Daily drive... Good? Bad?

[MorrisDan]

Hi All,

I am new to the forum so first of all hello

I am currently in the process of giving up my modern car to get a restored Tourer (cant afford to keep both modern car and minor) and wondered how many people on here use their Minor as daily transport?

I only do about 10 miles a day so figured a restored Minor in good nick should be ok for this sort of commute, id love to hear your experience and opinions good and bad (im not easily scared) about using your Minor as a daily run around.

My reason for ditching my modern car is that MOST modern cars rely to much on sensors, ecus etc. which can be piddly little things that go wrong like an overheat sensor going which cost me £250! they may have all the mod cons but thats just more stuff to go wrong!

The other reason for getting a Tourer is i just love them, they have character and soul (without sounding too hippyish ) i also like attending classic car shows so will be out and about as well

Anyhow thanks

[alex_holden]

I've used both a traveller and a saloon as my daily drivers for tens of thousands of miles and they are excellent. The only essential modification really is radial tyres.

[cadetchris]

i use my minor as my daily transport, covered a couple thousand miles in it. they do require regular maintenance (as they should) and they always benefit from a few shinny upgrades
-servo
-radials
-disc brakes

[mikeysmorris]

we use molly as daily transport and have no other car, so far we have not had any problems with her, we are at the very top of Scotland where the weather is wild and the hills are steep, so my verdict would be good ,
cheers mikey[frame][/frame]

['61Morris]

I've only ever driven a Morris Mionor for the 16 years that I've been driving! Drove a '61 948cc 2-door for 15 years and now I drive a '61 Tourer, also with a 948cc engine. They are fine as long as you don't take them on the motorway every day. The 1098cc engine has better acceleration when trying to keep up with modern-day traffic but the 948cc is a sweeter engine and is fine for tootling around town. The only update I have on mine is radial tyres instead of crossplys. I covered 8000 miles in "Bluebell" last year!

It's definitely best to garage them if you can (particularly convertibles and Travellers) as they do rust if left outside all the time and then you will encounter big repair bills for underside welding and wing/bootlid replacements...

If you are going to use it a lot in the winter then an alternator is definitely a worthwhile conversion. A servo and disc brakes again are nice to have if you're using it a lot, although I've just got used to breaking well in advance!

Good luck with your search for a good one as there are quite a few shabby convertibles around I'm afraid. A converted saloon is just as good as an original convertible provided it's been done properly. Originals tend to be a tad more expensive as they are getting rare now, particularly ones in tip top condition. Maybe contact a local Morris specialist for advice before you buy (and lots of people on here can help you too!).

[M25VAN]

MorrisDan, Minors go wrong just like modern cars, they are just alot easier and cheaper to fix and keep running. They are a bit like spinning plates, once you have got everything fixed you just need to keep going round checking that all is well.
23 years plus Daily driving at up to 30k a year with no unscheduled downtime.......so far.

[MorrisDan]

Hey Thanks everyone

Mostly positive so far thanks, im just waiting to sell my car then ive got a Minor Tourer in mind which has varoius updates as mentioned in A1 condition just hope i can sell my car in time before the Minor gets taken by someone else!

Cheers,

Dan

[autolycus]

Much depends on what you need from a car. I ran a 1970 van for some time, and it was OK for commuting to work in summer, but I missed luxuries like good wipers and powerful front and rear demisting in winter. It was also tiringly noisy for longer distances, and modern seats are usually much more adjustable and comfortable. Another consideration is security. Unless you go to extreme lengths, they offer minimal resistance to thieves and vandals - the tourer especially, of course. If you've been used to a sports car, you'll miss the facility of a tonneau cover - it's a pain having to put the hood up every time you leave the car in risky places, or if there's a chance of a shower. Perhaps this is why so many tourers rarely seem to have their hoods down.

Check the economics carefully. Your Morris may not need expensive electronic bits like a modern car, but it will need a lot of maintenance, and probably periodic welding. Fine if you d-i-y, but expensive at £50 per hour. While parts availability is very good, you may not be able to call and pick up parts at your nearest motor factor or main dealer like you can with a modern.

