I've recently gone past 200,000 miles on my E36 BMW 328, and that does have me wondering when the car might die on me, even though that doesn't seem to be any time soon. I've got a commute that can be around an 80 to 100 mile round trip, depending on whether I take back roads or the Interstate. The only thing I don't really like about the BMW - other than that I think my next DD won't be a convertible - is the gas mileage, which at 25 mpg on premium is tolerable, but I'd prefer better.
The conventional wisdom for the sane choice for this sort of commute would be the best Civic, Corolla, Accord, or Camry that I could find with a stick shift. Or maybe a Mazda 6, Ford Fusion, or a Prius.
But, are there older and less practical choices that would still be reasonably practical? One other catch is that I'd definitely want A/C, and to do a bit better at the cost of gas than my current car. Not sure anything would come of this, but it could be fun to think about.
Seriously finding a classic with good working AC is hard enough, then you want to get over 25miles per gallon, good luck!
How MUCH older are we talking? What do you mean by classic?
Because so far, this is sounding like my favorite answer could very well be the answer. 
I haven't set any particular cut off date - but I have a bit of trouble squeezing into a Miata, and would prefer the next car I buy have a fixed roof. An AE86 Corolla, for example, might fit the bill if it weren't for the dorifto tax...
mndsm
PowerDork
6/7/13 1:29 p.m.
Swank Force One wrote:
How MUCH older are we talking? What do you mean by classic?
Because so far, this is sounding like my favorite answer could very well be the answer.
Yeah, I get that same impression.
It's time for a GC or GD chassis 626/MX6 Turbo. I have 206k miles on mine, shows no signs whatsoever of giving up. It gets substantially better gas mileage than the BMW, makes substantially more power than the BMW, is cheaper to maintain than the BMW, can be purchased for peanuts, dead nuts reliable, easy to work on, and comfy as hell.
The A/C system is pretty simple in these. Fixing should be a weekend affair if you can't find one with a working system. (You won't.)
I've had an E36 before. I'm unsure if i'll own another one for DD duties ever again. I like them, but the MX6 has ruined me.
All GCs should qualify for collector plates at this point, and depending on your state, the GDs are there as well.
NOHOME
Dork
6/10/13 10:37 a.m.
An LSx swapped 240Z or RX7 should fit the bill. Properly geared they can eat up the miles and still have enough torque to gather up their skirts and scoot down the road.
Brakes, handling, suspensions and creature comforts are up to reasonable standards rather than, say, the crude properties of anything British.
As to your existing ride, as long as you are willing to pour about 3k a year into the car,you can keep entropy at bay, it should be able to go on forever. Much like the George Washington Axe parable.
The BMW's been costing less than 3K for maintenance; I'm probably going to hold onto it a couple more years at this point. But there is an RX7 sitting around the shop that we've been thinking of putting a leftover 2JZ from the land speed car project in...
W126 Mercedes. 15mpg is close to 25mpg right?
In reply to MadScientistMatt:
I'm selling a full interiored AE86 (hatchback) GT-S..... 
it gets about 28 mpg on the highway(27 to 30) uses regular gas, and has A/C, electric windows, and my wife has been using it for the past 2 plus years as her daily. It has about 140k miles on it
In reply to oldeskewltoy:
That post is worthless without a couple of pictures 
.
How about a BMW 2002? Put in a 5 speed from a 320 and throw a/c on it. 30 mpg and you'll always get your money back out of it.
Mine was a great commuter when I used it for that.
We use a '74 Alfa Romeo for daily transport, but we also don't drive it 80+ miles a day.
I like the MX6 idea, I had an '89 Probe GT which was fast, comfy and got good mileage.
I had an '89 Probe GT myself. Not the most exciting car in normal driving, but it would stay composted up to the limits - which were VERY high if you threw a set of R-comps on it.
The BMW 2002 or a '70s era Volvo were another set of possibilities that came to mind; I wonder what they're like to live with on a daily basis.
And yes... I second the request for pictures of the AE86!
BMW 635CSi?
Did Jag ever sell the AJ6 straight 6 in the XJS over here? They did in Europe, my father had one with the Getrag 5 speed manual, that was a great long distance cruiser.
C5 Corvette, 30mpg easy in 6th gear
I love how whenever someone has a "What car?" question someone on this board always posts "Swap X motor into Y body. Easy!" 
In reply to oldeskewltoy:
Slobber
'ow much?
Adrian_Thompson wrote:
Did Jag ever sell the AJ6 straight 6 in the XJS over here? They did in Europe, my father had one with the Getrag 5 speed manual, that was a great long distance cruiser.
Yes but manuals are extremely rare. IIRC only about 60 were imported.
Edit: I may have been wrong about the manual with AJ6. IIRC there were only like 60 manuals imported post facelift but I don't know any of them had AJ6s.
93EXCivic wrote:
Adrian_Thompson wrote:
Did Jag ever sell the AJ6 straight 6 in the XJS over here? They did in Europe, my father had one with the Getrag 5 speed manual, that was a great long distance cruiser.
Yes but manuals are extremely rare. IIRC only about 60 were imported.
Cool. Did they ever sell the Cabriolet as oposed to the convertable here? This is my dads old car.
Xceler8x wrote:
I love how whenever someone has a "What car?" question someone on this board always posts "Swap X motor into Y body. Easy!"
Actually, the plan is you buy a car where some other fool did the work and you pay him abut half of what the job cost. Name of the game cause people who swap engines tend to be project people and they are neither interested in the final details or doing maintenance on the finished project.
Xceler8x wrote:
I love how whenever someone has a "What car?" question someone on this board always posts "Swap X motor into Y body. Easy!"
And in other circles, I've seen people buy a new car that cost a whole year's take home pay. Spend a couple weekends piecing a car together, or spend a whole year of your life working to pay for one... who's the real crazy?
MadScientistMatt wrote:
I had an '89 Probe GT myself. Not the most exciting car in normal driving, but it would stay composted up to the limits - which were VERY high if you threw a set of R-comps on it.
The BMW 2002 or a '70s era Volvo were another set of possibilities that came to mind; I wonder what they're like to live with on a daily basis.
And yes... I second the request for pictures of the AE86!
The Mazda equivalent is way more fun, and from what JamesMcD said in another recent thread, the GC chassis cars feel a little more "connected."
I bet a 70s Volvo would be VERY livable! I like those. 
That AE86 is very slobbing worthy....
