everyday?

[BigJim]

is it realistic to be able to use an old skool rs everyday, rain or shine?

anyone use theirs daily?

[taffr]

nope not all year it will die and turn to dust

[escort new boy]

depends if your hardcore or not.... an if you can afford the weeklty repair bill

[Blower]

theres a guy with a mk1 4 door up my way , everyday use

Respect

[BigJim]

i'm driving my FRST everyday now............. socan't imagine repairs are gonna be much different to that?

surely if its been a looked after example, thats been waxoyled and sealed properly, it should be solid enough and plenty of fun

[mk1gaz]

We all had them as daily transport in the 1980's etc so no worries with that mate . They rusted like foooooook and fell to bits after 8 years of it though !!!!!

[grum]

gone are the days you can use them daily - reasons why

1. if some tw*t hits you - ie. more time on the road, more chance
2. because of the above, rarity of the parts, panels, bumpers etc
3. can leave them anywhere now - constant worry

i stopped using the mk1 mex in '93 after putting 60 miles a day on it for two years

(would be great if all the above three were the opposite tho )

[Mogsmex]

Kieran used his everyday

you'll find pics of it in the resto section now


bottom line as above we all used them every day back in the day, but be prepared for the bodywork to go downhill no matter hom much you look after it

I used mine a lot last year (12k covered) but left it at home if the weather was hanging

[BigJim]

12k!! you must have been everywhere!>!?!?!? i only do about 5k max a year, and thats gonna be less, once i start working for myself, but i know what you mean, wearand tear and all that.......

i think its do able, and not arsedabout bodywork, can do it all myself, providing i can get the panels as and when needed

[daytona_2000]

i know of 2 chaps around hgere that use there mk1s every day one has had his car well over 20 years and still going strong with over 250k on the clock.

[modena green]

i know a chap

i know of 2 chaps around hgere that use there mk1s every day one has had his car well over 20 years and still going strong with over 250k on the clock.

would that be a copper bronze one then

[Banishit]

I used mine for over a year rain sun snow, just waxoyled the whole bottom and nooks and cranies and inside the doors no bother

[wayne]

We all had them as daily transport in the 1980's etc so no worries with that mate . They rusted like foooooook and fell to bits after 8 years of it though !!!!!

Yes Gaz you are about right with the 8 years. My old chaps first newish car was a 78 mk2 which he bought in 1980, and was the first car I drove and learnt to drive in. When it was 6 years old/80k miles it needed new outer and inner sills. At 7 years old the front wings were shot and filled to hell, 8 years old the roof started rusting, and 9 years old /110k it was sold for scrap.

My mate restores minis and he said that they generally need "doing again" after 5 years.

The escorts are capable of everyday use but not they may not last too long doing it unless they given constant care. Food for thought if you have just spent 5 figures on a restored car.

[hotrs2000]

As Mogsmex said I used mine as my daily car for the last 5-6 yrs, it was great fun in the snow.

As long as its waxoyled everywhere and I mean everywhere you should be OK.
If your heater is not up to much best get some extra clothes on, mine worked but still not that great on the cold frosty days/nights. You could always buy those plug in electric fan heaters.
As I work nights the RS was out all night in the minus temps and it started no probs. Only thing was waiting for the screen to de-mist. (Not great blowers on MK2's) If you have opening front 1/4 light windows these work very well in clearing the front screen.

With the road salt issue its best to give the car a jet spray as soon as you can to wash it off. I used the local garage jet wash every few days or at worst once a month

With old cars in the winter the biggest issues are starting in the very cold.
Best to make sure your starter motor is tip-top, battery is charging and again tip-top.
Your rad and all pipes tip-top and you have a good mix of water to coolent level and your thermostat is working as it should.

I always did a mini service once a week to check everthing was working and spot on and only ever had a couple on non-starter mornings and that was due to the starter motor packing up and draining the battery.

Also you might think about winter tyres as these work wonders in the cold and give you very good grip on ice and snow.
I used a set of Colway remold winter tyres in size of 175/70/13 and when i got them they set me back about £18 a tyre. Your not going to go mental on these but winter RS driving is all about slow sideways fun,,,,,you just need to watch all the other nutters on the road

[OZZYMC]

Where can you get the waxoil.....Does it have to be sprayed on with a airgun???? might get the cossie done as it is put away