Older cars you have seen

[Sun Chariot]

Here are a couple of other locals. On the dog walks, I've also espied "for restoration" BMW E21 and E30 hard tops.

When you think about the number of older cars still in regular use, clearly, it's still economic to run an older car, can we discuss that, or does it need a new thread ?

Numerous posts within the thread linked below, have running costs for a variety of internal combustion vehicles:

UK switching to electric vehicles discussion

Given the significant obstacles involved with using electric cars and the massive change in infrastructure that would be required do you think it’s practical. I’m especially thinking of those that live in blocks of flats that have no choice but to park on the street or those who do long...

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"Older" is, I recognise, very subjective and is hard to quantify. For four years I drove 25k miles per year in a 2006 Saab V6. I'd bought it due to its low mileage, to minimise cost to me of parts wearing out during those four years (as it happens, only required parts were tyres, brake pads + discs, 2 light bulbs and wiper blades!).
I traded it in after five years and at 150k miles. I saw it a year later, with a local-ish owner - still running but sounding rough.

And that's my point -
It's not just the inherent annual running costs of an older car,
It's also the level of probability that part(s) will fail due to the wear / age; and the additional cost / inconvenience.
That's where "economic" and "older car" do not coexist quite so happily, for the average car-reliant household.

 

[dgl]

An old K reg triumph spitfire.

 

[61653 HTAFC]

J-prefix (91-92) Renault 5 Campus, rusty and looked like a daily driver for the owner’s local trips.

After the Clio was introduced, Renault continued to make the supercinq 5 for a few years in basic trim as the Campus, as a budget option.

Indeed they did- my first car was 94 L Supercinq Campus Prima in dark grey- supposedly one of the last RHD examples built. Wouldn't say it was overly basic for the year though- sure it had keep-fit windows and only a two-speed heater fan, but it had a sunroof, a five-speed box and would happily (if loudly) cruise at 60-70mph on the motorway!

 

[dgl]

An old K reg Morris van.

 

[birchesgreen]

W reg Volvo V70 this morning

 

[ExRes]

1989/90 H reg Mk2 VW Golf GTi today

 

[Strathclyder]

Just outwith the boundries of this thread I think, but have spotted a Y-plate Astra a couple times locally in recent weeks, most recently yesterday afternoon driving past my local bus stop as I stood waiting. Scary to think it's now over 24 years old.

OT as I'm sure taxis/cabs aren't allowed in this thread, but there's at least two Metrocabs (one is a 51 plate, the other a 02; pretty sure there was a third one until fairly recently) still at work as taxis in the Clydebank area. Am sure it ain't unique in that respect in still having a handful going, but they really do stand out now compared to all the modern motors they share the ranks with.

 

[GusB]

Just outwith the boundries of this thread I think, but have spotted a Y-plate Astra a couple times locally in recent weeks, most recently yesterday afternoon driving past my local bus stop as I stood waiting. Scary to think it's now over 24 years old.

OT as I'm sure taxis/cabs aren't allowed in this thread, but there's at least two Metrocabs (one is a 51 plate, the other a 02; pretty sure there was a third one until fairly recently) still at work as taxis in the Clydebank area. Am sure it ain't unique in that respect in still having a handful going, but they really do stand out now compared to all the modern motors they share the ranks with.

I'd say that Metrocabs are probably a good candidate for the thread; there can't be many around these days, especially if they're still doing the job they were intended for!

 

[telstarbox]

All welcome!

 

[Strathclyder]

I'd say that Metrocabs are probably a good candidate for the thread; there can't be many around these days, especially if they're still doing the job they were intended for!

Very true. They (both the original MCW design and the later TTT model) were a staple of my childhood and if I were able to drive, I'd love to own one as a private car (much like Stephen Fry with I think it was a FX4) after it has been 'defleeted', but I suspect a survivor in good condition wouldn't be cheap. I know both generations had solid, bullet-proof engines, but I think rust/corrosion was the bigger issue, especially with the earlier ones.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 17 Nov 2025 ==

All welcome!

