I bought my Spitfire new in 1980. Had it exactly one tank of gas worth
before I walked away from it the first time, learned to watch the gauge was
after that. Used it as a daily driver for 3 years and can't count the
number of times it stranded me. Finally bought another daily driver but
just couldn't let the Spit go. About 6 weeks after I bought another daily
driver I had just gotten off the phone with a friend and started laughing
because it occurred to me that when I told him I would meet him at a certain
place and time that I could actually expect to get there, being without the
"spectre" of possible breakdown was a new thing to me at that time.
Still have it 20 years later but haven't put any miles on it since I parked
it at my in-laws to go on my honeymoon in 88. My very understanding wife
(of 12 yrs now) said "use it, or find it a good home" so am currently in the
very early stages of a restoration project. Nowadays I have a cell phone,
AAA and multiple daily drivers so a temperamental LBC can be enjoyed for the
fun that it brings without undue hassle if it happens to be "down" on any
particular day/week.
Bruce Hestand
'80 Spitfire, '89 Harley, '95 F150, '00 Town&Country
"So many roads, so little time"
----- Original Message -----
From: "Richard B Gosling" <Gosling_Richard_B@perkins.com>
To: "michael.graziano" <michael.graziano@csfb.com>; "spitfires"
<spitfires@autox.team.net>
Sent: Wednesday, January 03, 2001 4:48 AM
Subject: RE: Daily drivers
>
> I am another 'mad' daily Spitfire user. Main reason for this - there is
no way
> I can afford to run more than one car, so if I am to enjoy the pleasures
of
> Spitfire ownership, I have to use that as my main car. Last year Daffy
did
> about 16,000 miles - it is a bit of a trek to work and back for me,
although
> it is almost all 70-80 mph motorway, so it doesn't take too long. It is
true
> that this does take its toll, but regular maintenance, keep up the
servicing
> schedule more or less (which I do all of myself), and problems are
minimised.
>
> In a little over 2 years of Spitfire ownership I have missed one days work
due
> to not being able to start the car (starter motor died). There have also
been
> two occasions where I have had to use a combination of trains and
borrowing my
> wifes car for a few days because Daffy was off the road - first with a
big end
> gone, requiring a new re-conditioned engine (not a cheap fault, and only
2
> months after I got the car), then with the rear drive-line and suspension
> damaged after a UJ from the diff to the half-shaft disintegrated (my
fault, I
> didn't put it in properly when replacing it a few days early). My wife's
car
> ('88 Citroen BX) has probably suffered a similar amount of off-the-road
time,
> so Spitfire ownership is no more risky than running an old-ish 'modern'
car.
>
> If you have faith in your machine, in your mechanical abilities, and you
take
> good care of your car, a Spitfire can make a fine daily driver, and you
will
> actually look forward to your commuting time, rather than seeing it as a
> chore. One word on MGs - while I appreciate the gentle rivalry between
> Triumph and MG, I have to admit that the MG BGT I had before Daffy took a
lot
> less regular tinkering than Daffy does (and never needed a new
engine...).
> But that may just be because I knew less about classics back then - I
suspect
> much of my tinkering is self-inflicted because I enjoy it, rather than
because
> it is essential!
>
> Richard and Daffy (Driving daily through the winter weather and loving
every
> second!)
|