E Type Daily Car

[Ejzo]

Good Morning, I want classic car to drive everyday. Do you think E type is good choose? I can't find informations about cost of servis, fuel economy and failure. How much money I should spent on it to buy good car ?

[Moeregaard]

In the early/mid-1980s, I used my 1965 coupe as a daily driver in the Los Angeles area. It was very reliable, but not much fun to drive in heavy traffic, and the lack of air conditioning made things pretty miserable in summer. E-Types are very reliable, but only if you have a regular maintenance schedule. At today's values, you also need a secure place to park it.

[Ejzo]

Do you think Porsche 993 will be better?

[Nickleback]

Do you think Porsche 993 will be better?

As a daily driver yes, providing the E is also kept for weekends etc !

[alfazagato]

I used my series 1.5 as a daily driver in the 70s and covered 97,500 miles in it almost faultlessly. Great car but roads and traffic were different then. 993s are not cheap....why not an E type for the weekend and a 996?

[mark10337]

I use my eType OTS as a daily driver. It does have its drawbacks and I would suggest a FHC or 2+2 as a better option. I do about 16,000 miles in 12 months in mine. Tyre wear is very good. Fuel bills do mount up. You will do well to get better than 14l / 100km or 20mpg (UK). Oil - change every 5000 miles, little extra usage between. Depending how much you do yourself there will be bills for garage work, cleaning carbs, replacing bits and pieces, wear and tear. Put a couple of K aside for that at least.

That's without starting on "improvements" and mending things.

[mgcjag]

Hi Ejzo....sounds like you have no idea of e type costs......here is one for sale in Poland http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Jaguar-e-type ... Sw44BYURA2 it is probably the cheapest E you coukd get....but it would definstly need more spending on to use as a daily driver......then depending on the model and condition of a car of your choice you could pay anything up £150k or even more......but the ad above shows you the cheapest

[daykrolik]

From 1964 to 1973 I very satisfactorily used an XK 150 as a daily driver. That was obviously some time ago. I think it depends very much on where you live and how much risk you are willing to take, both with respect to theft or damage to the car and inconvenience in the event of mechanical problems. Not that I would let one drive my E, but I recently encountered a parking lot attendant at a restaurant who could not drive a manual transmission. I drive my '67 OTS is much as possible. If I lived in Los Angeles, for example, I might try to use it as a daily driver, but would probably regret it. However, for an "appliance" I love my Porsche 991 Cabrio which makes a wonderful companion for the E Type, and I don't worry about it. And I have to admit that, for modern traffic in the New York area, the Porsche PDK automatic is a real pleasure.

[juicerider]

^^^^
I think in America you'll find a manual transmission is far more effective than any immobiliser

[Simon P]

[chrisfell]

Wasn't it Jay Leno who said he liked to buy a 100 point car, and drive it until is was a 50 pointer and then restore it? It seems to me a quick way to get from 100 to 50 would be to subject the car to a Polish winter. I haven't seen a grubby E-Type in many years. I've seen plenty of early XJ6s with several weeks worth of road grime on them, one this morning as I was out shopping. All the joys of classic Jaguar motoring but without the leaking windscreen, rust pitted wire wheels, etc., a winter driven E-Type would promise.

[richard btype]

Maybe off topic but funny that the top end restorations these days would provide a very reliable everyday driver and remain rot free.

For the body protection they receive, with two pack primers, rubberised underbody spray and filling the cavities with rust protection would be more than upto the job but will probably receive a molecuddled existence and rarely encounter some wet stuff let alone some salt!

The irony of it all….

[mark10337]

My sentiment precisely, but I still get people turning up their nose / aghast in horror when they hear I drive it in the wet, let alone the winter months through the snow (and salt). To me, I love it. It isn't the most convenient mode of transport in inclement weather, but it is one of the most enjoyable.

[Ejzo]

Ok guys, I decided buy BMW F10 and Jaguar E Type for weekends. Which series will be the best?

[mark10337]

As a regular driver, the Series 2 is widely considered as the better option. Looks is the Series 1.

[PeterCrespin]

Ok guys, I decided buy BMW F10 and Jaguar E Type for weekends. Which series will be the best?

It depends whether you prefer chicken curry to pineapple ice cream.

Yes, I know, it doesn't make much sense but nor does the question, with respect. There is no 'best', just opinions and a wide range of criteria. The only opinion that matters in the slightest is yours, so you need to try a range of cars and form your own opinion.

For example, the market says the long wheelbase cars (especially 2+2) are the 'worst' and that's why they are cheaper. But if you happen to be tall or heavy or both, then for you it might be by far the best model to buy.

As for selecting an example to buy, try googling Crespin E-type and you'll see one Buyers Guide each for the V12 and 6 cylinder cars. They should save you a lot of money and grief Avoid buying a poor example, of which there are many, especially if new to the cars and buying for love.

Good luck.