Sadly, I've barely put 3,000 miles on it since I did the resto in 2006. I don't think I've driven it maybe 4 months now, which is especially sad since I've moved back to the West Coast and it is sunny and warm most of the year. This post reminds me that I need to change the oil and drive it this weekend.8.7.1

1,000 miles in a couple years sounds about right.  I've put a little over 10,000 on mine since I've owned it (purchased in 1994).  It sat without moving for a long stretch in there.  I drove it every nice day in high school, but was not taking the car to college, so Dad dropped the insurance and it sat for 4 years.  Then I was on my own insurance and it was just too expensive when I was first out of college so it sat more.  I started my business in '06 and can't drive it for work (makes a poor pickup truck).  I finally got back into it around '13 when my then 2 year old son wanted to go for a drive.  Since then I drive it when I can, but there are practical constraints that prevent me driving it nearly as much as I'd like.  I only drive it on nice days (no rain, and once they salt the roads it doesn't go out until we've had a couple good rains to wash that carcinogenic stuff off).  In DE that means typically no driving Jan & Feb, possibly also Dec and Mar depending on the year.  For work I need my truck, so its not like I can take it to the office; my office is my truck.  After work my kids both play sports so I'm not piling them into it with muddy cleats, etc.  So I really can only drive it when circumstances permit.  During nice weather I do try to get it out at least once or twice a week, but typically don't go very far, so the miles don't really stack up.  Eventually circumstance will change and I'll probably drive it more.  I've also got several other low mileage vehicles that I have to toss in the rotation every so often as well, though some of them I will drive in the rain and even snow if I had to.

I just ran the numbers and it's hard for me to believe that we average so few miles/year.  Bought it as a "20 Footer" in july 05.  Down most of 06 for mechanical resto.  Waxahatchee Bash in '10.  Kalispell Bash in '11.  Down for major complete resto Jan '13 to Aug '15.  Wimberly TX Bash in '15 and Ft. Walton Beach Bash in '17.  Waco Mini-Bash in '19.
Wiped out the engine last July, down since.  Total on the clock since the mechanical in 06 is 32K miles.  So average miles during non-down time is 2800/year.
We drive it at least once a week but our town is small so our local running around doesn't amount to much and we have winter here. But, as you might tell from the Bash trips, I'm not afraid to drive it.  I think like you...if I want "Garage Art", I buy a picture.
 

My 67 is my daily driver in the snow free months. I average around 5K/year now, but when I worked it took me to work each day in the spring/summer/fall, an 80 mile round trip. I would put 12-15k miles on it in those days.

I don’t usually keep track of the odo readings. Since I stopped going to MCA events in 2014 my car only gets driven a rough  guess of a few thousand miles a year. We here in the northern climates get a lot less driving time, 5 months is a good year.
Every year starting about 2005 a friend, his wife and I with mine would attend 2-3 car shows in many of the US venues. We usually stayed in the area of the shows afterwards driving around sightseeing and vacationing.
We still try to get out cruising frequently, weather permitting.

I've had mine a while.....Drove it to several bashes.....couple long trips to Okla. and Texas.
Now that we have a garage, it's in there and my 'partz-chaser' is parked behind it soooooo it's EZ'er to just use the truck.
No AC.... so it goes to local car shows and spring & fall & summer 'scootz' down the road.
Wussss-ified?........Yeah I guess.
6sal6

Its something that I always wondered about... I have seen on different forums etc where people purchase the most expensive brand of brake pad, or spend thousands on an engine rebuild to then let the car just sit 90% of the time. I don't understand it to be honest. If my car was hardly driven like this, I would probably sell it. I certainly look after my car and it is very tidy, but I like to drive mine. Scrapes, chips and wear and tear can all be repaired...
Typically I will do school drop off, drop kids off to work, drive to friends houses for dinner, go for scenic drives, car meets and I do this kind of stuff regularly.
When a car just sits, seals dry out, oil leaks develop, water pumps leak etc etc... Cars should be driven I reckon. Perhaps a lot of people are scared to drive them?

Last edited by Toploader (3/24/2021 3:15 PM)

It was my daily driver and fixer upper for first 8 years.
When I moved to Michigan, it became a summer/fall only.

Yes there are four seasons up here, I think summer was on a Tuesday last year. Way too short for me.

This is my parts chaser Sal...unless it’s broke down or it won’t fit in the trunk.  Might have to put a hitch on it.

Great excuse to steal wife’s F150.😁

Last edited by Nos681 (3/24/2021 4:01 PM)

50vert wrote:

You guys are spoiled with registration costs. Down here it costs bout a $1000 a year for unrestricted use. Or $200 a year for very restricted use ... approved club runs and 15 km radius for testing purposes.
Club rego is only available for older cars. I'm currently saving $4000 a year by choosing not to register a coupla newer cars, and club rego on two older Mustangs.
I'm still paying around $5000 a year for my work truck and other daily drivers.
I do more miles in America for pleasure than I do in Oz.
 

Ouch! I spoke incorrectly before stating my registration was $167.50 for five years. I need to correct that to $165.72 for five years. Colorado makes you sign an affidavit that states that I won't drive more than 4K/year. No odometer readings, nothing, so it is not enforceable. Now I am a law abiding citizen so if the odo flips over 4K for the year, I park it and get a tow truck to haul me home. Bwahahaha.

New cars owners get drug over the coals, hence the reason the newest vehicle in our fleet is a 2002 Ford F-250 7.3L diesel. Its tags are about $160 or so each year plus it has to go on the treadmill to check for particulate emissions. The plus side of the treadmill is it gives me RW HP each year to track. 

I DRIVE MINE EVERYDAY PRETTY MUCH.

I usually put about between 750-1000 miles per year on my 68. Some years more, but that's about the average. I had planned on driving it more after I retired, but the virus hit and there went all the shows and cruises. Things are starting to pick up recently and once the weather improves and my new shoulder gets into better shape I'll be hitting the road again. Last time I drove it was in December on a sunny day where we had a cruise to support a local food bank. So far, no issues with sitting warm and dry in my garage.

Since it's running, I like to drive it whenever possible. I've clocked a little over 8000 miles since it was first registered in mid-2018. I lost almost a year with a busted motor after the 2019 Bash.