MWF
Posted a lot
Posts: 2,945
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Feb 21, 2007 14:14:48 GMT
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A couple of friends of mine are into triumphs (members of Club Triumph) and they went on and on about how reliable Spitfires were and then one of them posted a vid of him driving along and his wheel falling off, then a couple of months later it turned out to be so rotten it wasn't even worth MOT'ing.
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Feb 21, 2007 14:16:07 GMT
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Hahaha.......bloody Spitfire owners   At least I can honestly say my 1850 was much more solid than that! ;D |
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MWF
Posted a lot
Posts: 2,945
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Feb 21, 2007 14:16:41 GMT
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Hmmm I've not been getting hankerings like this for a while...
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MWF
Posted a lot
Posts: 2,945
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Feb 21, 2007 14:17:44 GMT
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Hahaha.......bloody Spitfire owners At least I can honestly say my 1850 was much more solid than that! ;D Well I believe you, you seem to be one of the more open minded Triumph nerds out there I think you do need to be wary of people who say their cars are really reliable. |
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Feb 21, 2007 14:24:37 GMT
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Yea - it's very easy to defend 'your brand' by getting all uppity and making wild claims without really realising it so it's nice just to put an honest perspective on it. My 1850 was my daily for 3 years, about that much. Broke down once (got it going again 10 minutes later) when a NEW replacement float flooded itself (put the old one back in ;D). Other than that, MOT time was usually just service, pads, tweak, although one year I did put two rear shocks on it  Would cruise quite happily at 80 though...tough as a truck that thing really, any weather, any time ;D Do miss it but hey ho, new things! Onwards and upwards etc ;D Generally though, there's very few weakpoints in the 1850 - just the antifreeze level must be maintained. Everything else is quite simple and robust, as it should be |
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Feb 21, 2007 14:25:16 GMT
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You have to define what relaible means.
To Mrs K, reliable means it never breaks down ever, starts first time every time, all systems work correctly and needs no more than say £100 or so spending for any MOT...
To me it means it gets you where you are going and that any fault gives you enough warning that you can limp it back and forth to work until the weekend or whenever you will have chance to fix it properly. All important things should work reasonably will most of the time.
My MK3 Cortina never failed to get me where I was going but I did have to rebuild the carb and replace the brake master cylinder, and when the carb was sick it was proving a pig to drive, but it survived a couple of weeks like that while I got round to it. Everything worked on it. I ran that maybe 18 months.
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1941 Wolseley Not Rod - 1956 Humber Hawk - 1957 Daimler Conquest - 1966 Buick LeSabre - 1968 Plymouth Sport Fury - 1968 Ford Galaxie - 1969 Ford Country Squire - 1969 Mercury Marquis - 1970 Morris Minor - 1970 Buick Skylark - 1970 Ford Galaxie - 1971 Ford Galaxie - 1976 Continental Mark IV - 1976 Ford Capri - 1994 Ford Fiesta
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Feb 21, 2007 14:26:00 GMT
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That's the same as mine! ;D I have to add to my definition of 'reliable' though a bit like yours - If something does go wrong, it should not cause it to 'fail to procede' and I should be able to get where I'm going or get somewhere to effect a repair I do f' it up now and then by buying vehicles that don't fit that bill but hey ho, part of the fun making them reliable! (Or just caving in eventually and flogging it ;D) |
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Last Edit: Feb 21, 2007 14:27:45 GMT by Lewis
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filmidget
East Midlands
Mostly Lurking
Posts: 1,652
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Feb 21, 2007 14:26:02 GMT
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Used to use my Midget as a daily - about 20k miles a year.
OK parts used to perhaps wear out quicker than would on a 'modern', but they were generally a lot cheaper, and a hell of a lot easier to fit.
Let me down 3 times in 3 years - two broken halfshafts and one knackered engine - all three my fault really, but shows how hard driven it was for those miles.
Current daily is 20 years old, but to me is a 'modern' I guess?
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'79 MG Midget 1500 - Still patiently awaiting attention
'02 Vauxhall Astra 1.8 Elegance(!) - Better than you might think
'03 Mazda MX5 - All new and shiny looking (thanks to Antony at Rust Republic)
'09 Renault Clio - Needs to go.
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MWF
Posted a lot
Posts: 2,945
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Feb 21, 2007 14:30:55 GMT
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Alistair reliable to me is if I'm good to the car, the cars good to me.
I am pretty gentle on cars, don't drive them hard at all and enjoy looking after them. Not a fan of fixing them unless it's a case of bolting on new parts.