If you take out a "Classic" insurance policy, you may find that it doesn't have a No Claims Discount. Fair enough - the premium may still be low, though there could be restrictions on mileage and business use. But, after a year or so, you'll lose the NCD you'd built up on your modern car, so if you do revert, you may have to start all over again. A small, cheap, modernish diesel - say a Pug 106 - will use 900 litres of fuel for 12000 miles. A moggy might use 1500 - 1800 litres, so cost £720-£1080 more.

Talking of business use - you might find it great fun, but will your boss, or the customer you need to give lift to? Will your boss mind you taking longer to drive to and from a meeting? Will it carry the quantity of goods, or tools, you need to?

Sorry if this seems all negative, but others have given many positives to counterbalance it.

Kevin

[aupickup]

First of all modern car no claims discount is normally held for 5 to 7 years before it is lost

i use a morris minor as my main transport and do around 10000 miles ayear
yes they do need maintaing but the does not take long at reguler services

insurance is cheap and no road tax so that helps towards the running cost
if you pay a good price then welding will be kept to a minimum and if spotted earlier enough can be remedied cheaper, no different from a 10 or 12 year old modern really

also you will lose the depreciation of a modern car either

heater is adequate and you can buy heated front and rear windows anyway, in the winter you can open the quarter light a bit and the misting soon disappears

so done be put off by the comments made
they are a good every day classic

[StaffsMoggie]

Morris Minors are perfectly suitable for everyday use. I used my 4-door as my only car for over ten years. During that time it was treated much the same as a modern car would be, many a long journey was undertaken, all Minors require is regular servicing and maintenance.

Servos, alternators, disc brakes and electronic ignition etc are not required. A standard, well maintained Minor is fine for daily use, just keep it well maintained.

[ferret76]

I've been driving my 2 door splitty everyday for a couple of years now, before that I had a van. Both were standard and the only trouble I've ever had was a broken throttle return spring and a couple of flat tyres. They run on the smell of an oily rag and anything that needs doing you can do yourself, without forking over great wads of cash to fix a do-hicky that 'might' be important, but actually noone knows what it does besides make a light come on on your dashboard.

[autolycus]

Anyone would think I'd questioned some people's religion, their parentage, and their choice of pet!

People who use them now as everyday cars are real enthusiasts, whom I admire enormously, but their views are sometimes a little rose-tinted. For the majority of the population, a modern car serves their everyday needs better - which is why sales of the Minor were flagging almost 50 years ago, and they've been selling for a few hundred quid ever since. As classic cars, fun cars, hobby cars, call them what you will, they're great.

There's also a subtle difference between "main" car and "only" car. We run a boring Astra as our "main" car, but can only do this because we have others to cover the jobs the Astra is hopeless for: towing a 2.6 tonne trailer; pootling along to car events; and transporting brides to weddings.

There may well be insurance companies who will recognise NCDs earned five or six years previously, but none of the ones I tried would go further back than one or two. So your choice of insurer if you return to the modern-car fold will be limited if you've only had a "classic car" policy. And your choice of classic car policies will be limited if you want high mileage and business use.

Yes: there are advantages; but don't let them blind a would-be owner, especially one who didn't grow up when these cars were current, who's used to the luxuries of a modern car, whose idea of fun isn't lying under a car with a greasegun, and who's never used a choke, to the fact that Minors don't suit everyone.

Kevin

[alex_holden]

I ran a 1970 van for some time ... It was also tiringly noisy for longer distances

In my limited experience Minor vans are much noisier than saloons and travellers, particularly on the motorway. Something about the way the back reverberates. I've never ridden in a convertible though.

[jonathon]

Must say I agree with most of what autolycus has said, mainly because we see cars from the 'other' side.
If you have a sound bodied car with good or recon mechanicals then you stand a good chance of reasonably trouble free motoring.
Buying a 'banger 'is simply asking for trouble, even if you are competant at welding or mechanics. The 'banger ' entry level is where most new 'younger' owners start and can be the reason for them soon deciding to sell and move to a generally more reliable 'modern',having never really experienced what a 'good ' minor can run and drive like, standard or modified.

