Repair-It

http://oppositelock.kinja.com/one-year- ... 1708936636

Quote for Ed:

Would you recommend I buy an old car and daily drive it?

That depends on quite a few variables and not just your competence of working on cars. It also takes patience to drive something as old as I do. If you get easily frustrated when something breaks or like to throw your tools across the garage in anger, don’t do it

Throwing tools is dangerous!!

I think that part of his frustration comes from driving a 'barn find..' But all used cars seem to need a level of initial repair. I suspect if he had been able to spend a month and some money on the car prior to 'dailying' it, he could have avoided many of these issues. Especially since parts appear to be so cheap.

However, the clutch and the collar were surprises that probably would have been tough to avoid without some research. If they are common weaknesses, he could have addressed them during the initial availability.

But I think the big lesson here is that if you want to daily drive an old car, you should keep a backup in running condition, and keep you AAA Gold membership current.

Right. In later comments, someone challenged him similar to what you said, and his response was that he kind of enjoyed driving it "as is" and seeing what broke next. I suspect that would get old at some point, especially if you were commuting in it.

Sure, if I was commuting in it, it would get old.

For an automotive journalist who needs something to write about, it's probably perfect. If the car is too reliable, it's like an episode of Roadkill where they drive a car and don't have to take the hood off.

Which is why my Caprice can't be in Roadkill.

True, but I bet if you sabotaged a radiator hose and then got really angry when it broke down, you could get on the Discovery Channel...