classic car - modern engine

pulliptears

ian103 wrote: »

We've had classic minis, triumph spitfire and a gt6, they were all great fun in their own right.

Could I run one as a daily driver? Possibly a mini if only for short trips or a spitfire (as long as it didn't rain). So really the answer is no.

Ran a 2005 mx5 as a daily driver - this proved that a convertible can be dry and warm inside!

I've got a TR7 which I only run on nice dry sunny days over summer (so rarely of late!), on the occasion its been out in the wet its so twitchy it can be lethal. Its great fun with the top down on a hot day, but as a daily driver? No chance.

That said I have a friend who has a TR7 hardtop she uses daily, she reckons its useless in any ice or snow but she does manage it. That said she's out every weekend trying to deal with the rust spots and other problems. Grit and classic cars does not a good combination make.

colino

The most recent classics that I've tried as daily drivers for a boring, daily, 130 mile, mainly motorway "commute" were a P6 then an e34. Neither of them, even the relatively modern beemer, compared to the speed, comfort and economy of a modern, mid-range, rep-mobile.

rdwarr

If 50 year old cars were "death traps" they wouldn't still be driving around after 50 years.

pulliptears

rdwarr wrote: »

If 50 year old cars were "death traps" they wouldn't still be driving around after 50 years.

It has little to do with the car itself but more in how motoring in general has changed. More cars, faster roads, more motorways. A 'death trap' doesn't signify the car will fall apart killing its occupants does it? It may however signify that a 70mph crash in a 50 year old car isn't going to be as survivable as the same crash in a modern vehicle.

What was perfectly safe to drive around 50 years ago probably isn't as safe in modern times.

Joe_Horner

pulliptears wrote: »

What was perfectly safe to [STRIKE]drive around[/STRIKE] crash in 50 years ago probably isn't as safe in modern times.

Fixed that for you

CKhalvashi

colino wrote: »

Isn't that just a Lada?

The bodywork was handmade in Russia by myself.

The AvtoVaz 2103 was the Lada Riva in the UK, yes.

We've got an old RAF-977, originally made in Latvia, but was on Georgian plates when we bought it.

CK

Notmyrealname

CrazyRatLady wrote: »

Funny that - my capri is 43/44 years old and I use it as a daily drive - love it. Die in a low speed bump? My bonnet is so massive it would probably take a lorry to plow through it, I'm sure the structure of my car is a lot more rigid and impact resistant than say a smart car...

Oh indeed it is but that force is transferred to the passenger compartment. You'll notice the steering wheel protrudes from the dash over a foot and the center is exactly at chest height. Guess what you'll be hitting in the event of an accident.