What can be a daily driver?

It is maybe not possible to answer this question, but the I think it is worth a discussion! Some people told me that from mid '60's and up could be ok, as these cars would often have disc brakes and seperate braking systems front and back. Maybe there are other things to take into account as well.
I am talking about a driver for about 10.000 miles/year, all year round. Mixed driving, so long trips and grocery getting. Possibility to stay outside.
And I think we would talk about as close to stock as possible. In principle every car could be rebuild to be a daily driver, but this is about the ones that need the least about of rebuilding, besides the state of the car in the first place.
I would guess it is a mixture of technology used, ease of maintenance, parts availability and base relayebility.

What are your ideas?

 

Heheh, what's your (virtual) budget?

 

Well, I thought about that, but is a bit difficult. Prices are not the same here and in the States. Furthermore, often GM cars and specially Chevy cars are more valueable the others, as parts are so easy to get. I don't think this bias is on your side as well.
But I said already in near original state, not a fully restored one. My point is actually what to watch out for. I mean, it is easy to see that lets say a 1980 Caprice would easier make a daily driver then a '36 Ford DeLuxe (if you would even want that!).
I already mentioned the brake thing, but you can think for example about that the engines from the begin '70's (?) are suited for unleaded fuel. Maybe something about engine technology, or improvements in anti corrosion threatments. Would half 60's be the right number?
And if you want to set a budget, from what I have seen for sale in the States, let's say up to $7.500,-?

 

If the body is pretty rust-free, I'd go with a car from the late 70's (when the US Energy Crisis was changing the whole industry) up to about 1995. Past that, you need to get all kinds of special computer testing equipment to do your own maintenance. Those are my guidelines for me.

 

I would think the 79-83 Chevy Malibu wagons would be killer daily driver. You can get them pretty cheap, parts are easy to find and they get decent gas mileage. Plus, you can make them look pretty cool.

 

How about an Eagle wagon? They are great in the snow and they share many parts with a Jeep and I think Jeeps are common in the Netherlands. I know there has to be some in Europe because there are a few members in Europe on the Eagle Nest. Here's a guy in your near you.
http://forums.amceaglenest.com/index.php?topic=10399.0
http://forums.amceaglenest.com/index.php?topic=10399.0

 

i drove my 64 Merc wagon...for 2 years...as a daily...snow ..rain..
original jam jar for brakes,,the whole deal...

but then...i'm fearless like that..

and on some serious note...
..it really depends on how "mechanical" you are !

I would far rather be on the side of the road with a car i can fix with a screwdriver and a cresent wrench......that one that needs a "laptop"

a well maintained OLDcar..is just as reliable as a new one...just not as efficient !

aaaaaand...i'll take that 36 Ford...but i wont drive it in the rain or snow...just cuz!!

 

Well, I have almost driven all my cars as daily drivers of which most my '68 Chevelle. I took here even on a vacation to Scotland (2000 mile roundtrip). Drove almost 20.000 miles a year, two years long. But I also remember my 65 Imperial Crown, which I had to drive with a blanket over my knees, looking true a 4 inch defogged hole in the winter, as a never got this heating system to work properly!!
This is already more then 10 years ago, so these cars were at least 10 years younger then they would be now. But the biggest change is my personal situation. What I did then on my own, I would not do now with my wife and 2.5 year old son now. I don't want to be stranded half way Italy with a broken waterpump, forced to leave the car as a replacement will take 4 weeks to get!
Now I realize this will always be a risk with older cars, but I can imagine that some cars (era's, technology?) will be more of a "hands-off" then others.

I looked at the Eagle from that Dutch guy. I have to say that I always liked the appearance of the Eagle, but I never really looked at the interior really well. Nice wagon!

 

That's the nice thing about a wagon. You can store critical parts in the rear. I'm going to customize mine to store stuff on the passenger side rear quarter. The driver's side already has a storage box (big glovebox). If you got a 9 passenger wagon, you could make the third seat into a tool/parts cabinet.

 

I can't shut up. I really have tried to cover it with this general question, but I now have to admit that i have seen a nice '65 Mercury Colony Park. O god, decisions, decisions!!

 

My pick would be a mid 80's Volvo turbo-wagon.

 

Unless you're a purist (restore to last detail), and the price is ok, you should think about all the newer engines and transmissions that could keep it in top shape. You can upgrade the brakes to four-wheel-disc units. Shocks and Springs are usually off-the-shelf, and all the electrics are common. Steering rods and body parts and glass are the big deterrent, and in your case, shipping costs. That's getting truer for us too, on this side of the Atlantic.

There was an article 2 weeks ago, that the big automakers won't give the non-dealer repair shops any of the equipment or software to repair their new 2009 models until the warranties are finished. Good for them, bad for the consumer. Forces people to stick with older, affordably repairable vehicles or mortgage their souls for a maintenance problem. Cheaper to build a bit of storage into the car, and carry spare parts.

 

Hey Senri,
i would definately go for the 65 colony park. i was looking at one just like it over here before i found my 65 ford country sedan....
the colony park would have my vote!
i do alot of mixed driving as well. and i wouldnt want a perfectly cherried out car to drive as a daily. (mostly because if i did have one id be super paranoid)
but good luck i look fwd to seeing what you get.
Raf-

 

Well, I used to drive a pretty much stock, sans motor, paint, and rims, 1960 Chevrolet Bel-Air 4-door. It had manual steering, manual brakes, single master cylinder. I mean, it was your typical car for that era. I bought it when I got my license in early 2006. I drove it every day, rain, snow, shine, etc, and it sat outside. Always got me where I needed to go.

 

We drive a 1984 Buick Electra Estate wagon in the winter months. With it's 307 engine, it gets acceptable fuel economy ( even with gas prices where they are ) and it has always been a very reliable and comfortable car. It was a really nice car and unusual with it's silver exterior with woodgrain and a gray velour interior. It's the only one of this colour combination that I have seen that i can recall. I had plans to spend some time and money on the car until we loaned it out to a young family who were having a hard time of it and it came back with the headliner punched full of holes and some other damage. It really turned me off on the car so it has been relegated to "winter beater status". We have two other Buick Estate wagons ( '84 and '85 ) and we do want to do something with them and preserve and drive them both.
As for what I'd like to be driving as my daily driver - a '59 Chevy four door wagon ( ideally a Kingswood 9 passenger ) with the reliable old 235 and a three speed standard transmission. It's simplicity at it's best, economical and I think, the prettiest wagon ever built. We don't have a Kingswood but we have a Brookwood that will do the job if and when I can ever get it into the shop. It will be bone stock - engine, transmission, brakes and steering... no upgrades - no modifications at all except a colour change from it's current colours to Snowcrest White - just like the one that my dad bought new in '59. I look at it this way - many of us grew up in cars that had drum brakes all around and we are still here - so why change something that is easy to maintain and works fine?