Do you use your classic as your daily driver? Pros and Cons?

[Reimann]

My dad and I got into a discussion about using a classic car as a daily driver. I was just curious to see how many here do that and what people thought the pros an cons of doing so was.

Edit: And yes, I did do a search to see if someone else had asked this but didn't find anything.

 

[MustangPaul]

My dad and I got into a discussion about using a classic car as a daily driver. I was just curious to see how many here do that and what people thought the pros an cons of doing so was.

Edit: And yes, I did do a search to see if someone else had asked this but didn't find anything.

I use mine as a daily driver. Have for over 20 years now. Fortunately, I am at work at 7 am and the parking lot is empty--end space. A buddy comes in around 7:10 and parks next to me, so I'm protected.

Pros: Well, it is cool. Won't see many. These cars were meant to be driven--Shelbys and big ticket cars aside--and I like to drive mine. People notice you. Dual exhausts wake you up.

Cons: It is a 40 year old car. Front defrost is lame, no rear defrost, maybe one speed wipers, gas mileage. You can get your doors beat up in the parking lot. You are relying on 40 year old technology to get you to your paycheck.

I should say that I have a trusty 93 Toyota truck that can get me to work when the stang decides to be difficult--not that often, but it has happened. If we're looking for practical and hands-down reliable, get a Camry. Want something with personality? Mustang.

If you decide to drive it daily, disk brakes, good tires, better electrics. Make it driveable and reliable.

I've tossed around the idea of getting a Fox body as my daily driver. I'll probably do this when I save enough coins for the complete restoration of the GT. It'll be awhile.

It is up to you. If you're going to have a stroke when you get a door ding, don't drive it to work. Like to drive it? Go for it.

What is your car and your arguments pro/con? Specific questions? Email me.

--Paul

 

[Max Power]

No, and it isn't even a debate in the snow belt.

With the horspower of a lot of these cars, even rain is dicey.

 

[66stangmeister]

i'm 19 and got mine when i was 18, and i use it whenever i drive somewhere. I don't really go around too much, so it is not driven extensive mileage.

the way i feel about it is, it's risky if it's basically the same way it was when it was new. if it's not got any modern upgrades like brakes, suspension, modern seatbelts, things like that... it's risky otherwise.

Personally, i'm like Paul, I am thinking about getting a Fox body type mustang as a daily driver and drive the classic when i'm crusing or something like that.

 

[gp001]

Talk Section

 

[snowball]

I use mine as a daily driver when the weather suits. Don't like driving in the rain as the roads are too dangerous during peak hours or on stinking hot days. I've also got an undercover carpark where I work.

Pro's
The sound of a V8. Who needs a radio!
Everyone else is jealous.
Because I can.

Cons
Wet or hot weather.
Other drivers in peak hour.
Need to drive more carefully.

 

[MustangPaul]

I use mine as a daily driver when the weather suits. Don't like driving in the rain as the roads are too dangerous during peak hours or on stinking hot days. I've also got an undercover carpark where I work.

Pro's
The sound of a V8. Who needs a radio!
Everyone else is jealous.
Because I can.

Cons
Wet or hot weather.
Other drivers in peak hour.
Need to drive more carefully.

Snow has a good point. You'll want AC if you live where it is hot. Make sure your cooling system can handle it, too.

I should have added that I live, well, in the woods, so my commute in to teach is not anything like what you'd find in Houston, LA, St. Louis or even Lafayette. (Although I did blow a high pressure PS hose in Lafayette years ago. Took me 9 quarts of type F to make it back to Hammond!)

What kind of a commute are you looking at?

--Paul

PS You know, you can have a nice little 6 cylinder daily for not that much money. Don't need fancy, just reliable.

 

[66stangmeister]

yeah, the AC is a must for a daily driver. I think u'd go insane after awhile. unless your commute is on a highway and u got 70 mph air comin at ya through the windows. lol

Lafayette sucks for traffic in the morning and evening Paul lol :-| my car doesn't like traffic. overheating is a problem sometimes, so yeah, a good cooling system is needed.

Pauls right, a I6 thats simple and has the ac and all that nice stuff, wouldn't be bad as a daily driver

 

[Great68]

Hell no, they put so much salt on the roads up here in the winter months that my car would have terminal cancer in a year.

 

[MustangPaul]

Lafayette sucks for traffic in the morning and evening Paul lol :-| my car doesn't like traffic. overheating is a problem sometimes, so yeah, a good cooling system is needed.

Don't forget the ability and willingness to work on them in a parking lot, on the side of the road, in the middle of a date. . . . They will break down. You just have to be ready for it.

Thank God the texaco quick stop we blew the PS hose in had type F--all dusty and in the back of the racks. We bought it all. My wife and I took turns dumping in the PS fluid all the way back home.

