« previous next »
Pages: [1] 2   Go Down

Author Topic: old cars as DDs  (Read 4076 times)

Offline mmret

  • Car Crazy
  • *****
  • Posts: 14603
  • Carma: +240/-570
  • Gender: Male
    • View Profile
old cars as DDs
« on: August 16, 2013, 12:18:09 am »
Just wondering here, how old can a car be for you to still be happy with it as a good DD? Good DD being flexible enough, comfortable enough, reliable and doesn't break the bank? Curious what everyone thinks.

What's the oldest DD you've had?

I am toying with the idea of a 04-05 IS300 or a 1999 W202 C-Class (probably the 280) as an eventual replacement for the Z4 as a DD. I know, its like going backwards in a way, but I have soft spots for both of those cars...and they're still probably better DDs than the Z4!
Logged
You can't just have your characters announce how they feel.
That makes me feel angry!

Present: 15.5 V60 T6 + Polestar, 17 MDX
Sometimes Borrow: 11 GLK350
Dark and Twisted Past: 13 TL AWD, 07 Z4 3.0si, 07 CLK550, 06 TSX, 07 Civic, 01 Grandma!

Offline rrocket

  • Car Crazy
  • *****
  • Posts: 76193
  • Carma: +1254/-7214
    • View Profile
Re: old cars as DDs
« Reply #1 on: August 16, 2013, 12:27:02 am »
Let's see....


Our IS300 is IQ DD.  Dead reliable.  Has 250K on the clock or so.

My 1986 911 is a DD (weather permitting...though I do drive it when it rains too..I just prefer driving it top off)

My 1990 LS400 was a DD.

Lots of "old" cars can be DD no problemo.

I'm sure I could arrange a test in IQs lightly modded IS300.  Everyone who's driven it liked it a lot.
Logged
How fast is my 911?  Supras sh*t on on me all the time...in reverse..with blown turbos  :( ...

Offline pi314

  • Car Crazy
  • *****
  • Posts: 3742
  • Carma: +59/-95
    • View Profile
  • Cars: VW Golf Sportwagen 4Motion 6MT ;Dearly Departed 2015 Honda Fit EX 6MT
Re: old cars as DDs
« Reply #2 on: August 16, 2013, 12:29:20 am »
I'm sure Arthur Dent has the oldest DD  :rofl:
Logged

Offline Julie

  • Car Crazy
  • *****
  • Posts: 7278
  • Carma: +359/-366
  • Gender: Female
  • member
    • View Profile
  • Cars: nb miata, nc mx-5, e92 m3, mk6 gti
Re: old cars as DDs
« Reply #3 on: August 16, 2013, 01:17:42 am »
I'd prefer younger than 10 years or 100,000 when I first get it....

BUT I'd be willing to go back 20 years and up to 200,000 (before I purchased it) if:
- the car was well taken care of,
- it is reliable,
- parts are still available in reasonable supply, and are not too expensive
- easy to maintain (I don't have to travel 300 km for an oil change)

I'm willing to bend on cost to maintain... if it's something I've always wanted.

But I need for it to be reliable.
« Last Edit: August 16, 2013, 01:20:07 am by Julie »
Logged

Offline Firm

  • Car Crazy
  • *****
  • Posts: 7928
  • Carma: +232/-1073
  • Gender: Male
  • Urban Hick
    • View Profile
  • Cars: 2010 XKR, 2007 DTS, 2006 Escalade, 2000 Sonoma ZQ8,1996 Firebird, 1996 Firebird Formula, 1985 Trans Am, 1984 Camaro, 1978 MGB x2
Re: old cars as DDs
« Reply #4 on: August 16, 2013, 08:47:53 am »
Julie is right, it's all about the maintenance.

I spent about 3 hours a day commuting and my newest car is 2001. My default DD is the 96 Firebird, I've driven that thing everywhere and in the worst of conditions...It's comfortable, practical (decent rear seats, and huge trunk/hatch) cheap to operate, decent on gas and when it does break I can do the repairs myself. It even still gets compliments and attention from random people, just this morning some guy in an older BMW 3-series gave me a wave on my way to work.