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filmidget
East Midlands
Mostly Lurking
Posts: 1,652
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Feb 21, 2007 14:41:18 GMT
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Interesting point on what's 'reliable'.
My Rocco in a year: Can be temperamental while engine cold, and as Alistair mentioned, generally let's you know of any minor work required with minor running problems/funny noises, so that half an hours fettling is perhaps required when it's convenient. Never left me stranded.
Fathers 2 year old Merc: Starts and runs faultlessly. Except had to be taken into dealer as filler flap failed, leaving them without a vehicle.
Which is the more reliable?
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Last Edit: Feb 21, 2007 14:42:15 GMT by filmidget
'79 MG Midget 1500 - Still patiently awaiting attention
'02 Vauxhall Astra 1.8 Elegance(!) - Better than you might think
'03 Mazda MX5 - All new and shiny looking (thanks to Antony at Rust Republic)
'09 Renault Clio - Needs to go.
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Feb 21, 2007 14:43:58 GMT
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I've DESPARATELY longed to own a taxi replica....... White 406s are pig cheap now, maybe I should just get on with it! ;D French version is the BEST and the only one I'll watch ;D Would be quite a nice daily driver - get one with full leather, etc...  Hehe.... First film one, of course. absolutely! didnt expect 4 pages of replies and a full blown story but its all good lol in answer to a page 1 question, no, a white 406 is NOT my dream car! but it is one of them. the most desireable car i want is a super-estelle 120lse. i don't like boring. i like standard sometimes but not often. i've liked having the favorit which i never wash or maintain (well, only a teeny bit). the 106 was the same. driven up lanes and across muck and whatever, who cares at that money, and the red favorAt was even more tatty, but it stood out for being stripped and the spotlights. its not a case of trying to make other people like me or anything like that. I'm not following anyone elses ideas. i only will drive cars i like, i like all my 'stuff' even if it is mostly curse word. but at the same time i despise stuff that wont work. i don't mind fixing something all the time as long as it works afterwards. so wanting a noticeable retro that IS reliable is what i want, what i need. a favorit is just too close to a mk4 escort for my liking. a bright orange estelle would be better but still isnt enough. i would go do the stupid 406 thing now IF i had any money! so, i'll try again booking the mot for the estelle. if all goes well i will modify the 5hit out of it because i really need it to stand out, none of my dailies ever really have. got a nice sub to go in and a birdbath spoiler to go on. don't wanna do anything more to the favorit because I'm going to sell it shortly once I'm in something else. although, hmmm, favorAt 2 is still sitting here doing nothing, and actually has an MOT... |
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rod
Posted a lot
Posts: 1,953
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Feb 21, 2007 17:52:29 GMT
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a lot of the time ,cars that appear to be your dream type car turn into a nightmare ,cos although they look good ,they are a pain in the ass to drive ..eg chopped roof cars look cool,but having owned 4 of them ,they are a pain to drive ,and Ive often hankered for an ordinary car ,so that I could sit back and relax ,and just turn the wheel !...........Same goes for big /different engines swapped in to other cars . More maintenance ,fiddling ,gotta keep it cool (traffic jams are a nightmare ) etc .
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Feb 21, 2007 18:54:18 GMT
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SS, some MWF wisdom from another thread here that gave me a reminder. I read a book back in summer called The Barefoot investor. It says in that book you should identify your life goals, I.e your dreams that have always been with you. You should then work out how much they would cost you and when you can realistically do them, then working backwards you know how much you need to save per month to get there. I'm being realistic about 60's - 70's muscle cars, unless I earn a good crust, find bargain house, or win some money, i'm ruling it out for now. Well don't rule it out. I wish that in the past ten years or so I'd just held onto to my money. But sadly it's too tempting to spend it on short term stuff you think you want but only takes you away from your ultimate goals. |
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 it doesn't matter if it's a Morris Marina or a Toyota Celica - it's what you do with it that counts  |
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Feb 21, 2007 19:17:47 GMT
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a lot of the time ,cars that appear to be your dream type car turn into a nightmare ,cos although they look good ,they are a pain in the ass to drive gotta agree with that. i used my lowered W123 as a daily for 20k miles and, although very reliable, it was a right PITA. too low to go down certain roads due to potholes or speed humps.had to plan in advance how to get where i was going. or if i was going somewhere i wasnt familiar with had to just risk it. the severity of the lowereing caused it to eat track rod ends, driveshafts and tyres at an alarming rate. big enough to be my family cruiser, but even with the kids in the back scraped the floor on numerous occasions. the amount of stereo in the boot made it impossible to get a pushchair in, which made family trips out awkward. so i bought a1996 E220 for the daily chores.it is, and will always be bog stock.* *except for maybe a subtle sticking and some better rims in the future.  |
