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Daily Driver??
- Thread starter Palmer
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Mark_Gibson
Jedi Trainee
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Palmer,
I drove my 70 TR-6 as a almost daily driver for 10 years while I was in the USAF. I put 80K on it before the engine gave up the ghost at 150K. With some routine maintenance, if the car is solid mechanically to begin with I'd say go for it! Mine let me down once in that 80K, and that was a rear hub assembly failing (luckily at 5 mph)! Good luck....
I drove my 70 TR-6 as a almost daily driver for 10 years while I was in the USAF. I put 80K on it before the engine gave up the ghost at 150K. With some routine maintenance, if the car is solid mechanically to begin with I'd say go for it! Mine let me down once in that 80K, and that was a rear hub assembly failing (luckily at 5 mph)! Good luck....
vettedog72
Jedi Knight
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My wife used our TR6 as a daily driver for 6 years driving to work as a school teacher and driving to college when finishing her masters. Also, we took a few trips (in the 200 mile one way range) during those 6 years. All in all about 60,000 miles during that time. The only reason it went into moth balls was because the second child did not have a seat belt! Come to think of it, the first child's hair at age 22 years old stills sticks up in front.
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For three years I drove my 79 Spitfire daily. It has only been in the last year that I decided to start doing some body work, and mild customizing on it that I haven't been driving it daily.
LastDeadLast
Jedi Knight
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During the past year I've gone through a pseudo restoration on my 6, and now that I've got the bugs out of it, yes I drive it everyday that it doesn't rain. I'd probably drive it on some light rainy days too, but the windshield seal needs replacing and I just haven't got to that yet.
I'd go through the basics first, brakes, cooling and tune up, then drive it!
My rule of the thumb, check the things that can kill you first!!!
I'd go through the basics first, brakes, cooling and tune up, then drive it!
My rule of the thumb, check the things that can kill you first!!!
G
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Given that it cost me $75 to fill up the land rover last night, I can see a lot more miles in the future for my 6. I need to recoup all the money I'm throwing at it...
It gets the best mileage out of all 3 cars by far, I just wish there was space for the dog as well as the wife.
It gets the best mileage out of all 3 cars by far, I just wish there was space for the dog as well as the wife.
StagByTriumph
Jedi Warrior
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Well I put about 10K miles on my Stag every year, does that count a daily driver?
Maybe only by insurance regs, but for the "record" I will only admit that those miles are cross country to "car shows", long weekend "pleasure trips", and when I get tired of driving my beater - that is what the insurance company calls "pleasure driving" because it is always a pleasure to drive the Stag.
Maybe only by insurance regs, but for the "record" I will only admit that those miles are cross country to "car shows", long weekend "pleasure trips", and when I get tired of driving my beater - that is what the insurance company calls "pleasure driving" because it is always a pleasure to drive the Stag.
Trevor Triumph
Jedi Knight
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I drove my 1964 Spitfire to work daily from 1993 until 1997. Now that we have more cars AND the Sptifire has been restored I don't drive as much. Our house is at the end of a short gravel right-of-way. I didn't mind the stones bouncing off the fender wells then... now I'm sure every little stone that hits the car is taking off big chunks of paint!
gsalt57tr3
Jedi Warrior
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I drive my '57 TR3 every day I can.
In doing so, I have found all the things that were weakened over the past almost 50 years. I bought the car in January and it has been in and out of the shop during that time, but things have pretty much stabilized now.
Why own it if I can't drive it?
In doing so, I have found all the things that were weakened over the past almost 50 years. I bought the car in January and it has been in and out of the shop during that time, but things have pretty much stabilized now.
Why own it if I can't drive it?
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[ QUOTE ]
Does anyone still use any Triumph as a daily driver?
[/ QUOTE ] Not quite daily at the moment, but I do use the Herald as often as possible in non-winter (read: salty roads) weather. And, at times, it has been my daily driver when whatever "modern" iron in the driveway was in for repair, which has been at least as often as the Herald has been in for repair! [ QUOTE ]
I've been thinking of getting a GT6+ and driving it to work most days. I'd have some sort of backup car, plus my motorcycle (don't worry, it's a 2003 Triumph), just in case. Am I crazy to even think about this?
[/ QUOTE ]No, you're not crazy! Going back to 1958, various members of my family (dad, then my sister and me) used Triumphs as daily cars...and I still do. I've yet to come up with (or hear) a compelling reason NOT to.
Does anyone still use any Triumph as a daily driver?
[/ QUOTE ] Not quite daily at the moment, but I do use the Herald as often as possible in non-winter (read: salty roads) weather. And, at times, it has been my daily driver when whatever "modern" iron in the driveway was in for repair, which has been at least as often as the Herald has been in for repair! [ QUOTE ]
I've been thinking of getting a GT6+ and driving it to work most days. I'd have some sort of backup car, plus my motorcycle (don't worry, it's a 2003 Triumph), just in case. Am I crazy to even think about this?
[/ QUOTE ]No, you're not crazy! Going back to 1958, various members of my family (dad, then my sister and me) used Triumphs as daily cars...and I still do. I've yet to come up with (or hear) a compelling reason NOT to.
Well, after reading your replies, I think I may give it a shot. Now all I have to do is find a GT6+ in good condition. Which brings up another question. Is a GT6+ the right choice? I've always wanted one, but I'm a little worried about parts. It seems that I'd have much better luck getting parts for a TR6 or newer Spit.
