Running a Sierra as a daily

mk1esc

has anybody been running a ford sierra saloon/ 5 dr or estate as a daily? im considering buying one again and want it as my daily but dont know what insurance companies will insure it....anybody any help out there....:D

i would love to be running my mk1 escort van as a daily but the cost of petrol would cripple me......

Silvera

Would the van be that much harder on petrol than a Sierra?

jca

Which engine is in the Sierra? I drove a 1990 1.8 CVH as a company wagon back in the day, it was a UK import. It was a beauty to drive compared to the crap on the roads here at the time, nice spec too. 32 mpg around town 36 mpg on any kind of a decent journey. I'd imagine the escort van would be in the mid 20's the low gearing doesn't help the vans cause.

JohnBoy26

It wouldn't make a good daily driver because these like to rust and any good one is worth saving now as a classic car.

jca

JohnBoy26 wrote: »

It wouldn't make a good daily driver because these like to rust and any good one is worth saving now as a classic car.

I don't follow your reasoning there. Classic cars rust too, even more so when left sitting unmoved for months on end. I'm assuming the op is going to look after the car and not drive it into the ground.

JohnBoy26

jca wrote: »

I don't follow your reasoning there. Classic cars rust too, even more so when left sitting unmoved for months on end. I'm assuming the op is going to look after the car and not drive it into the ground.

A classic car won't rust in damp free storage and can be used periodically so as to stop any deterioration.

Any classic car i've seen used as a daily has deteriorated very quickly in this Irish climate no matter how well looked after they have been. Rust is the main problem which the sierra was well renowned for back in the day.

jca

JohnBoy26 wrote: »

A classic car won't rust in damp free storage and can be used periodically so as to stop any deterioration.

Any classic car i've seen used as a daily has deteriorated very quickly in this Irish climate no matter how well looked after they have been. Rust is the main problem which the sierra was well renowned for back in the day.

Leaving the rust issues aside would you think they'd make a good daily? I think they would especially if the op could get a CVH one.

JohnBoy26

jca wrote: »

Leaving the rust issues aside would you think they'd make a good daily? I think they would especially if the op could get a CVH one.

I think they probably would in many ways. They were a great car in their day but by modern standards they wouldn't be all that safe in a crash either.

jca

JohnBoy26 wrote: »

I think they probably would in many ways. They were a great car in their day but by modern standards they wouldn't be all that safe in a crash either.

Ah jaysus hopefully he wont be in a smash, talk about doom and gloom....

unkel

JohnBoy26 wrote: »

they wouldn't be all that safe in a crash either.

None of our classic cars are very safe in a crash. Thanks for reminding us, you killjoy

Isambard

I ran a 1990 1.6 a few years ago and had Classic insurance on it. It was a great second car, used whenever needed.

mk1esc

im looking at one in the uk, 2lt, petrol 4x4....looks very nice....im not any insurance company would insure though as a daily....anybody any ideas of who may insure it?

Harry Palmr

The CVH engine was a dog in my Escort - it stood for Coarse Vibration and Harshness.

jca

Harry Palmr wrote: »

The CVH engine was a dog in my Escort - it stood for Coarse Vibration and Harshness.

I think the 1.8 was the best of them. It was lovely in the one I had.

Duke O Smiley

My father has a 4x4 2.0i. It likes a drop of fuel and hes constantly having bits done to it here and there. Dodgy sunroof and d/s door lock lately. Sills on both sides and jacking points were done for an upcoming test. That wasn't cheap, and they were done about ten years back too.