If you have a wife/husband/significant other, a positive attitude from them helps too. My wife is the best---she loves both me and the Mustang and is willing to deal with both of us, warts and all. I dated a woman years ago in college who didn't like my MGB because, with the top down, it messed up her hair. I hated to ditch her as she was a beautiful red-head, but, well, cars are such a part of my life, they have to be at the very least tolerable by women I dated. My wife has helped me bleed brakes at 11:30 pm before a show. She's a peach.

So, long answer to a short question, your car will impact more people than just you.

 

[Opentracker]

Don't forget the ability and willingness to work on them in a parking lot, on the side of the road, in the middle of a date. . . . They will break down. You just have to be ready for it.

Thank God the texaco quick stop we blew the PS hose in had type F--all dusty and in the back of the racks. We bought it all. My wife and I took turns dumping in the PS fluid all the way back home.

If you have a wife/husband/significant other, a positive attitude from them helps too. My wife is the best---she loves both me and the Mustang and is willing to deal with both of us, warts and all. I dated a woman years ago in college who didn't like my MGB because, with the top down, it messed up her hair. I hated to ditch her as she was a beautiful red-head, but, well, cars are such a part of my life, they have to be at the very least tolerable by women I dated. My wife has helped me bleed brakes at 11:30 pm before a show. She's a peach.

So, long answer to a short question, your car will impact more people than just you.

I have a cell phone, a AAA card with 100 mile free towing and a garage with more cars in it that run. I told my wife when we got together that we should sell her toyota and buy two vintage cars, a cell phone and a AAA card. She has a '61 Ranchero with a V8...4-speed and a '68 Mustang. Both run great.

We do live where it's either raining or not. Mostly not. No snow.



John

 

[Reimann]

Thanks for the advice. It is actually my dad who was looking at geting a '53 Chevy truck and using it as a daily driver. I told him he was better off with the Dodge Dakota that he has now. He let the recall scare him, even though his is of the wrong year and the recall doesn't apply to it. I would love to have a '69 or '70 Mustang but I know I need to hold off till I get a house with a garage. Apartment life is hard on cars.

 

[MustangPaul]

She has a '61 Ranchero with a V8

John--ANY woman who'll drive a Ranchero is ACES in my book. Hats off to her!

--Paul

PS Does she smoke the tires?

 

[rbohm]

since these cars were made to be driven, i drive them when i feel like it. i have driven my falcon cross country a few times since i got it, and have used it as a daily driver.

 

[88 Fox GT]

I will use my Mustang as a "nearly" daily driver. As soon as it's running, that is. I will try to drive it as much as I can when the weather is nice. Because it's a hell of a lot more fun than driving my truck.

 

[69Rcode_Mach1]

That was the plan, till I got my new paintjob and gas hit 2.40 a gallon. They are great cars if you are handy. If your not these are very easy cars to understand and get good with especially with the knowledge of these fine people on this forum can contribute.

 

[65fastback2+2]

pros - no one has it, everyone loves it

cons - being a college teenager, i dont have money to just do things right, so i try to rush my projects when im off school and at home and it has ended up costing me more than it should

 

[2nd Mustang]

I used to drive mine several days a week.....until someone ran into my right rear fender in a shopping center parking lot. Not a large dent, but still noticable even after using the "Ding King". Now I only park it where I can watch it and even then only on the weekends. It is fun to drive, but in rush hour, no power steering, 4 speed top loader, no AC, wet roads, no thanks, I'll pick and choose the days to drive it.

 

[Scudly]

I used to drive mine for a daily driver for a 2 and 1/2 years. My parents bought me a Camry because they thought it was a better idea... (I bought my Stang myself). I drove the stang for a year at college down in LA, which did well, cept for gas millage, and *******s who ding doors! >=[

Mustang

Pros: V8
*I ALWAYS SMILE WHEN I DRIVE IT*
I get looks from people (cause i look at ever mustang that passes my way)
Fun to drive

Cons: GAS MILLAGE!
Extreme Heat and Rain
*******s in parking lots (ding my doors!)


Camry

Pros: Gas Millage..
AC and Heater

Cons: Looks lame
they camoflauge in parking lots
V4 with no power

 

[69 302/351c]

I enjoy driving both my 69s...I've put 55000 miles on my 302 in the 10 years I have had it. but driving these relics in rush hour traffic, rain, temperature over 90 or less than 40 is not fun. Fortunately , I have 4 other daily drivers much more suited to basic transportation. Saturn for economy, Aerostar for hauling stuff and cruising with the dog and a Chrysler used only for long distance trips. I am planning, however, to put my Granada with A/C back on the road as a work vehicle.