My son is coming up to driving lesson time and he will not be driving a minor. He'll be in the safest car that I can afford at the time which by description will be a 'modern'.

[MColes]

The 'banger ' entry level is where most new 'younger' owners start and can be the reason for them soon deciding to sell and move to a generally more reliable 'modern',having never really experienced what a 'good ' minor can run and drive like, standard or modified

As someone who could be described as a 'younger member' (and has been driving Minors since I passed my test) I have to agree. My first car was, to coin a phrase, a banger - But I persevered with the car until it was too far gone for me to deal with and I had to let it go. But to be fair there was a good side to all the problems I had with it - it taught me a lot about mechanics that I did not know previously - that can now be applied to my new car if needs be (though I hope I don't need to apply the skills learnt anytime soon )

I had a great buy with the car I have now - brilliant car for not much money . So have I been put off? Certainly not!

It's the old saying "you get what you pay for", unless you get a bargain like I did . Just don't rush into buying one like I did and you'll have many a mile of trouble free motoring

[MorrisDan]

Cheers for the all the advice, I dont think at 45 id be described as a younger member...lol but then again i guess i could but the tourer i have in mind would certainly not be classed as banger.

Thanks for all the pros and cons... i have had bangers in the past when i was younger (20s) i bought a Triumph Vitesse which i thought i could restore and use as a daily car only to have the brakes go on me at a crossroads! thankfully im hear to tell the tale but it did teach me that if i was to buy another classic that i would make sure it was fully restored both mechanically and body wise.

Owning the Triumph as i did i know that older cars are in some ways less comfortable in respect of handling, heating etc. etc. but i think that you trade that off against the joy of owning a classic car.

Although i am not mechanically minded i have done a bit of research before looking into buying a moggy and parts are fairly easily available and reasonably cheap so i figured that t he money i save on the low insurance and the free road tax each year would easily counter balance the possible outlay of limited repairs and maintenance needed in a year.

Modern jelly mould cars are fine but i doubt very much that in 50 years time you will go to your local classic car show and see a 2006 Citroen C4 sitting there looking pretty

[Faceplant]

Hi Dan,

I ditched my merc for the same resons as you described, and i have not had so much fun as i do with my morris since i passed my driving test 15 years ago!

Having bought a modified morris in january i have found that it can and will go wrong, nothing major but problems that have meant i cant drive it till parts arrive and installed (brakes, oil pump, etc). Its worth having a back up plan to get to work in case you have a week here or there without it.

I also found that not many mechanics will go near my car, but its been a blessing as i have had to fix it myself and begun to get a better feel for the car and its problems! And there is lots of help and support here when you need it!

Good luck!

[Fozz]

I use my car every day for work, which only involves local driving, and so far have had no problems. One or two of my colleagues are a bit alarmed by the fact she squeaks and rattles a bit, being less well insulated than a "modern", but are impressed by the way she runs. I am used to having to brake early and a bit harder - in fact if I drove a modern car now I would have everyone through the windscreen!
However in the harsh winter it wasn't very good as regards visibility, and I would definitely recommend an alternator, my dynamo only just coped with heater/lights/wipers all on!!
All in all I think Minors are fine for moderate local daily use, however if I had to drive long distances or on motorways I would definitely get a modern car.

[MorrisDan]

I also found that not many mechanics will go near my car

Hi Faceplant,

I would have thought an A series engine was easy for an mechanic t work on? i guess ill have to look around locally incase anything went wrong which i couldnt sort... me an working on engines etc do not go

I will have access to other vehicle though (not mine) if it does need to spend any time in the workshop.

[MorrisDan]

Thanks Fozz....

Im not a motorway driver anyway so thats not a problem, if i need to go outside the M25 i alway get someone else to drive... guess im a bit lazy like that