Everyday car?

[Philip]

Hi, just wondering how many of you use your marinas and itals as daily cars. Rain, snow or shine.

[Clan Chieftain]

No only for shows.....My everyday car is a Mazda Premacy Sport.

[Philip]

My modern car is a V6 Rover 75 but since buying the Marina, I have been using the Marina most days. I thought that the novelty would have worn off by now but it hasn't. It's more fun and uses less petrol.

[PHUQ]

Yup, only car (although not really a daily driver as university and now my current place of work are within walking distance). I do also have a 125cc motorbike which will share duties with the car once I get the blummin' thing back on the road.

Incidentally, the Marina has been an absolutely brilliant tool this last week. Clearing our student house of two years it's done 5 tip trips, with either household waste, junk from the garage (including the remains of several scrapped motorbikes), or several loads of garden waste including what was basically a tree. It's also moved a motorbike in component form to it's new owner's house, moved one of my housemates across town to his new digs, including carrying most of a disassembled 600cc motorbike in one go. It then moved me home, 130- odd miles up the A38 and M5 loaded up with all my clobber. Really no idea how we'd have managed without it.

Oh, and I've just heard my other housemate's Nissan 200sx decided to blow up on the way home

[snowy]

I'm using mine every day to take me to work and back. About 270 miles a week.

[vermillion]

I use my Mk 3 everyday and have done since I bought it 3 1/2 years ago wouldn't be without it . It is still original and not restored as of yet but it is now getting to the stage where something will have to be done soon.

[Philip]

Hi, I too use mine every day but am wondering what is the best thing to do to it over winter. I plan to put waxoyl spread about a foot deep everywhere underneath. What do you guys do over winter?

[JubileeNut]

Mine will be put on carpet this winter But am using it to go to work at the moment. Well it is nice out

[ScreamingLordStokes]

I've used my 1.3 Coupe as my daily driver for the last six years, but it really needs a bit of TLC now so I've bought a 1.8 SDL for long distance summer runs and shows. I'm still going to use the coupe for everyday stuff but its nice to know that if I have to take it apart I don't have to get it it back together for the next day to get to work.

[gary]

My daily drive is a Citroen xm 2.1td very rewarding drive to us nutters who own them,I am on my 5 th!
My marina 1300 coupé Is about 4-6 weeks away from the road.I look forward to having the marina on the road as I can do jobs on the 16 year old Xm without having to worry about having family transport,me being the only driver.I intend to use the marina more than the xm,just use the xm for big runs as it gives good 45mpg in big car comfort.
Gary

[Philip]

Nice to know that some are getting daily use.
What do you guys do to keep rust at bay, using your cars in all weathers?

[Kilroy]

We use 5 Marinas as daily transport.
Sue uses one to get to and from work, doing about 300 miles per week.
I use two estates and two saloons for tearing all over the place.
One estate has all my tools in it - the other is for carrying large items.
The two saloons I use for collecting parts and generally enjoying myself.
All of these vehicles live outside, and occasionally ship a bit of water depending on which way the wind was blowing..
However - the Marinas I am not using regularly seem to be deteriorating much faster.
My only treatment is regular cleaning.
Cheers.

[Marinanut]

The Ital estate was doing service alongside my Rover 216 and Rover 111 Kensington until I snapped my Achilles tendon; none are doing much at the mo......

[locost_bryan]

All of these vehicles live outside, and occasionally ship a bit of water depending on which way the wind was blowing..
However - the Marinas I am not using regularly seem to be deteriorating much faster.
My only treatment is regular cleaning.

Do you clean the ones you're not using? Do you get much salt spray, or are you far enough away from the port to not be affected?

I'm a firm believer that cars last much better when they get regular use. Don't know if the air movement and heat help to protect the bodywork and interior, but it's certainly better for the mechanicals (imho).

[Kilroy]

No salt here - but I know what the main problem is.
The weather seals that fit along the lower edge of the window glass perish, and allow water to run inside the door.
This not only causes the doors to rust - because the blocked drains keep the water inside - but they also allow water to sit along the top of the sill, which eventually rusts. This allows the water to then venture through into the carpets via the inner sill.
Mind you - there is an even better scenario.
When parked with a list to port - as in at the left side of the road with a camber - water can exit the left heater drain, run over the steering rack, down the bellhousing, and neatly into the clutch lever aperture.
I bought one car that I was told had a frost plug gone - in fact it had a bellhousing full of water because the drain was blocked with crud.
Check the high tide mark...