Experts agree: Mavericks shouldn't be daily drivers

See the new thread im making

 

Agreed! Unless you love to drive an old car and are willing to put up with the lack of some modern day creature features, you should never consider it for a daily driver. Also, a decent knowledge of how to work on them is also helpful.

I drove my white '69 Cougar convertible each day, travelling nearly 40 miles round trip to work for almost 4 years. A plus were all the "thumbs ups" that I got from fellow drivers. I never got that when I drove my Ranger, lol.

Jim

 

Every Day

The only car I have made past 1979 is a 88 Taurus MT-5. And it needs a MAP sensor as well as new CV joints. No crap like that to worry about on a Mav. Or my other old cars, like the 74 Impala and Montego, 76 Grand Marquis, 78 Pinto Cruising Wagon, 79 T-Bird, 79 Lincoln, or the other 4 Mavericks I own besides the Stallion I'm driving now. They are my only cars. I have been priced out of the new car market, like a bunch of other folks. And repairs are VERY expensive on today's Auto's. Especially the automatic transmissions which seem to not last as long today. And I don't go without creature comforts. Almost all my cars have working AC, as well as power steering and automatic transmission (although I prefer a manual). It's a lot cheaper to drive a 40 year old car than one made today, once you figure in payments and such. In fact, I carry a notebook in all my cars and do the gas mileage figures every time I fill up, as well as note maintenance items and repairs. Since owning my Stallion since 03/1999, I have spent a grand total of $9045 dollars in everything, including Insurance, fuel, repairs, and initial purchase price (which was $800). That even includes storage fee's for the two year's I was driving other cars of mine. I would think that is less than one year of new car payments! These cars are going to have to last me until I die. I don't have a choice. So yes, they are my daily drivers.

 

I have been a mechanic/upholsterer for nearly 40 years now and the best time I have to look forward to, at work is when I have an oldie sitting in the shop which doesn't seem to be often enough. I have a large clientel list of pre 73 cars and trucks but other than simple maintanence I don't see them for repairs that often compared to the new cars that I have been intrusted in to take care of. If any of you had the chance to see the cover of the 04 Jasper Engine calander, the 66 Mustang GT that is the cover car is one of my responsibilities. Chris, the girl that owns it says she is driving, as a daily driver, what she wants and for a lot less than $50,000 for something she can not fall in love with like her 66. Until it was hit in the rear at 40 mph without braking, I drove my 65 Comet Hrdtp everwheres I went with absolutely no problems I will rebuild it but the car that hit me will be melted down and stamped into a new one and the guy driving it looked like he was hit by a Mack truck after the air bag got done with him. Not trying to start anything here but I tend to lean towards old iron rather than new plastic. Just me.

 

I drove my restored by me 71 F100 everywhere I went as it was my only vehicle until I got the 90 Cherokee. I quit driving my 71 so I would quit getting all of the dang door dings in the chrome. I still drive it but only to places I know I can park away from the idiots that don't care.
When I get my 72 Maverick on the road I drive it anywhere and everywhere I want. Not sure if I'll keep the Jeep or not. I'd like to sell it and buy a newer F150 4x4. Newer meaning around an 86. lol
I do agree that if you drive an older car or truck you must know how to work on them or have huge pockets full of money.
Clint

 

Here's something I saw last weekend, that reminds me, why I don't drive my old cars as everyday transportation.

I know it's a Buick, but it's alot bigger than any Maverick. I couldn't get a picture any closer, since it's against the law here to use a cell phone while driving.

 

i use to drive my comet as my dailey right after i got it on the road. started to have some issues with it and decided i needed to do a complete tear down and rebuild. so it sits in my garage. but i do drive my 1981 chevy siverado every day to work, carburated and the whole nine yards. once the comet and my 36 studebaker are back on the road i will have a problem which one to drive. i just love old cars and think that driving them on the road all the time is great. exept for in the winter when they will get dinged up. but if you are going to drive them you do need to know how to work on them and expect that they are 40 plus years old and could break down on you. but you can have a reliable old car it just takes work.

 

Look at it this way... If someone asked ME if a 47 year old car could be a daily driver, I'd tell them "NO" as well.. Because if someone has to ask that question, they probably don't know anything about cars and would be unable to maintain that car to be a reliable daily driver.

 

thats a very good point.

 

I drive my maverick everyday to work, to my girlfriends, and even past all the tuner kids. It drives great and handles very well.

I don't have all those new innovations like power windows, air conditioning, decent speakers, or even power brakes.

Anything can be a daily driver, as long as you are willing to do so.

 

I bought my 1970 maverick in 1984 at 16 years old with 148,000 on it. 1985 at 160,000 coverted to 302 drove the car apprx 200,000 miles The car sat from 1993 till 1999. In 1999 new motor new trans new suspesion and rear end drove the car apprx 110,000 till 2009. put fuel injected engine in the car aug 2009. I had an accident in it in march 2010. been sitting scince then for body work and paint hopefully driving by Christmas.The car has apprx 480,000 total miles on it.

My truck 1978 GMC Jimmy I bought in 1992 with apprx 170,000 I freshened up the engine at 200,000 At 300,000 rebuilt trans at 400,000 put in built 350 4 bolt drove it apprx 100,000 in 2003 I put a 454 in it and has apprx 75,000 more.In 1994 at 250,000 I installed Rear 3/4 ton diff and transfercase I got out of a 1973 truck that I got from original owner with apprx 215,000 miles on them. other than maintance and brakes the diffs and tranfercase have not been opened up.The truck Has a total of appprx 575,000 miles on it.

Both My Car and Truck are used as daily drivers still. I know I have a slight disadvantage on being able to do the work I have been a mechanic for 25 years The basic piont is with care and maintance you can drive them as long as you want.

 

Hey Don I would like to see more pics of your maverick it looks pretty cool in primer. Mavericks kind of suck in deep snow here and I've been spoiled with front wheel drive now for winters.

 

My car has power disc brakes, power steering and now has a good stereo. I use it for a daily driver most of the time. It depends on where I am going and if I need to haul anything large. I also have a explorer sport and motor cycle, so it isn't my only transportation option, but I do drive the mav the most.

 

You can see progress pics at my shop website www.kusstumautorepair.com Thanks Donnie

 

For me it comes down to a buy it or build it attitude. If you have the skills or money to build it into a daily driver, do it. But if you don't have the skills or money, buy a newer car with all the creature comforts you want. The newer cars have power windows, locks, a/c (that works almost all the time), power antilock four wheel disk brakes, air bags, three point harnesses, head rests, etc. for a reason. The people have demanded them and bought the products that have these items. I will admit that the older cars have two things going for them, ease of repairs and looks. The newer cars in my opinion have more safety and the technologies and creature comforts are well beyond the old cars. So it all depends on what you want and what you can afford.