Classics as Dailys; Opinions

[SSD-85]

Im sure this topic has been done to death already, but I cannot find a thread in my searches. So feel free to link it & close this one.

As the title suggests, what is everyones opinion on using a pre-1988 vehicle as a daily driver? Im using Australian Falcons as a basis to determine "classic", thus the pre-1988 (ie: pre-EA) comment.

Im well aware of the fact they are percevied as less comfortable, less economical, & well, less everything compared to modern cars. I guess im just curious as to how many of you feel its a worthwhile experience using one as a daily...

If we could keep this as non-argumentive as possible that would be nice....

[Geez Louise]

There was a thread on using your V8 as a daily but I couldn't find one on just classic cars.

http://www.fordforums.com.au/showthr...t=daily+driver

[SSD-85]

Originally Posted by Geez Louise

There was a thread on using your V8 as a daily but I couldn't find one on just classic cars.

http://www.fordforums.com.au/showthr...t=daily+driver

Yes I remember posting in that one. Ive had experience with a V8 as a daily, and I loved it. But it was an AU, not exactly "classic" yet

Many thanks for your post though GL

[Jim Goose]

Youll have to define "classic" a bit more.... as they certainly arent the same..

XR to XW.... cant be compared at all to safety, ride and features of say the XE/ XF.

[SSD-85]

Originally Posted by Jim Goose

Youll have to define "classic" a bit more.... as they certainly arent the same..

XR to XW.... cant be compared at all to safety, ride and features of say the XE/ XF.

That could be said about comparing an XD to an FG though. I guess, I was trying to use the chassis a basis for definition. ie: EA126 was a whole new design, as opposed to previous. Which stemmed back to the XK.

It may not be the most "defining" method, but I had to start somewhere. And felt it was the least opinionated method. But thats what the threads all about, adding constructive opinion & knowledge

[smciner1]

Not a problem, as long as you have made the Car reliable. You just need to keep in mind where you Park it, how far you travel to work (Fuel Economy depending on Running Gear) and creature comforts. You old Car may not have Air Conditioning and Vinyl Seats which are another thing to be aware of in hot weather. Security is another thing to keep in mind as they are not as secure as newer ones and are also attractive to thieves.

I had no problem driving my XB GT to work everyday for a few Months a few years ago. I wouldn't do it now as I live a lot further from work than I did then.

As long as you are prepared to accept the Cars short comings, you should have no problem.

[SSD-85]

Originally Posted by smciner1

As long as you are prepared to accept the Cars short comings, you should have no problem.

I think this really sums it up.


Darn, I was hoping for more lengthy conversation before an all-conquering point was brought up

[onfire]

I think it's a great idea, especially if you're already driving a vehicle you'd hate to see hit or scratched.

Wouldn't mind a nice old Falcon ute, lowered with a set of modern wheels on it to clean it up as a daily if I had something like $75k plus GT parked in the garage.

[SSD-85]

Originally Posted by onfire

I think it's a great idea, especially if you're already driving a vehicle you'd hate to see hit or scratched.

Wouldn't mind a nice old Falcon ute, lowered with a set of modern wheels on it to clean it up as a daily if I had something like $75k plus GT parked in the garage.

This was exactly the sort of thing I had in mind. While its not easy to find yourself a "classic" Ford for peanuts (thats roadworthy) these days, I dont think id mind it. For example, a rough-round-the-edges ZH 'lane on gas, or something along those lines.

But this threads purpose was not to help me make my mind up, Id just love hear about other peoples ideas

[Cabbage]

Originally Posted by Scotty85

This was exactly the sort of thing I had in mind. While its not easy to find yourself a "classic" Ford for peanuts (thats roadworthy) these days, I dont think id mind it. For example, a rough-round-the-edges ZH 'lane on gas, or something along those lines.

But this threads purpose was not to help me make my mind up, Id just love hear about other peoples ideas

I drove my grandfathers zh in Sydney for 3 years living in the inner-city. I would say the following.

