Anyone use a 356 as a daily driver?

[nostatic]

Yeah, I know this is the 911 board, but since this is the king-of-all-bbss, I thought I'd get opinions here. I might be able to get a fairly clean 356C coupe that wouldn't take too much money to get running reliably (haha). Anyone use these as a semi-daily driver?

[mwbaum]

They can be fine in good climates for a semi-daily driver...certainly not your only transportation. If you have not studied 356s however, you should definitely absolutely have an expert inspect your car before buying.....there are sooooo many things that need to be looked at that do not appear on the surface. There are a few really good 356 guys in SoCal....if interested email me and I'll hook you up. Also join the 356 Registry...a fantastic group with a daily email list full of great 356 info for subscribers.

[Mrdi]

I enjoyed a 356 61 Roadster as a daily driver for 5+ years in the 80's. Sold it to a friend who begged and pleaded. Be careful of the rust, but it seems like everything is do-able in terms of restoration, albiet expensive.
Perhaps the most fun car I've ever owned, but it was a roadster and the fun factor rises significantly with Roadsters.
Cheers,
Mrdi

[gaijinda]

I met an old boy in Manhattan who uses the 356 he bought new as a "daily driver". If daily driver mean "only car". He is a doctor/researcher and I dont think does that much driving. It is kept outside with a cover, off the street in a guarded lot! So many people make a fuss over his 356, I dont think he realized how much I appreciated talking with him.
For heavier use, get an old 1200 VW Bug, same smells and sounds, and save the 356 for the weekends...

[TimB]

Had a 356 REPLICA Speedster (got a problem with that? ) and wished I'd gotten a Roadster. The Roadsters have roll up windows and a higher windshield. Both make freeway driving much more comfortable. If you got a coupe (a real one) and live in mild climates I think it would be OK if you haven't already been spoiled by newer more luxury box type cars. Pricey to keep up if it's your only car.

[mwbaum]

replica=10K minus depreciation......Roadster=40-60K plus appreciation

[Roland Kunz]

Hello

I used a 62 BT6 75HP Coupe from 1992-1994 as daily transportation. Did some 50 000 km, well the 356 allready had some 320 000 km´s on the odo. ( The history wasn´t complete to roll up but looking at the wear )
I also drove it trough the winters, then the Radio needed longer to heat up and play then the engine... In 92 we had icerain and deep snow. Only missed the heatet windows. BTW my average milage was in the high 30´s and at 160 km/h you had to back of to keep the oiltemp down under but short sprints to 180 km/h made no problems. In mid 93 I rebuilt the drivedrain and constant 180 where no problem and even the milage got better.

I still think the 356 is maybe the best Porsche ever. They have something special a early 911, 912 or 914 also has but Porsche somehow "lost" that over the years to gain speed and profits.

Oh search for Gretel on the Maestros Page

Grüsse

[Doug Zielke]

Nostatic, somehow I don't think you're a 356 kind of fellow. You don't seem to be able to make up your mind about anything.
However, if you want to learn more, hit Google for Harry Pellow and/or HP Research. Then bone up on these marvelous little cars.
Oh yeah....don't forget to ask Mrs. Nostatic if it's ok to get one.

[Drago]

I don't think nostatic will ever live down those first "I bought it without approval" posts.

I agree. Just find the right car and buy it. No matter what it is!

and BTW, nostatic, I've enjoyed (painfully at times) all your posts.

Edit: thje lateer it gets the worse my speeling gets.....

[jimbo]

I'm so predictable, I'm keeping my opinion to myself on this one.

[Eldoret]

My first Porsche was a 76 930 17 years ago. After I had done everything one could possibly do performance wise, I decided to get back to basics. I looked for a long time for a 356B. Came up with a 63'S. It ran well and was unrestored. Over the next 5 years I took it down to the metal, had the Maestro do a full bore jewel of an engine, and completely redid the interior. The first paint job suffered many hangar rash incidents in the 3 years I was doing the interior and having the engine done, so I had another one done but went with the outlaw look. Changed to a non original Porsche color, I would be banned from official P club hob nobbling I know, but hey it looks really slick without bumpers and everything blending into a more organic look. I was at work after the 3rd paint job and we heard this incredible ruckus on the roof. Hail!!!!!!!!!! Damn the luck. The storm was over in 2 minutes tops but the damage was done. So it became my daily driver and has been the last 4 years. It is a fantastic car. Way more fun to drive than anything else I've ever had. My daughter learned to drive in that car, my wife will swap me out if I have to have more space on particular occasions. More people comment on that than the highly modified 930. The outlaw look throws everyone. It goes good in the snow and ice, and is just plain one of the all time great cars to take relaxed rides in. Anyone that tells you an old bug is comparable hasn't had a 356. A bug is a crude compared to the 356. I've had bugs. No matter what you do to a bug motor it won't wind out and sound near as sweet as a 356 with a tuned Bursch.

[BlueSkyJaunte]

Jimbo,

I knew you'd say that.

[pwd72s]

One thing we all tend to forget? At one period of time or another, most of these cars were bought as "daily drivers". Do, or could they function as same today? That's a good question.

[nostatic]

Originally posted by pwd72s
One thing we all tend to forget? At one period of time or another, most of these cars were bought as "daily drivers". Do, or could they function as same today? That's a good question.

Well, when I was in high school I had a '63 Bug that I had to push start most mornings (gotta love 6V electrical systems). That was my daily driver back then, but now at the age of 40 with a 5 year old in tow, I don't really think I would put up with that sort of "fun".

I think the daily driverness depends on what you're willing to do without (functional AC, etc), and how well you put up with bozos door dinging your beloved car.

And thanks to Jimbo for showing restraint. I was almost feeling like there was something missing in my life without his abuse. Oh yeah...I'm still married...plenty of abuse to go around

[Mrdi]

So...
Tell us about the 6'er.
Save the wife till later.
Mrdi

[nostatic]

Originally posted by Mrdi
So...
Tell us about the 6'er.
Save the wife till later.
Mrdi

I'm getting pics and more details on Monday. It is owned by a friend's father-in-law, and it is a SoCal car that has been semi-stored in a dry garage for a bunch of years. I think it is a '62 356B (my friend isn't quite sure of the details), and as far as he can tell it is a pretty nice straight car. One area of rust behind the rear wheel, and the paint is tired (one repaint many years ago). It is running, but needs to be gone through. If it is as advertised and I can get it cheap, I could put $3-5K into it and have a pretty fun car. Lot's of unknowns and variables at this point though, and I know the cost estimate is probably optimistic...

[Mrdi]

Where in So Cal ?
That's the place to find one.

[Roland Kunz]

Hello

The 356 is a real luxury car. You don´t have to proof anything or race with others to show your "status" yet most people trying to follow you on a winding backroad will have problems to keep up even with cars that have twice the power.

The car just looks "cute" and not expensive in any way but is well built and solid to the bone. Maintance is simple but work. Parts are expensive but longlasting especially if the maintance is keept weel ( good oil and grease ) those cars will otperform modern cars in longlivety plus you always can fix or rebuild the worn part.

Things like door dings, splattered bugs and scratches add to the beauty from a car. If you like to live aseptic then follow the Hughes way and make your life a museum. There is nothing wrong with using a car and fix it after a while.

If nostatic drives one it well creep on him or he never will understand the Porsche idear. Then he should buy a new domestic ratlecar with big power and ice cube spending air condition and replace it if the car shows sings from usage.

Maybe I´m just a wired person but I never liked to own a new car or turn a car into perfect condition and turn in ito a nonmobile to preserve that.

Grüsse