red. In fact, that's just what I've done

Lol

I had one of those as a daily but it was only 3 years old and 15k miles and cost me a fortune to keep on the road

Good luck.

[Digby]

PowerslideSWE said:

Z06George said:

My daily is a '98 V70 so nearly there. It's barely run in at 130,000 miles and runs great, paint/interior isn't too bad. One of the comfiest cars I've ever been in regardless of age or style!

Same as me then. 1998 V70 2.0, the slowest one there is, makes a lovely 5-pot warble tho, and for a very long time aswell, lazy thing that it is. Almost 270.000 miles on the clock, had it in for the Swedish equivalent of the MOT yesterday, perfect exhaust emissions and zero rust.

My other semi daily (when I finally get the damn thing) is a soon 20 year old e39 M5.

Not exactly my daily cars (although they could be) but my V70-R and 850 are also great cars.

No rust, no advisories, 179k on one, 140k on the other.

Having owned 18 or 19 Volvos over the last few years and given I can still see five of my old ones across the road in a neighbours drive (including the 850 his 20 year old Daughter now drives) I would have to say an 850, V70 or S70 would be my choice.

I have owned numerous BMWs, though, but would still choose a Volvo.

[danllama]

sunbeam alpine said:

It's far the bast photo I have! Have a few other cars needing your skills.

Sounds like the perfect excuse to visit Belgium!

[slipstream 1985]

55palfers said:

My "daily" is a 24 year old petrol G Wagen.
Thank God I don't do many miles at its usual 15 mpg

Are they not worth silly money nowadays?

[mp3manager]

GA3 with something tasty under the bonnet.

Edited by mp3manager on Wednesday 31st May 01:51

[Byff]

so called said:

I'm about to start using my 1998 Cerbera as my daily.
Do you use winter tyres? Never bothered on my Chimaera or previous Tuscan.

I use RainSport 3's, had them fitted Oct'ish time last year and they've been pretty good so far.

[anonymous-user]

Agent XXX said:

Oh god. YET another thread that decends into "I've got a BMW"

Lol. Nearly as boring as the 'I've got a Merc W whatever' brigade. Always trying to justify why a beige 1990 repmobile with windy windows is something amazing.

I'd have an NSX for mine, if I could choose.