Ive managed to get a great new Job which is about 1mile away from my house, so I'm thinking of fulfilling a bit of a dream of mine and getting a classic car as my main car seeing as I dont have to travel very far to work (if at all as I will walk there mainly). Now Im thinking of ditching my uktra reliable and efficient Mini Cooper D Clubman and getting my dream car a Citroen DS 21 or 23 (currently going for anything between 6,000 - 20,000) has anyone had one of these or indeed anyone used a classic for their daily car?

The DS is the one with the hydrostatic suspension?

Avoid....

Make sure any car you buy has had the valve seats treated to run unleaded fuel too.

Thats the one! I've had mixed stories, some people have said that the suspension isnt a problem and then I've heard to avoid it. I've seen one that has had the suspension recently serviced and all the valve seats done. I am slightly worried about going from a reliable car to one that I know will have problems but I think i'd kick myself If I didn't get a classic when I have the opportunity, Ill probably be back at the Mini garage in a years time

If it's only 1 mile away, why not invest in a pair of classic shoes and walk there?

If you're going to get a classic car, don't bugger around with some French crap get a 55-57 Chevy Bel Air or Nomad

Frankly, I think you're crazy



I can't think of any old car that I have previously owned or even not owned that I would rather have instead of what you already have - you'll join those people with their head under the bonnet, half on, half off the grass verge on the way to work every Monday morning, scratching your head saying "I can't understand it, I only serviced it yesterday"

A mile each way is about all he'll be able to afford to run....

The DS is a great car, stylish, inovative - headlights follow the steering IIRC - and handles like a drunk hippo on skate. The suspension will fail - we had the later version and it was horrendously expensive to put right, and that was in the late 70s/early 80s - but if you can use spanners, and have the nouse to look for a new set before they actually go, then that's most likely to be your biggest and most expensive issue.

In fact, if you can't use spanners, then don't go near a classic car!


I'd be looking for something like a Rover P5 or P6 if I were spending the money.

My father has a couple of pre war Rileys, and over the years has also had a variety of post war Triumphs (Stag, Mk3 Spitfire, Dolomite Sprint), Saabs (95,96, 99 & early model 900's) that he used on an ocassional basis for commuting, all very good fun, but with the best will in the world, they take a lot of work to keep them going.

Parts can be hard to source for older cars, and unless your mechanically minded and have space to work on one you risk shelling out a lot to to your friendly neighbourhood mechanic, that may or may not know what to do when he can't just plug a box in and have it tell him what is wrong.

I did say I will be walking there mainly



Not a big fan of American cars, the DS is a beautiful machine all style and class, the chevy is just crass



I will probably get rid of the Mini (although it is a great great car!) anyway as I don't need to be spending £400 a month on the finance and insurance.

You could buy a PROPER mini...

Ive looked at a few, they are fetching stupid money these days! but may consider one of those too.

I did used to have a Triumph Spitfire this was actually my first car I hadnt even passed my test and got rid of it before I did, great looking car but I'm not sure have a late seventies british leyland car is a good Idea

I'd take the Citroen for looks over any any American car of the era. Never driven a DS but a firm i used to work for had a BX estate as a pool car. I loved it for motorway driving and being company owned there were no repair bills to worry about. The nearest I've come to owning anything classic is when I was a kid my dad had a 1966 vintage volkswagen transporter van he converted to a camper. It would be worth a few quid today no doubt, but my overriding memory is of him fixing it by the roadside whenever we went anywhere. Would I own a classic car? - no chance it's much easier to admire other people's.

My father owned an MG Midget in the mid-sixties that he bought having spent a year working in Nigeria. Although he didn't own it for long before he was supplied with a company car, he loved the car and my mother still speaks fondly about the times the two of the spent together in it. Particularly the story about them getting stuck underneath an articulated truck.

Wished I'd kept hold of my first car, 1969 Cortina 1600E Mk11. Cost me £150 and was luvverly.

I've lost count of the number of cars I've owned and wished I'd kept

My first motor, a 105E Anglia



I've mislaid or lost all the rest (that only survives because my ex-girlfriend posted it to facebook) but they included various American tin, including a 1956 Studebaker Silver Hawk

You little super stud Dave. Not bad pins mind. Did she smoke in bed?

Dunno mate, I never looked.

That pic was taken not too far from your old stamping ground. It was at the side of Burn's Head, Pat Haven

When I lived in London so used the excellent public transport to get to and from work I owned a Morris Minor convertible as my only car and that was on a classic car insurance policy.

Not really practical though as with most moggies of that vintage the fuel pump was feeble and would inconveniently just stop pumping fuel, usually at traffic lights on the North Circular and the only option was to get out lift the bonnet and give the fuel pump a belt with a spanner or something to get it going again.

So I think the moral is if you want a classic car as your only car remember they are old and may well not be reliable so you may not be able to count on it to get you about.

I bet the drivers behind liked you



It also wont be the only car in the houshold as part of the reason I want to get rid of the mini is I've just bought my wife a new car and I cant really justify having two expensive new cars so at least there will be one reliable car when needed!

I may well just go for a normal cheap run around but the pull to get something I've always wanted is very strong, at least I can say I've done it and I suppose the thing with classics if they are looked after they shouldn't depreciate like 'normal' cars.

Depending how far you stretch the word 'classic'... I run a Mk2 VW Jetta. Lovely piece of kit. Simple, solid, plentiful parts and also something a bit different to the euroboxes in the staff car park. Trouble is that I then went and got a job in the middle of Leeds and use the trains to get to work so now I have to sell it

Have you considered two wheels if it's mainly for a short jaunt to work?

Having owned Beetles I'm biased - but you could end up with a dud. I've got a MKIV Golf now which although only 10 years old is still reliable. Why not go for a MKI Golf - or are you going for the tax free element?

Been there, had the Vespas and had the being knocked of it by a Transit Van - not too keen to go there again

I'm going purely for the design and beauty of the thing, I've got a strange fascination with them and classic cars in general. As a designer I am pretty much style over substance

.

I know this is not a sensible thing to do but still appealing. Could be worse I could prefer Alfa's !

Quite apart from the cost of running a classic car, you should also consider the safety aspect.

The US Insurance Institute for Highway Safety ran a test of a 1959 Chevy Bel Air crashing with a 2009 Chevy Malibu

[url=http://www.autoblog.com/2009/09/26/pics-aplenty-iihs-reveals-before-and-after-of-malibu-bel-air-cr/The results are frankly astounding[/url

I daresay you'd love the Aprilia Moto 6.5 that Starck designed in the 90's?, an unusual departure for Starck, in that it actually performs its function.



Then again, why not put your money into an Eames recliner or something?
Doesn't require outlay after you've bought it, unlike anything with an engine.