Your Ideal Daily Driver

[Cudwieser]

What would be your ideal car? This isn't about your dream car, this is about the car you would be happy to live with everyday. Please state your idea of ideal and mention any car(s) that come close, be it cars you've seen (or driven) or owned.

 

Important things to consider are the price of the car (how much you are prepared to spend), function of the car and ease of use and style of the car or vehicle.

Edited January 23, 2016 by epoxi

[SouthLand]

[epoxi]

 

I'm always banging on about the LS400, but to me it really is a symbol of the 'perfect car' for a consumer and if I lived somewhere like the US (i.e. a place with more space and cheaper fuel) I would probably keep it as a daily driver and drive it forever.

 

Toyota wanted in on the US luxury car market, and they did it with pure design and engineering. They started a brand no one had ever heard of, and in a world of rebadges, tacky marketing and snobbishness, they created such a strong product that it left the competition in embarrassment. It was faster, more refined, higher specified, more reliable and cheaper than the competition, overnight the motoring icon of quality and market-leading features, the Mercedes S-Class, was rendered just another car.

 

I'm not the type to go to the official dealership, but from what I hear Lexus's customer service has remained the best in the world, and the one time I went into a dealership with my dad with a tatty tracksuit on I was very impressed with their professional attitude and helpfulness to me, and actually felt a bit guilty (while BMW garages for example literally ignore you if you don't look like you're made of money).

 

The LS400 itself is so reliable that the only known fault was the LCD on the radio fogging up after a number of years. There are many examples with over 250,000 miles on them with nothing but regular servicing and replacing consumables. There are also quite a number with over a million miles and their original drive-train.

 

Price: Very cheap, depends what condition you want. Like any older car that's stopped depreciating, spending a couple of thousand is advisable to get an example that's in good condition.

Function: As a flagship luxury car it has plenty to keep you comfortable even by today's standards.

Ease of use: Same as above, probably not the best car for cramped European roads though.

Style: Grandpa styling, but it doesn't matter.

 

@Cudwieser: I hope you don't mind but I've changed the topic title to be a bit clearer.

Edited January 23, 2016 by epoxi

[Zyo]

Probably a 997.1

 

 

Its a proper do-it-all sports car, reasonably practical yet still affordable, £20-25k is less than a mid-range Ford Mondeo. The 991 doesn't look out of place anywhere, its at home commuting from Basingstoke as it is cruising through Monte Carlo.

 

A Cayman S is maybe slightly better value, but the 911 is the one to have. If it was the last car I bought, and had to live with it "for ever" it would be the one I choose.

[TCMike]

For me it would be a previous gen Cadillac CTS-V wagon as a daily driver. 550hp should keep me entertained and you could get one with a 6 speed manual gearbox. The only problem is price, the damn things are only going up in price, not down. But that would make it a good investment, which is rare for modern cars.

 

[Mark]

I'd go along with TCMike and go with a powerful estate car.

 

RS6 Avant for me please. In the grey.

 

[MyName'sJeff]

 

or:

 

 

A3 sportback

[Cudwieser]

I'd go along with TCMike and go with a powerful estate car.

 

RS6 Avant for me please. In the grey.

 

 

 

For me it would be a previous gen Cadillac CTS-V wagon as a daily driver. 550hp should keep me entertained and you could get one with a 6 speed manual gearbox. The only problem is price, the damn things are only going up in price, not down. But that would make it a good investment, which is rare for modern cars.

 

You have reminded me of something I should have mentioned at the start. Please consider cost of ownership. If you can run it then fair game.

 

In saying that, while I like Audi, I really must know what a last gen CTS-V costs.

 

(saw one at my local filling station here last year and found it beautiful in a striking, yet understated way).

[TCMike]

Those CTS-V's could be had in the $30k range. Wagons are more expensive, in the low 40's. A CTS-V wagon with a manual trans? Those unicorns are well into the 50's, maybe even low 60's.

[Cudwieser]

Would be about a 1-1 conversion here after import fees and duty paid to the state (still expect to pay more). In saying that if you have the means then some things become more ideal (What would we be if Bernie hadn't Madoff ).

 

Still a nice car and I'd still have one

 

As for my ideal car and keeping it to a similar vein

 

I'd have this

 

Not the most economic, but it looks good, simple engineering compared to it's German rival and plenty of room. Australian thinking at it's finest. As for fuel, just ease off on the right foot. You only need to press it if you want to pass someone.

