The car fleet [Archive]

jfgw

08-31-2006, 09:00 AM

Thought i'd start another thread that's close to my heart.  What else does everyone drive on a daily basis?  I have a disease known as 'cost-myself-a-fortune-by-changing-cars-way-too-frequently-itis'.
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>I have been living in the US for less than 5 years but am on my 13th vehicle.  I am also in need of choosing a new daily driver as my z4's lease (which my girlfriend normally drives) expires in Oct 06, and i am fed up of driving our Acura MDX SUV every day for my software sales job.  </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>SHMBO has kindly agreed to drive the suv daily so that we still have a big practical car, but i cant really go to see customers in a 2 seat convertible - they automatically think they are paying too much!</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>So i am after a 4 seat car thats fun, not stupidly expensive to run, comfortable but not a 'boat'.  I have my Caterham for the real fun!</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>THoughts so far are around a BMW 3 series, a Pontiac GTO, an Audi S4 (twin turbo type)....anything i am missing?</DIV>

slngsht

08-31-2006, 09:27 AM

Daily driving duties are split between my 97 regal GS and 99 vette if the weather is nice.

I love boats, so those all seem small for 4 passenger cars http://www.usa7s.com/aspnetforum/images/emoticons/biggrin5.gif

All of those are pretty fast cars (well, regular 3 series is not that fast, maybe an M3?). How about a lowly accord v6, or (deep breath) hyundai?

solder_guy

08-31-2006, 09:28 AM

What else does everyone drive on a daily basis?

'87 Toyota Celica Convertible. Gets 35-40 mpg. Record was 42.5 mpg! http://www.usa7s.com/aspnetforum/images/emoticons/hurray.gif

Rob Mitchell

Mike Rohaley

08-31-2006, 09:54 AM

James,
<DIV>  You cannot go too wrong with any of the 3-Series cars, Audi A4/S4 cars are very nice also but they have the front control arm issue (requiring full replacement every 30K miles as bushings are not servicable seperately).  Since the Caterham satisfies your need for a proper performance car, have you considered something considerably less sporty, good on gas but still fun to drive? Saving the money for track days and new rubber. For instance, I drive a mid-80's 3-Series (the slow 325e) but knowing that I have a proper car in the garage makes it much more bearable. </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Thanks for clueing me into this site, I did not know it was out there. We met you and your wife again at Mid-Ohio on Saturday (with the yellow/alloy Caterham).      </DIV>
<DIV>      </DIV>

jfgw

08-31-2006, 10:16 AM

Thanks guys - good to see you on here Mike.  Have a look at the 7/7/07 event - I hope to go and think it will be a great event.
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>I like the 330i, but wish i had never seen the ones equipped with the performance pack....as my Dad would say "this could get expensive" - oh well, you can't take it with you!</DIV>

stevet

08-31-2006, 10:22 AM

I drive a 99 Toyota 4 Runner - I carry a lot of stuff around and live
at the top of a hill that is only accessible by 4x4 in snow. It doesn't
go too fast which is good, because I tend to.

I would look at one of the 3 series diesels - also the G35x.

Enjoy.

Mike Rohaley

08-31-2006, 10:43 AM

I signed up for the 07-07-07 event just a couple of hours ago, I am hoping to get a couple more local guys to bring their cars down for some exercise. We will see.

slngsht

08-31-2006, 10:44 AM

I signed up for the 07-07-07 event*just a couple of hours ago, I am hoping to get a couple more local guys to bring their cars down for some exercise. We will see.

http://www.usa7s.com/aspnetforum/images/emoticons/thumbsup.gif

Al Navarro

08-31-2006, 10:58 AM

The original "Skyline Seven" (if you count Bart and Nancy, who came sans Seven) had a good chuckle over this at lunch in Shenandoah.

I think i had hte sportiest true daily driver (Audi TT), altought B & N have a BMW 540 after years of flogging a Corsica, I think.

Chez Navarro: 2004 Audi TT 225 Coupe, 2003 Honda Pilot, Polaris Ranger UTV. Also currently taking up space in my driveway until they get back from an extended vacation are my parents' Subaru Impreza (decidedly not an STi or WRX) and Forester (also not any fun variant).

Al Navarro

08-31-2006, 11:02 AM

FYI, since I have Orange, my need for a sportyish daily driver has dropped to nil. I am probably going to get a Honda Fit when the TT lease is up.

