Ultimate Daily Driver - Page 2

look 171 · 11-27-2012, 04:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vash

i like this term^^!

we have a forester turbo. the ONLY complaint is the wind noise. makes it unbearable on long trips. the 05 model has no window frame, which is the problem on our car.

for me, it would have to meet a few simple criteria.

carry stuff, not be to boring to drive, gets great mileage, reliable..and a great road trip machine. for me a VW jetta with a TDi would be perfect.

Vash,

How do you guy like the lil' Subi beside the wind noise? IS that really that bad?

steveo12345 · 11-27-2012, 04:53 PM

Seems to me that it would depend on where you live, how far your daily commute is and what kind of roads you have to drive over. My ideal DD has varied as my circumstances have changed. from a Jeep Wrangler (less than a mile to work) to a luxury car (long commute on interstates). Right now it is a gently used Outback. Some sort of 4 wheel drive is a must for me. Unfortunately the Porsche spends the winter months tucked away in the garage although there have been years when I have driven it in the snow.

dewolf · 11-27-2012, 04:57 PM

E46 3 series 6cyl. Sedan or wagon.

afterburn 549 · 11-27-2012, 04:59 PM

Fiat Abarth!

mph911 · 11-27-2012, 05:00 PM

This is my current DD, perfect for my needs..

vash · vash's Garage

mph911..that defender is fantastic. bums me out that the USA thought we cant handle one without proper safety gear

jeezus..i want one.

look..the subie is fantastic. it goes anywhere. i have been in the backwoods with it. i never got stuck. the suspension could use less truck-like and more WRX-like. i bet some simple mods from the subaru parts catalog would take care of all issues.

mpg..flat out blows. we get an average of 23 mpg. i bet our best was 25 on a road trip. all on superunleaded.

we will try to fix the road noise by changing the door gasket. the car carrys alot. i have loaded the back with firewood, bags of fertilizer..and once my wife put an entire bail of hay back there.

jwasbury · 11-27-2012, 07:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RWebb

no one has mentioned any of the modern Mini Cooper variants yet...

I'd say a modern MINI Cooper fits your listed criteria very well. Very easy to park, excellent maneuverability for aggressive "urban assault" duty. Cheap enough to not sweat beating the crap out of. Excellent visibility, upright driving position, and surprisingly roomy for driver and passenger. Will haul a surprising amount of stuff with the rear seats down as well. Put a roof rack on and it will fulfill 90% of most motoring needs.

Two bikes plus rooftop box full of luggage and climbing gear for a weeks vacation in NY state. Two dogs at total 160lbs go in the back

Picking up supplies at Home Depot in the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy, here the MINI is loaded with an Avon Redcrest Inflatable boat (stored in its duffel), two electric space heaters, a dehumidifier, a Rubbermaid commercial mop bucket and wringer, a mop handle, plus driver & passenger.

dtw · 11-27-2012, 09:30 PM

BMW E39 5 speed Sport. I'm in year 7 of ownership. It does everything I need it to do. Timeless styling. Bank vault construction. Reliable. Easy to work on. 24 mpg when I flog it, 32 mpg when I don't. Fun to drive.

Jim Bremner · 11-27-2012, 09:50 PM

I used the Che'vette for this 106k miles 27 on the highway

I'm a sadist. I did 400k in this

jim72911t · 11-27-2012, 09:53 PM

I have been daily driving a stock BMW E36 M3 for all of two days now, which I bought to replace my aging and slightly modified BMW E30 325is.

To tell you the truth, if I could buy a brand new E30 to use as a daily driver, I would. Peppy, great handling, classic 3 box design with great outward visibility, easy ingress/egress (the same can't be said about the M3) and the trunk is quite cavernous considering the size of the car.

Looks like I wont be selling the E30 after all.

look 171 · 11-27-2012, 09:55 PM

Jim, where do you put all of your samples and give away goodies from Time and all the other mfg in that lil' Vette

look 171 · 11-27-2012, 09:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vash

mph911..that defender is fantastic. bums me out that the USA thought we cant handle one without proper safety gear

jeezus..i want one.

look..the subie is fantastic. it goes anywhere. i have been in the backwoods with it. i never got stuck. the suspension could use less truck-like and more WRX-like. i bet some simple mods from the subaru parts catalog would take care of all issues.

mpg..flat out blows. we get an average of 23 mpg. i bet our best was 25 on a road trip. all on superunleaded.

we will try to fix the road noise by changing the door gasket. the car carrys alot. i have loaded the back with firewood, bags of fertilizer..and once my wife put an entire bail of hay back there.

I have been toying with the idea of a use one for a long time since I drove one a year back. They are dead reliable and fun. have you had any issues with yours? I am not too worry about capacity because I have pick up trucks.

Jim Bremner · 11-27-2012, 10:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by look 171

Jim, where do you put all of your samples and give away goodies from Time and all the other mfg in that lil' Vette

I can fit a 60 cm road bike in with the front whell off! or better with both whells off. The mustang had a 2" reciever added on. Clothing sample bags with the mustang was hard. They had to be inside due to the 22 gallon fuelcell

look 171 · 11-27-2012, 10:11 PM

Wow, the trunk in the Vette is that big?

Jim Bremner · 11:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by look 171

Wow, the trunk in the Vette is that big?

wheelchair and duffle bags for two for a 3 day trip and a small cooler for wifes meds.

It was a toss up between the Lotus elise, a late 80's 930 ( the reason I came here) and the Corvette. Joanna mentioned whatever I bought had to fit a wheelchair.

REALLY wanted a Petrol Blue 930

look 171 · 11-27-2012, 10:40 PM

You could forget about the 930. Blue 930s are beautiful. TRE built a fire breather for a client a few years back that had over 500 hp. It was for sale but I just could not bring myself to pull the trigger because I already had one in the garage. I came close. I think it was Mexico Blue.

Jim Bremner · 11-27-2012, 11:06 PM

The ywo most wicked fast cars that I've ever driven have both been 930s

One was a Gembala worked over beast.

The other a 930 with a big ole turbo and intercooler.

The che'vette is easier to drive fast due to a linear torque curve.

Dottore · 11-27-2012, 11:51 PM

We are very pleased with my wifes 3.0 litre twin turbo diesel BMW X3.

It's small enough to be very good around town. Has a very small turning circle and the ride of a 3 series sedan. Enough room to haul things around. Cheap on gas, and the big diesel engine pulls like a freight train and is perfect for relaxed highway cruising. It was voted best all around car by the German motoring press last year. I recommend it highly.

Jim Bremner · 11-28-2012, 12:18 AM

Dottore,

I would like to drive it and the benz 3.0 bluetec

we sold the wife's Jag due to not needing it but to be honest the 3.0 v6 gas engine buzzed at highway speed

Dottore · 11-28-2012, 01:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jim Bremner

Dottore,

I would like to drive it and the benz 3.0 bluetec

we sold the wife's Jag due to not needing it but to be honest the 3.0 v6 gas engine buzzed at highway speed

You should drive them both back to back.

We also have the ML 320 diesel Benz at our other home. I also like the Benz. It reflects the Benz values and is softer and more luxurious than the BMW. The BMW steering, brakes, handling and throttle response is much more direct and "sporting" than on the Benz. That is the real difference. The BMW has a much bigger fun factor.

The Benz has more luxury.

Both are great cars though IMO. The BMW 7 speed transmission is also unbelieveably smooth.