Its a lovely car though, and he loves it.

gctest50

jca wrote: »

Ah jaysus hopefully he wont be in a smash, talk about doom and gloom....

hopefully not, but you still have to keep it in mind

StereoSound

I would love a Sierra as a second car, a black sapphire with red pin stripping on doors and bumpers. Neighbour had one when I was a kid and it was a stunning looking car, a very late 1993' car. The very last of them with the factory tinted rear lights. It was a 2.0 GLX.

mk1esc

gctest50 wrote: »

hopefully not, but you still have to keep it in mind

why would you post this up???? I didnt ask about safety....Ive owned classic cars since i was 19 and know they are nowhere near as safe as modern cars.....:(

jca

mk1esc wrote: »

why would you post this up???? I didnt ask about safety....Ive owned classic cars since i was 19 and know they are nowhere near as safe as modern cars.....:(

It's boards, enough said... Did you get the 4x4 after?

Isambard

you probably wouldn't survive a head on at 50 mph in a modern car either . The damage is done by the sudden deceleration causing your organs to be damaged doing things they aren't designed to do.

elperello

At first I was wondering about the appropriateness of the crash test post but having given it some thought I think it raises some issues worth considering.

If you are using a classic as a daily driver you may find yourself​ giving lifts to family, friends,neighbours,work colleagues etc. They may or may not be aware that your vehicle is not equipped with safety features which are standard in modern vehicles. I'm thinking of air bags,ABS etc. Some older cars will not be fitted with rear seat belts. If there is an accident they may suffer injuries which would have been less severe had they been travelling in a modern car. This is in the context of everyday life and some people might feel that they are put at an unacceptable risk.
Of course using the classic for weekend runs, rallies, shows etc falls into a different category.

I've no wish to put a downer on the OPs plans I think this is worthy of discussion.

Isambard

the logical extension of that is to say that a 10 yr old car won't be as safe as a new car either. I think your point is valid but just where do you draw a line?

I think you could extend your point to the risk to other car users. I wouldn't fancy hitting a non-crumpling classic at speed!

elperello

Isambard wrote: »

the logical extension of that is to say that a 10 yr old car won't be as safe as a new car either. I think your point is valid but just where do you draw a line?

I think you could extend your point to the risk to other car users. I wouldn't fancy hitting a non-crumpling classic at speed!

I'm not sure that there is a need to draw a line.

You have a duty of care to people you carry in your vehicle. You wouldn't have the same duty of care to other road users.

I'd rather hit an old car than a Scania or John Deere.

kaizersoze

elperello wrote: »

I'm not sure that there is a need to draw a line.

You have a duty of care to people you carry in your vehicle. You wouldn't have the same duty of care to other road users.

I'd rather hit an old car than a Scania or John Deere.

As long as it's well maintained, taxed, insured and driven in a safe manner then that's your duty of care taken care off.
You have the same duty of care in a modern car.

elperello

kaizersoze wrote: »

As long as it's well maintained, taxed, insured and driven in a safe manner then that's your duty of care taken care off.
You have the same duty of care in a modern car.

Legally yes you are right.
I was just making the point that the people who get into your car don't necessarily know that their risk of injury is higher.

deckie27

Jaysus

This is the worst thread I've seen on boards in a long time.

landmarkjohn

jca wrote: »

Which engine is in the Sierra? I drove a 1990 1.8 CVH as a company wagon back in the day, it was a UK import. It was a beauty to drive compared to the crap on the roads here at the time, nice spec too.

I was living and working in UK back in the day and had a company 1991 1.8 Sapphire (saloon version) metallic gunmetal, no power steering. Great good looking car, good cabin.

I was back here on holiday parked outside the butcher in the village when one of the local lads strolled over for a chat. Stuck his head in the window "is she a deeshal?" I can still remember the look of disgust on his face when I said it was petrol. :D

jca

deckie27 wrote: »

Jaysus

This is the worst thread I've seen on boards in a long time.

The sooner the conveyancing legal eagles get back to work the better...

elperello

deckie27 wrote: »

Jaysus

This is the worst thread I've seen on boards in a long time.

Is it because you don't like Sierras?

ianobrien

OP, a friend of mine ran one for years as a daily driver and he found the 1.6 pinto drank fuel. It was as bad as his 1.3 crossflow Escort. It was also painfully slow. The 2.0 twin cam was better on fuel, but got nicked on him. The inertia switch going off after the scrotes went over a kerb saved it from further harm.

