On Dallas highways, no way.
Classic Car as a Daily Driver?
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Last: 1 yr ago by tk for tu juan
Jack Boyett said:
I'm commuting in an '87 mercedes diesel right now. I was driving a '95 corvette a few years ago.
Not mentioned yet is the benefit of cost. It will be cheaper to buy a 1975 F150 off of facebook, drive it 200,000 miles, and use a mechanic for each and every repair than it will be to buy a new one for $70k.
But who cares if some idiot t-bones you and you can never walk again or are impaled by a steering column.
An 87 Merc is a lot safer than you are giving credit for.
Euro cars in the 80's had pretty much all of the modern safety items except airbags, and a few of them did have airbags for the driver.
Collapsible steering columns, crumple zones, anti-intrusion bars in the doors, on and on.
I don't feel particularly unsafe in my 88 Volvo. Mercedes of that time period were exceptionally well built.
Euro cars in the 80's had pretty much all of the modern safety items except airbags, and a few of them did have airbags for the driver.
Collapsible steering columns, crumple zones, anti-intrusion bars in the doors, on and on.
I don't feel particularly unsafe in my 88 Volvo. Mercedes of that time period were exceptionally well built.
I loved my w123 240d. The lack of acceleration and top speed made it safer.
The old Volvo commercials with these vehicle drops are burned in my brain.
I daily my 84 short bed chevy. Have been for years. A couple of peaceful Saturdays out in the garage doing routine maintenance with a few cold ones, and I have no issue driving it anywhere. As a bonus, it could break down on the way to work and is simple enough to fix without being late.
despite drivers being 10 times worse...TMoney2007 said:Judging by the fact that you're still alive, that is fairly obvious.Trinity Ag said:I've been driving for almost 40 years and have never been in anything remotely like that accident.aggieforester05 said:
This video changed my opinion of driving a classic car:
"I haven't been killed in a classic car" is such a nothing statement... New cars are drastically safer. That's why the rate of deaths per vehicle miles is like a third of what it was in the 1970's.
Cars from the 80s and 90s are pretty safe. They have crumple zones, collapsible steering columns, and had crash testing.
Heck, a lot of us daily drove classic Mustangs and other 60s cars in the 80s and survived just fine. And pickup trucks from the 70s and 80s perform decently in crashes due to 3 point belts and their pure mass.
Heck, a lot of us daily drove classic Mustangs and other 60s cars in the 80s and survived just fine. And pickup trucks from the 70s and 80s perform decently in crashes due to 3 point belts and their pure mass.
Technically not a classic but I enjoy my 2002 Thunderbird as my daily driver.
I have driven a classic as a daily twice, both restomods. A 1970 K10 with a 454 and a 1984 C30 Dually with a 454. Lived inside the loop in HOU so not a lot of wear and tear and really was a lot of fun.
We are about to list a 1968 Camaro black with white stripes that you could light some tires up on a daily drive.
We are about to list a 1968 Camaro black with white stripes that you could light some tires up on a daily drive.
Not sure why you are putting words in my mouth to alter my point.TMoney2007 said:Judging by the fact that you're still alive, that is fairly obvious.Trinity Ag said:I've been driving for almost 40 years and have never been in anything remotely like that accident.aggieforester05 said:
This video changed my opinion of driving a classic car:
"I haven't been killed in a classic car" is such a nothing statement... New cars are drastically safer. That's why the rate of deaths per vehicle miles is like a third of what it was in the 1970's.
An offset head on collision is a worst case scenario. It happens, but it isn't a common occurrence.
By all means, choose your vehicle based on the probable outcome of a 1 in 50,000 (or higher) lifetime probability if that makes you comfortable.
But that doesn't make everyone driving a classic foolish or destined for death.
As for traffic fatalities per mile since the 70s, yes -- cars today are absolutely safer. So are roads, with a much higher percentage of divided highways, better designs, and a cultural shift away from it being OK to drive drunk (although cell phone use may be nearly the equivalent)
Sometimes you are at the wrong place at the wrong time.
But stupidity, recklessness, and distraction are bigger risks to your life than driving a 1959 Bel Aire. All that being said, I would 100% put shoulder belts in it to hedge my bets if I were driving it regularly.