This question has gotten me thinking about cars, music, and the human brain. It seems as though my preferences for cars and music formed during my late teenage years in the late 60s, and neither modern music nor modern cars give me as much pleasure as cars and music from that time. Anyone else feel the same way?
This question has gotten me thinking about cars, music, and the human brain. It seems as though my preferences for cars and music formed during my late teenage years in the late 60s, and neither modern music nor modern cars give me as much pleasure as cars and music from that time. Anyone else feel the same way?
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[ QUOTE ]
Is a GT6+ the right choice?
[/ QUOTE ]
THE right choice? I don't know. But it's an excellent choice within the GT6 range. The 6+ has pretty much all of the interior refinement of the later cars, including the somewhat improved ventilation, and it has the arguably far, far better rear suspension than the earliest swing-axle cars -- all in the "early body but with 'bone-in-the-teeth' front bumper that folks either love or late" package. And parts really aren't much worse for these than they are for Spitfires.
[ QUOTE ]
It seems as though my preferences for cars and music formed during my late teenage years in the late 60s, and neither modern music nor modern cars give me as much pleasure as cars and music from that time. Anyone else feel the same way?
[/ QUOTE ] Well, yeah....me! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif In fairness, though, and thanks largely to my teenagers, I'm again appreciating more and more "current" music. But thanks to me, they enjoy a wide variety of music from the 1940s up to today. And they share my feelings about Triumphs and other old cars!
Is a GT6+ the right choice?
[/ QUOTE ]
THE right choice? I don't know. But it's an excellent choice within the GT6 range. The 6+ has pretty much all of the interior refinement of the later cars, including the somewhat improved ventilation, and it has the arguably far, far better rear suspension than the earliest swing-axle cars -- all in the "early body but with 'bone-in-the-teeth' front bumper that folks either love or late" package. And parts really aren't much worse for these than they are for Spitfires.
[ QUOTE ]
It seems as though my preferences for cars and music formed during my late teenage years in the late 60s, and neither modern music nor modern cars give me as much pleasure as cars and music from that time. Anyone else feel the same way?
[/ QUOTE ] Well, yeah....me! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif In fairness, though, and thanks largely to my teenagers, I'm again appreciating more and more "current" music. But thanks to me, they enjoy a wide variety of music from the 1940s up to today. And they share my feelings about Triumphs and other old cars!
Andy Blackley
Jedi Trainee
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I drive my TR250 to the office on nice days in the summer, typically a 35 mile round trip plus running around to see clients. On average about three times per week. In goes into storage for the winter, which is too brutal hereabouts for any LBC. Although when I could not afford both a daily driver and a "toy" I used the following as sole means of transportation: '69 Rover TC (1987-89); '72 BMW Bavaria (1989); '73 MGB (1990-91); '70 Land Rover Series II (1992-93); and '83 Range Rover (grey market, 4 sp man.)(94-99).
Now put my babies away for the winter and drive a Wrangler through the slush and salt. Although I am thinking about finding a used Disco to replace the Jeep....
Now put my babies away for the winter and drive a Wrangler through the slush and salt. Although I am thinking about finding a used Disco to replace the Jeep....
Webb Sledge
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I drive my TR6 every day, it's my only car.
D
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I drive my TR3 every day that doesn't break the 50-50 rule.
Less than 50 degrees or more than a 50% chance of rain. The second part of the rule happens a lot more thatn the first half in Florida.
I have found the more I drive it the less goes wrong with it. All my friends that are fair weather drivers spend much more time working on their cars than I do.
/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/driving.gif
Less than 50 degrees or more than a 50% chance of rain. The second part of the rule happens a lot more thatn the first half in Florida.
I have found the more I drive it the less goes wrong with it. All my friends that are fair weather drivers spend much more time working on their cars than I do.
/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/driving.gif
Wow! I'm impressed. Do you do any special preventative maintenance? Do you maintain a stock of spare parts? Have you modified your cars to make them more reliable?
I've got a TR3A sitting in the garage, but I never considered using it as a daily driver here in Central Pennsylvania. It's also registered and insured as an antique, so I'd have to change that before I could put it to regular use.
I've got a TR3A sitting in the garage, but I never considered using it as a daily driver here in Central Pennsylvania. It's also registered and insured as an antique, so I'd have to change that before I could put it to regular use.
Andy Blackley
Jedi Trainee
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[ QUOTE ]
I have found the more I drive it the less goes wrong with it.
[/ QUOTE ]
I couldn't agree more, Bill. They leak less since the seals don't dry out, the gas stays fresh, the battery charged, and just driving them in dry weather helps to eliminate condensation that collects in their nooks and crannys from sitting in a shaded garage.
I have found the more I drive it the less goes wrong with it.
[/ QUOTE ]
I couldn't agree more, Bill. They leak less since the seals don't dry out, the gas stays fresh, the battery charged, and just driving them in dry weather helps to eliminate condensation that collects in their nooks and crannys from sitting in a shaded garage.
MGTF1250Dave
Jedi Knight
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I use my TR3 as my daily commuter car year round. It's about a 12 mile drive one way. When I'm doing something major like a clutch repair, etc. I use my MGTF.
Safety Fast,
Dave
Safety Fast,
Dave