reliable classics?

[Dan_H]

i like anything classic !! morris minors been one of the cars i have a liking for but! if some one knows of any other Classic cars that are able to be use as a only car please do let me know !! im new to the classic car scene soo be nice and help a guy lol ill give out lollypops!!

[Kevin]

You have answered your own question Dan a Moggie (what did you expect on a Moggie forum)

[ferret76]

I would recommend a Ferret Scout Car, All-Wheel-Drive, never rust, come in a lovely shade of green and you can park wherever you like.

[d_harris]

TBH you really won't get much better than a minor, especially for the budget you are looking at.

Go for the mog, but keep your eye out for bargain A30/35, Mini, etc BMC 1100/1300 etc. Grab yourself a mag like practical classics (others are available) and have a look through the classifieds

[plastic_orange]

My other favourite is the Rover P6 range - preferably the 3500 version. They drive like a modern car, but with style.

Pete

[ASL642]

Now there's and idea a Ferret Scout car to do the weekly shopping - as you say no problems parking - just squash them flat Can you fit trailers?

[autolycus]

Difficult to give sensible advice without knowing a bit about the poster or his journey requirements, but if he's as young as his writing style suggests, he may have little, if any, NCD on his insurance. Not a problem if you're insuring a classic on most classic policies, but they often require the availability of an everyday car as well.

So a P6 (or a Ferret, or Challenger, or Routemaster) might be quite expensive to insure, and few cars will be as cheap as a Minor. I don't know how insurers treat MGBGTs, but they're comparable in price to Minors to buy, as simple to maintain, more comfortable (in the front), and generally more suited to long or faster journeys. They, too, rust away while you look at them, and they do use a bit more petrol.

For most folks, I'd still recommend a non-classic car for everyday use, then the classic can have the attention it will almost inevitably need without the pressure to get it back together for the Monday morning commute.

Kevin

[dunketh]

Depends on how far you can stretch the definition of 'classic'.

Mk3 Carpris and Mk1 Fiestas are termed classic by their owners. Both are ultimately reliable, though you do have to pay road tax and the capri has a drink problem.
Both would be fine for daily use.

[MarkyB]

You could look at an eighties Mercedes if you don't mind Jerries.
Things start to go downhill after that when the accountants took over from the engineers .

[PSL184]

A previous classic that I have used on a daily basis is a Triumph Herald. Cheap, reliable and different but for me the ultimate is a Moggie Traveller....

[Blaketon]

If you don't want a big car, a Minor has a lot going for it. It isn't as fast or economical as a Mini, for any given engine and the Mini is more chuckable (Though the Minor handles well) BUT the Minor is a tougher cookie. The VW Beetle is perhaps an even tougher cookie but they can be a pain to work on and they don't handle.

Whatever you go for, go for something with good spares back up. If you don't need lots of space a late model MGB GT is a good all rounder. Some dislike the black bumpers but they are very practical and robust for daily use.

The Series Land Rover is a good vehicle if you need that sort of thing, though its heavy on fuel. As a larger car, the Volvo Amazon is a good car, available as a saloon or estate.

[bmcecosse]

Yes -some of the later Volvos (after the Amazon) are very rugged, and cheap and qualify for free road tax - if that's the definition of a 'classic' these days !

[paulk]

Had 1200 Herald and Ford Cortina mk111 both daily drivers but moggie is easiest for bits. Cortina was as fast as modern traffic but I had to pay for road tax as it was a 1974 model.

[captain_70s]

I think the Moggie and Herald would be great choices for a reliable classic, parts are easy to find too. Same goes for the Rover P6, very common to find as a daily driver, as is the Volvo Amazon.

I am currently looking for a Triumph 1300fwd/Toledo, with any luck it'll become both my 1st car and a daily driver, I have quite a lot of trust in them!

(Sorry Morris fans, but Toledos are cheaper than Moggies and a bit more refined for my huge commute. Do not fear though, a Traveller is still on my "cars I'll own before I die list"! )

[bmcecosse]

There is a very nice and very original yellow Triumph 1300 in Dumfries!

