![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.carandclassic.com\/magazine\/app\/uploads\/2025\/06\/IMG_0434-800x533.jpg\")
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Choose Your Weapon Carefully<\/span><\/strong><\/h3>\nI know what you\u2019re thinking. If you do daily drive a classic car in 2025, why have you chosen the most unreliable car in the world?!<\/p>\n
It\u2019s a fair question, I admit. But the reality is that a well-sorted car, irrespective of what it is, will prove far more dependable than one that\u2019s improperly maintained and seldom exercised. Long-term ownership and a hands-on attitude to maintenance helps here too. My Land Land Rover frequently goes wrong. But, since I know it so well, I can usually figure out exactly what\u2019s up and, better still, how to fix it.<\/p>\n
Yes, it was hammered together by British Leyland, but I\u2019ve found that so long as you keep an eye on the fluid levels, keep the Lucas (\u201cPrince of Darkness\u201d) electrics in check, and carry enough tools to remedy an unscheduled \u201cpicnic\u201d stop, a leafsprung Series Land Rover is not such a bad choice as an everyday car.<\/p>\n
Consider Your Usage<\/span><\/strong><\/h3>\nPerformance, or lack thereof, is a challenge. Modern cars\u2014especially the newfangled electric variety\u2014are increasingly quick, and I do find my Series III being left behind\u2014both literally and metaphorically. I can\u2019t give you a 0-60 time, as truth be told, I\u2019ve never knowingly achieved 60 mph during my ownership. That probably tells you all you need to know, but I find this is far less of a problem than it sounds; the main issue being the patience of other road users who don\u2019t appreciate that I need braking room to slow down before a junction, and time to double-de-clutch into second as I negotiate a roundabout. But not all classic cars are slow. Some are far from it. So it really depends on your requirements as to what makes a suitable classic daily driver.<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.carandclassic.com\/magazine\/app\/uploads\/2025\/06\/DSCF0262-800x800.jpg\")
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Classic Cars are Unsafe<\/span><\/strong><\/h3>\nDriving an old car is inherently perilous, and choosing to do so daily, in all weathers, does carry a heightened risk. Invariably, some classics are safer than others. But the reality is that any older vehicle has inferior safety provisions to new cars, so it all comes down to being aware of your vulnerability and driving accordingly. My Land Rover has no airbags, my knees are the \u201ccrumple zone\u201d, and it relies on practically medieval drum brakes. I\u2019m ok with this; I have to be. But that also means I\u2019m very careful. If truth be told, you don\u2019t really have to concentrate in order to drive a modern car, and that\u2019s a problem. On reflection, using my Land Rover regularly has made me a much better driver.<\/p>\n
Too Much of a Good Thing?<\/span><\/strong><\/h3>\nNo matter how much you love your classic car(s), spending too much time with them, especially relying on them day-to-day, might test your patience and affection for them to breaking point. For many, the best thing about classic car ownership is that it’s a vehicle you save for special occasions; a Sunday treat. As I mentioned earlier, and indeed something we\u2019ve said before<\/a> on Car & Classic Magazine, cars of all ages benefit from being used, but we can well understand there is a limit. As we\u2019ve established, I don\u2019t sit in the same rush hour commuter traffic every day, so the varied semi-regular drives I take in my Land Rover are generally far from onerous. I also have the luxury of splitting my time between it and other old cars; it\u2019s currently on rotation with a 1985 Alfa Romeo Spider, which couldn\u2019t be more different to drive. That\u2019s the way I like it.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.carandclassic.com\/magazine\/app\/uploads\/2025\/06\/IMG_3300-800x533.jpg\")
<\/p>\n
