What is the Best Daily Driver?...the impossible question

[Dmitry at Pelican Parts]

I recently had a conversation with some friends about this and too many variables always came up. A daily driver if you're single?...Well, what about if you have 2 kids?...Where do you live?...etc... It seemed impossible to get an actual answer - I'm expecting nothing less here lol but still thought that I'd pose the question.

Ready, set, go...


For me, it has to be my current car. 2018 A4 S-line. Stylish, quick enough, handles wonderfully, and is a dream on the freeway for long distance drives. Super comfy as well.


Similar to this one:

[aschen]

Depends on which of my personalities you ask:

The practical engineer in me answer: Prius

The sports car guy in me: 6mt GT4

The dad in me: Odyssey

[Dmitry at Pelican Parts]

Originally Posted by aschen

Depends on which of my personalities you ask:

The practical engineer in me answer: Prius

The sports car guy in me: 6mt GT4

The dad in me: Odyssey

I think that's a perfect answer. We focused too much on finding 'the one'

I'll have to think of my list, but a 993 will fall somewhere in there.

[flipper35]

For me, one that is paid off.

[1990C4S]

Practical? A Jetta diesel with the ALH engine.

Value/Performance? 996

No limit? Cadillac Black Wing, or manual V8 wagon. Or an E63.

[stevej37]

Honda Fit.....5 speed only

[masraum]

Yep, too many factors to list. If I was trying to commute today, 85 miles one way, mostly open freeway? I'd probably enjoy commuting in my '08 Boxster S. I may also enjoy commuting in a 911 turbo or an AMG of some description.

If I was commuting someplace where I mostly sat in stop and go traffic for a long time, then it probably wouldn't be one of the cars above.

If the commute was like my commute from pre-covid (3 miles), I did use my Boxster, and I loved it, but some sort of small city vehicle, Fit, Smart, Fiat 500, prius, etc... would probably be great as well.

What is the commute (distance, traffic, roads, etc...)? What is your personality (do you like fun/engaging drives, just want to be comfortable and isolated, point A to B appliance)? And probably also where do you live (Phoenix, Cali, Seattle, Calgary) is going to make a difference.

[vash]

my ideal DD will not require much maintenance. and if it does, it wont be super expensive. it will get good MPG, and have room to fit 4 adults comfy. easy to drive..

honda accord hybrid.

i dont need the thrill and exhilaration of a sports car when i am in bumper to bumper traffic.

[Jims5543]

Originally Posted by masraum

Yep, too many factors to list. If I was trying to commute today, 85 miles one way, mostly open freeway? I'd probably enjoy commuting in my '08 Boxster S. I may also enjoy commuting in a 911 turbo or an AMG of some description.

If I was commuting someplace where I mostly sat in stop and go traffic for a long time, then it probably wouldn't be one of the cars above.

If the commute was like my commute from pre-covid (3 miles), I did use my Boxster, and I loved it, but some sort of small city vehicle, Fit, Smart, Fiat 500, prius, etc... would probably be great as well.

What is the commute (distance, traffic, roads, etc...)? What is your personality (do you like fun/engaging drives, just want to be comfortable and isolated, point A to B appliance)? And probably also where do you live (Phoenix, Cali, Seattle, Calgary) is going to make a difference.

All questions I was going to type.

Too many factors.

If it is a fun drive I would want a fun car.

If it is surface road, traffic light stop and go, I would get an appliance I care little about.

[stevej37]

My mileage minder on the Fit pictured above...shows that I have 20% of my oil life left before changing.
I have 9800 miles on it since last change.

The mileage minder also says that I have 40.7 mpg since the last change.

[porsche4life]

Totally depends on the drive, where you park, etc.

Honestly for an all round vehicle, a new hybrid marverick would do well. Small enough to be easy to maneuver, hybrid to get 40mpg, and has 4 seats and a small bed for some weekend chores.

[masraum]

Originally Posted by vash

my ideal DD will not require much maintenance. and if it does, it wont be super expensive. it will get good MPG, and have room to fit 4 adults comfy. easy to drive..

honda accord hybrid.

i dont need the thrill and exhilaration of a sports car when i am in bumper to bumper traffic.

Right, if your commute is stop and go, then comfy, reliable, thrifty is the way to go.

If, however, your commute involved you jumping on PCH for 30 miles (assuming that never has stop and go), then you might want something a little more fun.

[masraum]

Originally Posted by stevej37

My mileage minder on the Fit pictured above...shows that I have 20% of my oil life left before changing.
I have 9800 miles on it since last change.

The mileage minder also says that I have 40.7 mpg since the last change.

Does it also say that every mile in it steals a little bit of your soul and kills you just a little bit?

[masraum]

Originally Posted by porsche4life

Totally depends on the drive, where you park, etc.

Honestly for an all round vehicle, a new hybrid marverick would do well. Small enough to be easy to maneuver, hybrid to get 40mpg, and has 4 seats and a small bed for some weekend chores.

Maverick? Really, those are back? What'll be next? "Here's the new Ford LTD II!" Or "Here's the new Mercury Topaz!"

[matthewb0051]

Originally Posted by Dmitry at Pelican Parts

I think that's a perfect answer. We focused too much on finding 'the one'

I'll have to think of my list, but a 993 will fall somewhere in there.

I had a 993 C4 when I lived on Oahu. Its comfort made it a great DD but it was painful in stop / go traffic every afternoon on the commute home. I lived up in the mountains near Dole Plantation, about 15 miles from the office, which was near Aloha stadium. It would take me an hour to go that distance and it was an "Interstate".

Alternatively, I would go over the mountain and take the costal road along the Northern shore. About 50 miles that still took an hour but the views were phenomenal. And on that road, the manual box was the business.

So it really depends on type of traffic and whether a slush box would be preferable.

[stevej37]

Originally Posted by masraum

Does it also say that every mile in it steals a little bit of your soul and kills you just a little bit?

Obviously, you have never driven a m/t Honda with the powerful 1.5 litre engine.

[porsche4life]

Originally Posted by masraum

Maverick? Really, those are back? What'll be next? "Here's the new Ford LTD II!" Or "Here's the new Mercury Topaz!"

It’s their new baby pickup. How have you missed the hype on it? Starts at 20k, available with a hybrid that is good for 40mpg!

[stevej37]

^^^ I've been watching that. I almost changed my mind about the Civic to the Maverick.

[javadog]

S-class Benz or Audi A8L. I don’t know if I would want a current offering, I might have to go back a few years to get an engine I’d like to own long-term. Direct injection sucks and the cam chains on the newer Audi V-8’s don’t excite me.

[ckelly78z]

I really like my 2013 Mustang as a DD, but could see having a smaller vehicle for heavy traffic (which I don't have to deal with...mostly county roads, and surface streets).

I would look strongly at a VW GTE, or GTI, also the Honda Civic type R if I were commuting a long way every day.