I currently run an Audi A4 2.5 diesel Avant Quattro (1998), I do around 12k a year, wonderful car but a bit on the expensive side to run.
I have recently had a bit of a braistorm and fancy running something a bit different for a while IE. a Triumph Herald/Vitesse (must be soft top even with bad the summer we are having), maintenance is not a problem I can do all that myself.
Could you please either bring me back down to earth with a bump or give me a confidence boost. SWMBO has been consulted & is fairly OK with the idea, I just don't know which way to go!!!
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I have recently had a bit of a braistorm and fancy running something a bit different for a while IE. a Triumph Herald/Vitesse (must be soft top even with bad the summer we are having
Brainstorm's right Jagman! 12k miles a year in a Herald? I don't think so. They've always been a bit fragile.
Why not an MX5? A lot more reliable and generally likely to start most of the time you get in. Good luck to you, but I'd avoid anything that age.
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i've often considered the Herald as an option if I had the cash for a 'spare' car. 30+ yrs ago my much elder bro's had an estate and a vitesse.
That long ago I was just learning one end of a spanner from another, and I helped strip the vitesse down to the chassis and rebuild it - and that has left me with the distinct impression that in a EuroNCAP crash test, the Herald in any form would score minus points - not as much of an issue if your only getting it out once or twice a month, but if you are using it as daily transport, you have to factor that in.
After all, drive as well as you may, the further you drive the more likely you are to meet somebody who can't drive.
So - Herald as a fun weekend car - Yes - as daily transport for 12k a year - No
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Sept 2004 - 'Britain on the Move'
curious ? see www.mikes-walks.co.uk
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Strangely enough the missus and I followed a Triumph Herald (Vitesse?) ragtop for a short distance this afternoon (L reg suffix) and she made a comment on its first class condition.
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I fail to see how an Audi diesel is expensive to run. Good economical engines, superb residuals and very well built. In the worst case, you own a desirable vehicle, so why sell for something likely to be unreliable, far more thirsty and certainly less safe?
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Espada III - well if you have a family and need a Lamborghini, what else do you drive?
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Come and drive my (company's) A4 quattro diesel (1.9), it is neither good nor economical.
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I fail to see how an Audi diesel is expensive to run. Good economical engines, superb residuals and very well built. In the worst case, you own a desirable vehicle, so why sell for something likely to be unreliable, far more thirsty and certainly less safe? --
Insurance is v. expensive, 35 mpg from a diesel (although the engine is a peach), change all 4 tyres at once when with 2wd you change the worn tyres as/when required, anything other than service parts is v.expensive & if it needs a diagnostic check at Audi the cost is mind numbing & to close it just doesn't seem to be any more reliable than any other car I have owned.
Other than that it is a great car :0)
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I still have a pipedream of getting a Vitesse convertible, but it would have to be as a fun car. I think if one were to do 12,000 miles a year a lot of time would be spent maintaining and repairing.
Maybe you could do it by flogging the Audi and buying your Vitesse or Herald plus a newish Toyota or Nissan or Honda to do the weekday miles? Or a Ford Ka of whatever age you could afford - they are a hoot to drive and one of those would keep you sane during the week.
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Perhaps I should quantify my thinking a little, I have in my garage a mint Daimler 2.5 V8 saloon (MKII Jag) which gets used on hidays & holidays, I find that when using this car even for commuting to & from work the usual stress that goes with todays motoring disappears, I can plod down the inside lane of the motorway at a steady 60-70, there is no chance of being first away from the lights so I don't bother.
Starting to get the picture?
I recently read about people with well paid high powered jobs who are "dropping out", IE downsizing the house & income in favour of a stress free lifestyle, I guess I am looking at the motoring equivalent of that.
Maybe my choice of car isn't great but I need 4 seats & would love a ragtop. Any further thoughts on type of car ?
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My choice would be a Stag, the problems they used to suffer are now fixed by better/more modern engineering. It feels considerably more modern than a Vitesse as its a monocoque whereas the chassis based Triumphs (Herald/Vitesse/Spitfire/GT6) were quite old fashioned when they were launched. Good Stags are around the £6-8K mark. Spares availability for classics is brilliant, one phone call and my flexible friend and the bits are on the mate next morning. Unlike 3 weeks for a Subaru exhaust box etc etc.
A lot of garages can do basic servicing on a classic and very little is so specialist to be an issue.
Jim
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There might be a few parts around to help reliability of a Vitesse around, even just an electric fan, new radiator and a decent alternator will cure most problems.
I'd consider a roll bar at least, if you happen to go over in a car like that you're going to die unless you've got the presence of mind to take your seat belt off and dive under the dashboard! You're safer on a motorbike where you can jump clear...
Try and dig out an old Observers book of cars from the 60s to find an alternative if you like, if you're after 4 seats then maybe something American would suit too? Check for parts availability.
Good luck and don't be afraid! If it doesn't work out you can always sell up in 6 months and go back to a modern car.
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You're safer on a motorbike where you can jump clear...>>
You and the bike will stop a great deal more rapidly if it's absolutely necessary if you drop it on its side...
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There might be a few parts around to help reliability of a Vitesse around, even just an electric fan, new radiator and a decent alternator will cure most problems. I'd consider a roll bar at least, if you happen to go over in a car like that you're going to die unless you've got the presence of mind to take your seat belt off and dive under the dashboard! You're safer on a motorbike where you can jump clear... Try and dig out an old Observers book of cars from the 60s to find an alternative if you like, if you're after 4 seats then maybe something American would suit too? Check for parts availability. Good luck and don't be afraid! If it doesn't work out you can always sell up in 6 months and go back to a modern car.
At last !! someone with a positive (just).
Me thinks I will stick with the Audi for a while. Despite an initial positive reaction SWMBO has been heard muttering to family & friends about "midlife crisis" whatever that is !!!!!!!!!!
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Sorry I tend to agree with most here - great for the weekend but not for day in day out motoring. I too love the Herald convertible (it was my first car)but I think that the attraction may well fade pretty quickly when used as the work horse. Poor lights, poor wipers etc plus of course there is the back-end which only needs a sniff of damp, leaves etc to leave you pointing the wrong way or worse still in the ditch !
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