Did this with my Mustang. Shoulder belts from a convertible and high back seats from a Corvette. Also four wheel disc brakes and improved the steering with a Shelby Quick-Steer arm.Trinity Ag said:
But stupidity, recklessness, and distraction are bigger risks to your life than driving a 1959 Bel Aire. All that being said, I would 100% put shoulder belts in it to hedge my bets if I were driving it regularly.
Going fast is fun, but you gotta' be able to steer and stop fast, too.
12thFan/Websider Since 2003
Roughly 1/3 of all vehicle crash fatalities are:
- motorcyclists (17%)
- pedestrians (14%)
- bicyclists (2%)
Those + driving faster than your skills and vehicle can handle contribute to a majority.
- motorcyclists (17%)
- pedestrians (14%)
- bicyclists (2%)
Those + driving faster than your skills and vehicle can handle contribute to a majority.
Yep!Trinity Ag said:
Roughly 1/3 of all vehicle crash fatalities are:
- motorcyclists (17%)
- pedestrians (14%)
- bicyclists (2%)
Those + driving faster than your skills and vehicle can handle contribute to a majority.
12thFan/Websider Since 2003
HtownWilly12 said:
I have driven a classic as a daily twice, both restomods. A 1970 K10 with a 454 and a 1984 C30 Dually with a 454. Lived inside the loop in HOU so not a lot of wear and tear and really was a lot of fun.
We are about to list a 1968 Camaro black with white stripes that you could light some tires up on a daily drive.
Rule one!!!
drumboy said:
I first typed "98 civic" but changed it to Firebird cause those are much cooler. Crazy that I remember wanted new cars in the 90s and those are classics now.
My daughter has a 97 or 98 TJ and it looks cool but is constantly needing work.
I wanted a Firehawk or a WS-6. I don't know the different but I wanted that Pontiac.
tk for tu juan said:
The old Volvo commercials with these vehicle drops are burned in my brain.
To be fair, if I had to drive a Volvo, I'd probably drive off a cliff as well so this might be an appropriate test.
Good. Leaves more bricks for those of us who know.....BrazosDog02 said:tk for tu juan said:
The old Volvo commercials with these vehicle drops are burned in my brain.
To be fair, if I had to drive a Volvo, I'd probably drive off a cliff as well so this might be an appropriate test.
In the 80's and especially 90's when kids were getting grandma's hand-me-down 240, and all the cool kids were getting fox body mustangs, it was discovered that with a couple hundred bucks, a trip to the junkyard, and a weekend that boring old grandma car would easily put a hurting on any pony car of the time.
Adding a turbo to the redblock 2.3 was easy and could be accomp,ished by folks with pretty ordinary skills and the factory ecu would support up to 300-ish wheel HP.
Add to that the chassis was ultra stiff and strong, it used a Dana 30 rear end so gear choices were available, and the car itself isn't that heavy you could have the sleeper of the decade for maybe 500-1000 dollars worth of junkyard parts.
As posted on another thread. My daughter was in a fender bender with the Dodge caravan. The van will be totaled for a little over $6k. Got a couple kids in college now so there is no need to haul the family of six on a regular basis. The replacement will be my grandmother's 1977 Chevy Suburban. It's been garaged its entire life and has a little over 100k on it. The body and interior are near perfect. Mechanical issues will be easy enough to fix. Uncle is going to let me have it just so someone will take care of it and use it. The 454 will be thirsty but it won't see a lot of miles, I expect 5-10k per year. Wife is going to get a generic 4 door sedan for personal use. Suburban will be for longer drives with 4+ people.
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Pics! Any chance we can pry that big block unicorn away from you before she wrecks it?
DartAg1970 said:
Looking for some opinions:
I am thinking about my next car and I am considering getting a classic car and using it as my primary vehicle. I don't do a lot of driving; maybe 10k-12k miles per year. I work from home 3-4 days per week and I wouldn't really be looking for a show car or anything that isn't meant to be driven. I am wondering if I am just completely mad for considering this.
I will be honest, I thought about this too. Would love to have an amazing classic car to drive around.
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