I've been thinking about getting a Pinto Wagon or a lift back. What are peoples thoughts on using a Pinto as a daily driver?
:welcome: daristotle
:fastcar: GO 4 IT!!!!!
I drive my 76 pinto as my daily driver even with its trashed interior and wrinkled 1/4 panel and my best friend drives my 74 pinto wagon as his daily driver as well. My 76 just took both of us on vacation to south texas, a little over 2000 miles round trip.
I too drive one during the winter months on a regular basis.
I keep saying I'm going to drive mine every day but my F-150 is just too tempting to get back into for the 40 mile round trip to work, I think it's the better radio or something :P
Back when I had my 78 I drove it for about 36,000 miles that year. yeah I would say it was reliable. Do it!!
jim
the 1st year i had mine in 1971 i drove slightly over 40 thousand miles with VERY few problems
Mine is still a daily driver. It's a 79'. I just bought a Toyota Corolla though, so it's my long trip car, and the Pinto is now my dedicated work, short trip, and feeling cool car. Haha. It's sad really, but it's more reliable than any of my other cars.
I'd buy one!
Quote from: CHEAPRACER on September 21, 2007, 12:12:09 AM
I keep saying I'm going to drive mine every day but my F-150 is just too tempting to get back into for the 40 mile round trip to work, I think it's the better radio or something :P
Buy a better Radio for the Pinto!
daristotle,
I drove mine for about 12,000 miles a summer for three years straight. I would also take it to the track almost every Wed., race it all night, drive it back to work on Thursday. They are great as a D.D. as long as you have nothing to hide, because they do attract attention.
turbowagonman
i was driving my 78 wagon as my daily driver from feb of 2000 till 2006and my bobcat from 2003 and up.i always prefered my station wagon for the long trips and hauling/moving people and the bobcat for short trips and back and for to work.now i prefer my 93 2.3 mustang for the long trips.i think they do great for either. just depends on what you want to do with them.
drive it!!! there is more than once I have put tire chains on my ol pinto!!
I have a 79 Hatchback that i drive as my daily every day and its been good to me with its rusty quarter panels and rough interior I still love driving a whole lot more then i do my Gt grand am
so i say go for it
Pinto mike
Thanks everyone. I will definitely be driving a Pinto... just as soon as I can get one.
7 years & about 70K miles on my '74. It's been a GREAT daily driver, but age is catching up with her & the 34 yr old parts are starting to fail. She really needs a resto, but I'm betting she's got a few good years left in her.
You can't go wrong with a Pinto as a daily. Just make SURE you find a good one. Mechanical parts are EASY to find, but the Pinto specific stuff is getting prety dadgum rare.
I dont have many problems finding parts for my 76. 74 is iffy because it seems as tho they used leftover parts from the 71-73s (ive found early stuff on my 74, one example that comes to mind is the metal radio bezel). Many people here would disagree with me, but I would not *buy* a 71, 72, or 73 pinto. I've looked and there are certain parts i just cant find for them. However, the suspension and the engines on the 74-80s are common as dirt so they are easy to find. While we are on the subject, ive been driving my 76 daily for 4 1/2 years, and i am coming up on the 1st anniversary of my 74! Even after a right rear corner impact, i am still driving that 76. Pintos are tough little cars! (Cant wait to get another one, i want a 77-78 :D)
I have two drivers...One for me & one for wifey.
My 73 Pinto with a 1600, 4 speed, I drive 110 miles a day to work! (whenever I am not in China or Mexico) It sees all the rough & tumble freeways of the Detroit area. I added 15" Tmpo rims & tires to gain me a 20% overdrive condition and it nets me 34-38 miles per gallon consistantly. It had 22,000 original miles when I bought it.
Wifey's Pinto is a 79, 2300, automatic with air & power steering. It has 33,000 original miles. It get's around town just great.
Both are undercoated. I bought them to be disposable cars. Both cars are the lowest cost option when you have kids in college. I take care of my cars very well, however when they start rusting too bad they will be gone. I sell them cheap so the buyer will be happy. They are always a good deal to the buyer if they know how to do body work.
Buy an unloved model car that has a proven drivetrain. It must have low original miles and very liitle rust to start with. You should be able to get a Pinto/Bobcat in the $2000 to $4000 range. You must be able to turn a wrench. Then change all the fluids, belts, hoses, brakes, etc. By the time you do this and put new tire & undercoating you will have another $1000 in it. Then you can drive it for the next 4-5 years trouble free.
I bought a 79 Mercury Cougar in 2000 for $4000 with 13,300 original miles. I had it for 7 years and just sold it last week on Ebay. I drove it for 5 years and my son drove it to college for two years. You can't get any lower cost than that.
Link: http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&viewitem=&item=160161089215 (http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&viewitem=&item=160161089215)
daily huh? well , im in eureka, montana., and everything is far away. i drive it all the time. just got back from clarkston washington, i fingered it out and got bout 27 miles to the gallon. her name is penelope, i didnt name her, someone else did. she gets alot of attention, and plenty of laughs. if i get the chance im gonna get another 77 but i would love to get a 71 or 72. great lil car. go fer it!
I daily drive my 77... and it makes regular trips from Mass to NC.
It wiped the cam a few days back and is shaking like a paint mixer at the moment... but still going strong. :lol:
Jim
I enjoy driving my Pinto It got me here to work today!
Jennifer
:fastcar:
It's been my daily driver for the last 18 yrs.Very dependable with regular maintenance.
Mine is my first and only car. So yes, it is a daily driver! :)
Ever watch Risky Business? My Pinto will be my "Porsche" when I grow old. :)