With that said, I've owned the car since 2007, so I know the history, and I've kept on top of eveything. I don't think I'd buy a 1996 now as a daily unless I really knew the car. If I needed something now strictly as a DD I'd be looking for something no more than 5 years old and around the 100,000km mark.

Another factor is your own mechanical ability, if you can drive an old car is do alot of the upkeep and repairs yourself, you can save a lot of money. But if you're going to be depending on a dealer or shop to do everything I think you'd be better off with something newer.

BTW: My mom DD's a 1980 MGB, year-round. Again, the car is kept 100% and rarely ever breaks, when it does it can usually be fixed in the driveway with a couple hours and some hand tools.
Logged

Offline wing

  • Big Wig
  • Administrator
  • *****
  • Posts: 26910
  • Carma: +279/-320
  • Gender: Male
  • If you ain't first ... you're last!
    • View Profile
    • Drivesideways
  • Cars: 2009 Lexus ISF, 2009 Lexus LX570,2011 Audi A5 Touring Car
Re: old cars as DDs
« Reply #5 on: August 16, 2013, 09:18:11 am »
From 2004-2006 I had a 1993 Subaru with 280k on it and I never put a cent into it...
Logged

Offline Arthur Dent

  • Car Crazy
  • *****
  • Posts: 9293
  • Carma: +186/-80
  • Gender: Male
  • 42?
    • View Profile
Re: old cars as DDs
« Reply #6 on: August 16, 2013, 09:20:33 am »
Quote from: pi314 on August 16, 2013, 12:29:20 am
I'm sure Arthur Dent has the oldest DD  :rofl:

44 years old! So far so good but I'm a little worried about the coldest days of winter to be honest.
Logged

Offline Apok

  • Learner's Permit
  • *
  • Posts: 223
  • Carma: +8/-7
    • View Profile
  • Cars: Current: 2014 Ford F-150 ][ Owned: 1998 VW Golf, 2004 Mitsubishi Lancer Ralliart, 1991 VW Golf 1.6D, 2010 Colorado, 2003 Subaru Outback
Re: old cars as DDs
« Reply #7 on: August 16, 2013, 10:26:47 am »
I drove a 91' VW Golf with a 1.6 diesel for a year with 274,000km on the clock.

Never ran into any issues with it, but it was well maintained.
Logged

Offline tooscoops

  • Car Crazy
  • *****
  • Posts: 9526
  • Carma: +325/-227
  • Gender: Male
  • "stealership" employee
    • View Profile
  • Cars: '75 AMC Pacer, '70 Morgan 4/4, '21 Pacifica Hybrid, '21 Wrangler Rubicon
Re: old cars as DDs
« Reply #8 on: August 16, 2013, 10:32:05 am »
up till this year, the pacer was my summer dd... rain or shine. no real issues with it and i enjoyed every drive i went on. so 38 years old.

i've seen cars that are 4 years old that i wouldn't trust on a drive to get milk, and i've driven cars that are 40+ that i never fear will get me where i'm going.

add that plates are cheap on a historic, and i used to go to cruise nights every night, so i could get away with silver wheels insurance for 100 a year... hell of a deal.
Logged
i used to be addicted to soap, but i'm clean now

Northernridge

  • Guest
Re: old cars as DDs
« Reply #9 on: August 16, 2013, 10:40:25 am »
I want my DD to be the best vehicle that I own because I will spend the most time in it. I don't get the point of leaving your good car at home and choosing something else to commute in.

I could see myself buying an S2K for weekend fun but I wouldn't buy a new sports car and not drive it everyday...cars are for driving.
Logged

Offline Fobroader

  • Car Crazy
  • *****
  • Posts: 35507
  • Carma: +1424/-2122
  • Gender: Male
    • View Profile
  • Cars: 2020 Toyota Tundra, 2021 Lexus GX460, 2018 Kawasaki Versys X300
Re: old cars as DDs
« Reply #10 on: August 16, 2013, 10:53:24 am »
I bought my old 93 Chev K1500 at about 300,000kms. It ran like a top, started at -30 no problem, transmission was smooth, ride was very comfy for a truck, the seats were awesome on long trips and all I payed for all this magnificence was about $1200. I sold the thing with about 370,000, the engine would every so slightly smoke a bit on startup and when you went WOT, but if I would have wanted a new crate motor from GM Goodwrench with a 3 year/40,000Km, $2100....unfortunately I needed a bigger truck. I would have no problems DDing an older vehicle.

