Daily Driver?

henryfool

Anyone using a classic as their daily driver?

Love to get some advice on what might be a good fit for school runs, regular commutes (dublin — wicklow) and maybe even be capable of driving across a field now and then!

Budget between €15k — €20k, also open to importing from Europe, I drove a LHD here for years.

My heart says go to Germany and get a G-Class Benz but my head says it'll be a world of trouble, buy a 5-year-old Hyundai and shut-up.

If you know your cars — what do you say?

w124man

Buy a W126 300SE.

https://www.johnpmohan.com/1989mercedes-benz-300se

henryfool

That's beautiful! - I have a dog though... I couldn't put a dog in that.

MrCostington

Wow never seen that dealer before, some lovely stock there ..... might do the lotto tonight :)

OP, I assume you are aware that it's very difficult, if not impossible, to insure a classic without having a daily policy (assuming you are in the ROI)?

However, just last week I was at the bottle bank and a guy pulled up in a 126 500se so got chatting, he says he has it insured as a daily. I met a guy at a show once that made the same claim, so maybe it's possible, but for mine I found many insurers would not take me on as I have no garage (but have underground parking) and other would not let me drive the odd day into work.

w124man

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118549564#Comment_118549564

I have my E200 W124 as my daily so I can have a classic policy. I'll be swapping over my daily to an 03 Golf and putting the E200 on the classic policy

henryfool

Thanks for the advice... I hadn't considered the fact that I'd need to be insured on another car as well. I guess it's back to the drawing board for me....

RobAMerc

my mate has a 1990 Merc insured as his daily driver, so there is no reason you cant daily a classic, you just cant have classic insurance without a main car.

Its also a really nice example of a very nice, useable classic car for daily transport ( dog and all ). It might even be for sale soon ( and in your budget ). But just for full disclosure, I also have the same model car which I use as my dog transport - so I am a bit of a fan.

henryfool

Ok thanks for that, I wasn't expecting to get cheaper insurance, just cheaper tax hopefully, I've also heard some insurers won't insure cars over 20 years old, is this common? or is just a matter of shopping around?

RobAMerc

shop around - my friend made a few calls but as far as I recall he had a couple of options in the end.

I'll ask him

em_cat

Absolutely adore the Mercedes TE, I grew up in one of those. It was my tiny grandmothers, I along with 10 of her children learned to drive in it. I have some fond memories and our TE was always there!

GeneHunt

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118547853#Comment_118547853

WOW that website has some very nice cars, I spotted the 1989 Mercedes-Benz 300 SE (see below) in "Past Sales" section of the website and thought, I recognize that car!! However when I zoomed in on the reg (89-D-120109), it's not it, it's out by 51 (89-D-120160), someone local to me owns this beauty, back in '89 they were rare to see, I only know one, a well known horse breeder near me had one with the reg of 90-TS-777...

Nick84

The following generation W140 can also be called a classic now. It has much more in common with the G-Class than the W126. Take a look, you may like it more.

saabsaab

It is possible to have a stand alone policy (at least it was) I had one through a broker. Insurance was similar to a modern car but there was the lower tax. I would say that a Saab 900, 9000 or a Volvo 240 would do the job and be reliable too if looked after. Buy a good one and you'd be fine.

saabsaab

Nick84

Some other cars that could be interesting: a first-gen Range Rover or Rover SD1 with that V8, or if you're more into the 90s possibly a Lancia Thema, Alfa Romeo 166, Lexus LS, JZX100, or an E34 bimmer. All could be decent dailies.

w124man

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118599203#Comment_118599203

G Class? I think you mean W124 E Class!