I wonder what view there are out there about the worth of beating depreciation, avoiding road tax, driving something interesting instead of a lookalike box like everboy else's, by using an old (classic) car as a daily driver.
I have owned a 6 rag-top Ford Mustang V-8 for more than 20 years, originally bought in Florida. It has aircon and power everything, goes as fast as anything else on the road, stops just as quick, looks great and turns head, has a great exhaust note. Virtually all parts are still available -- the Mussie has a vast following even today, and there's practically nothing I can't service or fix myself, except the auto trans,m and there are plenty of specialist for those. I maintain this car in storage and use it on visits to UK to avoid rental car costs. I have been offered many times more than I paid for it (bye-bye depreciation) and it will do 22 mpg under most circumstances (4.8 liter). Burns no oil between changes on a motor that has done well over 170,000 miles (no doubt becaiuse of being religiously maintained). To those who might argue for conservation vs. gas consumption, I would say the car was made long ago, and its continued use is surely a better use of resources than a Mondeo or similar which is a heap of junk after 3-4 years. As for emissions, my mechanic says it's no worse than a 1980's car.
On my planned return to UK I have a reliable low cost fun car waiting for me. Why bother with anything else on a mileage of say 10,000 a year?
If anyone else out there is a Mustang fan I'd be pleased to swap atories anytime. Thanks for listening.
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How about a 1983 Porsche 911SC for £8500ish with history. Oh yes. Supremely reliable, bulletproof engine, 204bhp stock with looks to match.
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Sounds just my style: ??servicing costs and insurance???
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We already have our very own home grown classic... the MGB-only THE best looking, most affordable and best loved vehicle on the planet. Why are we bothering with oversized Yank-Tanks or tail happy ex-messerchmitts?
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Hello Gerard,
Not sure we've had a major MGB supporter here before.
Hope you've got a tin hat.
Regards,
David
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MGB, isn't that the rebodied Austin cambridge with cart springs at the rear, recirculating ball steering and lever-arm dampers - for precision handling no doubt?
As for looks, beauty is in the eye of etc.
I think I'd prefer a Mustang or a 'Vette
;-)
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With regard to emissions, these old petrol engined cars may have acceptable figures but I personally find that they are unpleasant to follow behind.
I occassionally find myself behind a MGB on a narrow country lane and it's an awful smell of half burned petrol and acrid exhaust. It doesn't smoke, so it's not oil. I find a similar thing with late eighties Fords (although most of those do smoke).
I don't want to see them disappear (the classics, I mean - the old Fords should be shot). Like others on this site, I'm a live and let live supporter, but we shouldn't lose sight of the fact that they are not a complete bed of roses.
As long as everone is not driving them then they fall into the "all things in moderation" category. Please don't take this as a personal attack.
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as someone said earlier, the "classics" just don't make good everyday use cars. To me that means 25,000 miles a year of everyday use. I used to maintain my old cars to the highest standards but it required weekly adjustments, let alone occasional break downs. The body work or worse, the structural parts, usually rust. Great when wearing rose tinted glasses but not so good when you take them off. Classics do make good weekend or occasional use cars though, but you need a sense of humour, dedication and a willingness to donate plenty of tlc, imho.
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