Your perfect daily driver

[Ruadhd2]

A great spiritual leader, His Holiness Sant Rajinder Singh Ji Maharaj, once said, “Our soul is overshadowed by our mind, which is attracted to the outer world. When it begins to desire things of this world that are temporary, it is headed for disappointment.” As a person who has been on a spiritual quest I know this to be true. I know that perfect happiness that is lasting cannot be found through drugs, sex, rock and roll (or jazz) or perfect chemistry in romantic love. Most pleasures are temporary. The soul is always longing for lasting perfect union, that, for many, can only be satisfied by some higher connection..

 

For those of us, like me, who are still attached to the world, I have always been on a quest for the perfect daily driver in a car. For me, besides love and playing music, driving a car is my favorite earthly pastime. I have owned 44 cars and still have not found the perfect daily driver. I have also driven a lot of them that weren’t mine. My father had nearly 100 cars in his lifetime and, like myself, rarely owned more than 2 at once.

 

So I know that the perfect worldly fit between a person and a car is a very individual quest; but I am interested in other people’s experience. For me, driving is an important way to put a smile on my face during daily transport. As I enter the winter of my life, it matters to me to have quality of life, and that includes the most satisfying daily driver.

 

Some of the better ones for me and why they weren’t perfect for me:

 

1. 1990’s Corvette …. Overly powerful and still felt like plastic.

2. 1996 Mazda Miata … Came close to feeling perfect but was underpowered. Maybe if I had driven the 2004 Mazdaspeed with a turbo I would have been happy.

3. 2004 MINI Cooper S. One of the best overall driver’s experience but I wanted a convertible.

4. 2006 MINI Cooper S John Cooper Works Convertible… near perfection but the rear visibility (before they got rid of the roll bars in 2008) and side blind spots irritated the wife so much she made me get rid of it , and I must admit the visibility problem bothered me too.

5. 1999 BMW E36 M3 convertible. Probably the most integrated and satisfying machine I have ever driven, but mine was an automatic and I didn’t find a reasonably priced 5 speed that was in the condition I was seeking at the time.

6. 2001 BMW E46 M3 Convertible. Probably the best car I have ever driven but it is schizophrenic. Unlike the E36, it is not an integrated automobile. It doesn’t know if it is a luxury car or a performance car and can’t seem to reconcile the two. Also, while it has awesome power and handling, it is too heavy to throw around easily. The rear end will go out on you after about 80 mph. You may need driving lessons to know what to do with it when the rear end surprisingly breaks away, especially in the wet.

7. I thought the car of my dreams was an Elise. It seems to be the move-up vehicle for both 7 and MINI owners. I was very disappointed with the visibility in front with the targa top on, and the rear visibility was awful too for a modestly taller person (5’11”).

 

 

I recently spoke to a 7 owner who had owned over 100 cars. He was my age (68). Unlike me, his budget was not really very limited. He has owned Porsche 911’s, Ferraris, Boxsters, classic English cars, etc. I asked him “If you could only own one car as a daily driver, what would it be?” His answer surprised me. “Without a doubt a Porsche Boxster S!”

 

My brother has a 2001 Porsche 911 AWD twin turbo and he has been urging me to try a 911. I have never driven one. Every tesimonial I have read says that 911's are the best. They keep recurring, for example, on "Top Gear" as the ultimate machine. I am concerned that late model 911's are pricey and they aren't cheap to maintain.

 

 

Still, I am aiming to test drive a 911 and a Boxster S.

 

 

I was wondering what other people drive on a daily basis that puts a smile on their face every time (besides a 7, which is impractical in the cold weather, even with a heater).

 

Sorry for the length of this post, but I thought it might invite an interesting discussion and reminiscence by old folks like me of the highlights of their driving careers.

 

By the way (BTW) I don’t count vans and SUV’s as daily drivers, because they are mostly chosen due to family obligations, weather or terrain. Also, exhilarating race-only cars don't count, because they aren't daily drivers.

Edited February 11, 2011 by Ruadhd2

[twobone]

I sold an 84' 911 carrera coupe for my seven. Before that I had an 81' 911 SC targa.

 

I have to say the tactile sensation of everything in the 84' was so engaging and confidence inspiring. The decades of incremental engineering can be felt. There is also something so classic about an 80's porsche 911 interior. They are also the last of the hand built air cooled cars. The 81' felt more agile, while the 84' felt more planted.

 

I think you should seriously consider driving a very well taken care of air cooled 911. A magical driving instrument. The sounds are also intoxicating.

[twobone]

Also, if you buy a really good one for $20K, it will still be worth $20K or more forever. Pelicanparts.com forums are a great source.

 

If I had a 2 car garage, I would still have my 84' 911 (for life).