[captain_70s]

There is a very nice and very original yellow Triumph 1300 in Dumfries!

Oooooh, never seen that one. Seen a very tatty black Moggy splitscreen and a VW Camper around there alot though, I go to college at Dumfries so I'll have to keep an eye out for it.

[d_harris]

The VW Beetle is perhaps an even tougher cookie but they can be a pain to work on and they don't handle.

Beetles can be a g*t to work on. Trust me.......

[chrisd87]

Depends what you want the car for, what your budget is, how many miles you'll do in it, etc. If you're young then the cost of insurance will be a major factor - check lots of companies and use price comparison websites to get a good idea of how much cover will cost before buying any particular car.

If you're after a small car then the Minor is hard to beat. They're not brilliant on the motorway but then again very few small classic cars will be. Citroen 2CVs might be worth a look - they've got their own charm and have some good points in their favour such as the very simple 2-cyl air-cooled engine.

If you want something a bit bigger then you might consider the 1960s BMC 'farina' range - cars like the Austin A60, Morris Oxford and their MG, Riley and Wolseley badge-engineered counterparts. Pretty cheap to buy, and quite tough (which is sadly why the banger racers have claimed many).

Going bigger still the P6 is the obvious choice, even if they're a whole step up in terms of complexity from cars like the Minor or A60. They're stupidly under-valued considering what a fine car they are. If you're doing a reasonable mileage or your budget is tight then it's probably best to look at the 4-cylinder cars instead of the (admittedly gorgeous) V8s, as their fuel economy is rather better whilst still having reasonable performance.

Alternatively you could go for a Triumph 2000/2500. Again these cars are very under-valued for what they are. They're simpler and more conventional than the P6, although it's probably best to avoid the fuel-injected versions as they have a bad reputation.

I'd echo what others have said about selecting a car with good spares availability. If the car is to be your daily driver you need most parts to be available rapidly off the shelf, as it would be rather inconvenient to find your only transport off the road for weeks on end whilst you chase after rare or non-existant parts.

[Ondergard]

I think the Moggie and Herald would be great choices for a reliable classic, parts are easy to find too. Same goes for the Rover P6, very common to find as a daily driver, as is the Volvo Amazon.

I am currently looking for a Triumph 1300fwd/Toledo, with any luck it'll become both my 1st car and a daily driver, I have quite a lot of trust in them!

(Sorry Morris fans, but Toledos are cheaper than Moggies and a bit more refined for my huge commute. Do not fear though, a Traveller is still on my "cars I'll own before I die list"! )

I had my first "official" driving lessons in a Toledo (the unofficial ones were in a Morris Minor!) and it was responsible for me failing my first driving test. The Toledo broke down on the morning of the test, my instructor had to borrow an Escort from BSM. Consequently when the examiner said, "I'd like you to turn left at the traffic lights please." I indicated to turn left, switched the windscreen wipers on, panicked, bumped the kerb, stalled, and failed the test!

[Blaketon]

The VW Beetle is perhaps an even tougher cookie but they can be a pain to work on and they don't handle.

Beetles can be a

g*t to work on

. Trust me.......

They are geared towards dropping the engine for service. The engine is only held in by the four bolts, which hold it to the bell housing and the exhaust does not need to be removed. I've seen a Beetle driven up a ramp, have the engine removed (The cables etc were all fitted with non standard connections) and put on the ground, put back in and then been driven off again in about thirty seconds. There were a team of three or four people doing this!!

My father worked for AFN many years ago (In the days of the 356) and when cars came in for routine service, the engines were dropped out, serviced and then refitted. Like VW, I think the emphasis was always on dealer servicing.

All very well if you are set up to remove the engine but a

g*t to work on

with the engine in situ and the Type 3 Variant is even worse.....remove the carbs to get at the plugs ........mind you the carbs on a Lotus Elan have to come off to do the points .