Daily Driver practicality

[Mick_D]

I wonder how practical it would be to use my 1975 S as a daily driver? It's off the road right now but eventually it'll be driveable again after a thorough going-through.
I'm wondering what insurance options I may hgave and what to look out for in that area. Am I thinking wrong that a refurbed 1975 911S cant be driven 15K miles a year reliably and with insurance?

[OsoMoore]

I drive my 1979 SC 9-10 months out of the year in Milwaukee. I've put about 16K miles on it since I bought it four years ago. I drive it to and from work whenever the weather isn't too rainy (it is a Targa).

You should probably have another car to use in case you need to do some work on it that takes more than a few days. Also, have AAA because you never know when something will fail and you'll need to tow it home and figure it out.

I was on AAA insurance for a while and liked it a lot. Had to change for unrelated reasons, but hope to change back soon. The rate was pretty good. Be sure to have it assessed if you can't get agreed price coverage, to ensure fair value if something were to happen.

[82 SC]

Just get it all running well and keep up the maintenance and you should be able to drive it daily. One of the 911's claim to fame is that you can drive it daily unlike a other super cars.
I drive mine a few times a week. I have to rotate cars to keep them going. A car not being driven is a bad thing in my book. Cheers.

[darrin]

driven my '86 targa as a DD for the past 20 years, including snowstorms in denver/etc. Only complaint I have goes back to using it in DC summers during rush hour, where it's mediocre ac system didn't cut it for me.

OP, where are you located? what's your typical daily use?

[Eric Hahl]

I put 30k on my 85 Carrera last year.

[Mick_D]

I'm in Dallas/Fort Worth. My daily commute is about 17 miles each way, almost exactly half city half highway. My biggest concern is the insurance. A fender-bender could cost $10 to fix right, as the car has a an all-metal widebody on it. I don't think USAA does agreed-value policies, either...

[Trackrash]

Check out Hagerty. Do a search, there was a discussion a while back on insurance.

My main concern, when I was using my 911 as a DD was parking. I had a locked gated parking lot away from traffic, and always covered my car. And, I have a hidden kill switch.

[Mick_D]

I talked to Hagerty but they don't want to inure a daily driver. at least not for me. they just wat to insure occasional use with mileage limits and such. Since I'm the one who owns the vehicle I think it's MY right to decide when and where to drive it, not theirs. It's their right to choose not to insure me.

[billydeakins]

Hagerty's didn't want to insure my 89 either except with very low yearly mileage, etc. I went through Leland West because of PCA and it was very reasonable for agreed value insurance and 7500 miles per year. Check them out as an option.

[nicctric12]

I think my biggest concern would be that if I had to go out of the office to meetings what would clients think of it. I know that sounds crass but some if my clients would not get it.

I'm know you can get an unlimited mileage policy with Allstate on a 30 YO car.

[kyngfish]

Just as someone who recently bought an 86 Carrera to DD. ( Love it, but if you're in hot weather, the AC is going to be a problem, and if you're in traffic, get a fan for your oil cooler).

I had extensive discussions with Hagerty and other people. Essentially if you're daily driving it, unless it's a low amount of miles, you're going to have a problem.

The agreed value policies usually are very expensive.

I had an extensive discussion with my insurance provider (Geico) and it turns out, they give you around NADA value of the car, which USUALLY isn't retail value, but it's generally fairly close. A lot of people had told me they replaced it at the price of straight line depreciation, which turned out to be untrue.

That being said, this is all for if the car gets totaled. I can't see how a fender bender can be much of a debate. You get in a fender bender, they get an estimate, they pay for the estimate.

I owe less than NADA on my car, so I'm ok with my regular old GEICO insurance ~100 per month for full coverage.

[Mick_D]

I will contact Leland West and see what they have to say, I need more than 7500 miles a year though!
I'd love to be able to drive it up to Garden of the Gods and Jackson. That used to be a regular route for me, DFW to Colorado Springs in 10-12 hours, then from there to Jackson is another 12 hours if I go through Aspen, less if I go through Cheyenne. Pictures!
Feeling better about being able to do it, at least, insurance or no.

[Mick_D]

I think the repair bill on replacing a fender that costs $3k if you can find one is going to make them want to total the car, would you?

Originally Posted by kyngfish

Just as someone who recently bought an 86 Carrera to DD. ( Love it, but if you're in hot weather, the AC is going to be a problem, and if you're in traffic, get a fan for your oil cooler).

I had extensive discussions with Hagerty and other people. Essentially if you're daily driving it, unless it's a low amount of miles, you're going to have a problem.

The agreed value policies usually are very expensive.

I had an extensive discussion with my insurance provider (Geico) and it turns out, they give you around NADA value of the car, which USUALLY isn't retail value, but it's generally fairly close. A lot of people had told me they replaced it at the price of straight line depreciation, which turned out to be untrue.

That being said, this is all for if the car gets totaled. I can't see how a fender bender can be much of a debate. You get in a fender bender, they get an estimate, they pay for the estimate.

I owe less than NADA on my car, so I'm ok with my regular old GEICO insurance ~100 per month for full coverage.

[kyngfish]

Originally Posted by Mick_D

I think the repair bill on replacing a fender that costs $3k if you can find one is going to make them want to total the car, would you?

Honestly, I hope never to test that theory and maybe someone else can answer it, but a body-shop estimate is what it is.

Consider that NADA value for an 86 Carrera Coupe like mine is around 30k. I don't think they're going to want to total it for that value when they can fix it for 2k.

So I guess that depends on if your insurance company uses straight-line depreciation or if they use NADA. My guess is the straight-line thing is a myth, GEICO talked to me like I was crazy for even suggesting it, and if my BANK was OK with the GEICO insurance, then I'm not sure how it's a problem.

[jeffbottman]

I don't just like driving mine every day, I LOVE driving it every day. I don't give a rip about insurance or what anyone thinks. Never been stranded in three years. Life is short!

[Mick_D]

Car's paid for so no issues with the bank.
USAA asked me if the car had been modified and gave me the impression that they didn't want to pay for replacing any body modifications such as fender flares. Kind of upsetting.

[kyngfish]

Originally Posted by Mick_D

Car's paid for so no issues with the bank.
USAA asked me if the car had been modified and gave me the impression that they didn't want to pay for replacing any body modifications such as fender flares. Kind of upsetting.

That's a fair concern. Mine is pretty much how it came stock from the factory. If the car is paid for, even if you have to replace a fender once or twice, I honestly think it's a small price to pay.

@jeffbotman funny, that's what my father-in-law said to me when I told him I was buying the car "is it the most practical thing? No, but life is short man..."

[darrin]

Originally Posted by Mick_D

Car's paid for so no issues with the bank.
USAA asked me if the car had been modified and gave me the impression that they didn't want to pay for replacing any body modifications such as fender flares. Kind of upsetting.

Keep in mind that this is pertinent if you caused the accident/damage -- if somebody else is at fault, you'd be dealing with their insurance company, etc.

[Bob Kontak]

Originally Posted by Eric Hahl

I put 30k on my 85 Carrera last year.

Outstanding!

[gjmascoli]

In CT our driving season is mid-April (once some soaking rains have washed all the salt and other corrosives off the road) until the first snow. This is my first year that I am able to take advantage in my '76 S. It has been great, I put on about 4500miles. Just have to be prepared with another ride when the inevitables happen: dead starter, light switch died, etc.