 

They are also achingly beautiful.

 

I'm unconvinced you need a more modern Porsche. If you really need strong A/C, get a 964 (89-92'), but that means more complexity. I think the sweet spot is 84-88'.

[twobone]

Lastly, it does have 4 seats in a pinch. They are also wonderful track machines.

 

Why did I sell that car!!!!!!?????

[Kitcat]

Maybe it's like the T-shirt says, its not the destination but the journey that's important? And your journey has been impressive.

 

FWIW, of all the cars, tame and wild, that I have owned in my 64 years, if I could only have one from this point on, I would chose my '05 Honda Accord, 4 cyl, auto, 4 door. It got 33 mpg at 70 mph, was quiet, comfortable for 5 adults, was totally reliable, and had excellent handling. When I took it to the track it was consistently faster than, say, the Miata's there.

 

Mike M.

[Hank]

Hummer H1 Alpha. One day...

[Boxologist]

I'm confused at how a BMW or P car would be a good daily driver considering the cost of ownership. If its a daily driver, its the assumption that ur preserving the good car.

[twobone]

as long as you are not in the snow belt, a mid 80s 911 can be driven into the 200,000+ miles territory before a rebuild if well cared for. Maintenance and parts costs are not outside of the norm by todays standards.

[Ruadhd2]

Actually a BMW, if you have the right model, and have it well maintained from new, can be quite reliable. Regular maintenance does not have to be done by a BMW dealer. The thing with BMW's is the little electronic glitches, turn signals, warning lights, etc. They can be annoying. But, the engine and transmission can go for a long time with proper maintenance. I don't know about Porsches. I'm asking.

[Jim F.]

Because of a time constraint at this moment, from a viewpoint of a purely fun car to drive on a daily basis, two months ago I purchased a one owner '07 Dodge Magnum 3-year lease turn-in w/ 40K mi. Always caught my eye from its introduction in '05 and finally jumped in, since they stopped production in '08 and are becoming hard to find. Classified as a Sportwagon it still has the appearance of a hot rod stationwagon. More later..........probably. BTW, I'm almost 69 and have also had a ton of other cars throughout my lifetime (like most others my age), but this Magnum is a pure pleasure to drive...........not a bit of regret!

[JohnCh]

I'm confused at how a BMW or P car would be a good daily driver considering the cost of ownership. If its a daily driver, its the assumption that ur preserving the good car.

 

It depends on your commute. I don't deal with stop and go traffic, snow, or a bad parking situation, so I want to drive something I enjoy every day.

 

I've used Porsches as my DD for 14 of the last 15 years and can vouch for their reliability and competence as a great daily stress reliever.

 

-John

[trough doctor]

Although I have not driven or even been taken for a ride in one, my belief is it would be hard to beat the 911. As a father of 2 small children (2 wks and 3.5 yrs old), its the rear seats that are the kicker. Better to spend lots of time in a 911 than no time in a 7. I have a very understanding and easy going wife so can still go for quite a few runs in the 7, but she will not allow the boys in the car, and probably for good reason. The 911 could be driven every day and used for most family excursions. For those of us in northern climates you could find one with awd and drive it all year round. I may one day look at trading in the 7 for a 911. It just seems to do everything well.

[MHKflyer52]

Ruadhd2,

You should also look at the Porsche Cayman (think hardtop Boxter with 996 looks). The Cayman is mid engine two place Porsche that looks better than a Boxter and comes in both automatic an manual transmit ions (the PDK paddle shifter automatic is faster than the manual and can be driven like a manual). Look for the S model as they have the best of all the components and will out handle most 911's and base 996's yet drive like a nice highway curser also they are not as expensive to purchase or maintain.

Here is a link with some info:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Porsche_Cayman

 

PS: I am partial to Porsche's and have owned one or more for the last 41yrs and at one point had nine Porsches at one time and still have one today that I purchased new in 1970. (914-6)

Edited February 11, 2011 by MHKflyer52
Added postscrip note in blue.

[scannon]

Miatas make great daily drivers. Put a good turbo kit on it and some suspension upgrades and you have a great track car that can still be a very good daily driver. Studded snows will get you around in all but the worst winter storms.

 

I usually have a winter beater of some sort. I sold my last one, a '97 Civic EX coupe and bought a new Suzuki SX4 Crossover. It has turned out to be a very fun car to drive, gets decent fuel mileage and has on demand 4WD for when the going gets tough. This is the first new car I've owned that hasn't been back to the dealer for little and/or big problems. I'm very impressed with the quality of the car and the way it drives.

 

In the warm months the Seven and the Miata are my daily drivers unless I need to haul more than one passenger or something bigger that they can't handle.

