Capable of high mileages?

[Forkie]

Cheers for so many replies guys! I take on board all your views,which all make sense...I know i would be hard pushed to replace it if i sold it,and i know i'd only get a sniff of what i paid/spent on it so far.It's in too good of original condition,2 owners,less than 50k miles and no serious rot etc ; it even has the original cills! - how much searching to find similar!!Like today,the drive home was horrendous,and the thought crossed my mind 'no way in the Triumph!'.The only time it has seen rain was when i got caught in a shower last year! True,it is costing me nowt (on a sorn and garage integral to the house) and it's in the dry..probably part of it is frustration at NOT being able to drive it (no fear of loosing my enthusiasm for it).And yes,being in the garage does make it easier to work on as and when time allows.
In all fairness to you guys it's difficult to advise when you are only getting part of the story.I will try to hang on to it for now.I hadn't heard of 'laid up' insurance - any more advice on this? Many thanks.

[djw113uk]

I may be going against the flow here but..
I currently commute from warwickshire to Bristol. Min 3 days a week, sometimes 5. Say 180 miles / day. I have been using an LPG bmw 530, which doesnt really owe me anything, and is better at defrosting, and stopping, but service items are dear, and at 250k is getting tired.

I have my old PI - also LPG converted, jag brakes, and various tweeks. uses almost no oil, and having done RBRR a few times will clock them up with the moderns, but wasnt smart enough for work use.

I now have another one.. standard engine, man o/d, elec ignition, but switchable, and seems more reliable on manual! Collected beginning of December, and clocked 1100miles in week 1!! It too is LPG converted, and runs like a dream. I have now done 2400 miles since collection, and the verdict is:

Must upgrade the brakes - But I do think they are particularly bad, even for a Triumph
Must swap distributor to something else.. 3 rotor arms have passed away so far - just keep some spares at the ready
Need larger screen wash reservoir - standard 1 litre does 1 M5 trip!
Make rear demister work - car lives outside and is very slow to de-ice
Electric engine fan is good - allows warm up to be quicker - helps the previous item
Wipers.. for some reason they ice up. They go through the motions, but dont seem to touch the screen. BMW heated screen washers were good, but nothing a squeezy bottle cant fix. But WHY do the wipers freeze? - how are they different to moderns? - No BMW's are not really hidden under the edge of the bonnet!
Leave bigger stopping distances - good practice really!
Fuel cost.... running 100% LPG is near on exactly 10p / mile. - eg. £10 = 100 miles
Extra cranking to start, but that helps oil pressure build up. you wouldnt know its on LPG.
Only a collegue's audi A3 TDI is better on fuel.. 9 p / mile. anything petrol would need to exceed 40mpg to beat it!
Cheap insurance, free breakdown cover, free tax..
BMW is there as stand-in for a month or two, but 6 weeks down and the verdict is good.

No dealer service costs, "fun" to drive, and you are putting money into something thats not depreciating.
Go for it!

[Greeks]

Must swap distributor to something else.. 3 rotor arms have passed away so far - just keep some spares at the ready

Are you sure it's not just duff rotor arms? Lots of those around unfortunately.

Need larger screen wash reservoir - standard 1 litre does 1 M5 trip!

Yikes! I've used three/four litres in three years ownership of a saloon ... in Australia

[Brian]

I agree with those that have said to keep your Triumph. Speaking from personal experience, if you sell it you will regret it!! Personally, I would drive it. I used to cover 400 miles per week in my MK2 PI and never had any bother at all. 3000 mile services came round quickly though...
Brian

[Forkie]

Cheers again for the views.I realise a few upgrades would be suggested,some more important than others obviously,perhaps moreso with mine for it to be used on a regular basis being as it has received so few new parts in it's lifetime.I'm not really interested in mods,would like to keep it as original as possible within reason. I think probably i will have to make up my mind in the next couple of months or so which way to go.Think it would of been easier if it was a 10 owner,holey winged no rear arches left version . Guess the answer to my opening question is yes,if all is well and regularly maintained!!!

[2000 Abuser]

original sills??!??!?!

bang some holes in each end, put a warmer under the sill for a day and bang in a shedload of waxoyl!

[squeezer]

Hi,

Just to add - I took a leap of faith and sold my ultra reliable golf mk 2 just over 14 months ago. I have been using my 2500 TC daily and it has racked up around 25000 miles in that time - usually commuting to the Isle of Wight from W'ton (not on a daily basis I might add). I've had a few problems with it (mainly issues with pinking/irratic idling) but it has always started and has never let me down. Air-con and remote central locking (have a kit but never fitted it) are the 2 things I'd like but the pleasure of driving it outweigh the niggles and fuel economy.


Regards

James

[Forkie]

No need to go 'banging' holes in,being the 'S' i have grommet holes in the base of the cills,ideal for Waxoil