The zh had been sitting for 10 years but was in good condition. I spent about $5k getting it to a roadworthy condition. Brakes, suspension and powersteering the main things. The things that let me down were things like rubber hoses, brass heater ends, overheating in heavy traffic, trouble restarting it when hot, wiring on the lpg system working it's way loose and the ac not working in summer. Had to be a bit careful when I drove it, had to avoid peak hour where possible. Parking wasn't too bad. Got a lot of comments from people who loved these old cars. On the highway driving from Sydney to melbourne it was a dream and pretty comfortable.

Because I tended to fix things as they went wrong it did feel a bit unreliable. I should have gone right through it from the start, get the mechanicals in tip top shape, replaced things like hoses, and addressed the overheating issue and it would have been right. A lot of the things that went wrong were things that weren't factory on the zh, lpg system, alarm system etc.

Good thing with these classics is you can fix most issue yourself with a decent toolkit. Finding a decent mechanic who can work on them and not charge the earth is an issue in Sydney.

Definitely do it, just do all the preventative maintenance to get it reliable from the start.

Cheers

Clinton

[Franco Cozzo]

Not really, not safe, no aircon/power steering, stereo with just a radio or a casette player which haven't been in use for years, use tons of fuel, slow.

Classic as a friday cruiser, no problem. Not as a daily though.

[pottery beige]

Originally Posted by Big Damo

Not really, not safe, no aircon/power steering, stereo with just a radio or a casette player which haven't been in use for years, use tons of fuel,slow.

Classic as a friday cruiser, no problem. Not as a daily though.

wtf is slow about an XA GT......

[SSD-85]

Originally Posted by pottery beige

wtf is slow about an XA GT......

Yeah, who needs fast wipers when you can get home in a hurry?

[pottery beige]

all this crapping on and putting them in the too hard basket for dailys is a load of bs...

please hand in your man cards at the door..

once upon a time these things were dailys.. in fact every bloody day cars.......

[SSD-85]

Originally Posted by pottery beige

all this crapping on and putting them in the too hard basket for dailys is a load of bs...

please hand in your man cards at the door..

once upon a time these things were dailys.. in fact every bloody day cars.......

This is very true Pottery.

They were all indeed dailys once upon a time. And the USA has had bumper to bumper traffic since the 50s, including the endearing presence of A-holes too. As it continually boils down to, is what you enjoy driving on a daily basis.

But keep the opinions coming

[Brute 33]

Back when I purchased my coupe in 1985 , it was my daily for some 6/7 years and then drove a XC 6 sedan for 2 years ,then a XB 302 fairmont wagon for 4 years then got into a 1991 XR8 sedan so they are good as everyday cars as long as they are well maintained.....Both sons have driven for 4 years 1981 XD s pack and 1974 XB GS ute till last year .....so they are cool things to drive and setting up a proper wheel alignment with no p/steer is the best thing I still find the coupe easy to drive even with 245/50 14 on it all the years later...

[smciner1]

Originally Posted by pottery beige

all this crapping on and putting them in the too hard basket for dailys is a load of bs...

please hand in your man cards at the door..

once upon a time these things were dailys.. in fact every bloody day cars.......

Too true, I guess everyone has gone soft.....

[Polyal]

Originally Posted by pottery beige

all this crapping on and putting them in the too hard basket for dailys is a load of bs...

please hand in your man cards at the door..

once upon a time these things were dailys.. in fact every bloody day cars.......

+1

Damo generally you post ok but honestly when it comes to old school you have NFI...sorry.

If I ever live close enough to work then Ill happily drive my Alfa every day to work.

Driving a V8 more than say 50k's in "modern" traffic would be taxing, do-able though. I was driving a XD 302, 4 speed, 9 in the bum with 4.11's, worked a little and it was fun; because it was in tassie with no traffic. But god damn I was going through fuel.

In saying that some reviews of the Miami powered cars are getting 15-17L/100..thats clevo territory..LOL Might aswell have a carby!

I aim to have a nice Mustang or Challenger as a daily...be lazy and get an auto but it is a hell of a lot cheaper than dropping $40k on a FG XT..LOL

More fun too.

[Spammy]

Originally Posted by pottery beige

all this crapping on and putting them in the too hard basket for dailys is a load of bs...

please hand in your man cards at the door..

once upon a time these things were dailys.. in fact every bloody day cars.......

just like the best washing machine, Tele, fridge from 40 years ago - all crap when compared with modern equipment

[flappist]

Originally Posted by pottery beige

all this crapping on and putting them in the too hard basket for dailys is a load of bs...

please hand in your man cards at the door..

once upon a time these things were dailys.. in fact every bloody day cars.......