« Last Edit: August 16, 2013, 03:14:56 pm by Fobroader »
Logged
Lighten up Francis.....

Offline dr_spock

  • Spock
  • *****
  • Posts: 12879
  • Carma: +46/-56
    • View Profile
Re: old cars as DDs
« Reply #11 on: August 16, 2013, 11:49:15 am »
My DD is a 1998 VW Bug.   I took a big risk on a first year model back in 1998.   It's a good decision as I still enjoy driving it.







Logged

Offline Snowman

  • Car Crazy
  • *****
  • Posts: 38392
  • Carma: +702/-1347
  • Gender: Male
  • “It’s never crowded along the extra mile.”
    • View Profile
  • Cars: Cars: 2012 Audi TT-RS. 2011 Toyota Venza AWD.2004 Honda S2000 Bikes: Giant Defy Avdvanced 0. Giant Talon 29 "hardtail"
Re: old cars as DDs
« Reply #12 on: August 16, 2013, 02:32:31 pm »
Picked up a 1994 Toyota Tercel in 2004 with 200XXX on the clock and drove it to a mine site where I working on a project so I would not have to drive my new 2002 WRX. Gas, oil and filters is all it cost me over three years.

Logged

Offline Sir Osis of Liver

  • Car Crazy
  • *****
  • Posts: 28596
  • Carma: +1376/-1726
  • Gender: Male
  • Ramblin' man
    • View Profile
  • Cars: 2017 KTM DUKE 390, 2019 VW Jetta GLI 35th Anniversary
Re: old cars as DDs
« Reply #13 on: August 16, 2013, 03:04:46 pm »
I drove back and forth between Fredericton and Saint John  weekdays for a year and a half with my 93 Tercel in 2002-03 IIRC. Pretty much just regular maintenance and the windshield wiper mechanism. It had well over 300k when I got rid of it a couple of years later. The body rot had set in deeply and fly ash from the power plant had pitted the paint pretty badly by then.

I had a few other cars that had rolled over 300k, a 1984 Ranger, a 1986 Toyota 1-Tonne, and an 1986 F-150 work truck.
Logged
On some great and glorious day the plain folks of the land will reach their heart's desire at last, and the White House will be adorned by a downright moron.

H. L. Mencken

Offline mmret

  • Car Crazy
  • *****
  • Posts: 14603
  • Carma: +240/-570
  • Gender: Male
    • View Profile
Re: old cars as DDs
« Reply #14 on: August 16, 2013, 08:18:59 pm »
Quote from: Northernridge on August 16, 2013, 10:40:25 am
I want my DD to be the best vehicle that I own because I will spend the most time in it. I don't get the point of leaving your good car at home and choosing something else to commute in.

I could see myself buying an S2K for weekend fun but I wouldn't buy a new sports car and not drive it everyday...cars are for driving.

In Manitoba sure....in Toronto "commuting" is defined by 20km/h average. Sometimes less.
Logged

Offline Julie

  • Car Crazy
  • *****
  • Posts: 7278
  • Carma: +359/-366
  • Gender: Female
  • member
    • View Profile
  • Cars: nb miata, nc mx-5, e92 m3, mk6 gti
Re: old cars as DDs
« Reply #15 on: August 16, 2013, 09:41:45 pm »
Quote from: Firm on August 16, 2013, 08:47:53 am
Julie is right, it's all about the maintenance.

I spent about 3 hours a day commuting and my newest car is 2001. My default DD is the 96 Firebird, I've driven that thing everywhere and in the worst of conditions...It's comfortable, practical (decent rear seats, and huge trunk/hatch) cheap to operate, decent on gas and when it does break I can do the repairs myself. It even still gets compliments and attention from random people, just this morning some guy in an older BMW 3-series gave me a wave on my way to work.

With that said, I 've owned the car since 2007, so I know the history, and I've kept on top of eveything. I don't think I'd buy a 1996 now as a daily unless I really knew the car. If I needed something now strictly as a DD I'd be looking for something no more than 5 years old and around the 100,000km mark.