Mike Rohaley

08-31-2006, 12:46 PM

I use my Seven as a daily driver, in the summer at least. Just so long as there is no salt on the ground the 325e mostly just gathers dust in the garage. It would be interesting to find out what the highest mileage is for a Sevenesque car. I know mine is surely not the highest but I will get the ball rolling, 26,5?? miles.  How about you?

Al Navarro

08-31-2006, 01:07 PM

Under 3k in over a year. I'd think Angus and Tessa in the UK are close to record, if not the recordholders.

locostv8

08-31-2006, 04:07 PM

The Fleet:

    04 Jeep Grand Cherokee Overland 4.7HO

    04 Jeep Grand Cherokee Freedom 4.7HO

    93 Mustang Coobra STOCK

Backup fleet:

    88 Tbird Turbo Coupe

    88 Mustang LX

Under construction:

    LC7 Mustang 2 based 302 auto (C4 or AOD) Wifes

    LC7 "Shagnasty" MN12/Cobra based 392 TIRES IRS

Nearly finished:

    Jeep BJ (Feep/truck/crawler/thingy) 460 doubler m12000 front/rear onboard air

    41 Willys PU blown SB AWD long term project

   

xflow7

08-31-2006, 04:28 PM

I just changed tin-tops from a '97 318ti to an '06 A3 2.0.  The A3 is a ball to drive although I had two run-ins with VAG quality control in my first week of ownership.  The glovebox latch was flakey from day 1 (fixed with a new glovebox assembly) and the seatbelt warning light/chime operates backwards for the passenger seat (pax leaves their belt off, no warning; buckles up and warning comes on).  New seat sensor module to be installed next week hope that fixes it.

The new 3-series is really nice.  I was pretty close to getting a 330i Sport, but finally decided I wanted to stay under 30k.

Interesting you mention the Fit, Al.  I was actually thinking about going that route and didn't for no particular reason; didn't even go drive one, but they look like a pretty reasonable daily driver if you have something fun tucked away in the garage.

pksurveyor

09-01-2006, 04:28 AM

My transportation department:

Primary Daily driver: Hummer H2

Secondary Daily driver: Lexus LS400

Fun Car: Lotus Esprit V8

Real Fun Car: Caterham SV

Al Navarro

09-01-2006, 05:11 AM

I guess I'm in the wrong biz, PK..nice fleet — 2 fun cars!

BirkinBernie

09-01-2006, 05:43 PM

Daily drivers - 2000 Subaru Impreza 2.5RS and 1986 Toyota MR2

slomove

09-01-2006, 08:42 PM

Jeez, you guys....besides the Se7en I have a junk pile in my driveway. A '94 Galant with broken A/C and stuck power windows, a '93 Escort running on the second engine and as a highlight a '03 Hyundai Santa Fe that I need to tow the Se7en.

Did I mention my son is going to college?   http://www.usa7s.com/aspnetforum/images/emoticons/wink5.gif

Gert<edited><editID>slomove</editID><editDate>2006-09-01 21:45:11</editDate></edited>

Al Navarro

09-02-2006, 07:44 AM

Gert-I think with a few exceptions, the stable of the average Seven owner is pretty average. No insults intended either way here.

I mean, how many folks of those who have chimed in (perhaps self-selection is at work?) have listed things like "2006 BMW 760"? It's all about priorities....like our kids' educations and, of course, the Sevens.

For example, my biz partner rolls in a newish land rover and inifiniti. While our household runs a Pilot pusing 100k miles and a leased TT that will soon become something like a $16k Honda Fit.

slomove

09-02-2006, 09:02 AM

Al, that was not really a serious comment and why I gave it that emoticon. But indeed I can derive no satisfaction whatsoever from my daily commute and shopping trips in Los Angeles even if it was a Ferrari Enzo. And for the fun trips I got the Se7en.

But I am actually waiting for one of the junkers to finally break down as an excuse to get a new one. The friggin' cars just don't do me the favor http://www.usa7s.com/aspnetforum/images/emoticons/cuss.gif

Gert

JohnCh

09-02-2006, 09:41 AM

My daily driver is a tweaked 944 turbo that I've had for over 10 years. I tried to replace it a few years ago with an M Coupe, but I didn't enjoy that car nearly as much, so sold it after 10 months. The Porsche is getting on in years though, so I am probably going to retire it from daily duty next year (don't think I could ever sell it). The family car is a Subaru Forester 2.5XT with a 5 speed, which is a fun little sleeper.

