Who Daily's an Old Car?

"Tripper" (tripe46) 03/26/2019 at 10:35 • Filed to: None

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Let’s say pre-1990 at the youngest . What, why, and for how long have you been doing so? What’s good about it, what’s bad about it?

The 1502 is currently in the shop to get a once- over that includes:

New plugs, wires, ignition points, rear drums, brake lines (yes all of them), and alternator bracket bushings. Obviously a brake flush and an oil change as well. They’re installing a few fuel line (outside the cabin), cleaning and tuning the carburetors, and installing my ANSA exhaust.

I’m hopefully picking it up this week and it’s going to be my dd unless the weather is really bad.

So I’m curious. Who else around here whips a classic? Even if it’s not truly your dd, if you drive it a few times a week I’ll count it.

Sovande > Tripper 03/26/2019 at 10:39

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When the weather is nice I drive my El Camino to work a couple days a week . The hassle is that it’s in bumper to bumper traffic at times and it doesn’t like idling for long periods. Also the AC is not operational in traffic.  The upside is that it’s awesome.

Mercedes Streeter > Tripper 03/26/2019 at 10:41

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All my bikes but the Chinese ones.

What’s good:

- Cheap to buy, cheap to maintain.
- Classic style.
- Carburetors.
- Easier to bring back from the dead.
- Great to learn wrenching with.
- Not much to go wrong.

What’s bad:

- When parts are scarce, they’re expensive.
- You may have to Ma cGyver things together.
- Carburetors.
- More power than the brakes and suspension can handle.
- Less forgiving to mistakes.
- Feckin top heavy, man.

JustAnotherG6 > Tripper 03/26/2019 at 10:42

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M y daily is far from a classic even though it is 11 yrs old.

ihm96 > Tripper 03/26/2019 at 10:43

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I used to daily a Corvair. Now I daily either the shoe or my old E34 which was an 80s design but is a 1995.

I’ve dailied other old cars for periods of time like a 560SL one summer or an MG Midget my friend bought that we drove all summer until he got the hang of stick shift.

Once you do some decent maintenance, old cars can be fine to daily. The E34 needed a lot of rubber bushings replaced and a few oil leaks tames, but once it had that it handled better than a lot of newer cars and was perfectly reliable

Tripper > Sovande 03/26/2019 at 10:45

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AC is non existent in mine. My plan for when it get’s hot is to switch my workout time from afternoon to early morning. I’ll work out as soon as I get to work, then shower and put my work stuff on so I’m not sweating through nice close on the way in, Luckily my commute is short and it moves the whole time.

Akio Ohtori - RIP Oppo > Tripper 03/26/2019 at 10:45

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I go through phases of “DDing” one of my older cars. The upside is it is awesome, clearly. The downside is you’re exposing one of your more vulnerable mechanical companions (or whatever you call your cars) to the drudgery and idiocy of the daily commute.  Inattentive, angry, drunk, texting drivers and stop and go traffic are all the more stressful when you know how completely screwed you’d be in a wreck, both from a safety and restoration standpoint.  Also, at least for mine, reliability can be a pain, but I think that is more a reflection of the state of my projects than anything else.

RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht > Tripper 03/26/2019 at 10:45

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I have now been dailying a ‘63 Ford for about two years.

Made sure the carb is fresh, needed to do plugs/cap/wires, some brake lines, all flex lines, but after a couple of months it was basically mechanically sound.

It’s comfortable, more powerful than my other car, roomy, and above all *fun*.

Tripper > JustAnotherG6 03/26/2019 at 10:48

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My youngest car (of 3) is 17 years old, haha.

Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo > Tripper 03/26/2019 at 10:48

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Not so much these days but...

It’s not a classic, it’s just old. W as my DD on and off for five years. More reliable than any other vehicle I’ve owned, except my Paseo.

In hindsight, it did need a few things especially the first year , but was able to do everything in my driveway except the exhaust.

It could easily be my DD again -- but you know, a master brake cylinder that didn’t leak would probably be best...