The main problems were rust rust and rust (a fuel tank support strap came off on him due to rust!). Mechanical were tough, and anything the motor factors didn't have, Burton Power had.

deckie27

elperello wrote: »

Is it because you don't like Sierras?

No

I like sierras I think its a great idea.
I've being running classics as a daily for years.

OP. asked about insurance and got grief about using a classic daily as it will rust. Then he was graphically shown crash tests and told he is a bad person to give anyone a lift.

How about a Dacia Duster? It rusts very quickly and I wouldn't fancy being in one during a crash

OP... Try first Ireland for insurance
If petrol is an issue how about a the 1.8 or 2.3 diesel?

elperello

deckie27 wrote: »

No

I like sierras I think its a great idea.
I've being running classics as a daily for years.

OP. asked about insurance and got grief about using a classic daily as it will rust. Then he was graphically shown crash tests and told he is a bad person to give anyone a lift.

How about a Dacia Duster? It rusts very quickly and I wouldn't fancy being in one during a crash

OP... Try first Ireland for insurance
If petrol is an issue how about a the 1.8 or 2.3 diesel?

I think Sierras are pretty good myself. I never owned one but I drove a few.

I'm not sure anyone was giving him grief, just discussing issues.

Nobody told him he's a bad person. I just found the question of crash safety interesting and I was putting up a few points for discussion. If nobody's interested in teasing out whether safety of older cars is an issue that's ok. Live and let live.

There are lots of things I wouldn't like to be in/on in an accident both old and new. Sure don't we get up on motorcycles:)

JohnBoy26

deckie27 wrote: »

No

I like sierras I think its a great idea.
I've being running classics as a daily for years.

OP. asked about insurance and got grief about using a classic daily as it will rust. Then he was graphically shown crash tests and told he is a bad person to give anyone a lift.

How about a Dacia Duster? It rusts very quickly and I wouldn't fancy being in one during a crash

OP... Try first Ireland for insurance
If petrol is an issue how about a the 1.8 or 2.3 diesel?

What grief did the op get? In all honestly nobody gave the op grief. People were only making points, valid points about owning a sierra as a daily.

If anything your first post was the least helpful on this thread.

jca

ianobrien wrote: »

OP, a friend of mine ran one for years as a daily driver and he found the 1.6 pinto drank fuel. It was as bad as his 1.3 crossflow Escort. It was also painfully slow. The 2.0 twin cam was better on fuel, but got nicked on him. The inertia switch going off after the scrotes went over a kerb saved it from further harm.

The main problems were rust rust and rust (a fuel tank support strap came off on him due to rust!). Mechanical were tough, and anything the motor factors didn't have, Burton Power had.

Electronic ignition and a Weber carb would transform the pinto engine nowadays. The 2.0 twin cam were a lovely drive but it was a frail enough engine the timing chain was prone to skipping teeth with disastrous results. If you couldn't find a 1.8 CVH I'd go for the 2.0 pinto. The diesels were dreadful avoid them like the plague.

greendragon3

my brother is currently running a 1990 ford sierra sapphire 1.6 as his daily driver , has been for 6 or 7 years now , gets it nct'd every year and has no issues regarding insurance with one direct ,
he is in the process of finishing a mk2 four door escort and he wants to run it as a second motor just mainly for runs and shows etc , he is going to get on to Carole Nash about insurance , i will let you know how he gets on .

reubenreuben

greendragon3 wrote: »

my brother is currently running a 1990 ford sierra sapphire 1.6 as his daily driver , has been for 6 or 7 years now , gets it nct'd every year and has no issues regarding insurance with one direct ,
he is in the process of finishing a mk2 four door escort and he wants to run it as a second motor just mainly for runs and shows etc , he is going to get on to Carole Nash about insurance , i will let you know how he gets on .

Hi, has he had any problems with getting it insured as a daily driver due to the age and this 15 year insurance restriction that some insurers are sticking to?