MKI as a daily

[Race Idiot]

Hi Guys

Just wondering how many of you guys use your mki as a daily driver? Recently my commute is going to be doubled and I don't fancy using the tubby every day or catching the train in the freezing cold.

Now I was looking at some boring shopping trolley hatches and thought well seeing as it will end up commuting down some nice B roads an aw11 might be a good choice and i've always kinda wanted one.

Now the only thing is am I going to be constantly fighting against rust if I use it through the winter and am i going to have to constantly worry come mot time that it's going to fail because the sills are like swiss cheese?

Regards
Brett

[Pete]

I use my MK1 every day, and absolutely love it. I have some nice A and B roads on the way to work, so the MK1 is ideal for the journey.

Enough power to keep you going, great handling, and you can give it some beans without worrying too much about how much petrol your using.

I do about 250 miles a week in mine, which hasn't been an issue. It only gets tiring to drive if your in it for a considerable time (but I suppose most sports cars do).

I was recently looking around for another new car to use for going to work, and went through the motions of trying loads of different cars. In the end I couldn't see the point because most my driving is going to work and back, so I might aswell be in the car I enjoy most

As long as you buy an example with a solid body and look after it you should be fine. You might not go back to the tubby after a bit of time in the MK1, I know I didn't

[Polypedates]

I used mine as a daily driver for 5 years without any problem. Get a good one and the mecahanics will be pretty bulletproof.

Rust is the main concern but if you are prepared to keep on top of it and spend the money getting it properly fixed when it appears (unless you have the skills to sort it yourself) then there ought to be no problems.

I'd still be in mine if I hadn't bought a Panda 100HP for the commute so I could restore the Mk1.

Be aware that many T-Bars tend to leak in the rain so for a daily driver a sunroof model might be a better bet.

[Kooga]

I use mine for the shortish trip to work. I love it, and mines especially noisy cos it hasn't got any interior - i rather like this as I don't have to put up with it for long and I enjoy a sports car that sounds like a sports car. Mechanically, its been absolutely fine, apart from when I fried the brakes on a sunday blatt, sensible uprating of the braking components have sorted this. Rust however is a pain. I haven't got a garage I can use for car storage (full of toot) and it just seems to dissolve every winter. I'm slowly getting on top of it, but it has been quite costly - a good quality cover might be a plan. I think if you've got a sorted one and you waxoyl the life out of it, you should be fine...definitely don't go for the t bar though. Aside from all the leaky issues, water condenses on it on a really cold day and you spend the journey to work with it dripping on your head! I've been contemplating its replacement cos I need rear seats that fit child seats, but its a really tough act to follow, you won't want another commuter motor!!! Might go for a starlet GT turbo or civic SiR if pushed...

[kevin..in]

I have in the past used mine for my commute to work (50 miles round trip) day in day out with no issues at all
you have to remember that a MK1 is essentially powered by Toyota Corolla mechanicals so sould be reliable to the point of tedium, albeit now with the added uncertainty of 20 plus years wear on them
for me though using it this way takes away from its main purpose which is just a fun drive, I find using it for work means you tend to not bother as much with it when you have free time
but with prices heading for rock bottom you'd be hard pushed to find a cheaper commute pence per mile wise as long as you source a good one to start with

[Race Idiot]

Thanks for the responses, the mechanicals i'm not too woried about it's more the bodywork. I'd be looking at a sunroof or a tintop (thats if there are tintop version) as i've never liked t-bars.

I did have a quick skim through the buyers guide on the kb which says to check allot of diferent places for rust. I must admit I dont know much about bodywork as I mean would it need new bits of metal welded in or just bits replaced? I always see MKI's have rusty rear arches, how do you get rid of that stuff can you get new rear arches?

[kevin..in]

Thanks for the responses, the mechanicals i'm not too woried about it's more the bodywork. I'd be looking at a sunroof or a tintop (thats if there are tintop version) as i've never liked t-bars.