 

I agree about 911s being good daily drivers. I've had a number of them but the funnest of the bunch was the '65 911. It felt so light and was so tossable it made the later 911SCs seem like heavy slugs. Sure, the SCs were faster but they just didn't have that joyful feel of the '65.

 

I'm 66 and have owned 341 cars and 16 motorcycles.

[Alaskossie]

scannon,

 

Are you certain you're not a closet auto dealer?

 

You're in the lead, so far.... I'm 68 and I haven't owned 10 percent of the number of cars that you've owned, and zero percent of the motorcycles -- and I'm way too old to begin now!

[480rider]

I'll bet I"m not the only one who would like to see the detail list (year, make, model) of all 341 and 16! Very cool.

[Ruadhd2]

OK Scannon. If you were first to choose one to three daily drivers, what would be your top pick(s)?

[scannon]

OK Scannon. If you were first to choose one to three daily drivers, what would be your top pick(s)?

 

To do that I'd need to know whether or not it was to be winter driven in severe conditions, how many people it had to be capable of carrying and what level of gas mileage was required. Also what level of funding was available for purchase. Would it be the only car or would something like a Seven be available for stress relief along with the DD.

[Ruadhd2]

Keep the 7. Don 't include winter with more than 3 inches of snow. So, 4 seasons. Under $50,000. Used cars ok.

[scannon]

I'll bet I"m not the only one who would like to see the detail list (year, make, model) of all 341 and 16! Very cool.

I had a hand written list of the first 250 or so cars. I lost track of it many years ago and have just kept the running total going. Many of those were very forgettable cars (especially as my memory ages) basic four door sedans and such. Here's a few of the more interesting cars:

 

Current vehicles:

 

2004 Caterham SV Roadsport

1992 Miata (highly modified)

2005 Silverado extended cab pickup (tow vehicle)

2011 Suzuki SX4 Crossover

 

Previously owned:

 

1963 Porsche 356B (2 of them)

1965 Porsche 911

1966 Porsche 911

1967 Porsche 912

1968 Porsche 912

1969 Porsche 911E Targa

1980 Porsche 911SC (gray marketed that one in)

1985 Porsche 944

 

1967 BMW 1600 (I put a 2002 engine in it)

1968 BMW 2002

1973 BMW 2002

1976 BMW 2002

19XX BMW Bavaria

1982? BMW 635CSi (another gray market car)

1987 BMW 325ci convert (picked up new at factory)

A number of other 2002s that I cannot remember the years. A total of 14 BMWs.

 

1955 Austin Healey 100-4L

1957 Austin Healey 100-6

1961 Austin Healey 3000 (I put a Corvette drive train in this one

1957? Bugeye Sprite

 

1953 MG TD

 

1961 Sunbeam Alpine

1965 Sunbeam Alpine

1967 Sunbeam Alpine

 

1959? Jaguar XK140 fixed head coupe

 

24 Miatas (4 were bought to part out)

 

1957 Corvette

1958 Corvette

1963 Corvette split window coupe

 

1951 Studebaker Convert (V8 & 3 on the tree)

 

1959 Rambler American

1961 Rambler American convert

 

1947 Cadillac convert

1951 Cadillac Fleetwood 60

1955 Cadillac Eldorado convert

1967 Eldorado

 

1950 Oldsmobile 2 dr hardtop

1966 Oldsmobile Toronado

1967 Oldsmobile Toronado

1969 Oldsmobile Toronado

1965 F-85 coupe (had the ali V8 and 4 speed)

1987 Cutlass Supreme coupe (turbo version)

 

1959 Plymouth Sport Fury

1951 Plymouth wagon

1963 Plymouth 2 dr

1966 Plymouth 2 dr 383 engine and 4 speed

 

1960 Dodge 2 dr

1983 VW GTi

1977 Scrirocco

6 other Sciroccos 1st and 2nd gen.

198X Golf

1969? Westphalia camper

1985? Rabbit Cabriolet (1st year they put the GTi engine in it)

 

1961 Corvair Rampside pickup (2 of these)

1960 Corvair sedan

196X Corvair Greenbriar

1964 Corvair Corsa convert

1967 Corvair Corsa coupe

 

1940 Ford coupe hotrods (2 of these, one had a Chrysler 392 hemi the other a 394? Oldsmobile engine)

1929 Ford Model A pickup

1950 Ford woody wagon

1957 Ford sedan

 

1953 Mercury lead sled

1948 Mercury convert

 

194X Army Halftrack (1/2 ownership)

 

1973 Volvo 1800ES Sport Wagon

195X Volvo P544

 

1973 El Camino SS

1971 El Camino

 

1961 Chevrolet Panel truck

 

I just found a stash of old photographs of my cars. I don't have time to add them now but will later on.

Edited February 12, 2011 by scannon