Realistic to buy a Traveller if I don't know about cars?!

[newtothis]

Hi, I'm a newbie. I've wanted a Traveller all my life, and having written off my boring old Ford Fiesta am thinking of taking the plunge....I've read the newbies advice postings, but would appreciate some more advice. I need a run-around for my and my dog, I don't rely on a car for commuting so it's for leisure and fun.

Is it a realistic proposition, if I don't know anything about cars?

Is it not a good idea to keep a Traveller outdoors? (I don't have a garage).

I want something useable with a current MOT, but don't mind investing on it in the future when needed. What should I expect to pay for something in good useable but not perfect condition? (I'm never going to be a car-fetishist!).

I'm in Kingston....anyone local that could help?

Thanks very much.

[moggyminor16]

hi mate welcome
i also have a traveller that is out side all teh time in the winter when i come home from work it gets coverd up £20 cover from nick fords
i use it rain shine or snow
you will need to keep a eye on the wood make shore any flaking varnish is treated right away
paint work polished at least once a month
hope this helps

[mike.perry]

Owning a Traveller is much the same as owning any other Morris Minor except that the wood is structural and so needs to be looked after. If you are into woodwork rather than mechanics then that should be no problem. A decent outside use car cover will keep the weather off.

[bmcecosse]

I would say - if you can't keep it in a garage, or at least under a carport - best avoid the Traveller. car covers don't last for ever - my quite expensive cover is cracking on the outer surface (and has therefore lost it's water proofing powers) - and it's only been in use for two short summers - the car is put away in a garage for the 8 months of winter!

[simmitc]

Welcome. The great thing about this club is that there's consensus on many things, and healthy disagreement on others. Like this. There's no reason why you can't keep a Traveller if you want one. My wife and I use two Travellers as our sole every day transport (apart from other Minors!). They live outside all year round. Another Minor that is used less frequently has a cover. The first cover lasted about 5 years, and would probably have gone on longer if I hadn't ripped it when doing some other work. Just replaced it, £140 - less than £30 a year. As Moggyminor16 says, look after the wood.

That all said, don't just go and buy a Minor of any sort without having someone with you who knows about the cars. They are fantastic vehicles, but if you don't know what you're looking at, then (like with any car) you could be sold a pup. Join your local MMOC branch, where you will be sure to find someone who can help you. There are also some very good dealers around (and possibly one or two we'd rather not talk about). Any specific questions, just ask on here. I hope you find the car of your dreams.

[leafie]

Is it not a good idea to keep a Traveller outdoors? (I don't have a garage).

Keeping a traveller outside is possible with a good quality cover. I kept mine outside for 3 years before getting a carport but you really need to keep up the maintenance on the wood. Also don’t buy without getting it looked at.

Good luck

[sarahgreenvan]

I've never understood much about cars, but it hasn't stop me having a moggy for over 20 years! I've probably paid a few garage bills for work that a mechanically minded owner would have done themselves, but I'm not worried about it. If I had a modern car I wouldn't be able to anything either, so I'm no worse off with my lovely van.
My local garage loves working on my van because it's so simple. Parts and labour are cheaper than my husband's car.
I suppose that I've learnt a few basic things about cars over the years, but not much. On the rare occasion that I've had a problem on the road I've found that people fall over themsleves to offer help to a stranded moggy.
If you've always fancied a traveller, do it! Providing you take advice and get a good one, you'll never regret having a Minor.

[Mick_Anik]

Funny thing, wood......I had a Traveller in the early eighties, and all the varnish had disappeared leaving the wood bare. But there was absolutley nothing wrong with the wood, anywhere. Rather, it was like it had just been restored, and was awaiting the varnish.
I think that was the exception rather than the rule, though.

I've always wondered if the wood could be waxed along with the rest of the car, to better keep out the water. I suppose the equation is this:
If you can garage a Traveller, the wood will last 'x' years. If the car has to stand outside, the value in years of 'x' will be lower. But if the wood of the car kept outside were regularly inspected and cared for, the value of 'x' would increase.
Now, if the wood of a garaged car were not subjected to the same degree of care because of the fact that it was kept in a garage, could it be possible that the value of 'x' for the cared-for car's wood might be not much lower than that for the garaged car? Or equal, or even higher, perhaps?

Food for thought.