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What's the best old car to DD?


PRD2BDF

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That's pretty much how I feel. I envy you. I also envy others who drive clean old cars everyday and even those who enjoy their stripped-out cars.

 

There are days where I cannot stand all the technology in my Saab and I pine for a brutally simple car and having a lot of fun with it.

 

I will clarify that my '00 Passat is my DD now, and is an incredibly comfortable highway cruiser when I go on business to Cleveland, Pittsburgh, or places in between. With heated leather seats, cruise, A/C, smooth ride, better MPG, excellent high-speed control (80-85mph sustained runs on highway), I've become very spoiled to what it gives me on these medium-distance trips: Wearing a suit and appearing fresh at 7:30am to meetings after a 3-hour drive is important to me.

 

I unfortunately couldn't see myself driving my long-departed-but-still-beloved '89 Civic Hatchback (non-AC, non-cruise) every week for my job. I will admit that there is a certain level of comfort I need out of a car. I don't need GPS, super stereo, parking aids, etc but I can't see myself owning a car without cruise, A/C, heated seats. Bluetooth would be nice. :)

 

I admit that the car-equivalent to an "Old pickup truck" is a great platform to DD as well: Chevy Caprice/Impala, Ford Crown Vic/Mercury Grand Marquis, 1985-87 Cadillac Sedan DeVille. Bulletproof powertrains, cheap parts, easy to repair, decent on fuel economy (in EFI applications) and immensely comfortable. I personally would also consider Cadillacs, but the FWD caddy's of the 80s didn't survive rust and reliability very well.

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Excellent points made there. I suppose I should clarify that I don't mean brutally simple as in no AC, no CC, no power anything. I meant a car where I can fix with a screwdriver, some spit, and a prayer instead of using expensive technology to fix expensive parts. The cars you brought up are excellent examples of what I desire. Even the Town Car brought up by Steve would be lovely.

 

MPG is a big factor but as long it's not 14MPG on the highway, I think the charm of driving an old car will counterbalance that.

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Definately an 80's car that I remember (I used to work for Hammonds Electronics in the day). These (1987 Shelby charger) would do a pretty good burnout in the day

 

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/f0/1987shelby.jpg

 

Don't forget about the 86 - 87 RX7's (Sticking @ 25 years or older). They were not turbo charged yet, but you couold drive them for 175 - 200K.

 

http://static.cargurus.com/images/site/2009/10/23/20/17/1987_mazda_rx-7-pic-8357838494499707148.jpeg

 

87's had turbo available. The one pictures is turbo. Mine was turbo. None the less this would be a terrible daily driver. I know the N/A's were more reliable but maybe i'm just still bitter. Also, for the most part no backseat, and if it did have a back seat it was big enough for a bowling ball. Fun car, horrible daily.

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I would rock the shit outta one of these...

 

http://www.allpicsaport.com/images/Education/1986-lincoln-town-car.jpg

 

BADASS daily driver right there :cool:

 

That's fuggin hilarious. I don't think one could attempt to appear more ancient than to drive around (excuse me .. "rock") in one of those. It would have to have handicapped logos alllll over it.

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This old guy has got you all beat. I see him frequently here at the library in London and yes this pick was taken today in the dreary ass fog. I dont think he lives in town because everytime I see him somewhere else its along 665 somewhere. The farthest I've seen him is 665 and 71. I think its pretty cool that he drives something like this as much as he does and it doesnt just sit in a garage waiting for a pretty day to go around the block.

 

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v728/buelligan/2011-12-20114917.jpg

 

 

 

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v728/buelligan/2011-12-20114907.jpg

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87's had turbo available. The one pictures is turbo. Mine was turbo. None the less this would be a terrible daily driver. I know the N/A's were more reliable but maybe i'm just still bitter. Also, for the most part no backseat, and if it did have a back seat it was big enough for a bowling ball. Fun car, horrible daily.

 

Berto - I stand corrected. I had two TII S5's and 3 NA's . Guess I have been farting around with my FD for too long..

 

Still say a NA (S5) would be a fun one to have (Even with the small'ish rear seat).

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What's the best old car to DD?

 

Anything that can be had cheap, as in cheap parts, cheap insurance, lots of used parts, or something given to you for free. Anything that is old and actually nice would just fuck you if something should ever happen, insuring it wouldn't be nearly as easy, and you might cry if it was damaged.

 

That is why Mustangs, Camaros, GM G-bodies, any American truck, Miatas, and most things made by the 100s of thousands get my vote. So long as it isn't an american throw away car like a Cavalier or Escort, just pick something you'll like driving, because beboping around in an old pick-up truck isn't for everybody.

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I will clarify that my '00 Passat is my DD now, and is an incredibly comfortable highway cruiser when I go on business to Cleveland, Pittsburgh, or places in between. With heated leather seats, cruise, A/C, smooth ride, better MPG, excellent high-speed control (80-85mph sustained runs on highway), I've become very spoiled to what it gives me on these medium-distance trips: Wearing a suit and appearing fresh at 7:30am to meetings after a 3-hour drive is important to me.

 

I unfortunately couldn't see myself driving my long-departed-but-still-beloved '89 Civic Hatchback (non-AC, non-cruise) every week for my job. I will admit that there is a certain level of comfort I need out of a car. I don't need GPS, super stereo, parking aids, etc but I can't see myself owning a car without cruise, A/C, heated seats. Bluetooth would be nice. :)

 

I admit that the car-equivalent to an "Old pickup truck" is a great platform to DD as well: Chevy Caprice/Impala, Ford Crown Vic/Mercury Grand Marquis, 1985-87 Cadillac Sedan DeVille. Bulletproof powertrains, cheap parts, easy to repair, decent on fuel economy (in EFI applications) and immensely comfortable. I personally would also consider Cadillacs, but the FWD caddy's of the 80s didn't survive rust and reliability very well.

 

 

this is what I love about my Jeep is simple, works great, doesn't have a ton of "extras" and still looks good.

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