Trabi/IFA Chat Forum

Daily ;-)

Well I only got the car on 5th December, but we've clocked up roughly 1200km since then. Only kept off the road really for a week or two when the salt was being spread. Just too much fun of a car not to drive at least a few times a week, so I can't see that trend really changing. Though once the weather is less wet and windy the Invacar will also be re-emerging from the garage to share some of those duties. Once I unbury her anyway!

Since I got the brakes working and replaced the carb, I drive the car as often as I can. That typically equates to about every other day. This will be my first Summer driving the vehicle, so I'm interested to see how it will do in temps above 90 or 100 F.

Howdy neighbor!

It will do just fine in Kansas heat. I drive my Trabant whenever I'm not waiting for parts.

Bill

I have 16 cars that are licensed and insured. Many more that are in "non-op" status and several more in my shop waiting for or in restoration. I decided, MAYBE I have too many cars! Time for me to downsize! At least ONE of the Trabants will need a new home.

No new posts in a while, so it appears!

I finished restoring the car in April of 2024, so in three preceding years I didn't drive it at all.

I made up for it by driving the car 12,000km in one year. I commuted in it to work and back, plus every errand, grocery store trip... Everything you would use a regular car for. I took it off the road in November of '24 for winter, since I moved to Saskatoon and the weather here gets to -40 (C or F!), enough for the glue holding the panels on to freeze. I started driving it again on 15 April and have since put another 1800 km or so on it commuting 80 km each workday. It rolled over 14,000 km this morning on my way to work!

I also drove it from Vancouver Island BC to Saskatoon SK, across the Rocky Mountains, which was about 2200 km one way. I did that with it chock full of luggage and only a handful of spare parts. It made it, and it had to suffer a shortage of correct spares until the rest of my effects (and parts trove) arrived.

Trabants are surprisingly capable. If you can handle what it will demand of you, they'll return what you demand of it without question.

I made a post about driving my P50 for 6 months.

I got mine running well and it's been my daily driver all over town. It's a rough ride on our rough PNW roads, but it's a lot of fun. I daily drive classics, so it's not all that bad not having A/C or radio lol

I'm even teaching my sister how to drive in my Trabant. She's building a lot of skill in downshifting and whatnot!

I take public transit to work, but all my my driving lately has been in my Trabant. I don't mind doing 25mph up a hill!

.. twice a monthly. during a weekends, circa 50-60 kilometres...

A year on from this post, the car is definitely in more regular use than then. Car was off the road for quite a long period following a pretty catastrophic engine failure in May 2024.

Wasn't until February this year I got things back up and running with a whole new power unit (with a couple of nice upgrades on it). Since then the car has mostly been my go to for local trips, and we've done around 4000km. I reckon if anything that number's probably going to be bigger next year as it's just such a fun car to drive. The Volvo just feels so unnecessarily huge and awkward around town now. Just being able to zap into any parking space no matter how badly the cars next to you are parked and not worry about people bashing your doors or anything is so nice.

Since the last snowstorm of the season (hopefully) is behind us in Saskatchewan, the Trabant is out and about. Commuted to work in it last Friday, and intend to use it as a daily until the first snow in November.

As such, it'll be seeing the usual 80 km there & back commute on the B roads. They're bumpy as heck, and I have to replace a few bits that have fallen off (rubber dust cap on the right rear wheel bearing, of all things) but the car seems to take it well and it's cheaper to run, especially with the fluctuations in the price of gasoline and it nearing $9 (CAD) an imperial gallon out here. I might elect to drive down to Estevan where the other Trabant in the province lives (aside from one allegedly living in Duck Lake) to attend one of their local car shows.

It is, as of writing, sitting at 19,310 km. I put on just over 5,000 km on it last year, which is less than I expected, as I bought a pickup (now departed) to commute with in May of last year. It spent 5 months parked in the garage keeping the French roses company, just as it did last year (and as per my May 2025 post).

In case anyone was wondering about the life expectancy of the Heidenau 5.20x13 crossply tires, they should last exactly 24,000 km (run to bald) if they continue to wear as they are, with rotation happening every 5,000 km.