Daily, Decisions (Daily Drivers).... - Lateral-g Forums

LateNight72 · #1 01-28-2007, 06:32 PM

Most of you know I am only 17, but for those of you who do not, bare with me. I was posed with a question by my mother.

I am heading off to college in the Fall to pursue my BSME and possibly my MSME. I still do not have a drivable car, So she gave me the choice, get my Chevelle up and running, and use it as a daily driver, or buy a daily driver and slowly work on the chevelle (less funding for the 'Velle due to DD purchase).

I am thinking, put all the funds into the Chevelle, and use it as a daily driver. I do not mind as far as wear/tear goes, because I am planning several track days, as well as a bunch of us are planning a spring break, ('08 of course) Cross-Country trek.

These are the Pro's/Con's I can think of;

Chevelle
Pros Cool ass DD, Enjoyment of driving, More reliable
Cons Possible Higher Theft rate, accidents

Daily Driver
Pros Low-Key, Safer
Cons Boring, accidents, less reliable

Feel free to add on to the Pros/Cons.

So, with all that being said, what are your opinions? One day I think, yea just get some type of DD, then slowly work on the 'Velle, then the next day I think, "Damn, How cool would it be to drive the 'Velle 2 years earlier then I expected?"

Thank you for any input

-Todd

youthpastor · #2 01-28-2007, 07:22 PM

it would be cool to make the Chevelle a driver- BUT in college funds are short anyways, You don't have time or cash to work on the Chevelle when you are supposed to study.

How 'bout a third option: split the money, buy a really ugly, cheap depenable beater driver and throw some money at the Chevelle and work on it when you are home from school on break.

the cool thing is you've GOT the car, that is the part that will be harder to come by when you are older. DON"T SELL IT! Ask any of us how we know!

College is short term, STAY FOCUSED on that- 4 years is nothing! you'll have plenty of time for cars later! AGAIN Ask me how i know. I'm 37 graduating with my BA spring '08 It's allot harder when you've got house payments, job, etc etc. not to mention i'm paying way more money.

Road Trip: Go rent the movie "Extreme Days". That is the ulitmate road car. your friends will trash whatever road trip car you have, All go in a cheap car, drive it cross country, dump it and fly home to responsiblity and pursuit of College-

Good luck-Chris

Oh by the way I was hard headed at 17 i would have ignored all this and thown every dime at the Chevelle and dropped out of school- oops that is what I DID-

MaxHarvard · #3 01-28-2007, 07:54 PM

My advise.... get a Daily driver... You'll save gas $$ and you wont have to worry about the Chevelle breaking down at some really crucial time.

Besides driving your chevelle through college only leaves it open for some jerk to hit it while your parked taking a test or something.

Make it a fun toy. Less chance of anything bad happening to it

**will69camaro** · #4 01-28-2007, 08:23 PM

I'm in college for my BSME and my 69 camaro is back home once i got a daily driver to sit until i have time to work on it and play with it. In ME you'll have a hard time sometimes finding time to get to work on a car. Get a daily driver but get one you like and let the chevelle sit for now. It's worth it in the long run.

William

LateNight72 · #5 01-28-2007, 08:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by youthpastor

it would be cool to make the Chevelle a driver- BUT in college funds are short anyways, You don't have time or cash to work on the Chevelle when you are supposed to study.

How 'bout a third option: split the money, buy a really ugly, cheap depenable beater driver and throw some money at the Chevelle and work on it when you are home from school on break.

the cool thing is you've GOT the car, that is the part that will be harder to come by when you are older. DON"T SELL IT! Ask any of us how we know!

College is short term, STAY FOCUSED on that- 4 years is nothing! you'll have plenty of time for cars later! AGAIN Ask me how i know. I'm 37 graduating with my BA spring '08 It's allot harder when you've got house payments, job, etc etc. not to mention i'm paying way more money.

Road Trip: Go rent the movie "Extreme Days". That is the ulitmate road car. your friends will trash whatever road trip car you have, All go in a cheap car, drive it cross country, dump it and fly home to responsiblity and pursuit of College-

Good luck-Chris

Oh by the way I was hard headed at 17 i would have ignored all this and thown every dime at the Chevelle and dropped out of school- oops that is what I DID-

The car would be done before I would even go up to college, so the only time I'd ever work on, would be routine maintenance, or modding something. Also, the road trip, everyone would have their own vehicle, go to 129 in the Carolinas, Twisties in Nevada/NM/Etc., Pacific Coast Highway, etc. Just to enjoy the cars.