-John

soareyes

09-02-2006, 09:42 AM

So if you had the money/space/time for a second "enthusiast" car, what would it be?

Even though its even more impractical than a Seven, I would get this, an Ariel Atom:

http://www.arielatom.com/images/StaticContent/sideshotred.jpg

Then for those rainy track days, this would be nice, an M Coupe:

http://www.bmwusa.com/NR/rdonlyres/8F2808B0-5ACE-4E69-9FEB-FAF95ACBDA96/0/z4M_C_gallery_08.jpg

or maybe a Lotus Elise, keeping it in the Seven's tradition:

http://fleur-design.net/lotus/images/CRW_9896.jpg

(but probably not that color! http://www.usa7s.com/aspnetforum/images/emoticons/ack2.gif

xflow7

09-02-2006, 09:43 AM

<em>Gert said:</em>

But I am actually waiting for one of the junkers to finally break down as an excuse to get a new one. The friggin' cars just don't do me the favor

Well you said your Escort's on engine number 2. What exactly is your definition of break down? http://www.usa7s.com/aspnetforum/images/emoticons/biggrin5.gif

I keeed...I keeed...

(I can poke fun because I put a new engine in my 318ti 2 years ago)<edited><editID>xflow7</editID><editDate>2006-09-02 10:46:04</editDate></edited>

locostv8

09-02-2006, 11:11 AM

In a prior life I did Computer coulting all over the country and drove between 50k to 70k a year. I refused to buy a good car ($$) to be trashed in a couple of years. I would generaly buy a 500 to 1000 car patch it and put a lot of miles on it then use parts from it for the next victum. One was a 200k+ mid 70s Ford wagon that had been a Sherrif's car then a taxi then a private owner. Thru new bearings in it without puling a $200 paint job and ran it then swapped a 460 and ran it some more. I think one year I trashed 3 late 70s Tbirds. The Cobra was one of my road cars after I slowed down a bit at a bit over 100k I retired it about 10 years ago and have no reason to get rid of it. This is why I have quite a bit of pparts laying around including 6 460s and about the same Windsors. Since I was in consulting and all computer guys are a bit excentric....

slomove

09-02-2006, 11:23 AM

Well you said your Escort's on engine number 2. What exactly is your definition of break down? http://www.usa7s.com/aspnetforum/images/emoticons/biggrin5.gif

I keeed...I keeed...

(I can poke fun because I put a new engine in my 318ti 2 years ago)

Well, that WAS a funny story.... started out with some ticking valves and the highly qualified repair technician put in new hydraulic lifters. But in the process he screwed up something else that led to a total engine failure (valves, head, pistons crashed). So I ended up with a new (rebuilt) engine on repair warranty. I did not complain but that is now extending the life even more....

Gert<edited><editID>slomove</editID><editDate>2006-09-02 12:24:38</editDate></edited>

slngsht

09-02-2006, 12:11 PM

So if you had the money/space/time for a second "enthusiast" car, what would it be?

To be honest, at the moment I have lost interest in owning any other fun cars. My vette is my other fun car, but I spend considerably less time with it since the seven.

There are alot of cars I'd like to drive, and I wouldn't turn anyone down if they gave one to me, but at the moment I don't lust after any of 'em

solder_guy

09-03-2006, 04:38 AM

So if you had the money/space/time for a second "enthusiast" car, what would it be?

I think that I would like to have *another* '76 or '77 Celica and mod the engine. (I wish I had not sold my '77 Celica in 1999.

Rob Mitchell

Al Navarro

09-04-2006, 04:56 AM

I'd have to answer this two ways...semi-realistically and win the lottery-realistically.

Semi: Whatever V-12 Ferrari I could get for $70k or under. Condition and service history more important than model. Alternate Ferrari would be some V-8 variant, probably Mondial Convert. so I could take the wife and kids along.

Still in the semi-relistic universe, I'd get an 1966-1973 911s. These cars represent a sort of purity to me that persists.

Entering lottery-land, I would probably get a Zonda or refurbed McLaren F1.