Can an SC really be a daily driver?? - Page 2

yelcab1 · 08-28-2008, 01:38 AM

No, don't do it. Too much maintenance and you will miss the creature comfort. Look at my signature. I know what I am talking about.

larry47us · 08-28-2008, 03:27 AM

Thanks for the comments. I'll have to re-read them a couple of times to winnow and sift the answers, and then wait for the PPI. Certainly there will be some reliability issues now and then. Those few snow days a year will be HELL. But the rest of the year will be PORSCHE!!

Just have to deal with the wife who will not appreciate the swap of a 5 passenger Lexus she doesn't drive to a 2 passenger Porsche she won't drive or want to ride in. Hmmm.

(Howdy to PWD72S - Missed our emails - Hope things are well with you.)

larry

Hebrewhomeboy · 08-28-2008, 03:54 AM

I drive a 78 SC targa, I wouldn't say daily, but often. I didn't want to pile miles on it, since it's a very low mileage car, and some creature comforts are nice every once in a while, so I bought an old toyota corolla from craigslist for $300. It's ugly, but gets good gas mileage, the suspension and seats are soft, and it's dirty cheap in every way. On the days that I drove my 911, it does just fine. Sure the suspension is a tad stiff, and it's a bit noisy and doesn't get the best gas mileage, but it's all worth it to be able to drive a vintage 911. Personally I see no problem driving an SC as a daily driver, assuming it has all the required upgrades, such as hydraulic tensioners.

GothingNC · 08-28-2008, 04:01 AM

I think the SC would make a great DD and go for the Rennaire A/C upgrade if you need to keep cool.

A beater car is a good idea for nasty wather and maintenance down time so you can take your time instead of a rush repair to get the car back on the road ASAP.

I drove a 75 Bug and 73 Thing as Daily Drivers for 15 years and just kept a cooler of water during my drives in New Mexico when the temps were over 100.

mb911 · mb911's Garage

I guess driving my car 2 times in the snow a year ago because my ford broke down(DD) I would not do it . They are not real good in the snow(read safety issue for me) you also have the issue of the corrosion that happens right now. I had some very niceplated suspension and brake parts before the trip in the snow and salt and when I took it out of DD service (after 2 days) it had already messed that up. Now I drive a nissan altima as a DD so no worries. Also you need to consider safety of the 911 versus a new car should you get in a crash it is more likely to happen in the snow. I vote 944 should have to have a p-car as a dd these would b make the most sense for heat and drivabilty in the snow

Dees 911 · Dees 911's Garage

Our '82 SC was bought to be used as a daily driver. Windows and sunroof take care of the AC(though it does work). Hey, it doesn't snow in Germany? Have a set of winter tires and wheels and hit the quarter car wash often. Cars are made to be driven, and our Ps are no different. The fact that you have no interest in tracking it only makes the argument to drive the snot out of it stronger. That's what it is made for, not to sit in a garage 80% of the time. I may get flamed for this, but when all is said and done, it's still just a car. A very enjoyable car, but just a car. Besides, if it doesn't work for you, you can always sell it.

cab83_750 · 08-28-2008, 05:24 AM

My 83 SC has been my daily driver for the last 10 years. It has been reliable and the only issue I had was the 'sudden fuel pump death.'

Of course, the fuel pump dies on all P-cars.

BLEW911 · 08-28-2008, 05:27 AM

I drive my '80 targa 50 miles a day round trip. After 4 years I still look foreward to my comute (no traffic issues). AC can be made to work. I have to turn mine down on 90+ days here in So Cal. However, I keep the car clean and probably couldnt stand to see it driven in the snow and all that involves, but there are plenty of 2 or 3 thousand $ cars out there for snow days. Get cheap insurance for the cheap car. I say go for it if it's what you want. Why not?

Don

Paulporsche · 08-28-2008, 05:53 AM

Until about 3 yrs ago I drove mine just about every day from mid March to mid December for about 16 years. Now it's about 3 times per week. I have almost 185,000 miles currently.

crustychief · crustychief's Garage

I drive mine everyday and the AC works great. (procooler, dd condenser, serpentine evaporator and sanden comp. R-134). Maybe a little more maintenance but I like to stay in front of things, not fixing broken stuff.

dan79brooklyn · 08-28-2008, 08:31 AM

Also consider a 964 c2 or c4 for a DD. Suspension is more comfortable, much better heat and A/C than an SC and still fun to drive. The C4 would be good in the snow too. Not much more money than an SC.

red 69 · red 69's Garage

I drive my 69 rsr every day 50 miles without a problem, be-sides the looks, and smiles from car people. drive it, its a porsche.

