Would you use your classic as a daily driver?
 

I'm curious to see how many of you guys use your car as a daily driver. The reason I ask is I want to start using my 68 as a daily driver, but due to theft, weather and other factors I am kind of hesitant to.

The only issue I have with using my car that way is having a place to park it. I don't trust people to not door ding it. I park in a ramp, and there's some great places in there that would be ideal (nobody on either side), but those spots are taken really early. So while I'd consider driving it to work, there's no way I'd take it to the grocery store. lol

As offen as I sell my classic's I would be walking to work.

I wouldn't want to give up my heated seats.

I would and will as soon as I'm done building .

Nope, both cars have there place.

My '66 Mustang Convertible is now my daily driver.....but the paint is, um, "patina'd" and I don't have to worry about door dings.

Right. Arizona is known for being frosty this time of year.

I'm building my 70 C-10 to be my daily.

Nope. My "classic" is purpose built. I want an experience that is different than what I want for my daily driver, which I use for a 75 mile round trip drive every day. For my "recreation" driving in my classic, I like a more aggressive exhaust, top down, don't care about A/C, don't care about fuel economy. That's part of what makes it "special"

My newest "daily driver" -- a little ragged with the drag radials and a 4:56 rear gear, but certainly a lot of fun.

I belive Mr.Adam's live's in sunny AZ.But it does get chilly in the eves.ScottsdaleAz.One of my fav.place's on earth.:thumbsup:

^^THIS!
Not only that, but people are either jealous or just careless and will door ding you or not care about being "respectable" around your car.
To a lot of people, cars are just like appliances.

But I'm starting to feel that the car was meant to be driven and in order to fully appreciate it it needs to be driven on a regular bases. It would be like winning the lottery and saving it all until you die, you just can't enjoy it that way.

Living in AZ I still use my heated seats a lot in the winter. I know I'm a wimp. And some of you are saying what winter.

I agree. I like to drive the crap out of my cars and enjoy,not keeping it tucked away and dust it off

I'm glad I only have to drive 6 miles to and from work, and I try to park away from morons, been driving my 98 Supra everyday for past 3 years,no dents.

I drive my Nomad to the store daily if it's not raining... and I drive it anywhere and everywhere weather permitting.

I owned a couple NCRS 97 point big block 'Vettes and drove 'em to Illinois... Vegas... wherever and whenever. If they get a little beat - it's just an excuse to re-do them. I re-did one Corvette (this big block tri power '67) 3 separate times. It's the price you pay for enjoyment... and the real expense is the first time around. The next times you're just freshening.



http://i919.photobucket.com/albums/a...dCamaro025.jpg

I don't know about driving the 442 as my "daily," but I do plan to drive it.

My current daily is a '93 M5, but I think I will build something when it comes time to replace it. I just don't like the new cars, too much stuff on them.

Shiny Side Up!
Bill

I have a different perspective. My "classic" car" is kind of like eating gourmet food. You just don't appreciate the experience as much if you're just wolfing down chow as you're running between meetings. If I drove it everywhere, every day, it would just be a car. Believe me, the car gets driven. But every time I get in it, there's a purpose and it's more about enjoying the experience or doing something with it than it is just getting from point a to point b. Maybe the definition of "regular basis" is what we need to describe. For me, it means (weather permitting especially since mine is a vert and there's no way I'm putting it on the road in PA winters either) that the car gets driven every weekend.

Actually -- this type of question --- is answerless.... because everyone has a different perspective - even of the description of what is "daily".

They're hot rods - and as such - each is individual and customized just like the answers to a question like this.

I say - do whatever you friggin' feel like. To each his own.

What he said :thumbsup:

The way I see it, I have a blast driving my muscle car so I love hopping in it as much as possible. The only reason I have a daily at all is because my real car is under the knife :thumbsup:

Regards,
Ryan

Couldn't have said it better myself.

Back when I first bought my car I would drive it anywhere/anytime. I didn't enjoy it any less because I drove it all the time, but I also didn't really have to worry about door dings and scratches. It was nice enough, but not that nice. It hasn't driven in a decade :( and when it is done I am sure I will drive it frequently but I doubt it will be anywhere/anytime anymore.

David

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/__...-19-51_198.jpg
https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/__...0/IMG_1472.JPG

That's what I'm talking about!:thumbsup: :woot:

That's awsum

I do use my car as a daily driver.

I will daily drive mine when it's finished. That's why I'm building it.

For you guys who use your pro-touring cars as daily drivers, I'm curious about a couple things.

1) How many of you have kids, and if so, are you concerned about the obvious safety concerns? These cars aren't as safe as new designs.

2) What kind of mileage do you put on?

Serious questions - just a couple that popped into my somewhat empty mind :)

No kids. My dog rides shotgun. My continental has no seatbelts. I've enjoyed 12 years of driving it weekly with no issues.

2) Insurance browses these forums.

driver paint job I hope, otherwise you won't :lol:

My car has been to SEMA, the hardware store and the grocery store. I think I draw the line at Christmas trees on the car's roof though.

Would I drive it everyday? No. Could I drive it everyday? Yes, but technically I would need to change insurance companies. It would also require a lot of attention to keep it pristine. I also never built the car with the intention of daily driving it.

In any case, Greg always seems to have the best advice; drive your car as frequently or infrequently as you want. Everyone it different. Some people would love driving a borderline race car on the street everyday, others not so much.

Matt

Almost 70% would drive their hot rod daily, thats pretty impressive. I must be too old and too soft!!

"Would" is the key word there. That is different than "Do" and "Does".


For me it comes down to the city I live in... the ridiculous streets of San Francisco (ever seen Bullitt?).... I have never even brought my Camaro to this city... but when I move to "suburbia" in the coming years, you can bet I'll drive my Camaro a helluva lot more on those nicely paved roads. :thumbsup:

Only you can decide. Enjoy your car any way you want.

On a personal note, I believe they should be driven as much as possible.
But it is your investment, your call. Have fun every time you get behind the wheel.

if our cars are investments we're a real crappy group of investors :lol:

yeah were like the guys who bought stock in the clapper light:D !

I wouldn't use mine as a dd. I did with my Crx after I had it all done. Since I live in nebraska it got torn up in three years. I get tired of fixing fenders and getting rock chips. Now it just sits waiting for me to finish my volvo.