Should I make my car a daily driver?

ckmaggie · ckmaggie's Garage

Been thinking seriously about making my car my daily transport. It is very clean and runs great and is in overall good condition but it is by no means a concours winner.

I am at this point for several reasons:
- I really enjoy driving the car and miss it when I drive my primary ride (a '97 bmw 318)
- I have been driving it more and more (weather permitting) thus my primary is sitting idle more and more
- If I made the switch I would sell my bmw and have extra cash for the Porsche and not to mention I would save insurance dollars.

I am pretty close to making the move but I wanted some opinions. I live in north east so I will have to content w snow and bad weather from time to time but I think the car will handle as well if not better than my bmw but I have no facts to back that up. I guess I also have to be ok w the fact that it will get rock chips, dings, etc if I take it everywhere...

I included some pics of my car so you understand the condition.
Chris

[img]

Mike Kast · Mike Kast's Garage

Yes, but Only if you promise to keep it looking that way forever.

Grady Clay · 01-02-2005, 02:14 PM

Chris,

Yes, this is why we own these cars – to DRIVE them.

Take some of the BMW money and buy a beater PU or something to use in snow, salt, ice, and when you need to haul stuff.

Your 911 will be great for most everyday uses but will require more TLC to keep it in close to current condition.

Best,
Grady

jmarenas · jmarenas's Garage

It is a four letter word when it comes to cars, If I lived on the Left coast or other similar climate I would have a "newer" 911 and my "classic" to drive hands down. Dump the bimmer and buy a beater, and save the "classic" for the NON salt days. I know I live in Michigan. Midwest winters are hard on our vehicles!

Jay Zollinger · 01-02-2005, 02:20 PM

I use my 1973 S targa as a year-round daily driver because I would miss it if I didn't. Driving back and forth to work is usually the best part of my day. I am thinking, however, of buying a beater to drive when I am working on a long-term project on the S or when I need to park at the airport for a few days, etc.

Shaun @ Tru6 · 01-02-2005, 02:30 PM

definitely make it a daily driver, but as noted be careful in winter. On "clean" roads, I did 600 miles the other day going from Boston to NYC to LI and back to Boston. It was a great trip with top off and heat on full much of the way.

I didn't mind the wet salt spray now and again from melting snow, once home spent a half hour with the hose and was satisfied, but I found more chips in the windshield trim and lower hood than I would have liked.

my $.02

porschenut · 01-02-2005, 02:47 PM

I have a Bimmer 5-series and my 86 Carrera. I can tell you for certain that the 911 is excellent in the snow while the Bimmer goes nowhere. Don't let a little salt bother you. Just rinse it off now and then.

It's easy to want to treat our cars like museum pieces and I, for one, sometimes forget that the mid-year cars are not collectable, will continue to depreciate (slowly), and they are meant to be driven as others have said. My Bimmer is on ebay right now, and my '86 911 is my new daily driver. Now that I'm driving it more often, I find that it runs better than it used to.

Just keep it clean and polish out the little nicks and sand pits on the hood occasionally to keep it nice-looking. Any additional attention required will be more than made up for with all the fun you'll have driving it. There's no better way to begin and end a work day than with a drive in the ol' 911.

Mike Kast · Mike Kast's Garage

Quote:

Originally posted by Shaun 84 Targa
but I found more chips in the windshield trim and lower hood than I would have liked.

Ahhhhhhhh yes, the dreaded chips... someday we will have to paint these fine machines....

ckmaggie · ckmaggie's Garage

Thanks for all the replies. My wife drives a volvo cross county which is great for really bad weather and for hauling stuff. If I were to get rid of the bimmer then I would not replace w a pick up or beater. I just don't want 3 cars.

I guess I am more worried about salt, road rash, etc but as porschenut stated, the mid yr cars and not collectable so why not use them as intended.

Mike Kast · Mike Kast's Garage

Quote:

Originally posted by ckmaggie

I guess I am more worried about salt, road rash, etc but as porschenut stated, the mid yr cars and not collectable so why not use them as intended.

You should be worried about salt. Once upon a time 356's weren't collectable either.

Jay Zollinger · 01-02-2005, 03:28 PM

Even with collectible cars, sheet metal can be rust proofed and, if necessary, replaced--drive it. At worst, you can always replace your car with one that someone else has been afraid to drive.

Steve87-911 · Steve87-911's Garage

Quote:

Originally posted by porschenut
...There's no better way to begin and end a work day than with a drive in the ol' 911.

I totally agree. I bought mine as a weekender but I drive it every chance I get now. I mostly telecommute, but on days when I need to drive into the office, and when the alarm goes off, i say to myself, "aaww, I don't wanna get up"...then I think of driving the 911 and I spring to life.

Mike Kast · Mike Kast's Garage

ouch!

rcaradimos · 01-02-2005, 03:38 PM

As soon as my 99 intrepid w/140,000 mi. bites the dust my 87 will take its place as the daily driver, most cars depreciate about 3k a year the 911 will hold at 15,000 for years and with good up keep maybe in the 20,000 mark.
Driving it daily priceless!
Keep it stock and understand ea. sensor, wire conection, relay, troubleshoot it before trouble! and the chances are you will be on top of the game!
With the supply line of parts and great people of this board we all should be out there in force.
Drive safe and Happy New Year.

350HP930 · 01-02-2005, 03:40 PM

Go for it. I used my 930 as a daily driver for years.

Carrera3.5L · Carrera3.5L's Garage

Quote:

Originally posted by porschenut
There's no better way to begin and end a work day than with a drive in the ol' 911.

My sentiments exactly!

Ralph

trader220 · 01-02-2005, 04:32 PM

I use my 87 as a daily driver. I commute from Lower Merion to Fort Washington everyday. I just dont use it in the snow. There is no way to get it up my very steep driveway in the snow.

edward993 · 01-02-2005, 04:41 PM

If you're asking, then I'd say that life is too short to drive anything less than your passion. The one exception that I would make to this is the aforementioned salt (of which we Californians know nothing about), but in decent weather, I'd drive and enjoy the Porsche any and every chance possible. It is no museum piece, nor does it exert its value by sitting. A Porsche's REAL value is assesed by driving it. Of course, all IMHO. But if you miss driving the car as you have said, then you are depriving yourself of life's joy, and all in the name of a few chips and dings. The latter can be addressed; regret cannot.

Edward

umgang · 01-02-2005, 05:06 PM

The first year I had my 911S I drove it 9000 miles and only on nice days. This year, I've driven it 22,000 miles whenever I can. It runs better than ever and I just spend a few minutes cleaning it up before I put it away each time so it's clean out of the chute the next time. Just look after it and it will take care of you.

NOH20 · 01-02-2005, 05:18 PM

For those of us who live in the Mid West I can tell you first hand that the salt they use on the road will DESTROY your Carrera. You can try rinsing salt off but you won't get it all. Salt will find it's way into little nooks and crannys and sit there and eat away at your car - Don't do it! Buy another 911 that you are not concerned about and use that for the winter. Michigan roads are heavily salted, that is why my 911 sleeps for 5 - 6 months before the roads are clean. Some people say this is stupid, that the car is meant to be driven. This is true, but if you want your car to last like I do, keep it in the garage and as far away from road salt as possible!!