I did have a quick skim through the buyers guide on the kb which says to check allot of diferent places for rust. I must admit I dont know much about bodywork as I mean would it need new bits of metal welded in or just bits replaced? I always see MKI's have rusty rear arches, how do you get rid of that stuff can you get new rear arches?

rear arch sections are available (see Jinxy for them)
best way to assess how badly they rust is to view as many as you can before buying, you'll soon see the problem areas
when using one in the winter its essential to pay attention to cleaning the undeside (wheel arches/sill etc.) more than the well protected shiney bits
as with any jap car of this era it will dissintegrate before your eyes if your not carefull
you'd be as well to consider doing something like this as a first measure
http://www.mr2mk1club.com/repairsp104

[SuperRedMR2]

Hi,

I do about 300 miles a week in mine, as my girlfriend lives 30 miles from me, but most is dual carriageway mileage to her, but the bulk of my journey is B-Roads as I live out in the sticks.

My current mk1a has never let me down (touch wood). I have covered 33k in 18 months, and the only things I have replaced is the suspension and brakes. Tyres obviously you get through depending how you drive.

It is almost the most comfortable car I have driven to work in, and I wouldnt change it for anything at the moment!

[millentubby]

Was doing 100 miles a day commute from fife to edinburgh a while back - never had any issues.

I have to say I prefer long distances in the Mk2 though...the mk1's forte is banging through twisty b-roads for sure!

[vix]

We only have Mk1s in our household, and I can't think of a time they have let us down.

Never really worried about rust, it's not like the car drops to bits in a week, and I've run classic Minis before now so it's just another of those things to me We have scrapped two due to bad bodywork, but that was horrendous bodywork, which isn't the norm. (ie holes in the floor).

[Race Idiot]

So a good waxoil is a must then, i'll have to keep my eyes out for one.

[kevin..in]

We only have Mk1s in our household, and I can't think of a time they have let us down.

only once in 4 1/2 years have I failed to get to my destination in a MK1 & that was due to a seized water pump, of course if I had not ignored the squealing belt then I could claim a 100% record
as with anything mechanical ignor essential maintainance and you will get caught out
I never worry that a journey in my MK1 will be cut short by the car failing, how many 20 year old classics can you say that about
even Practical Classics Magazine sold their 1A some years ago because they never had anything to write about
i.e :- this month we did erm nowt!!!!!! not very interesting reading

[Adam W]

Mine has been my daily driver for a week now, and no problems yet!

Even with fully upgraded suspension it's extremely comfortable over the rubble that passes for tarmac on my local roads.

[Ben]

I've used mine for a 60-mile round trip to work all summer. It hasn't missed a beat, and I have to say is a darn sight more fun - and, believe it or not, comfortable - than the 10 years newer clio I had before.

[greglebon]

I've owned Mk1's since 2001 as daily drivers: an '87 "b" NA, and currently an '86 "crossover" AE101 SC conversion......

Mechanically, they've been the most reliable cars I've ever owned: I have spent a fair bit on both, but that has been mods / tinworm repairs / cosmetic stuff....

As long as you change the oil / brake fluid / coolant / cambelt when you first get it, and check the above periodically, you'll not go far wrong.

Alternators, water pumps, belts, etc are service items which can fail at any time, but this is the case with any car, so yeh......Mk1 is a good daily driver...

Not much kop for the weekly shopping, mind.........





But who gives a t*ss......

[NDR008]

This is my view of things:

I drive daily a MK1b. However since I haven't driven it for long, I cannot comment to much, but here is my take on things.

a) Any Toyota is worth having as a daily driver. They might be slightly priced, and parts also costing on the high side - but you will rarely have to change a thing unless you are idiotic with it.

b) Almost all Jap cars are reliable.

c) The MR2 is not the most economic car by far, but it is not too bad for the fun it gives you when you want to be silly, so it is a nice compramise. It is also more economic than my 1.1 Fiat on the motorway.

d) Don't buy EU cars, especially FIAT - mine is 100% stock, well cared for, and things still break down regularly due to bad design.
I've owned 1984 Corolla, 1981 Hyundai Pony 1.3, 1971 Subaru 700 (2 cylinder), they are all genuinely more reliable then a modern FIAT (or VW, Audio, etc in spite of popular belief that German cars are rock solid - they are amazing engineering in terms of technology and novalty, but rubish euro reliability).

d) Buy one, try it, if not, sell it off, you not going to lose or gain much on cars that old.

[010on1986]

mk1a in daily use since 1991.

All known problems have occured, repair them and continue driving..... or walk.

