[ProfZ]

I get at least 25mpg in our 1990 auto, with 160k miles on the clock. All I've done to the trans is a band adjustment at 100k miles, and a filter change at 140k (just because I had the engine/trans out for other reasons--the old filter was fine).

There were 2 sets of primary-drive gears fitted to the auto, with US cars getting the lower gearing (for better acceleration--top speed being irrelevant, since these cars were built during the "double-nickel" era:evil: ).

You could certainly play mix-and-match with these gears to produce a taller ratio, but I once calculated that the fuel consumption would only improve by about 1mpg--easily achievable by other means such as keeping tires properly inflated, etc.

BTW, the auto trans fitted to Turbo cars is beefed up--has extra clutch-pack elements, among other things. If my trans ever goes, I'll get a Turbo one from a junkyard as a replacement.

Finally, regarding the "fragility" of manual gearboxes: I recently scrapped my '88 5-speed, due to rust . It had done 272k miles, and the gearbox still worked perfectly (give or take a little difficulty in shifting into 2nd on a 10 degree F winter morning).

 

[ProfZ]

If I was changing my car every 3 years (as the motor trade like you to do), I'd be spending far more than I'm spending keeping two C900s running.

Too right, mate (as one would say in NZ)--that's Classic 900 ownership in a nutshell. These cars make excellent financial sense, but only if you can do at least some of the maintenance and repairs yourself. Otherwise, like every other car over a decade old, it will be a money pit.

Fortunately, these cars are easier to work on than many of their era (or today), and shopping around (using info from this Forum) can save you a pile of money on parts.

Remember, also, that the desirable C900s--the SPG, convertible, and any Turbo model in general--will always be worth something on the market.

But the best reason to drive a C900 as daily transportation is that it's a great, though understated and underappreciated, package: You get all kinds of goodies, plus a well-designed body, interior, suspension and drivetrain. There's a reason why these were not cheap cars when new!

A few years ago, there was a TV commercial for some Japanese car with the slogan, "Everything you want, nothing you don't."

There's no better description of the Classic 900; it does everything so damn well

 

[ProfZ]

This thread is straying far beyond the topic of the initial posting--and, indeed, beyond the bounds of a technical forum.

Much as I myself would like to jump in with both feet, I feel that the Lounge is the appropriate place to continue this discussion. I am therefore locking this thread.