Classic car suggestions!

As some of you know (if you hang out on the GRM board), I just purchased a house. Yay! No more rentals! However my new home purchase has turned a 5 minute and 2 mile commute into a 27 mile, 40 minute one. This isn't really a bad thing at all but I want another classic that can be share daily driver responsibilities alternatively with my Miata.

The commute will be about 50/50 highway and city, 65-70 mph capability without wringing the car's neck is a must. I also want something that gets decent mileage, about the same as the Miata (30 mpg) or even better. I also like smallish cars.

I do like things a little different so my car choice will reflect this as well. I'd like to combine the discussions of "Everyday Classics" and "Under Appreciated Classics" to find the right car.

I haven't been thinking about this too much so far and haven't done a lot of research but I was thinking maybe BMW 320i (E21), a SAAB 96 or 99, or a Volvo 122 or 142 (I love old Swedes). I honestly have no idea what kind of mileage these cars get fuel efficiency has never really been a priority before (remember my 2 mile commute).

Being grassroots minded through and through, I'd like to stay as cheap as possible. I'll be selling my Chrysler to fund it.

One last factor before I open this up to suggestions: My new house doesn't currently have a garage (you'll be envious of the one I'm building by next summer, though) so this car will have to be able to withstand the elements of being outdoors. This is NC outdoors we are talking about so just the occasional rain, really. I guess that means nothing Italian or 70s Japanese.

Any suggestions or comments are appreciated, thanks!

Here's a few that came to mind.

MGB- or MGB GT-- tons of parts support, fun to drive

Volvo 142--- cool with period mods, safe and reliable fun

Early Mustang with straight six-- cheap to run, great looking, parts available. Your budget may even allow for vert

BMW 2002--- more fun than a 320i, with more parts support

Mk 1 VW GTI--- fun, fun, fun, good mpg, tons of parts support. A little hard to find a nice one though.

AMC Eagle----Ok, just kidding!

Let me make some amendments:

I don't think I want a convertible or roadster(GASP!), the Miata fills that roll.

The MGBGT is something I've considered and still considering.

Something with a backseat, regardless of how small it is, would be better.

I like the Mustang idea but with Fords I think I'd rather go with a Falcon, or better yet, UK Ford with a Cortina or Anglia (might not meet the 70 mph req.)

Nice MK 1 GTIs are available in my area, although VW isn't really my style. That said I've never driven one without worn out suspension...

Classic Mini.

Or ~2CV~

Ah! the deux chevaux!

Real Minis aren't very affordable around here. The ones that are, are the under a litre variety. How well do they deal with Interstate traffic?

I'd just watch for whatever turns up cheap and strikes your fancy. Last one I wish I'd jumped on was a Morris Minor panel van for $1500.

E21s are cool, but the E30 is undoubtedly a better car.

Can hardly go wrong with an old Swede.

As much as I love MGBs, especially GTs, I can't really recommend one for you. The GT back seat is a joke.

...depends on how comfortable you are on the interstate with the throttle pinned WFO... I have one friend with an 850... he avoids extended hwy runs... (NZ car, 100% original) and then I have another friend who is literally trying to blow up the 850 in his Traveller (needs restoration)...

He ran it at full throttle on the PA TP from Carlisle to Philly last year... with a blown head gasket... he thought for SURE it was done... pulled the head, put a used gasket on... bolted it back up... still runs like a top... now know as "The Mighty 850".

Other funky ideas include an early Plymouth Valiant with a buzzin' half dozen. I'd be replacing a beatifully odd styled Mopar with a beautifugly styled one.

Chevy II, 4 doors are cheap.

Corvair, 4 doors are cheap here too.

Although, honestly, I'm 23 but I've alread had my fill of American cars for now. Not completely opposed to the idea but looking more European.

The Corvair does have a lot of European touches though...that one might make the exception. I really like the styling of the early ones. The overhang over the rear windscreen on the early 4 doors is really cool.

Also someone local has a perfect '67 'vair with plates that say, "NADER" I don't know if it gets too much cooler than that.

Anything that you share with a Miata should be what you drive on the ugly days. Any compact car will do. I suspect a cool car will get abused out of necessity. I keep a Honda Civic for this purpose. It is comfortable, reliable, with great MPG and totally disposable.

Cheers Ron

Swede wagon of some sort. Now that you own a home, you'll surely be going to home despot more often.

In reply to KaptKaos:

Great point! There's a Tractor Supply Co. in my new town too! So Volvo 122 Wagon, 145, P1800ES, or SAAB 95.

My vote is for Volvos (natch), but the 1800ES has limited height for cargo in the back, and a decent one is going to be spendy to buy.

122 wagons are great cars, but they have 4.56 gears and no overdrive -- not a happy combo at freeway speeds. Swapping in an OD trans is pretty simple, but the factory never offered them with one.

A 145 is the most versatile, and nice ones can be found dirt cheap.

I'm looking for a 122 wagon myself. I've been looking a while.

No prob, here's one now:

Oh, you mean to buy... sorry.

I work on a number of 122 wagons, but don't know of any wanting to change hands. If I come across one, I'll let you know. They are getting harder to find.

