Daily Driver Or Not?
 

I hope you all can offer some input.

I am considering buying a 1986 911 3.2. It is in fantastic shape, the owner has many records and it checks out well. Everything works and it seems to drive and work as an almost new 86 should.

However, to buy this car and pay cash for it, I need to sell my daily driver Subaru. Now I know this is not a Japanese car and it is not going to run like an fairly new Subaru in terms of reliability. I have an easy commute going in the opposite direction of most traffic and all the traffic is going the other way. The car would not be subjected to city driving or commuting into DC (I live in VA). It would be used year-round though.

So my questions are as follows;

1. Am I crazy for using this beautifully kept car as a daily driver?

I would keep it up cosmetically and mechanically as best I can.

2. Does anyone have a good insurance company to recommend?

My company, USAA, is terrific but at this age, they will only insure the car for the cash value at the time of original purchase (1986) minus depreciation. I need someone who will insure it for what it's worth and as a daily driver.

Your thoughts and input would be most helpful.

Many thanks!

Scott

Insurance=Hagerty, hands down.
A 3.2 as a daily driver is the best thing you can do with it. They have practically no value, compared to the early cars, and that car was built to be driven....just not the easiest car if you have a cup of Starbucks in your hand as much as I do :-)

IMO the biggest issue will be the AC, it simply doesn't get nearly as cold or move as much as air as other cars. Not everyone needs that type of "freeze you out" AC, but I do.

Check this thread for more comments on upgrade possibilities.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/showthread.php?threadid=302429

Insurance for a daily driver is going to be tricky. You need an insurer who will cover the car for stated value rather than market value. I use Hagerty, but it's collector insurance and only covers the car for occasional use and you must have proof of ownership of a 2nd car as a daily driver.

Thanks all, I appreciate the info.

I think it would make a great daily driver.
Maintance would not be bad as long as you did all the minor work yourself.
And i guess if the price is good and all looks good on the PPI all the better.

Thanks Tim. I will admit (hard to do on here) that I am not a DIY type. I love to drive but I am not mechanically minded. Based on comments on this and other sites, I think I have found a really nice car, but it may be more than I can handle as a daily driver. Not sure yet though.

It just depends on what your "daily drive" is like. My Porsches aren't very practical for my daily drive - 10 miles of stop and go commute. Both my 914 and 911 are tiresome to drive in this bumper to bumper traffic. I feel the cars are more at risk driving in that kind of driving. Also, I work in an industrial area with only street parking and I don't feel the cars are very safe there.

The other issue with these cars IMO is reliability. Even if very well maintained, they don't approach the reliability of newer cars. I haven't yet been stranded by either the 914 or the 911 but there are always little issues to deal with as they are 25 and 33 year old cars.

In my two years of 911SC ownership I have done tires, shocks, brake hoses, brake pads, brake bleed, power window switches, hood struts, fuel accumulator, pedal cluster rebuild, clutch cable, windshield, and probably a few other little things I can't remember.


On my 911 ToDo list I have the following:

suspension bushings and torsions (bushings are squeeking)

possible strut replacement as I just hit something in the road last week and now have too much negative camber on the driver's side.

brake caliper rebuilding (one rear appears to be slightly sticky)

replace window channel felt (sticky windows in cold weather)

shifter bushings

replace pedal boards - broken wood

replace battery and investigate potential undercharging issue (voltage regulator, alternator, brushes??)

investigate vent system - underperforming front air vents

The 914 also has it's little to do list!


And the SC was only driven maybe 5-6,000 miles in the last two years and it only has 90K miles total. In the same 2 year period of time my daily driver VW Jetta has needed a set of shocks and a $15 oil temperature sensor that was leaking (20,000 miles of driving and the car has 160,000 total miles).

I'm not saying don't do it, but just know what you are getting in to with an old car - even one in nice shape. And you have to be a DIYer with these cars (especially with the small stuff otherwise they will be very expensive to drive).

For driver, and for resale get an 87-89 that has the G50 tranny which shifts smoother. Also, perhaps don't bother paying a premium for a car with tip-top paint if it is going to be subjected to daily weather and dings on the parking lot etc. Or get a 78-83 SC that has been used as a daily and continue to drive the snot out of it. Or get a nice pristine one for the weekends, and get a cheap old 3-series bimmer for fun sporty commuting (I am biased), such as 1991 318is, 325is, or for a higher budget 1997 or 1998 e36 m3 4-door. Good luck!

Well thanks everyone. My decision has been made. I decided that the pristine 86 3.2 would not be A) as comfortable of a daily driver as I'd like and B) shouldn't be subjected to the crappy weather and sometimes bad traffic situations that will be encountered.

The owner of the 86 3.2 has taken such fanatical care of the car and I would have felt guilty subjecting it to everyday use.

Therefore I have bought a 2001 Seal gray Boxster with Tip. I am sure some of you will think that is a wussy thing to do, but my plan is to eventually buy a second car which would be a 85-89 911 3.2 in great shape and keep it forever. Besides, now my wife is excited because she can drive the Boxster on occasion as well.

Thanks for all the input, information and advice!

Good choice for a daily driver. I drove a 2005 Boxster the other day and enjoyed it. You will find a 3.2 soon enough.