Once upon a time mine employees used a pick and shovel, were paid the same as shop or office workers, worked 5.5 days a week and had to find their place to live and transport to work.

[rag top]

Originally Posted by Scotty85

Yeah, who needs fast wipers when you can get home in a hurry?

haha - simple. Rain-X; great stuff and the faster you go, the better it works!!!

[Franco Cozzo]

Originally Posted by pottery beige

wtf is slow about an XA GT......

300hp in 1972, is around 220KW, 40 years later I don't think it'd be putting out 220KW still. Yours is probably modified but as a standard car they wouldn't be much chop compared to cars made in the last 20 years.

Especially since you can pick up an XR6T for around $20K now.

Originally Posted by pottery beige

once upon a time these things were dailys.. in fact every bloody day cars.......

Yes, but the oldest car I've driven is my 1997 EL Fairmont Ghia, which has better power steering than my 2010 LV Focus, that speed sensitive trickery is pretty damn cool.

I can't just "ignore" so many years of technological advances, considering I've only been "driving" since 2007 really.

[Werd.]

Originally Posted by Big Damo

Not really, not safe, no aircon/power steering, stereo with just a radio or a casette player which haven't been in use for years, use tons of fuel, slow.

Classic as a friday cruiser, no problem. Not as a daily though.

Well I daily a Kombi.

Safe - This is the primary concern IMO, but a lot safer than the 90s charades most P platers find themselves in (or old corollas). It is technically less safe than the above mentioned cars, but a lot slower, and classic cars don't encourage hooning like 60-70KW 900KG manual hatches do. You would be surprised how quick some of these older cars are, 100KW Toyota 4AGE corollas that weigh barely a tonne etc.

Aircon/power steering is one of those "harden up" things :P

And fuel economy, you'd be surprised, 10-12L/100KM, Territory gets 13 so you can't really argue that.

Nothing beats driving a classic car IMO, new cars are nice but nowhere near as enjoyable. The looks from pedestrians (Positive ones!) and the waves from fellow enthusiasts are great.

Originally Posted by Big Damo

Probably because I was born in 1991 and "old school" to me is the 90s .

Born in 93, no probs with the 43 year old van here.

[Franco Cozzo]

Originally Posted by Werd.

Well I daily a Kombi.

Safe - This is the primary concern IMO, but a lot safer than the 90s charades most P platers find themselves in (or old corollas). It is technically less safe than the above mentioned cars, but a lot slower, and classic cars don't encourage hooning like 60-70KW 900KG manual hatches do. You would be surprised how quick some of these older cars are, 100KW Toyota 4AGE corollas that weigh barely a tonne etc.

Aircon/power steering is one of those "harden up" things :P

And fuel economy, you'd be surprised, 10-12L/100KM, Territory gets 13 so you can't really argue that.

Nothing beats driving a classic car IMO, new cars are nice but nowhere near as enjoyable. The looks from pedestrians (Positive ones!) and the waves from fellow enthusiasts are great.


Born in 93, no probs with the 43 year old van here.

No car from the 60s/70s is safe compared to a modern car, the way they deform in accidents, no crumple zones, drum brakes, all that force has to go somewhere in the accident and its usually into the poor person in the drivers seat.

I'm doing 5.5L/100km in my Focus, 6L/100km in the Fiesta and I do 550km a week just to and from work, granted its mostly highway but still.

The only smaller modern car I'd consider "fast" would be Integra Type R, and its 147KW in something less than 1200kg, even then its no rocket in a straight line.

Mum's Festiva is around 950KG odd and 57KW, that thing is a boat anchor, lol.

[Werd.]

Originally Posted by Big Damo

No car from the 60s/70s is safe compared to a modern car, the way they deform in accidents, no crumple zones, drum brakes, all that force has to go somewhere in the accident and its usually into the poor person in the drivers seat.