[Lauren]

This is my view of things:
d) Don't buy EU cars, especially FIAT - mine is 100% stock, well cared for, and things still break down regularly due to bad design.
I've owned 1984 Corolla, 1981 Hyundai Pony 1.3, 1971 Subaru 700 (2 cylinder), they are all genuinely more reliable then a modern FIAT (or VW, Audio, etc in spite of popular belief that German cars are rock solid - they are amazing engineering in terms of technology and novalty, but rubish euro reliability).

That may have been the case to an extent 20years ago but I really do not think that applies nowadays. I've had BMWs (brilliant cars) never had a reliability problem with it and on 2nd Fiat, again no problems at all. But I did buy new on both occasions.

So I don't think making generalisations about euro reliability is fair in any way. The most unreliable I car i've ever had was my first mk1... absolutely terrible had to replace everything on it. Once i'd spent about 5K sorting it out it was very reliable.

My last Mk1a was absolutely fine reliability wise though I did swop a lot of my reconditioned parts onto it such as brakes, suspension etc.

Essentially running a 20year old car is going to mean that you are going to have be on top of the maintenance and you are going to need to spend the odd Saturday or Sunday sorting it out so you can be okay for work again on Monday.

This is exactly why i bought a new car so I can spend my weekends doing what I want to rather than fixing naily cars.

[mk1 envy]

I use mine for the shortish trip to work. I love it, and mines especially noisy cos it hasn't got any interior - i rather like this as I don't have to put up with it for long and I enjoy a sports car that sounds like a sports car. Mechanically, its been absolutely fine, apart from when I fried the brakes on a sunday blatt, sensible uprating of the braking components have sorted this. Rust however is a pain. I haven't got a garage I can use for car storage (full of toot) and it just seems to dissolve every winter. I'm slowly getting on top of it, but it has been quite costly - a good quality cover might be a plan. I think if you've got a sorted one and you waxoyl the life out of it, you should be fine...definitely don't go for the t bar though. Aside from all the leaky issues, water condenses on it on a really cold day and you spend the journey to work with it dripping on your head! I've been contemplating its replacement cos I need rear seats that fit child seats, but its a really tough act to follow, you won't want another commuter motor!!! Might go for a starlet GT turbo or civic SiR if pushed...

I have to say ive had two T-bars and never had that condensation problem, i used to get leaked on by the first one but that was due to knackered seals - it never dripped off the roof

As for the mk1 as a daily drive, i do a round trip of about 45 miles each weekday in mine and dont have any trouble on a day to day basis- i had some major mechanical troubles with the cooling system but that was just one of those things! used my last one as a daily drive for a year and a half and it never missed a beat - treat them right and they last forever!

And the main thing is - i look forward to my drive to uni and back everyday - theres not one day goes by when i wish i drove another car- it makes the daily commute a total pleasure and never fails to put me in a good mood

[NDR008]

This is my view of things:
d) Don't buy EU cars, especially FIAT - mine is 100% stock, well cared for, and things still break down regularly due to bad design.
I've owned 1984 Corolla, 1981 Hyundai Pony 1.3, 1971 Subaru 700 (2 cylinder), they are all genuinely more reliable then a modern FIAT (or VW, Audio, etc in spite of popular belief that German cars are rock solid - they are amazing engineering in terms of technology and novalty, but rubish euro reliability).

That may have been the case to an extent 20years ago but I really do not think that applies nowadays. I've had BMWs (brilliant cars) never had a reliability problem with it and on 2nd Fiat, again no problems at all. But I did buy new on both occasions.

So I don't think making generalisations about euro reliability is fair in any way. The most unreliable I car i've ever had was my first mk1... absolutely terrible had to replace everything on it. Once i'd spent about 5K sorting it out it was very reliable.

My last Mk1a was absolutely fine reliability wise though I did swop a lot of my reconditioned parts onto it such as brakes, suspension etc.

Essentially running a 20year old car is going to mean that you are going to have be on top of the maintenance and you are going to need to spend the odd Saturday or Sunday sorting it out so you can be okay for work again on Monday.

This is exactly why i bought a new car so I can spend my weekends doing what I want to rather than fixing naily cars.

I am not talking just as a personal owner, but as a part time mechanic previously, and now as an automotive engineer for and R&D powertrain department (and I mean engineer and not technician).