Cheaper Than You Might Think<\/span><\/strong><\/h3>\nBritain\u2019s forty-year tax\/MOT exemption rule<\/a> and cheap insurance for older vehicles make classic ownership much more affordable than you might imagine. You\u2019re not signing your life away on a barely affordable PCP deal; there are plenty of daily driver-worthy classics available for well under \u00a310,000, and even some for under \u00a35,000. And better still, these cars have already done their depreciating, so they\u2019re likely worth as much when you come to sell them, if not a little more. That means you could divide daily driving duties between several old cars, as I now do. This affords you time to service them on rotation, or pick your car for the weather conditions. My Land Rover is still my default vehicle. It lives mostly outside and performs adequately year-round, but I do like to change things up during the warmer months. There\u2019s always Car & Classic<\/a> after all, if you should get bored of the classic you\u2019re currently dailying\u2026<\/p>\nConclusion: Should You Daily Drive a Classic Car in 2025?<\/span><\/strong><\/h3>\nIt\u2019s not for everyone. But the increasingly dreary (and expensive) cars that clutter our roads these days make it all the more tempting to daily drive a classic car in 2025. It\u2019s also worth noting that \u201cClassic\u201d is a broad definition. I\u2019m primarily referring to so-called \u201cHistoric\u201d<\/a> cars over forty years old, as the DVLA offers these vehicles special dispensations that make daily driving them much easier on the wallet. However, there\u2019s also a strong case to be made for \u201890s and \u201800s cars, which offer greater usability due to their relative modernity. Something like a R129 generation SL or E46 3 Series would make a great daily driver, for example. There are also ways of making older cars more usable, with aftermarket additions like electronic ignition, upgraded LED lights, and modern tyres.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.carandclassic.com\/magazine\/app\/uploads\/2025\/06\/IMG_3311-800x533.jpeg\")
<\/p>\n
Performance, or lack thereof, is a challenge. Modern cars\u2014especially the newfangled electric variety\u2014are increasingly quick, and I do find my Series III being left behind\u2014both literally and metaphorically. I can\u2019t give you a 0-60 time, as truth be told, I\u2019ve never knowingly achieved 60 mph during my ownership. That probably tells you all you need to know, but I find this is far less of a problem than it sounds; the main issue being the patience of other road users who don\u2019t appreciate that I need braking room to slow down before a junction, and time to double-de-clutch into second as I negotiate a roundabout. But not all classic cars are slow. Some are far from it. So it really depends on your requirements as to what makes a suitable classic daily driver.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Classic Cars are Unsafe<\/span><\/strong><\/h3>\nDriving an old car is inherently perilous, and choosing to do so daily, in all weathers, does carry a heightened risk. Invariably, some classics are safer than others. But the reality is that any older vehicle has inferior safety provisions to new cars, so it all comes down to being aware of your vulnerability and driving accordingly. My Land Rover has no airbags, my knees are the \u201ccrumple zone\u201d, and it relies on practically medieval drum brakes. I\u2019m ok with this; I have to be. But that also means I\u2019m very careful. If truth be told, you don\u2019t really have to concentrate in order to drive a modern car, and that\u2019s a problem. On reflection, using my Land Rover regularly has made me a much better driver.<\/p>\n
Too Much of a Good Thing?<\/span><\/strong><\/h3>\nNo matter how much you love your classic car(s), spending too much time with them, especially relying on them day-to-day, might test your patience and affection for them to breaking point. For many, the best thing about classic car ownership is that it’s a vehicle you save for special occasions; a Sunday treat. As I mentioned earlier, and indeed something we\u2019ve said before<\/a> on Car & Classic Magazine, cars of all ages benefit from being used, but we can well understand there is a limit. As we\u2019ve established, I don\u2019t sit in the same rush hour commuter traffic every day, so the varied semi-regular drives I take in my Land Rover are generally far from onerous. I also have the luxury of splitting my time between it and other old cars; it\u2019s currently on rotation with a 1985 Alfa Romeo Spider, which couldn\u2019t be more different to drive. That\u2019s the way I like it.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
