Drive an Allante or Keep it Low Mileage?

[caddymark]

Okay, help me figure this out. I have been looking at the Allante regional clubs, and many have specific scenic drives or runs on a track where members bring their Allantes to participate. I think all that is great, but in my search for an Allante, every person (owner/dealer) I met stressed the importance of keeping the miles low on these cars, occasional use only (not a daily driver by any means). So, what do you guys think? How do you use your Allante? What would be considered acceptable mileage? Is it something you consider when you drive your car -- or not? Thanks! (Newbie, of course)

[babylac89]

It really depends on the person, my 1993 is a 'weekend driver' but my buddy uses his ,93 as a 'daily driver' and he loves it! I've got 29K miles on mine and he is up to 117K miles on his Allante and the car runs absolutely great! So, it really all depends on your needs!

Peace,

Chief

[billc83]

Cars were meant to be driven.

That being said, since buying my Allante about a year ago, I've only put about 1,000 miles on it. I wouldn't advocate the use of an Allante as a daily driver, but I don't think it should be mothballed up and hidden from sight. When it's a sunny day, I try to take a drive (even if only a few miles) just to keep the fluids circulating.

Most collector car insurance only covers a certain amount of mileage per year. I know J.C. Taylor's limit is 2,500 miles; other collector car insurances are probably comparable.

I suspect those people urging you to keep your car low mileage might be more concerned about its value come resale; a low mileage car will almost always be more valuable than its high mileage counterpart.

With all that said, it is your car, not anyone else's. Drive it as you see fit.

[carnut]

If you bought it to sell in 2 years then dont drive it! If you bought it and plan to enjoy it, drive it. I first bought an 88 with 40,000 miles, and was reluctant to drive it because of the miles and potential road rash. I sold it 2 years later and bought a 91 with 130,000 miles. Drove it everday and rarely had any issues. The problem with low mileage Allantes is frequent electrical issues because of lack of use. So, decide if you bought it as an investment which right now is not a viable question, or you bought it to truly enjoy this great driving car.

[Moose123]

I bought my 88 last fall and it has 122k. That works out on average to 6k per year...That's not much road action when you look at it on those terms. My Allante had a rough past and I am enjoying putting it back into decent shape. I plan on driving it every chance i get on the weekend. It's a great beach car...

[mikel912]

The cars are meant to be driven and enjoyed. I hope I live long enough for them to go up in value, but I do not think I will live to be 200! my 93 Montana blue has 167,000 it looks and runs like new, strict maintenence is the key to any car lasting. People tend to look at mileage and not the condition of the car. a 50,000 mile car from upstate new york exposed to snow and salt is much worse than a 100,000 mile car from palm springs calif. in my humble opinion.

[cadmat]

You'll find that most of the Allante Gurus say these cars NEED to be driven.. my 88, although not a daily driver, is driven alot a few times a week usually and it has just under 200k on it ( engine and tranny rebuild right around 170) and everything works perfect and it looks damn good IMHO... (Ok, one of my visors does droop and requires the chip clip to keep up, and the turn signal chime works intermittenly, to me that's a good thing because I think it sounds annoying) but othrwise everything works. Most folks in the know seem to think the value is gonna stay pretty low on these cars for the next several years, so you should buy it cause you always wanted one and drive while you can.

[mikel912]

Truly beautiful, excellent example of a car that has been enjoyed, and maintained. Also the motor and trans. are the least of an Allante owners concern. if you can keep everything else in order and drive your car, properly maintained there is no reason your car will not look just as good at 300,000 miles.

[babylac89]

Updated on the following text.

[babylac89]

I thoroughly agree with you Mike, even though I am 100% guilty of not driving mine as often as I should. I really enjoy the hell out of it when I do, but it's just not nearly often enough. But I regularly change the fluids and keep up all the maintenance up on it, and drive it intermittently to charge the battery. Every year I always say I'm going to do better!

Chief

[c5 rv]

I'll probably drive mine more when the SRX goes off lease this summer and I go from 4 to 3 vehicles.