In reply to KyAllroad (Jeremy) (Forum Supporter) :
I used to DD a 1987 Cougar XR7 with over 250k miles on it in high school (around 1999-2000) and it was great. I figure a clean, loaded Turbo Coupe with a T5 would be even better. Just enough tech that it would still work well today.
In reply to MrRobogoat (Forum Supporter) :
I came here to mention an UrS4 or a turbo swapped 4000S quattro. Maybe even a 20V swapped ur-quattro. I had a couple of 4kqS and they were great for commuter comfort just down on power.
55 Chevy stock or done up like the 2 lane black top one.
if more modern then some interesting 80's-90's Japanese model we didn't get like a early Lancer or something.
Fiat/Bertone X1/9. Owned a couple and still have fond memories of them.
1989 Dodge Colt GT:
Parts when I owned mine were extremely difficult to find and that was 20 years ago.
1995 Saturn SW2
Oddly, the only car I ever got rid of as a DD due to parts availability was a '98 Isuzu Amigo - and that was in 2005. I've used much older cars as daily drivers both before and since.
The Saturn I mentioned above - most stuff was available for it, but it got to the point where most components were manufactured by garbage manufacturers (i.e. the stuff you see on rock auto) instead of the OEM. So any time I replaced anything it was a roll of the dice in whether or not I would get a good part. For example, its impossible to buy a radiator as good as the factory one (good for ~20 years, 100-150k miles), now they are good for 40k at best.
Uh...my 1991 Cougar XR7? If they still made parts for the antiquated Teves Mk. II ABS system, I'd probably be driving it every day that wasn't snowy. (I know, I can get rid of the crappy ABS system with a Crown Vic booster and master cylinder somehow...but I'm scared of working on cars, send help)
Or perhaps the 1992 Escort LX-E I picked up for $300, if I could find a cheap transmission to put in it. But they seem to be rare as hen's teeth (can't use the transmissions from the regular model, noooo...the 1.9 has a different bellhousing pattern than the 1.8, because Ford instead of Mazda origins)
Or maybe the Probe, except I am daily driving that one. Oops. (Still, parts availability is garbage for that thing. I need a window regulator and a headlight motor, and I'm pretty much stuck with junkyards or hoping they pop up on ebay.)
Oh wait, I have a Lincoln Town Car. Surely all parts are available for that! Well, uh, unless you want the aging electronics to work.
Guess I'll have to stick with the 2005 Focus! At least I know alternators are still available for that. Except I have to go install it. Crap.
1961 Imperial convertible
or a 1978 BRAT.
BlueInGreen - Jon (Forum Supporter) said:Drove mine to work today and will for the rest of the week. I’d have no problem relying on it as my only vehicle. Although to be fair, finding parts is probably less of an issue than for a lot of stuff in this thread.
I put what, around 15k on that wagon during my ownership? The only issue it ever gave me was the temp sensor and the 02 sensor needing replaced.
Easy. A diesel W126. Parts are a click away (Thanks, FCP Euro!) and it's relatively easy to work on.
Any 10 year old ford.
Ba dum tssss.
In reply to tr8todd :
One of the local Triumph club members dailies her TR8 on pretty much any day there isn't snow.
In the age of the internet is there really a car out there that parts would be hard to source? At least for one you would want to daily drive?
edit: Okay - I can imagine parts for some older Japanese cars may be thin on the shelves.
I have a soft spot for old turbo Mopars. So either an Omni GLHS or a Daytona IROC R/T.
NOHOME said:
Because you just can't kill them
or this, just because
Appleseed said:1961 Imperial convertible
or a 1978 BRAT.
That Brat is cool...
Jordan Rimpela (Forum Unterstützer) said:BlueInGreen - Jon (Forum Supporter) said:Drove mine to work today and will for the rest of the week. I’d have no problem relying on it as my only vehicle. Although to be fair, finding parts is probably less of an issue than for a lot of stuff in this thread.
I put what, around 15k on that wagon during my ownership? The only issue it ever gave me was the temp sensor and the 02 sensor needing replaced.
I think it’s been the most reliable car I’ve ever owned.
Appleseed said:a 1978 BRAT.
Imagine how much fun a Brat would be equipped with a modern Subaru drivetrain?
I always thought a Suby XT would be a fun daily, but I already daily a Disco..
I think if parts availability were no issue, the answer would be just about any British roadster. If I had to choose, I vote for a TR6
Then again, I’d be a sucker for plenty of oddball Japanese gear. A personal favorite would be a VehiCROSS
Honestly, getting parts for the MGB, TR7, TR8, and BMW 2002 are just as easy as getting parts for the rest of my fleet. I have been waiting almost 2 weeks now for a bumper support for a 2010 Ford Focus. The computer on the Saab has been out to a rebuilder for over a week without a peep from them. Most of the parts I buy are on line anyway, so whats the difference. Plus you have to remember that most of the time a British car is broken, its not really broken. Just has a loose ground, or something like that. They are dead simple to work on, and no mysteries as to why its broken, unlike today's cars. A buddy of mine is going thru that with a Volvo now. Keeps throwing very expensive parts at it, that are located in the most inaccessible spots ever, and nothing seems to fix it. Why is it OK to put a transmission module in a spot that takes longer to remove and replace than it does to do a clutch in a MGB????
In reply to jerrysarcastic (Forum Supporter) :
What parts for a TR6 can you not find? You can damn near build one of these from a bare (aftermarket) frame if desired. About the only "part" that you'll have trouble finding is a roof that doesn't leak in the rain - but those weren't available when the cars were new. Unless you go with a hardtop.
Any full size GM vehicle, sedan or truck. Because even if it's broken it will probably still get you to work.
My current daily is a 220k mile 13 year old Silverado. My wife's is a 340k mile 20 year old Suburban. I don't see replacing them any time soon.
I can get parts for my 3 Triumphs easier than I can my 1986 Nissan hardbody truck.
I dailied (dailyed?) a 1954 Chevy for a while, parts were and are still not hard to come by. The only distraction was the vacuum wipers. Blame it on old age, but niceties like cruise control and AC are rare on old stuff but leg it across two States and you'll agree. If it keeps up with modern traffic, I don't see any car I wouldn't drive.
Mine was identical to this - - maybe that's why I keep clicking on that blue Manhattan.
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