Cheaper Than You Might Think<\/span><\/strong><\/h3>\nBritain\u2019s forty-year tax\/MOT exemption rule<\/a> and cheap insurance for older vehicles make classic ownership much more affordable than you might imagine. You\u2019re not signing your life away on a barely affordable PCP deal; there are plenty of daily driver-worthy classics available for well under \u00a310,000, and even some for under \u00a35,000. And better still, these cars have already done their depreciating, so they\u2019re likely worth as much when you come to sell them, if not a little more. That means you could divide daily driving duties between several old cars, as I now do. This affords you time to service them on rotation, or pick your car for the weather conditions. My Land Rover is still my default vehicle. It lives mostly outside and performs adequately year-round, but I do like to change things up during the warmer months. There\u2019s always Car & Classic<\/a> after all, if you should get bored of the classic you\u2019re currently dailying\u2026<\/p>\nConclusion: Should You Daily Drive a Classic Car in 2025?<\/span><\/strong><\/h3>\nIt\u2019s not for everyone. But the increasingly dreary (and expensive) cars that clutter our roads these days make it all the more tempting to daily drive a classic car in 2025. It\u2019s also worth noting that \u201cClassic\u201d is a broad definition. I\u2019m primarily referring to so-called \u201cHistoric\u201d<\/a> cars over forty years old, as the DVLA offers these vehicles special dispensations that make daily driving them much easier on the wallet. However, there\u2019s also a strong case to be made for \u201890s and \u201800s cars, which offer greater usability due to their relative modernity. Something like a R129 generation SL or E46 3 Series would make a great daily driver, for example. There are also ways of making older cars more usable, with aftermarket additions like electronic ignition, upgraded LED lights, and modern tyres.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
No matter how much you love your classic car(s), spending too much time with them, especially relying on them day-to-day, might test your patience and affection for them to breaking point. For many, the best thing about classic car ownership is that it’s a vehicle you save for special occasions; a Sunday treat. As I mentioned earlier, and indeed something we\u2019ve said before<\/a> on Car & Classic Magazine, cars of all ages benefit from being used, but we can well understand there is a limit. As we\u2019ve established, I don\u2019t sit in the same rush hour commuter traffic every day, so the varied semi-regular drives I take in my Land Rover are generally far from onerous. I also have the luxury of splitting my time between it and other old cars; it\u2019s currently on rotation with a 1985 Alfa Romeo Spider, which couldn\u2019t be more different to drive. That\u2019s the way I like it.<\/p>\n Britain\u2019s forty-year tax\/MOT exemption rule<\/a> and cheap insurance for older vehicles make classic ownership much more affordable than you might imagine. You\u2019re not signing your life away on a barely affordable PCP deal; there are plenty of daily driver-worthy classics available for well under \u00a310,000, and even some for under \u00a35,000. And better still, these cars have already done their depreciating, so they\u2019re likely worth as much when you come to sell them, if not a little more. That means you could divide daily driving duties between several old cars, as I now do. This affords you time to service them on rotation, or pick your car for the weather conditions. My Land Rover is still my default vehicle. It lives mostly outside and performs adequately year-round, but I do like to change things up during the warmer months. There\u2019s always Car & Classic<\/a> after all, if you should get bored of the classic you\u2019re currently dailying\u2026<\/p>\n It\u2019s not for everyone. But the increasingly dreary (and expensive) cars that clutter our roads these days make it all the more tempting to daily drive a classic car in 2025. It\u2019s also worth noting that \u201cClassic\u201d is a broad definition. I\u2019m primarily referring to so-called \u201cHistoric\u201d<\/a> cars over forty years old, as the DVLA offers these vehicles special dispensations that make daily driving them much easier on the wallet. However, there\u2019s also a strong case to be made for \u201890s and \u201800s cars, which offer greater usability due to their relative modernity. Something like a R129 generation SL or E46 3 Series would make a great daily driver, for example. There are also ways of making older cars more usable, with aftermarket additions like electronic ignition, upgraded LED lights, and modern tyres.<\/p>\n<\/p>\nCheaper Than You Might Think<\/span><\/strong><\/h3>\n
Conclusion: Should You Daily Drive a Classic Car in 2025?<\/span><\/strong><\/h3>\n
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