Well it certainly has the safest power to weight ratio

I've certainly never seen a P plater drifting a Kombi around a roundabout, can't say the same for commodores/falcons. They're technically safer yes, but they don't promote safe driving, if you know what I mean. (Depending on how responsible the driver is, but good chance any P plater is gonna test out their cool new car)

[302 XC]

Originally Posted by Big Damo

No car from the 60s/70s is safe compared to a modern car, the way they deform in accidents, no crumple zones, drum brakes, all that force has to go somewhere in the accident and its usually into the poor person in the drivers seat.

I'm doing 5.5L/100km in my Focus, 6L/100km in the Fiesta and I do 550km a week just to and from work, granted its mostly highway but still.

The only smaller modern car I'd consider "fast" would be Integra Type R, and its 147KW in something less than 1200kg, even then its no rocket in a straight line.

Mum's Festiva is around 950KG odd and 57KW, that thing is a boat anchor, lol.

Yep the small car syndrome
Tell me when was the last time you fit 5 rather large fellas in the festiva ???
When was the last time you sat on 100Ks up any hill ???
When was the last time you towed any thing of any wieght or over 2 T ???
Small cars have there place,and people have different needs

Back in the day the cars of the 60s/70s were called family cars, fit the whole family in
Not what we call them today , big enuf for a sheila and her handbag ,or a young bloke and his manbag

[Franco Cozzo]

Originally Posted by 302 XC

Yep the small car syndrome
Tell me when was the last time you fit 5 rather large fellas in the festiva ???
When was the last time you sat on 100Ks up any hill ???
When was the last time you towed any thing of any wieght or over 2 T ???
Small cars have there place,and people have different needs

Back in the day the cars of the 60s/70s were called family cars, fit the whole family in
Not what we call them today , big enuf for a sheila and her handbag ,or a young bloke and his manbag

I don't drive the Festiva, its my mum's car. But since you want I'll reply to your questions about my Focus.

- I've had 4 in my Focus recently, to drop some people off, if you complain about space then you can drive yourself, lol.

- Last time I sat on 100km/h up a hill would have been every time I've driven the car over the last 26,000km I've done in it, and I've done it at 1750 RPM in 6th gear without issue, my diesel Focus probably makes more power and torque than any X series 6 cyl Falcon, lol.

- I don't need to tow anything over 2 tonnes, I've got a 6x4 trailer.

[Spammy]

For a few weeks I tried to use a 69 Monaro as a daily in Sydney traffic - no fun at all.

No air, no demister, no power steering and 60's windscreen wipers make a daily 25km commute hell on earth.

[Jim Goose]

I drove my XB as a daily driver for about 5yrs.... (now its just a weekend cruiser if its lucky).

The biggest shortcoming was the brakes (or lack thereof), they are truely aweful (in the V8) when compared to a more modern Falcon like an AU and above.

2nd to this is the poor ventilation (and usually lack of aircon).
The XA/XB has just two vents which blow in ultra hot air and thats about it.
The heater only blows hot air to your feet or demists the windscreen.
The lack of a rear electric demister also means you cant see didly during those cold mornings as everything fogs up.

Then when it rains you hope your 35yr old wiper motor doesnt burn out!
(mine is so slow, even on its highest setting).

Lack of power steering (especially in the V8 models) at slow speeds builds up arm muscles....

If you can learn to deal with these issues... then go for it lol

Personally I wouldnt mind an XD/XE however as a daily driver.

[smciner1]

Originally Posted by Jim Goose

I drove my XB as a daily driver for about 5yrs.... (now its just a weekend cruiser if its lucky).

The biggest shortcoming was the brakes (or lack thereof), they are truely aweful (in the V8) when compared to a more modern Falcon like an AU and above.

2nd to this is the poor ventilation (and usually lack of aircon).
The XA/XB has just two vents which blow in ultra hot air and thats about it.
The heater only blows hot air to your feet or demists the windscreen.
The lack of a rear electric demister also means you cant see didly during those cold mornings as everything fogs up.

Then when it rains you hope your 35yr old wiper motor doesnt burn out!
(mine is so slow, even on its highest setting).

Lack of power steering (especially in the V8 models) at slow speeds builds up arm muscles....

If you can learn to deal with these issues... then go for it lol

Personally I wouldnt mind an XD/XE however as a daily driver.

LOL, Luckily mine was optioned with a Rear Demister.