80's daily driver
Discussion
New to the forum but have been viewing the threads on this forum for a long time as a 'guest' and look forward to getting involved in the discussions.
I'm really into my classic cars from the 70's/80's and would love to have one as a daily as I am fed up with modern cars and all their technology.
Could anyone recommend a reliable 80s car that would be suitable as a daily i.e. one that does not rust too badly (I say not too badly as I know cars from this era are notorious) and parts availability is good i.e. you can still get most if not all the parts to keep the car going. Most of all it has to be reliable. I'd be looking at running about 12000 miles a year.
Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Also, any opinions from people that still daily their classic from any era would be great to know.
I'm really into my classic cars from the 70's/80's and would love to have one as a daily as I am fed up with modern cars and all their technology.
Could anyone recommend a reliable 80s car that would be suitable as a daily i.e. one that does not rust too badly (I say not too badly as I know cars from this era are notorious) and parts availability is good i.e. you can still get most if not all the parts to keep the car going. Most of all it has to be reliable. I'd be looking at running about 12000 miles a year.
Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Also, any opinions from people that still daily their classic from any era would be great to know.
I ran a 1974 MGB as a daily for a while... it was largely reliable until I stopped using it, whereupon it started to sulk and never worked properly again. It was quite rusty when I got it, but once I'd had the sills welded up and had the underside treated it never developed any extra structural rust in the 15 years I had it. It was garaged though, I don't think it would have stood up to being left outside.
After the MG, I had a late 80s Corrado, which was pretty bullet proof and never had any rust problems. Parts were a mixed bag - the mechanical bits were largely Passat/Golf so easy to get hold of but body panels are apparently rare and expensive (fortunately I never had to buy any).
Some 80s cars were fully galvanised. I think some version or other of the Audi 80 was the first to be? If you don't want to have to tinker, I'd be looking for something with EFI and electronic ignition.
After the MG, I had a late 80s Corrado, which was pretty bullet proof and never had any rust problems. Parts were a mixed bag - the mechanical bits were largely Passat/Golf so easy to get hold of but body panels are apparently rare and expensive (fortunately I never had to buy any).
Some 80s cars were fully galvanised. I think some version or other of the Audi 80 was the first to be? If you don't want to have to tinker, I'd be looking for something with EFI and electronic ignition.
Edited by kambites on Tuesday 23 January 14:02
Really, the issue is expecting things not to rust.
We live in a very wet country that puts salt on the roads for several months of the year. Modern cars still struggle with that. IMO the only way you can run something of that age without worrying too much about rust is completely strip it down, underseal it, fill every cavity with as much waxoyl as possible, have every metal part you take off blasted back to bare metal and heavily powdercoated. Keep it in a warm, dry garage when not in use and make sure it gets cleaned thoroughly on a weekly basis, especially in the winter.
We live in a very wet country that puts salt on the roads for several months of the year. Modern cars still struggle with that. IMO the only way you can run something of that age without worrying too much about rust is completely strip it down, underseal it, fill every cavity with as much waxoyl as possible, have every metal part you take off blasted back to bare metal and heavily powdercoated. Keep it in a warm, dry garage when not in use and make sure it gets cleaned thoroughly on a weekly basis, especially in the winter.
I'd say got to be Japanese to be reliable enough as a daily doing 12k pa the problem is finding one that's not rusty.
I've got a 1988 Celica GT - more than capable of being a daily driver and it's reliable plus quick enough and very pleasant to drive. I often use it but I don't use it as a daily as I don't want it to get rusty - so it's kept In the garage in the wet/winter.
I've got a 1988 Celica GT - more than capable of being a daily driver and it's reliable plus quick enough and very pleasant to drive. I often use it but I don't use it as a daily as I don't want it to get rusty - so it's kept In the garage in the wet/winter.
I daily drove an 88 635CSi a few years ago. Paid £2k for it and sold it for £4k - those days are gone but for me it's the first car I'd consider being able to do serious miles on daily - IMHO go much earlier than that and it all gets a bit unreliable, particularly the British stuff. 4 Speed + OD gets tiring on the motorway quite quickly!
GreatGranny said:
Merc 380
https://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C940082
Scirocco (Storm)
https://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C952940
E28
https://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C951974
Scirocco if he's a Bearded Geography teacher!https://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C940082
Scirocco (Storm)
https://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C952940
E28
https://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C951974
What's your budget? Are you worried about non-pc thirst?
At the bottom end of the market, there are still lots of shonky Saabs (but they are front wheel drive) and Volvos around. You might find a 244/5 Volvo and bolt on a 740/760 turbo & intercooler for entertainment.
I'd be looking at BMWs. the 2 litre 6 cylinder is yawnsome, but the 2.8 and 3.5 are nice and use little more petrol than the 2 litre. The early 1980s 5 series was a nice car. I'd be looking for an E30 3 series, preferably a 325i, but you'll have to buy one that needs work if you don't want to pay a lot for it.
If you go for a pre 1978 car, it'll be tax and MOT exempt in May.
At the bottom end of the market, there are still lots of shonky Saabs (but they are front wheel drive) and Volvos around. You might find a 244/5 Volvo and bolt on a 740/760 turbo & intercooler for entertainment.
I'd be looking at BMWs. the 2 litre 6 cylinder is yawnsome, but the 2.8 and 3.5 are nice and use little more petrol than the 2 litre. The early 1980s 5 series was a nice car. I'd be looking for an E30 3 series, preferably a 325i, but you'll have to buy one that needs work if you don't want to pay a lot for it.
If you go for a pre 1978 car, it'll be tax and MOT exempt in May.
I have a 8 valve 944 that I count as my daily driver, but I don't drive to work, Had it 7 years, cheap to run on ebay and never failed to start, bought in outstanding condition and everything checked by myself before taking into use, so all brake pipes, cooling hoses etc changed. Modern enough o have decent aircon, etc old enough to be fun.
Berw said:
I have a 8 valve 944 that I count as my daily driver, but I don't drive to work, Had it 7 years, cheap to run on ebay and never failed to start, bought in outstanding condition and everything checked by myself before taking into use, so all brake pipes, cooling hoses etc changed. Modern enough o have decent aircon, etc old enough to be fun.
Nice...I remember thinking that the 944 was one of the most impressive drivers' cars I had driven when they were new(ish). Good ones are appreciating fast too. I'd go a bit later, early 90s were kind of a peak in car design I think.
The electronics they had made them A LOT better than what went before unlike the very marginal gains we're at now (park assist etc).
Also rust proofing that worked.
Consider: BMW e34, Merc W124, Honda Legend. Lexus LS400
The electronics they had made them A LOT better than what went before unlike the very marginal gains we're at now (park assist etc).
Also rust proofing that worked.
Consider: BMW e34, Merc W124, Honda Legend. Lexus LS400
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