one time relatively common cars that are still relatively common

trevorbrady

inspired by the "one time relatively common cars that you don't see any more" thread, what about a thread celebrating the survivors? Those cars that were common daily driver cars years ago that, despite all the odds, the scrappage schemes, salty roads etc have managed to hang on in numbers beyond expectation.

I'll start it off: the EE101 Corolla, still a common enough sight on the roads despite many other cars of its vintage disappearing. I had a '93 one for a few years and it NEVER let me down. I sold it on and it's still in daily use by the new owner.



any more?

Chris Hansen

AE86

bijapos

Depends what your cut off date is. If your using 1995 there are still plenty of 90's cars around. 1990 is a bit different, you are essentially looking for cars with 80's numbers on them. From what I see there are

BMW E30's (a lot are imports)
BMW E34
Merc W124
Merc 190
Merc W126
Toyota Starlet "70 series" (mid -late 80's)
Toyota Carina T170
Ford Sierra Sapphire
Ford Fiesta Mk2
Nissan Micras
VW Golf Mk2

The above is very subjective, there are at least 3 W126's used as daily drivers around where I live, and two people in my estate have 87 and 88 Starlets which is more a coincidence than anything else.

Down the country you see pockets of cars, there might be a few Golf MkII in a certain area and none in another but I think this is more to do with people buying from a local dealer back in the day.

W.Shakes-Beer

There is still plenty of mk3 Astra's around, even as old as 92.

_Conrad_

Chris Hansen wrote: »

AE86

that's not the same sort of thing, they gained a massive following and there are far more of them here now then there were when they were brand new.






Apart from the many many 90s toyotas, i see lots of carina IIs still along with a fair few daihatsu fourtraks, late 80s to early 90s pajeros and my favourite the old 2.8 Isuzu troopers, which i continue to see despite how badly they rusted.
Because of the following sierras gained, i now see more sierra saphires than mk1 mondeos.
As already said a lot 90s of astras, which seems strange when you consider the fact they don't have much of a reputation for anything good or bad, but i guess they've hung in there. In some places there are still a good few peugeot 205s and 405s, i've seen an increase in mid 90s vw passats lately, the B4 shape but stuff like that can't be called classic yet just old (and i own one), but it's interesting to see all the same, i havnt seen a passat B3 or B4 with a petrol engine that's been in daily use and wasnt someone's toy in at least 5 years though (there's a few B3 gts).

Of course there escorts and cortinas, they were mega popular when new and there are still loads around compared to other models that were popular at the time. But they're not usually driven every day, more collectors items so don't really qualify i guess but there still plenty around so no fear of them disappearing yet.
I'll agree with the BMW E30 and E34, vw golf 2 and jetta and the mercs already mentioned, but i can't think of too many cars that are older than the late 80s that there are "a lot" of still around in proper regular daily use as an ordinary car

zilog_jones

There's still a surprising amount of G100 Charades ('87-'93) - even vans - on the road though they're getting rarer. Also:

- E90 Corolla ('87-'92)
- H50 Hiace (the boxy ones, still a few import Wagons around in "Super Custom" and other silly trim levels)
- EG Civic ('91-'96) - yes there's still non-boy-racer examples around
- Renault 5 - relatively plentiful compared to the (non-Toyota) competition of the time

I'm sure there's more I'm forgetting...

VolvoMan

I'd say the K11 Micra is the oldest car you'll see now in great numbers.

Even though it's still a bit recent, I predict the Mk1 Toyota Yaris to be a very common car also for years to come.

corktina

can we have an "uncommon cars driven by common people "next?