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MWF
Posted a lot
Posts: 2,945
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SS, some MWF wisdom from another thread here that gave me a reminder. I read a book back in summer called The Barefoot investor. It says in that book you should identify your life goals, I.e your dreams that have always been with you. You should then work out how much they would cost you and when you can realistically do them, then working backwards you know how much you need to save per month to get there. Well don't rule it out. I wish that in the past ten years or so I'd just held onto to my money. But sadly it's too tempting to spend it on short term stuff you think you want but only takes you away from your ultimate goals. Thanks for the cold bucket of reality dude, I needed that! |
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 Not sure exactly what you mean but i think some of us do need some reality. make a plan, it really is nessesary even if its just on the back of a cig packet etc, work out if its poss-make it poss, and go for it! i'll be tuning my plans... After seeing the 'First General' i'm getting silly ideas again!  we'll see Tricked out 406 FTW SS, save, sell a few of the fleet, purchase, work through planned mods, win. |
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it doesn't matter if it's a Morris Marina or a Toyota Celica - it's what you do with it that counts |
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If you want a car from a certain era or market or whatever you can have it. Problem most people seem to have is they want the big ticket stuff. "I want a Mk1 Escort AVO and am not prepared to consider anything else" or "I want a muscle car but it has to be a '68 Dodge Charger with a 440" or "I want a 50s fins and chrome car but am only prepared to have a '57 Chevy or '59 Cadillac".
There is always a cheaper alternative. Especially if you don't mind following your own path. Especially if you don't mind a bit of work.
I could never afford a 60s yank convertible muscle car. Stratospheric prices. So I bought a 1967 AMC Ambassador convertible for £1500 T&T. OK, AMC is not the top brand for muscle cars, the Ambassador is the least sought after model and it was a smallblock V8 not a big block, but it made V8 rumble, had a power top and muscle car looks. It was even half-way decent looking. So long as you left the roof down!
Hankering after a '59 Caddy? A mate of mine bought a running bt no MOT '59 Pontiac Parisienne for £1000 or less (it was up at a grand no offers, but I bet he got him to take one). It was a straight 6 not a V8 and the interior was a bit shabby, the body was a bit wrinkly and it was painted an awfulk shade of green, but he just satin blacked it and did the mexican blanket thing and slammed it a bit and it was cool as fonzie for less than £1500 on the road.
Forget the Mk1 Escort and buy a HB Viva or Hillman Avenger. A fraction of the price and just as good in many respects.
etc etc etc
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1941 Wolseley Not Rod - 1956 Humber Hawk - 1957 Daimler Conquest - 1966 Buick LeSabre - 1968 Plymouth Sport Fury - 1968 Ford Galaxie - 1969 Ford Country Squire - 1969 Mercury Marquis - 1970 Morris Minor - 1970 Buick Skylark - 1970 Ford Galaxie - 1971 Ford Galaxie - 1976 Continental Mark IV - 1976 Ford Capri - 1994 Ford Fiesta
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Feb 22, 2007 10:07:59 GMT
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Yep thats right, but if that Charger or Escort is a must, then it needs to be a priority and you will need a plan unless you are billy-moneybags. everything is possible i guess, but beat your own track and its cheaper |
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it doesn't matter if it's a Morris Marina or a Toyota Celica - it's what you do with it that counts |
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Feb 22, 2007 10:24:43 GMT
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i've gone the alternative route, and I'm more than happy with my choices and my cars in general. after all i've been on the skoda trail, almost alone in this country, for more than 4 years now! but i still want a mk2 escort 4 door, square lights i think, in sky blue, fast road use. most of my wanted list are on the sub £5k end but there are a few stratospheric choices, however i do plan to be Billy Moneybags try on a yellow 69 GTO Judge for size, or a 250 GT California soft top... *ouchies* OK, I'm gonna do the 406 thing as soon as employed again then, finding a V6 will be the trick though! maybe even wrong hand drive? You guys got me all worked up to do something about it yesterday, I went outside to totally rat-slag (blend of rat look and rally slag, its my thing) the mk1 favorit, but i spent about 3 hours looking for the invisible keys  |
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Feb 22, 2007 10:32:01 GMT
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don't worry, 406 V6 wrong hand drive effort is gonna be ace, would love to do it too but no idea where it fits into any of my plans! |
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it doesn't matter if it's a Morris Marina or a Toyota Celica - it's what you do with it that counts |
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we'll see