Sovande > Tripper 03/26/2019 at 10:51

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It’s fine for me in the morning, but the afternoon can be a bit of a drag. It’s also hotter than the hinges here in the summer. The 90 degree heat and 70% humidity can be a bit much. Plus the headers running right under the floorboards doesn’t help.

I am fortunate enough to have a short enough commute that mpgs don’t matter. It would be tough to only get 8-9 mpgs on anything longer than the 8 miles I have to do.

fintail > Tripper 03/26/2019 at 10:52

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This was my DD for several years from the time I was 18 through college and for several months after graduation:

Pros: cheap to insure, generally reliable, fun to drive, comfortable, not a lot of excess speed to get you in trouble

Cons: Rust and leak paranoia, gotta keep it cosmetically maintained even more than a new car,   was quirky in damp weather until I had the ignition system updated, needs a constant eye on fluids and temperature as sometimes things randomly go awry, guilt over exposing it to the stress and risk of modern traffic, etc

Today the old dear might come out a couple times a month, on dry Sundays.

Sovande > Tripper 03/26/2019 at 10:54

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I currently have 4 cars.  A 1986 Nissan 720,  a 1983 Chevy Caprice Classic Wagon, an 87 El Camino and a 2015.5 Volvo V60.  It’s getting absurd and the neighbors are beginning to talk.  I need to get rid of the Nissan.

Tripper > Akio Ohtori - RIP Oppo 03/26/2019 at 11:01

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Definitely a consideration. T he 02's aren’t big to begin with and mine is lowered, so I’m only slightly more visible than a motorcycle. The car is insured for a lot more than I bought it for, but still I found the perfect car and imported it...I’d be super pissed or dead if I got hit in it.

TheRealBicycleBuck > Tripper 03/26/2019 at 11:01

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Although I don’t drive it anymore, I drove the same truck for 18 years .

What was good? It was as reliable as they come. By the time I was done, it had over 269,000 miles on it and it only left me stranded a few times.

What was bad? It really could have used a head unit with Bluetooth. It was slooooow, even compared to a modern Prius.

Some sad  part of me misses driving that old truck.

MarquetteLa > Tripper 03/26/2019 at 11:02

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I daily-drove my 1988 Mazda 323 GTX for three winters in Colorado. I don’t think I’ll ever drive a more capable car in the snow, but there were problems with the car that eventually drove me to sell it for a much newer turbo AWD Mazda instead:

The engine barely kept heat in it, so it didn’t do a very good job of keeping the cabin warm

The transmission would sometimes lock you out of first gear (luckily it actually made pretty good torque down low so taking off in second generally wasn’t an issue)

The 2.5" turbo-back exhaust I added (with a cat!) wouldn’t pass emissions. Oops. Sounded excellent though.

Lots of oil burning on cold starts.

I do very much miss that car, though. I wish I had buckets of money to sink into it to bring it back to glory.

Tripper > RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht 03/26/2019 at 11:03

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“Made sure the carb is fresh, needed to do plugs/cap/wires, some brake lines, all flex lines, but after a couple of months it was basically mechanically sound.”

 Makes me even more happy that I’m doing all of that stuff now. The car was already running great as far as I was concerned, so I can’t wait to get it back after all that stuff is done.

nerd_racing > Tripper 03/26/2019 at 11:03

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I have a 93 Ford Festiva I am putting a 1.8L DOHC into from an Escort GT so that it can go back into DD duties.  I know a lot of people who dd them, most of which fully enjoy the process.  I’d say keep a spare or two of known troublesome parts on you, and sign up for AAA or some form of roadside assistance.  Other than that, have a blast! 