Quote:

Originally Posted by MaxHarvard

My advise.... get a Daily driver... You'll save gas $$ and you wont have to worry about the Chevelle breaking down at some really crucial time.

Besides driving your chevelle through college only leaves it open for some jerk to hit it while your parked taking a test or something.

Make it a fun toy. Less chance of anything bad happening to it

With an LS1, it would probably get equal MPG. And with an LS1, it would probably be more reliable then what I am looking at as far as a DD.

I don't know, maybe I am just trying to justify everything, so that I have no reason not to do it. Somebody slap me into reality.

If I decide to devote all available funds towards the 'Velle, the bodywork would be done around early March. Which would leave 5 months to get it together and driving, leaving 2 months for "Test & Tweaking" until August when I would have to go up to school. But if I bought a DD, and left it, I have the feeling, that since I would be 3 hours away from the 'Velle, I would rarely have time to work on it, thus prolonging completion until at least after graduation. Also, I feel that constantly working on it during school would detract from college life in general, Studying.... and..... uhm....... studying.......

-Todd

**will69camaro** · #6 01-28-2007, 08:31 PM

My 69 camaro gets better mpg than my daily driver and i still like the DD more for every day duty. I've seen far to many cars get messed with or wrecked at college. Trust me man daily driver is the way to go. I was worried to take my 69 anywhere at school because i'd come out and people would be by it or friends cars (another first gen) got rearended etc. Daily driver that you care about, you can take pride in the car, have fun driving it, i open track mine, mod mine, if something happens it's not hell to fix/replace, etc...Just get a car you like as a daily and use it.

William

**Streetking** · #7 01-28-2007, 08:46 PM

Get a daily driver. You will find yourself studying more than working on your car.

I'm assuming that you won't have covered parking at school? If not, the Chevelle won't fair sitting out as well as a daily.

SW

4OfaKind · #8 01-28-2007, 09:05 PM

Todd,

I think you are trying to get us to help you deside what it is you want.
Do you really want a driving appliance like a ford focus? Or do you want a classic Chevelle with a LS conversion?

Since money is not the major issue, then the only question is what do you want? I say do not let fear of theft or damage stop you because that could happen in your driveway or at the grocery store just as likely as at college. An accident could happen on your way to church as likely as on your way to class.

Also will you truely complete the car later? Not exactly the same, but when I was in the military I had the chance to buy a 1950 chevy pickup for $500. It needed restoring. I did not get it because I was impatient and wanted to ride now as opposed to later. I regret that decision now that life is taking a majority of the money I could be using toward my project car. Even though I made less in the military, the money i spent on a new car loan would have restored two classic pickups if i had been smarter.

I say go for the chevelle and let insurance worry about any possible damage or theft. My .02

Mal

race-rodz · #9 01-28-2007, 11:03 PM

get a "driver", projects that are your only mode of transportation suck. if you want to work on the project, you can only do what can be done in the amount of time before you need to go someplace. that means that lil "stages" get started, time starts to fly by, then you have to "good enough to drive it" back together. those "temp" deals turn out to be permanent, because there is no reason to finish it if it works just fine. or worse yet, the temp fix fails and leaves you stranded someplace trying to scab it back together good enough to get home....at which point you are forced to spend time fixing it again, instead of doing whatever else was planned.

bottom line, get a POS driver. take your time on your project and make it something to be proud of.

my personal "driver" is a $500 '98 ranger 2wd, 4cyl 5 spd. it had 70k on it, ac works, but the bed had been trashed. a quick phone call and $800 netted me 'glass prerunner 4" flair bedsides/fenders, along with some tires i allready had...thrown on some $200 ebay special wheels, in went a fox body mustang 8.8 w/4:56's (stock gears+ 4cyl+33's = turd) for $1500+/- i have a decent driver that i thrash daily, and dont care about. dings, dents, old ladies in buicks, deer, potholes, hippies, road construction....who cares. i put gas in it and change the oil every 6 months. btw....yes i have taken it off of "sweet jumps" too.

Smack_talker · #10 01-29-2007, 03:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MaxHarvard

My advise.... get a Daily driver... You'll save gas $$ and you wont have to worry about the Chevelle breaking down at some really crucial time.

Besides driving your chevelle through college only leaves it open for some jerk to hit it while your parked taking a test or something.

Make it a fun toy. Less chance of anything bad happening to it

Get a DD and work on the Velle. Just dont let it set too long cause I need a real SS to build.