Another factor is your own mechanical ability, if you can drive an old car is do alot of the upkeep and repairs yourself, you can save a lot of money. But if you're going to be depending on a dealer or shop to do everything I think you'd be better off with something newer.

BTW: My mom DD's a 1980 MGB, year-round. Again, the car is kept 100% and rarely ever breaks, when it does it can usually be fixed in the driveway with a couple hours and some hand tools.

Wow, 1980 MGB?? I already thought your DDs were cool, but your Mom's takes the cake.  ;D
Logged

Offline Black Hatch

  • Drunk on Fuel
  • ****
  • Posts: 1740
  • Carma: +36/-42
    • View Profile
  • Cars: 2014 CX-5GT w/Tech
Re: old cars as DDs
« Reply #16 on: August 16, 2013, 09:48:06 pm »
From 2004-2006 I had a 1993 Subaru with 280k on it and I never put a cent into it... - Wing (11years)
Picked up a 1994 Toyota Tercel in 2004 with 200XXX on the clock - Snowman (10 years)
I drove back and forth between Fredericton and Saint John  weekdays for a year and a half with my 93 Tercel in 2002-03 IIRC. -Sir Osis of Liver (9years)

Is driving a 10 year-old car considered old?
I drove my 2004 RX-8 as a daily driver from 2008 to 2013 (so up to 9 years)
And I see at least half the vehicles at work at least 10 years or older.

So I don't think there is  a problem in driving a 10 year old vehicle and I would not rate that vehicle age as "old".

But on 15 years+ vehicle, people driving those are alot more rare.
Logged

Offline Julie

  • Car Crazy
  • *****
  • Posts: 7278
  • Carma: +359/-366
  • Gender: Female
  • member
    • View Profile
  • Cars: nb miata, nc mx-5, e92 m3, mk6 gti
Re: old cars as DDs
« Reply #17 on: August 16, 2013, 10:00:39 pm »
Quote from: mmret on August 16, 2013, 08:18:59 pm
Quote from: Northernridge on August 16, 2013, 10:40:25 am
I want my DD to be the best vehicle that I own because I will spend the most time in it. I don't get the point of leaving your good car at home and choosing something else to commute in.

I could see myself buying an S2K for weekend fun but I wouldn't buy a new sports car and not drive it everyday...cars are for driving.

In Manitoba sure....in Toronto "commuting" is defined by 20km/h average. Sometimes less.

Oh yeah, I have to go into Toronto regularly, and I'd have to agree.               

I thought the same way as you before Northernridge. But I don't want to bring the M3 to some of the places I have to park.... The miata's are actually more of a hoot at regular speeds - you can rev those little buggers up high and shift, shift, shift before you hit the speed limit!  :rofl2: 

She feels perfectly planted at highway speeds and then she's so easy to zip in and out of traffic and park into those too-close-for-comfort parking spaces.               

But I couldn't just get a commuter car, I had to get something that would make me smile. Actually, when I want to cruise and enjoy comfort, I take the M. That sounds so backwards, I know...   :rofl2:
« Last Edit: August 16, 2013, 10:02:52 pm by Julie »
Logged

Offline rrocket

  • Car Crazy
  • *****
  • Posts: 76193
  • Carma: +1254/-7214
    • View Profile
Re: old cars as DDs
« Reply #18 on: August 18, 2013, 12:05:42 am »
I have everyone beat, I think...

Both of my DD have 400,000+kms on them.

911     = 414,000
GS400 = 405,000

Logged

Offline Ex-airbalancer

  • Car Crazy
  • *****
  • Posts: 40151
  • Carma: +729/-1584
  • Gender: Male
    • View Profile
  • Cars: 2011 Silverado 1500 LTZ ext ended cab , 2013 Lexus RX-350 F Sport
Re: old cars as DDs
« Reply #19 on: August 18, 2013, 07:29:02 am »
Quote from: Northernridge on August 16, 2013, 10:40:25 am
I want my DD to be the best vehicle that I own because I will spend the most time in it. I don't get the point of leaving your good car at home and choosing something else to commute in.

I agree 100%
Logged
Pages: [1] 2   Go Up
« previous next »