Running a semi classic as an every day car?

[schmalex]

It's been a while since I've driven a daily that's more than 5 or 6 years old and, quite frankly, I'm getting bored of modern cars, despite all the comforts that they offer.

I'll probably change my current car once the winter is out and instead of going for the usual BMW / Audi / Merc sanitised blandness, I wonder whether it would be feasible to buy and run (comfortably and reliably) something from the late '80s / early '90s.

Would it be perfectly feasible to run something like a Porsche 964 / Audi v8 / Mercedes E over 15,000 miles annually with complete reliability (clearly, it would be regularly serviced etc)? What changes would I need to do to something to make it as easy to live with as something built in the last few years?

Any thought or recommendations of potential carriages would be most welcome.

I require:

4 seats (or at least 2+2)
Good performance (comperable to a modern 2.5 / 3.0)
Reasonably quiet motorway cruiser
RHD

[davepoth]

It really isn't anywhere near as much of a heartbreak to run something from that period, and especially anything premium, as anything older. Bodyshells were quite often galvanised, fuel injection was common, but the level of complexity hadn't got silly. So you won't be spending all your free time buggering about with carburettors.

Obviously buying on condition is vital, and for a big executive motor it's important to make sure there's a good service history; a 1980s barge may be cheap, but the parts won't be.

Something like a Mercedes 190E or a big engined BMW E30 or E34 would be a good shout, the bits are reasonably cheap but they're still a quality car.

[Mr Viking]

I think the cost of servicing can go up, but if you keep on top of it it shouldn't be too much more than a modern car unless you have to replace something major. My mum ran a 1981 Mercedes every day from about 1992-2002 with the minimum of maintenance (stupidly) and eventually took it off the road when a coil spring went in the front suspension. It wouldn't have cost too much to fix, but the 15-20mpg was getting too much to handle. I reckon with proper maintenance and if you're happy to pay for fuel it shouldn't be too big a hassle

[Ray Singh]

I plan to do something very similar with a 944 turbo later next year.

I would save some money for any issues that may arise.

[falkster]

W124 E500 would be awesome!

[marshalla]

Have a look at my profile. It should be obvious which car does 12k per year and just completed a 2500 mile trip round Europe without any problems.

[schmalex]

I generally spend around £15k to buy my daily second hand. I'm sure that I could spend, say, £5k - £7k on a top condition older car (clearly, something really special would be a lot more than this)plus another £3 - £4k getting it sorted (suspension, brakes etc), still leaving me plenty in pocket when compared to buying a 4 year old German mind number....

[BrewsterBear]

80s and 90s 911s are perfectly feasible as an everyday proposition. The RWD ones won't get you very far on snow and they need to be driven to the conditions, but they're very good. The downsides are maintenance and fuel economy. If you're willing to spend on those then they can be very rewarding.

[schmalex]

marshalla said:

Have a look at my profile. It should be obvious which car does 12k per year and just completed a 2500 mile trip round Europe without any problems.

I'm brave, but not sure if I'm that brave!!!

[schmalex]

BrewsterBear said:

80s and 90s 911s are perfectly feasible as an everyday proposition. The RWD ones won't get you very far on snow and they need to be driven to the conditions, but they're very good. The downsides are maintenance and fuel economy. If you're willing to spend on those then they can be very rewarding.

I have an old Land Rover for snow duties, so not too concerned about that. My current Audi returns around 23mpg combined, so OPEC are well used to my contribution!

[marshalla]

schmalex said:

marshalla said:

Have a look at my profile. It should be obvious which car does 12k per year and just completed a 2500 mile trip round Europe without any problems.

I'm brave, but not sure if I'm that brave!!!

No sense of adventure. If the Westfield breaks, I use the Lotus

[chris182]

It's absolutely possible yes. I would recommend a Mercedes W124 or W126 personally, legendary reliability and they are built to do intergalactic mileages. Cars like to be used so the more use you give it the better it will run.

I run a 1988 Mercedes 560 SEC as a second car and would happily run it as an only car bar the fuel consumption. It is comfier, faster and more relaxing than most modern cars and just such a nice place to sit in. Older cars do need more work done to keep them in tip top condition but they are nice and simple and easy to work on yourself and you can buy and run some epic older machinery for a lower total cost than a newish diesel box.

[schmalex]

falkster said:

W124 E500 would be awesome!

You're not wrong! Unfortunately, I couldn't abide LHD for a daily

[TurboBlue]

Here's one that fit's the bill, I'm assuming you don't want a shed/barge so:

MB 190E 2.6 Sportline - £6950
http://classifieds.pistonheads.com/classifieds/use...

Excellent cars, my wife had a pink one for years, stay away from MB dealerships and find a good specialist/look after it and it will do all you want. PS. Don't buy a manual - the gearbox (change/ratio's) is woeful.

[Scuderia2112]

I drive a 95 W124 E220 Coupe, not sure if it can be considered a classic but as an everyday car it is perfect. I've put 10k on it since april and it's on 133k and still feels tight, low running costs, it's good on fuel providing you don't drive like a lunatic it's good. It has enough power to move when it needs to and feels 10 times what it costs. Nice, simple interior with plenty of space, even in the back.

[chris182]

TurboBlue said:

Here's one that fit's the bill, I'm assuming you don't want a shed/barge so:

MB 190E 2.6 Sportline - £6950
http://classifieds.pistonheads.com/classifieds/use...

Excellent cars, my wife had a pink one for years, stay away from MB dealerships and find a good specialist/look after it and it will do all you want. PS. Don't buy a manual - the gearbox (change/ratio's) is woeful.

A nice car for sure but that one is priced at about 4 to 5 times its value IMHO.

[schmalex]

That 190 2.6 looks nice. My boss in my first job drove one of those and I remember it being very nice indeed. Fortunately, there is an excellent Indy in the next village, who used to look after my CLK500

[Egbert Nobacon]

schmalex said:

It's been a while since I've driven a daily that's more than 5 or 6 years old and, quite frankly, I'm getting bored of modern cars, despite all the comforts that they offer.

I'll probably change my current car once the winter is out and instead of going for the usual BMW / Audi / Merc sanitised blandness, I wonder whether it would be feasible to buy and run (comfortably and reliably) something from the late '80s / early '90s.

Would it be perfectly feasible to run something like a Porsche 964 / Audi v8 / Mercedes E over 15,000 miles annually with complete reliability (clearly, it would be regularly serviced etc)? What changes would I need to do to something to make it as easy to live with as something built in the last few years?

Any thought or recommendations of potential carriages would be most welcome.

I require:

4 seats (or at least 2+2)
Good performance (comperable to a modern 2.5 / 3.0)
Reasonably quiet motorway cruiser
RHD

I ran a 97 W140 CL500 for two years as an everyday car - seems to fulfill most of your requirements.

100% reliable, took me all over Europe and although required occasional fettling for consumables (bushes, shocks etc) running costs were tiny compared to depreciation on my current E63.

[TheLordJohn]

I use a series 3 XJ daily. It is absolutely excellent.

[TurboBlue]

chris182 said:

A nice car for sure but that one is priced at about 4 to 5 times its value IMHO.

From our own experience, these 190's are very strong & well built but they rust and they do not appreciate being un-loved so buying the absolute best is a priority if you are going to use it as the OP intends; I agree that the price is strong but I think there is a market for these at this milage/condition. Note, I have no connection with the seller, although his site is on my favourites.