ST80MND > Tripper 03/26/2019 at 11:03

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I have an 89' 325i coupe (daily, every chance I get) with 300 000 km, and a 1982 320i with 270 000km. The E21 is my gravel road car, more fun than a weekend of hookers n blow! The downside is the maintenance. The e21 is getting harder and harder to find oem parts, but it is real easy to work on. The e30 parts are more widely available, but the price is creeping into pseudo supercar territory for them. I have had all the work done to the e30 short of seats and body, which means its good for another 150 000 kms (knock wood), but the e21 is kind of languishing in the background needing some major bits re-done, that I can’t find reasonably priced parts for, or parts at all. I’ve been on the fence on weather or not to start modifying the e21. I have a vision of a patina’d, lifted, bush bumpered rat for gravel rod, with bigger aggressive knobby tires and a roof rack, as I’m not too worried about the value of the car. I have already spent enough $ that to try to sell it without a HUGE loss is no longer an option, so why not? I have been keeping the e30 bone stock, constantly thinking of the climbing value of unmolested examples of the car, but it could really use about 20 or 30 more hp.

 Also, I gotta say I am envious of your 2002, it looks like it ticks all the toy boxes!

Tripper > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo 03/26/2019 at 11:04

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Excuse me sir, that most definitely is  a classic! The rear bumper looks like it needs a little help, but I love it!

Tripper > fintail 03/26/2019 at 11:07

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Damn dude, that is superfly! 

Tripper > TheRealBicycleBuck 03/26/2019 at 11:08

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This is pretty much how I feel about the ranger. I added a head unit with Bluetooth.

Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo > Tripper 03/26/2019 at 11:15

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Cosmetics are impossible to find, let alone for an acceptable price.

RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht > Tripper 03/26/2019 at 11:17

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The automatic choke was fiddly, and one thing that cropped up was that the whole starting circuit got replaced one chunk at a time. Ground wire, main starter wire, relay, starter wire to starter, and finally starter. Both the voltage regulator and the generator have been replaced as well - but that’s as much about miles (>100,000) as it is about age.

Alfalfa > Tripper 03/26/2019 at 11:32

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I drove the Bronco 3 or more times a week until it sploded, and plan on continuing to do so once it's back up. It's fun to drive, fun to look at in my work parking lot. Some people act like they should be concerned about riding in it when they notice I have a fire extinguisher in there, to which I tell them they should be more concerned riding in a 30+ year old vehicle without one.

Tripper > ST80MND 03/26/2019 at 11:35

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I’ve done the same thing with my E46 that you’ve done with your E21. Spent too much money on it to ever justify selling... While BMW branded parts are expensive for the 02s/E30 there is such a large following that there are tons of aftermarket choices too.

I bought the 1502 to drive. It’s a FrankenBimmer anyway, 02 purists turn up their nose. It’s a 1502 with the engine from an 1802, the body from a 2002 turbo...It’s got a 292 cam, twin sidedraft 40mm W eb ers, a lightweight flywheel, it’s lowered (although it’s adjustable), and I’ve just trashed the stock exhaust for an Italian one with a much smaller can, so I’m sure it’s going to be loud. Beyond that the front door cards are just felt covered sheet metal, seats are aftermarket buckets from OMP, and 4 point seat belts.

Tripper > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo 03/26/2019 at 11:39

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Yea I hadn’t considered that. Who could have known that little budget friendly trucks would have such a following 20, 30, 40 years later?

Tripper > Alfalfa 03/26/2019 at 11:41

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Truth. Got any good recommendations on a fire extinguisher and mounting solution? Even though my car is getting a safer as we speak by moving ditching the rotting fuel line inside the car for a new steel one outside the car, I still plan on getting an extinguisher.

DAWRX - The Herb Strikes Back > Tripper 03/26/2019 at 11:52

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I have to ask; with the amount of time you’ re spending in that car, how much are you worried about the risk to safety or personal injury in the event of an accident?

Just c urious as I’ve tossed around the idea of having an NA miata as a project/weekend/autocross car, but I also don’t want to get crushed like a tin can by someone in a lifted truck running a red.

