Old Wagons and Daily Use

How many of you fellows are using your old (say, 1981 or older) wagons either daily or for routine driving duty? As a related question, how many of you use your wagons for long trips, when the cargo capacity might come in handy? Do gas prices actually affect how much you drive these boats, especially those of you with clamshells?

Thanks for your time.

 

Nora my not be a wagon, but she is 34 years old. She is also my only car. As a matter or routine I drive her between 500 kms (300 miles) and 1,600 kms (1,000 miles) a week, depending on work. I have fewer mechanical issues, and most are more easily and cheaply repaired, than the majority of the people I work with who drive newer vehicles.

As for the fuel economy, it isn't inexpensive to add, but either an external overdrive or replacing the transmission with an overdrive unit will fix that problem nicely. With the right, carefully selected, upgrades, Nora will soon be matching a late 80s/early 90s Honda Civic for highway gas mileage.

As for the long trips, when I get a couple of things fixed and upgraded, like the body work, then I would drive her anywhere, any time, knowing I can fix what ever happens to break quickly and easily, anywhere. I can't do that with a lot of the newer cars.

 

My 1963 country sedan gets driven every day and i would take it on a trip tomorrow. Love that car and use it to haul things as well. You would not believe the looks you get, loading boards and cement in the back of a classic car at the home improvement store.

 

I drive my crusty '61 Plymouth 2-door wagon (named Petunia) just about every day.



She's running a slant 6, and is fairly economical gas-wise. I always get smiles and thumbs up, even laughter, every day.
Although, somedays the smiles are just my own!
Pete

 

I don't own a car newer than 1972 (my Ford wagon). I use it for my daily driver though I don't drive daily. We use my wife's Toyota for the routine stuff. I ues my wagon for driving to my softball games twice a week (40 minute drive) and every other week I'll drive it to work one day. I'm hoping to use my wagon for long drives, like to my father's house in New Hampshire. I'm not sure it's ready for that yet. I do know this: I'll never buy a new car again. Unless I win the lottery, then I would have to get a new Challenger.

 

I drive my Buick Clamshell everyday. I have a company car but cannot use it for personal use after 5pm. So the wagon goes somewhere everynight since my 3 kids are all in sports and have summer league everynight. I put about 150-200 miles a week on it right now. The big old 455 does like the gas 12-15 mpg at best but I have no car payment so it is offset by that. I would rather drive my wagon over my 2012 Nissan Altima anyday of the week, of course the boss said no. LOL

 

Due to a few issues my Vista Cruiser is parked. But hopefully back to driver status in the very near future.

But when my Focus was out of commission, for about a month. I daily drove the Vista Cruiser. It performed great, and got tons of looks.

X2 on not buying another new car. They are sure nice, but seem to break down a lot more and cost a small fortune to fix.

 

I used to drive my 74 Satty every single day, but as my obsession grew and the customizing came to 3500.00 in paint then 2000.00 in wheels and tires then 1500.00 for custom suspension another 1200 under the hood yada yada...yeah kinda started worrying about being rearended by someone, and trying to replace a tailgate that is virtually impossible to find, not to mention tailights that only fit the Satellite Wagon...last year of the Satellite (prod halted half way through the model year my particular model 5391 ever made) so seeing people approaching at high speed from the rearview while texting or smacking the kids around in the back seat became a new experience in anxiety...she lives in the garage mostly now except for sunny sundays and such.

 

I for years drove all my wagons daily after I stoped working in the field, The first wagon I ever put away for the winter was my 83, but that was in the second year of owning it...and I drove the Buick everyday. A year ago I got my Honey a brand new ride and took her old mini van. Thats when I figured, why drive my wagons everyday? I want to keep them, so why not only enjoy them on nice days because I have a mini van that, it's not a big deal if there is salt on the roads...saves me $ preasure washing all the time.... no worrys about parking in a lot...van gets a door ding, who cares....

I got hit and run in the Buick a couple years back, in a lot.... I would only have been 20% P***** OFF had it been the van.

 

I am still in the process of putting my wagon on the road but I had a '66 c-10 that was my DD for about 3 years until I decided I wanted something newer. It had a mild 350 w/3 on the tree,no PS, no PB and got about 13 mpg. I enjoyed driving it but sometimes I did worry about what if it gets wrecked or stolen when I am in the store so I was also happy to make it my weekend driver for the next 5 years until I sold it.

 

my wagonjust got back from an orlando trip (500 mile) and the week before that the power tour at 4500 miles march was the billetprrof show around 700 miles roundtrip . last year another power tour another billetproof and a family vacation up the historic dixie highway to chatta nooga tn and rock city , then over to helen ga for a car show and run up to the top of brasstown bald and then back on home to fla. also on that trip my daughter was able to earn four junior ranger badges from the national park service at different parks and a 150 anniversary badge for visiting and earning junior badges there.
my wagon is pretty heavy and has a carb'ed 350 c i / 330 hp gm performance parts crate motor, a700 r4 and 3.31 posi out back .it gets around 17 or so cruisin wioth the a/c blasting. only problem is a 14 gal gas tank limits the range between fillups

 

I forgot, I DD'd my 65 GMC for a few years and only used the wagons at nite. I allways had people telling me I was crazy for driving it to work, and using it as a truck daily..... but those same people think I'm nuts for loving wagons......

 

Put 60 miles on mine already today; its not uncommon.

 

my 71 Torino is my only car and has been driven daily from last June when i bought it

 

Drive my 71 Torino Everyday to work and everywhere else.