(That was my old shop, which left something to be desired. The new one doesn't have any apple tree branches growing through the roof.)

That's just mean

How about one of those VW wagons, like a 1969 Squareback. There's one on e-bay now with a buy it now price of less than $5k.

How about NCboatrx's Renault Dauphine. http://classicmotorsports.net/reader-rides/876/

It probably wouldn't be great on the highway, but I had to suggest it anyway, 'cos it's so damn cool.

Also, I wouldn't necessarily rule out anything Italian or '70s Japanese just because it'll have to live out in the elements for a few months. A bit of rain won't hurt.

You've got a wonderful dilemma to be in. My first comment is to suggest that the fuel mileage of your Miata will probably not be replicated by most of these possibilities. Older cars typically languished in the mid to upper 20s mpg-wise. They are very dependent upon the gearing. The sportier the car, the less likely they are to achieve stellar mileage. However, getting 28 or so still ain't hateful when you're having fun.

I own a Mini 850 and drive it on the highway at 70 around here with little fuss, just a lot of noise. Provided you've got no huge hills to climb, it's adequate. They actually run pretty decent once they are rolling. It's through the gears where they don't excel. You'll spend at least $8000 for a decent Mini regardless of what engine's in it. They will rust if exposed to any moisture at all, so I wouldn't recommend one if it has to sit outdoors. You just can't believe how rot prone they are.

I like the Volvo choices, but agree a nice Amazon wagon is going to be a tough find.

E28s are a real snooze to drive, and they like to rust. Unless you can get one for a song and understand it has no resale value, it will be economical. I'd opt for one of the bigger sedans that nobody pays attention to from the same period, like a Bavaria. Or just get a good BMW like a 2002 or E30.

I don't see the VW air cooled cars being good highway cruisers. Rabbits can be fun, nimble cars. So can 77-80 Ford Fiestas, if you can find one. I loved mine. Very nimble, bulletproof drivetrain. They are kind of like driving a super-sized Mini.

A Saab 99 or 900 3 door has wagon-like capabilities. Only problem is they are dog slow without a turbo and not a ton of fun to drive IMO.

Ford Capri? The German one, not the other disaster. Very hard to find, but great to drive when you do.

I would not discount the American cars you mentioned, particularly because you're willing to accept a 4 door. That can get you into a fascinating and fun car for mere pennies, and they will all be easy-peasy to work on, get parts for and be economical. The Corvair is by far the most interesting and fun to drive, but Falcons, Chevy IIs and Ramblers are all worthy contenders. If I did not live in the land of snow and ice my daily driver would most likely be a 64-65 Falcon or early Mustang.

Keep your mind open, but I strongly suggest driving whatever you consider before buying. Ask some local enthusiasts for test drives. Some of these cars may seem appealing until you actually get behind the wheel and you realize living with one on a daily basis is a step back in time you may not want to make.

Ah, you want the Classic PARTS hauler. Man after my own heart. This is a topic I've thought a LOT about.

There's the old utes--Ranchero/El Camino. Bone solid mechanicals, but tough to find, and tend to be priced surprisingly high.

It seems almost all old American cars had a wagon variant, but I'd stick with the compacts. Maybe a valiant. Corvair wagon? I've seen some Larks turn up lately, too. Could be neat.

Amongst the non-American stuff... Volvo is like the go-to for a classic wagon.

The VW squareback is really cool. I liked mine more than any of my air-cooled VWs. But they're really slow, and you can't really add AC to make them more comfortable.

There are some English mini-trucks and wagons that made it over here, particularly Minors (in woody wagon and panel van form) and Minis in (wagon and pickup form).

Of course, you could pick up an old Land Rover, and instantly become an officially cool dude.

Or you could get funky and find an old Japanese wagon:

All good suggestions. I've thought about a Datsun 510 wagon as well.

Then I came across this! I forgot how awesome these were! Terribly hard to find though.

As much as I too love the thought of a classic daily driver (but like ddavid, I live in the salt-belt), I'm not sure I'd want to rely on and maintain anything older than say... a Volvo 240... maybe a 140...

I have trouble finding time to do maintenance on my daily driver... and it's a 2003... and not nearly as needy (10K oil changes vs. 3-5K?) as our classic cars.

I'll disagree a bit. I think anything that is used regularly will be fairly reliable vs something that sits around most of the time. I will say that you should expect a 'teething period' with any classic purchase until you find and correct any deferred maintenance/old age problems. The blessed simplicity of older vehicles is usually a plus. My '65 Ford pickup has been tremendously reliable after a quickie carb rebuild and a few other tweaks.

VClassics That looks like my old Westy in the background... he got named Booger for the color.

I vote Saab 95 with a V4.

I suppose... but to me, the issue is parts... although admittedly, I rarely ever buy parts for my TDI from the dealer...

And I suppose I find our modern cars (my TDI and our MINIs) considerably easier to work on than either the Spitfires or the Volvo. However, I've reached a point where I can open the hood of any modern car and nothing I see really scares me.

Carbs, on the other hand... those are annoying to me. I understand how they work, but tuning and adjusting them seems to be as much an art than simply following instructions (which I'm pretty good at).