Alfalfa > Tripper 03/26/2019 at 11:54

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I’ve got this little guy, it comes with mounting hardware but I've just kept it in the rear seat footwell which keeps it pretty still. It was cheap and had favorable reviews, hopefully I never get to find out how well it works.

  https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000P0DPGQ/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_nPKMCbK8BP5SE

InFierority Complex > Tripper 03/26/2019 at 11:56

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I guess I used to daily the Fiero up until last year or so but I’m pretty sure that doesn’t count.

I did used to use the 77 Lancia Scorpion as a fair weather daily for quite a bit. First by doing a 100 mile round trip to a summer class I was taking for college back in 2008 or 9. It did fine, granted it was ten years younger. When I eneded up going back to school a few years ago I would drive it pretty regularly into Denver 60 or so miles round trip and it was fine then too. I’ve retired it from work duty since I don’t trust my work’s parking lot one bit after one too many door dings.

The main problems are that it wasn’t cut out for modern speed limits so route selection has to be taken into account. I generally avoided the Interstate anyways so that’s not too big of a deal but if you have to go 75+mph regularly it might be a chore. Freak weather changes are also a bit of a worry, hail storm or heavy rain on the Fiero? No biggie it’s plastic anyways. On the Scorpion? Shit.

Tripper > DAWRX - The Herb Strikes Back 03/26/2019 at 12:07

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I mean, I’m definitely not trying to get in a accident in it. If I had to but a quantitative value on it, I’d say I’m worried about 10% less than I am when I’m riding a motorcycle. I drive it a lot like I ride, just pay really close attention to what is going on around me. It’s kind of impossible not to, it’s got no radio, A/C, or power steering. You’ve got to focus on driving.

On top of all that, the car gets a lot  of attention. I counted 4 out of the window “thumbs ups” and one inside the car “power fist” the last time I drove it the 10 miles home from work. It’s a slight but real advantage as far as safety is concerned. I always reply with finger guns.

DipodomysDeserti > Tripper 03/26/2019 at 12:07

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I split daily duty between my ‘66 GMC, ‘63 Corvair and ‘73 CL450 for a few years. Negatives were driving vehicles without AC in Phoenix can be pretty brutal during the summer time, same goes for bikes. The key was to wear a driving shirt to soak up all the sweat. Also, random break downs could be a hastle (my vehicles were all much rattier than yours). I had a failing HEI that I thought was a fuel issue for a while on the truck. Wo uld randomly die on me then fire up again.

Pros are you get very good at finding roadside fixed for small problems and you learn your vehicle inside and out with all the experience you get. It’s also much more fun to drive old stuff, and lots of people ask you questions, so you get a chance to talk about your passion. Have a video of me hotwiring my truck after the tumbler took a shit on my lunch break. I grabbed some random dangling wires from a non functioning radio to accomplish the task.

Tripper > Alfalfa 03/26/2019 at 12:09

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Cool, thanks! I just ordered one. Looks like I will be able to rig up a mount with zip ties or something.

Tripper > InFierority Complex 03/26/2019 at 12:11

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Yea the highway is a pain because 4 speed. The car will do 100+ but winding it all the way out. There’s a 5 speed swap in my future for sure.

RallyWrench > Tripper 03/26/2019 at 12:13

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The 911's an ‘82, I’ve daily’d it fairly regularly, though it’s been down recently while I work on some stuff.    Once things are a bit more sorted it’ll be in regular use to commute. A few years ago I daily drove a ‘66 Fairlane for about a year, which was great. Low and slow, lots of thumbs up. It’s an experience driving a dog-slow, drum braked old sled every day. 

CarsofFortLangley - Oppo Forever > Tripper 03/26/2019 at 12:25

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I used to DD my 86 ram.  Good: uhh Bad: wear on my baby

Long_Voyager, Now With More Caravanny Goodness > Tripper 03/26/2019 at 12:36

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I used to daily a 1966 Buick Electra 225 sedan:

Drove it for a few months until our truck’s shenanigans forced me to sell it. It was super comfortable:

Like riding on a couch floating on a cloud.

The handling was surprisingly light/responsive, almost too light at times.

