Recommendations for a good daily

[stevo_gj]

So we're getting another car park at home which means I can get another car without our driveway becoming a scene out of the Castle.

 

I need a comfortable/fun daily that I don't need to worry about. (ie dents from P platers opening doors, 12 hours of direct sun, rain) I wouldn't want this car to be in too good a condition for this reason.

 

I'm thinking it would be fun to get another Datsun, or at least another classic of similar vintage. I've enjoyed working on the Z engine and I would like the engine in my daily to be just as simple and easy to work on.

 

I'm looking for something with 4-5 seats. Reasonable boot space. Fuel consumption at most 12L/100km.

 

What do you guys drive as your daily's? Any recommendations?

[xa1973]

For what I do, as a daily I drive a VS 5lt 5 speed manual ute with cam, chip, extractors, lowered, nolathane all round running on two piece simmo's 15 x 8's @ around 200 KW.....

[Scoota G]

Hey my Zeds a daily. triple 45's, cam, exhaust, overbore. Damn boy get another one.

[gav240z]

So we're getting another car park at home which means I can get another car without our driveway becoming a scene out of the Castle.

 

I need a comfortable/fun daily that I don't need to worry about. (ie dents from P platers opening doors, 12 hours of direct sun, rain) I wouldn't want this car to be in too good a condition for this reason.

 

I'm thinking it would be fun to get another Datsun, or at least another classic of similar vintage. I've enjoyed working on the Z engine and I would like the engine in my daily to be just as simple and easy to work on.

 

I'm looking for something with 4-5 seats. Reasonable boot space. Fuel consumption at most 12L/100km.

 

What do you guys drive as your daily's? Any recommendations?

 

Hey mate,

 

You want to keep as much cash free as possible for your Z so knowing that go cheap..

 

Here is a checklist

 

- Fuel Injection

- 4 Cylinder 1.8 or 2.0ltr (non turbo)

- Hatch back (4 door)

 

So something like a Mazda, Toyota, Honda, Nissan probably around $5k in clean condition.

 

Should be cheap on insurance, parts etc..

 

I bought a 89 Toyota Corolla SX (4AGE) great little engine, clean inside and out and pretty reliable, good on fuel and insurance. As a student I managed to save some cash driving it around and it was good that friends could hop in the back easily and I could go to the beach, leave it in the sun - although it was red (get a white car for low maintenance colour) so I tried to keep it polished .

 

In the end it was broken into in a car park and smashed to bits by a bunch of W@nkers who stole the stereo and bend the door backwards, slashed the tyres etc.. I was devastated and insurance didn't cover it since it wasn't stolen, just broken into (3rd party useless insurance).

 

If you get another Datsun you'll probably be tempted to work on it and spend money on it. Also carbs are not fuel efficient really and the old L-series is not very fuel efficient either. Very reliable, but not great on fuel by today's standards.

 

I'd suggest trying to find a 1 elderly owner Toyota Corolla that's been immaculately cared for since new and regularly serviced. You can enjoy, just driving it without caring about image or where you park it. Save the money for the Z beast.

[gav240z]

For example:

 

http://www.carsales.com.au/all-cars/private/details.aspx?R=8866857

 

It's probably as exciting to drive as a trip to the dentist, but that's the whole point. You won't spend any additional money on it. Just service it and use it.

[herrods]

I have a 1990 BMW E30 318is

 

Its a piece o .....  but ti works, and it gets me around

 

My vote goes to a Subaru WRX

 

in a 99/00/01 model you get a reliable car, manual, bit of fun to drive, good brakes to pull up in traffic when cut off by unmentionable randoms, and all whell drive to miss that twit stepping off the footpath *insert other situation* 5 seats, and a wagon/hatchback if you want it, and the average cost is about the $10-12k mark.

 

Couple of friends have them, and there is not a huge amount you need to watch for on them.  You need to watch the gearboxes for noise, as a sign of thrashing but the gearboxes are strong, and the diffs need to be not weeping (another sign of the AWD drivetrain having the big one given to it.