Excellent.

 

[Tracked]

Saw an old Volvo estate drive past yesterday, 'W' reg possibly, North end of Doncaster.

There's a well-looked after blue 2CV still running about in the same area, I see it quite often.

A couple of open-top MG - I think - sports cars around Doncaster, regular visitors.

Don't know if the 2CVs near Grindleford station are still there - last time I was up there there was just the one, on google maps it looks like there's two of them;

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Saw an old VW Beetle down Sussex Gardens, London Village, a few months back. Parked outside one of the hotels but presumably still runable, a bit scruffy, it stood out when every other car seemed to be* a Lexus ...



*probably wasn't

 

[m79900]

Very true. They (both the original MCW design and the later TTT model) were a staple of my childhood and if I were able to drive, I'd love to own one as a private car (much like Stephen Fry with I think it was a FX4) after it has been 'defleeted', but I suspect a survivor in good condition wouldn't be cheap. I know both generations had solid, bullet-proof engines, but I think rust/corrosion was the bigger issue, especially with the earlier ones.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 17 Nov 2025 ==


Excellent.

I think there's a few yellow Metrocabs still in service in Derby. I see them a fair bit.

 

[telstarbox]

Volvo 340 'catalyser', G prefix in Kent.

 

[61653 HTAFC]

Volvo 340 'catalyser', G prefix in Kent.

89/90... Must be one of the last few built? Not sure when production ended on the DAF-derived Volvos but they were superceded by the 440/460 in the early 1990s.

 

[ABB125]

Saw this earlier today in a supermarket car park

 

[D1511]

I saw a E reg Austin Montego estate in Stony Stratford this morning.......there can't be many of them left. Unrestored by the looks of it, but the bodywork was in astonishingly remarkable nick

 

[EYFanatic]

I think there's a few yellow Metrocabs still in service in Derby. I see them a fair bit.

There is one that works for a firm that does the airport-East Mids Parkway service because I've seen it outside there enough times

 

[61653 HTAFC]

On my way home tonight I overtook a P-reg (1996/7) Fiat Punto in faded (but apparently rust-free) red.

 

[birchesgreen]

Walked instead of drove to my mum's this morning so was able to notice what parked cars were more easily. I spotted...

X reg BMW 318i
T reg Merc 350SL

Plus a couple of Bentleys (in Erdington!) S reg Arnage plus a Mulsanne with a personalised plate

Also something real old under a tarpaulin, black numberplate. Looked maybe a Jensen.

 

[dgl]

Saw this earlier today in a supermarket car park
View attachment 192607

Interesting, just seen one too, in blue. A later model as I think it had the single letter at the start of the number plate.

 

[Minilad]

Walked instead of drove to my mum's this morning so was able to notice what parked cars were more easily. I spotted...

X reg BMW 318i
T reg Merc 350SL

Plus a couple of Bentleys (in Erdington!) S reg Arnage plus a Mulsanne with a personalised plate

Also something real old under a tarpaulin, black numberplate. Looked maybe a Jensen.

Strange choice. Drug dealers usually prefer G Wagons

 

[birchesgreen]

Strange choice. Drug dealers usually prefer G Wagons

Maybe they are retired.

 

[thejuggler]

Another 'P' reg from me, this time a VW Polo. Almost 30 years old and looked in decent condition.

 

[birchesgreen]

G reg Jaguar XJ6, niiiiiice

 

[Bald Rick]

I’ll just leave this here. Looked like it is used daily.

 

[thejuggler]

Another P reg. This time a vehicle which Honda have just reintroduced - a Prelude.

 

[dgl]

I might have mentioned it before but in Weymouth someone drives a 1932 Vauxhall Cadet.

 

[birchesgreen]

H reg Micra, first gen of course

 

[telstarbox]

Fiat Croma in London today.

 

[thejuggler]

Mk3 Escort cabrio, which was brave considering the rain we had yesterday. No idea of age as it had a private reg, but mid 80s likely. Slightly younger late 90s Toyota Celica.