The 465 Wildcat/Turbo 400 combo was a torque monster, pinning you in the seat whenever you went WOT. Listening to the secondaries open was intoxicating. Watching the gas gauge drop when you did so quickly snapped you out of it though. When driven normally it returned 21-23 mpg in mixed driving.

Braking was powerful, but being 4 wheel drums, it would easily fade to “ OMG WE’RE GOING TO DIE” after a few hard stops.

I should have never let it go.

vondon302 > fintail 03/26/2019 at 12:40

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That thing is awesome and you dd  it.

“golf clap”

fintail > vondon302 03/26/2019 at 12:49

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Thanks.  Well, 20 years ago it was a DD.  Now it is a sentimental hobby car.

ST80MND > Tripper 03/26/2019 at 13:55

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Any plans for a cage? One of the mods I toy around with is a complete interior gutting, dash  included, for replacement with the absolute bare minimum. Perhaps a gauge pod from a sport bike, and a home made carbon 'dash' plate. The hvac hasn't worked since I've owned it, so all that crap is dead weight. Seems to be the most performance gains per dollar I can think of. BTW, those panasports with the feeder flares are the business!

Tripper > ST80MND 03/26/2019 at 14:03

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I’m considering a cage but not sure yet . I haven’t yet decided if I’m going to remove the console or build a really nice one out of wood with space for a few gauges, and an original style clock

vondon302 > fintail 03/26/2019 at 14:06

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And still cool.

Longtime Lurker > Tripper 03/26/2019 at 14:41

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In the summer I daily my 325es..

cletus44 aka Clayton Seams > Tripper 03/28/2019 at 15:46

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Check out my non-winter daily-driver! It has 11.0:1 compression, 4-BBL carb, 4" sidepipes, manual steering, no carpet, no radio, no door locks, no climate control of any kind, and it gets 10 MPG every single day. I live in Toronto so winters suck pretty bad but last year, this was my only car from June to October. I drove it to the office, dates, road trips, took it camping, auto-x’d it, all kinds of stuff. Did about 7,000 miles in it last year .

Good stuff : It’s fucking cool. I feel like I’m driving an action movie every single day. Stoplight racing people is fun on your way to work. It’s a really fun date car, and I never get tired of seeing it in parking lots.

Bad stuff : It requires 93-octane fuel all the time with a lead additive to keep it happy. It eats through an entire 18-gallon fuel tank every two hours. Earplugs are required if you’re going to be in it for more than 2 hrs. Black interior and no AC gets sticky and hot. Smell like old car wherever you go.

But hey I love the o2! One of my fave German cars. Welcome to the old-car daily driver adventure, it’s a hoot.

Tripper > cletus44 aka Clayton Seams 03/28/2019 at 15:56

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Nice man, I’ve got to put 93 in mine as well and it also gets trash mileage particularly for a 4 cylinder, but that’s not why I got it. Same on power options...none and I have no desire to add anything except an electronic ignition so I don’ t have to replace/adjust points all of the time.

cletus44 aka Clayton Seams > Tripper 03/28/2019 at 16:48

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So darn cool. I just love the green color, the wheels, and the flares.

Tripper > cletus44 aka Clayton Seams 03/28/2019 at 17:52

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Thanks man, those things are what drove me to try and buy it even though it was in Europe. It was like the car climbed out of my dreams and into real life.

MiniGTI - now with XJ6 > Tripper 03/30/2019 at 11:50

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I DD my 85 Jaguar whenever weather permits. Only downside is having to shuffle all the junk I need for work between cars.

Other downsides:

Seats are a bit ratty and not as comfortable as they should be (but not too bad)

SLOW, but I don’t care, just floor it all the time. I have no trouble keeping up with traffic.

Bad stereo, needs better speakers.

And yes it’s a death trap even compared to my MINI but I’m pretty confident in my ability to stay out of trouble as I’ve made it almost 20 years driving in Chicago with only one very minor crash.

Gas hog.

Upsides: I love this thing! The roar of the XK (4.2 I6) engine. Smooth ride but not terrible handling. My new Nardi steering wheel.