 

other than that, strong motor, interior thats hard to damage, agressive stance and room for everyone plus a few bags or whatever you bought from bunnings for the Z

[sexual_sushi]

I agree with Gav's comments. A 1990+ Honda Civic is an awesome little run around, cheap to maintain and doesn't look to bad for a 15 year old buzz box.

[Mr240z]

Fun car all round and a great daily............You guessed it a MX5

[Zedman240®]

My highly recommended daily which I drive too is a Toyota 95-96 Corolla hatchback. Very reliable, free spinning 1.6L (if cam belt breaks, engine just stops without taking out valves!) Some Honda's do take out valves when belt breaks.. Great on fuel, heaps of room and plentiful parts at wreckers etc.. Worth around $3-5k but get a manual..

[MaygZ]

My wife is considering selling her 2002 VY International Berlina wagon.  Deft Blue and powered by the very enjoyable 5.7 Gen III.  Great car that I cruise around for 11.5 l/100km and she gets 12.5 l/100km.

 

Who knows, maybe while no-one is watching the motor might 'fall' into a Zed??

[modular9]

Pretty sure that datsun/nissan built the z to be driven as a daily driver after all they do now.

 

I daily drive mine. I like my car and want to use it as often as I can. Put aside the money you would spend on crap car for the eventual nicks and scrapes and enjoy your car.

As soon as you mollycoddle it you'll become to scared to drive it and then the enjoyment leaves your life and you become a bitter/twisted and angry man intent on ruining as many peoples lives as you possibly can. You take this new found hatred for humanity and go to work at the tax office. Your time is now made up of figuratively bending people over and humping them and polishing your car.

 

Where as if you continue to drive your car women will flock to you in droves , men will worship you as a god and little kids will aspire to be like you.

 

I think you can make the correct choice here. My work is done.

[MaygZ]

Pretty sure that datsun/nissan built the z to be driven as a daily driver after all they do now.

 

I daily drive mine. I like my car and want to use it as often as I can. Put aside the money you would spend on crap car for the eventual nicks and scrapes and enjoy your car.

As soon as you mollycoddle it you'll become to scared to drive it and then the enjoyment leaves your life and you become a bitter/twisted and angry man intent on ruining as many peoples lives as you possibly can. You take this new found hatred for humanity and go to work at the tax office. Your time is now made up of figuratively bending people over and humping them and polishing your car.

 

Where as if you continue to drive your car women will flock to you in droves , men will worship you as a god and little kids will aspire to be like you.

 

I think you can make the correct choice here. My work is done.

 

He needs 4-5 seats.  So before you suggest a 2+2, a 2+2 doesn't inspire; women to flock, men to worship or kids to aspire!!  --  women pity, men mock and kids simply look away??

[Scando]

I reckon N14 & N15 SSS pulsars are great cars.  cheap to run and reliable but still a bit of fun.  Only problem with them is I'm alergic to front wheel drives  :-\

[chartoo]

Plus one for the nissan pulsar. My brother has had one for years and he if utterly useless with cars and he has tried hard to kill it but just cant. I had another n15 pulsar and they are really nice and reliable.

[benny]

He needs 4-5 seats.  So before you suggest a 2+2, a 2+2 doesn't inspire; women to flock, men to worship or kids to aspire!!  --  women pity, men mock and kids simply look away??

 

lol Simon you're a goob!!

[herrods]

I love my zed, and when its running i do drive it daily....  Doing so causes a decent maintenance bill, due to the age of the car.  its not a museum piece, but its not a commuter car either.

 

but my knickers... I have not tied them in a knot about it.  And I do drive a different car.

 

women may come in droves.. (they dont)  men do envy me.... but thats got nothing to do with the car. and kids dont aspire to be me....  but i doubt drivign a zed...or a porshe, or a ferrari, or any other car would change that,

 

im cool because I am, and Im sure everyone on here is cool just cause they are as well....  but if ur a deushe....  ur car is not going to change ur deushe factor.... fact of life.  a twit will always be a twit....  a twit in a nice car is compensating.

 

My missus has a N15 SSS, great car, dont buy an auto though they get beaten by STA buses.

Manual ones on the other hand are quite nippy.