Tim Hancock · 08-28-2008, 08:44 AM

FWIW, I have been driving my '79 SC 80 miles round trip daily for the last several weeks. The clutch pedal is definely stiff in traffic, the stock AC charged with 134 works OK but not great, the car is not too comfortable on some of the rattier side streets near work.

Daily drivable....sure, but it ain't no Lexus.

Deschodt · 09:03 AM

Mine, at 180K+ miles, has been a daily driver for years as well. Mostly in Nor-Cal though, with "even" weather. Since I moved to FL, I will confess it's become semi-daily on average because some days you can't show up at work all sweaty ;-) But by the same token you cannot drive the boring car to work everyday either ! That car has never-ever broken down on the road - it just refused to start once (from home....bad fuel pump fuse)!

I think that from a reliability standpoint, unless you buy a lemon with lots of deferred maintenance, a DD is more likely to stay in better shape than a car driven once a week, it's being used, battery is recharging, fluids circulate, water boils out off the oil, etc...

Of course, if all you do is traffic jams + stop lights on summer days, it won't be much fun. I recommend a carrera style cooler with a fan in the fender, that way you won't have to worry about a hot summer day's traffic jam. For Chicago winters, you may be a little cold though ;-)

Sc vs. Lexus ? That's entirely up to you. To me, a Lexus is a luxury "appliance" - nothing wrong with that if you need an appliance, point A to point B in comfort. *I* will trade a little sweat and comfort for the pleasure of opening the SC's door (click-ching...) and driving a sports car home every night. Life's too short to drive an appliance...

...at least when it's just me commuting - with wife +kids that's another story, and another modern car sound good as a backup !

larry47us · 08-28-2008, 10:56 AM

Guys,

Thanks for all of the comments. I will take it for the dreaded PPI in a few weeks - the current owner won't be able to make it available for that till after labor day, and my schedule won't permit till a week later - to say nothing of the time that the mechanic has available to look at it. (he's a weekend mechanic, but very, very skilled.)

The guy that's going to look at it is very thorough, but he lives over an hour away. But at least I don't need to worry about making sure that the right things are looked at. The biggest problem is going to be the hell to pay around here if I insist on doing it. But . . . . who runs the household . . . . . I do, right??

Yah, I'll bet that your house isn't any different, if you're married. But after 39 years of marriage, and only 2 years under the P-car roof, I sure see what I have been missing.

I'll keep you posted on the story.

thanks again.

larry

Bobboloo · Bobboloo's Garage

Sorry, but I just don't see an SC Cabriolet as a daily driver in Illinois unless you're 20 years old.

I'd sell the Lexus, buy a ten year old Camry and the SC Cab. Use the left over money to take your wife to the Bahamas for the weekend.

ennisk1 · 08-28-2008, 11:23 AM

I am a firm believer of driving them daily. I would use my '79 SC for a couple weeks at a time. In Florida, it was not a good July - September car even with updated Kuel A/C system. Otherwise it was perfectly fine.

However, I will tell you that I always have had a late model 3 series BMW as a real daily driver. When I recently told my wife that I was going to find an older 911 as a daily driver, she gave me that look. The one that says you're an idiot and you'll sell the comfy BMW over my dead body...

larry47us · 08-28-2008, 11:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ennisk1

. . . When I recently told my wife that I was going to find an older 911 as a daily driver, she gave me that look. The one that says you're an idiot and you'll sell the comfy BMW over my dead body...

So, which one of your early cars is your DD? I mean, you've got three and I have none. How fair is that? I think that you need to give me one of those right away.

Let me know when I should stop by.

larry

mb911 · mb911's Garage

to be clear I could see daily driving an sc or any porsche if you live in a warmer part of the us but in our area just too cold and snowy and salty thats all not that they can't handle it .. best of luck larry whom is doing the ppi if you don't mind me asking? I do allot of business down your way

larry47us · 08-28-2008, 01:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mb911

who is doing the ppi if you don't mind me asking? I do allot of business down your way

Souk is going to be doing the PPI. He lives way down in Oswego, which is half way to St. Louis - or at least seems like it when I'm driving that way. But he's really competent, and he doesn't have an axe to grind. It's just a matter of getting him to find the time to get it done.

larry