 

My vote still goes the Scooby

 

 

[modular9]

He needs 4-5 seats.  So before you suggest a 2+2, a 2+2 doesn't inspire; women to flock, men to worship or kids to aspire!!  --  women pity, men mock and kids simply look away??

 

Why would I suggest a 2+2 when he could have a 2 seater sitting on a trailer with no doors. 

 

[sydney mike]

So we're getting another car park at home which means I can get another car without our driveway becoming a scene out of the Castle.

 

I need a comfortable/fun daily that I don't need to worry about. (ie dents from P platers opening doors, 12 hours of direct sun, rain) I wouldn't want this car to be in too good a condition for this reason.

 

I'm thinking it would be fun to get another Datsun, or at least another classic of similar vintage. I've enjoyed working on the Z engine and I would like the engine in my daily to be just as simple and easy to work on.

 

I'm looking for something with 4-5 seats. Reasonable boot space. Fuel consumption at most 12L/100km.

 

What do you guys drive as your daily's? Any recommendations?

 

Easy, 4-5 seats, good fuel consumption and no worries leaving it at the shopping centre? Get a 4 cyl camry

[chris240]

get a  vehicle that ticks ALL the boxes.....a Dual Cab 

 

I had a quick look on Carpoint and there are some nice top of the range Tritons going for sub $10k....doesnt have to be 4x4 either..

Ive got a V6 dualie and I get high elevens litres per 100km....better still, a diesel dualie is bulletproof and always retains value....

+ in a dualie you can pick up zed parts , after you pick up the kids from school (while mounting 200mm kerbs) on the way to pick up the mother-in law all in one move 

[Lynton]

Steve, try and keep away from cam belt drive and stick with cam chains on any cheap little Japanese 4 Cylinder cars, they will go forever. Most little cars will probably not have been serviced in the later years of their life as they are usually owned by students or are first cars.

My wife has an 1991 AE92 Corolla Seca Hatch she leaves in shopping car parks every day, alternator had to be done up and a replacement windscreen wiper motor, cheap basic transport to run around in.

Some other choices are Datsun 1200, Datsun 1600, Datsun 180B, Datsun 200B, early 90's Nissan Micra, Nissan Pintara sedan/wagon. Lynton

[FLEXZED]

get a  vehicle that ticks ALL the boxes.....a Dual Cab 

 

I had a quick look on Carpoint and there are some nice top of the range Tritons going for sub $10k....

Ive got a V6 dualie and I get high elevens litres per 100km....better still a diesel is dualie is bulletproof and always retains value....

+ in a dualie you can pick up zed parts , after you pick up the kids from school (while mounting 200mm kerbs) on the way to pick up the mother-in law all in one move 

 

I have a diesel dual cab hilux and have to agree with Chris all you ever need is there , 4x4 , exactly enough space to fit a 260z bonnet in the back, go over speed humps without slowing down, drive straight through roundabout etc

 

 

Loui

[zedevan]

WRX would get my vote too, pretty much the perfect compromise. If you want something bigger there's legacy gt-b's...

 

But if you want something old school:

KE70's are awesome if you put some money into them

 

C110 skylines have potential, specially since a fair few zed bits could be used on them

[.]

+1 for the mx5. They are reliable and economical as any econobox yet they have style and performance. No good for 4-5 passengers. But let the others fend for themselves. It's a good excuse for avoiding being a taxi driver.

[PZG302]

I vote for teh cheap MX as well, and if you catch me in a moment of weakness i maybe able to do you a deal on mine, maybe, and a moment of great wekaness, or maybe the ute, no I need that, or the Charger, no you can't afford that.

 

I reckon any late 90's shopping trolley from japan that has a service history for around $5k will serve you well.

[herrods]

for minimal maintenance, there is not much that beats a 1990's to early 00's car.  you are in that period between old and alot of stuff breaking, and new, where the computer has absolute control and you cant change the spark plugs without NASA approval.

 

MX5, camry, scooby, dualcab - all will serve you well.

 

I really wouldnt want to get anything too old, cause then you have to start getting into replacing the "long term consumables"  like diffs, and uni joints, and interior bits, and electronics.

 

thats y we have zeds so we can play with all these things when we dont need to get straight to work without thinking about whatever in the car.