 

 

 

Probably a 997.1

 

 

Its a proper do-it-all sports car, reasonably practical yet still affordable, £20-25k is less than a mid-range Ford Mondeo. The 991 doesn't look out of place anywhere, its at home commuting from Basingstoke as it is cruising through Monte Carlo.

 

A Cayman S is maybe slightly better value, but the 911 is the one to have. If it was the last car I bought, and had to live with it "for ever" it would be the one I choose.

 

Going of topic slightly to mention something rare to yourself and possibly TCMike. To anyone looking for a potentially usable coupe/sports car I recently saw a UK ad for Ford. It was for ford in general but the cars that were used in the promotion were the Mondeo the yard stick car and the Mustang a car only recently sold in the UK. This has to be the first time the car was actually advertised for sale in the UK (the original never took off or suited UK driving). So if you fancy a fair value, usable sports (muscle) car, the stang is here as well.

[Zyo]

I wouldn't describe it as rare, the first gen 997 production numbers run to about 150,000 so there's plenty of them about. And I know a couple of guys who run Porsches on a daily basis so it's certainly do-able. To be fair, when I posted that the topic title was "Ideal Car" not "Daily Driver", but I see where you're coming from.

[Gnocchi Flip Flops]

It would have to be a Lexus. But an exciting one, the IS-F. This car has always intrigued me. It's relatively rare and kind of controversial. But those two things attract me the most. Values are dropping, you can have one for cheaper than a newer and slower IS350 F-Sport. Sure the downside is gas, this naturally aspirated V8 monster likes to drink fuel like it's nothing. But I think I could live with that.

 

People always like to bang on Lexus about it's styling. First they were seen as too boring and now they're written off as being too ugly. I've never had a problem with them and I still don't. And nobody can change that, I know a lot of people on this forum have tried.

 

[Cudwieser]

I wouldn't describe it as rare, the first gen 997 production numbers run to about 150,000 so there's plenty of them about. And I know a couple of guys who run Porsches on a daily basis so it's certainly do-able. To be fair, when I posted that the topic title was "Ideal Car" not "Daily Driver", but I see where you're coming from.

I wasn't talking about the 997. I was talking about the mustang being advertised on UK tv something that has never happened before (yes I am a nerd ). I was making a tenuous link to the fact you posted the porsche which is a usable 2dr 2seat (I know it's a 2+2, but really) coupe, the only characteristics it shares with the stang. To be fair though I was taking a liberty with the connection. Sorry for the confusion

[Flachbau]

When I think of Daily Driver, I think of practicality and ease of use. I'd probably go with a Golf, if I really wanted a smaller car. Great MPG, decent power and it looks good too! Now if I were looking for a larger vehicle / SUV I'd probably go with a Ford Escape / Explorer, but my family kinda already has one As for a sedan, definitely something like a Crown Victoria. I'd go for the Lexus LS models for a more luxurious vehicle.

Edited January 24, 2016 by Android

[sivispacem]

Four doors, nice and versatile, usable rear seats and a reasonably spacious boot.

 

Four hundred and twenty horsepower V8, revving to 8,200RPM.

 

Probably the greatest "all-rounder" ever built.

[Mark]

You have reminded me of something I should have mentioned at the start. Please consider cost of ownership. If you can run it then fair game.

 

In saying that, while I like Audi, I really must know what a last gen CTS-V costs.

 

(saw one at my local filling station here last year and found it beautiful in a striking, yet understated way).

Ok, what are we talking, daily running on HP or magically bought outright? I'd struggle to afford one on HP with my existing outgoings without eating beans on toast and being a hermit for the next decade but if we're just talking insurance and running costs I'm all good.

[Cudwieser]

 

You have reminded me of something I should have mentioned at the start. Please consider cost of ownership. If you can run it then fair game.

 

In saying that, while I like Audi, I really must know what a last gen CTS-V costs.

 

(saw one at my local filling station here last year and found it beautiful in a striking, yet understated way).

Ok, what are we talking, daily running on HP or magically bought outright? I'd struggle to afford one on HP with my existing outgoings without eating beans on toast and being a hermit for the next decade but if we're just talking insurance and running costs I'm all good.

 

Basics like fuel, insurance and service. Cars cost money to keep. Often the cheapest thing is the car. Keeping it proves the greater expense.

I started the thread with the unwritten notion of outright ownership (never believed in Hire/Purchase as the interest can be unholy and has lead more people to trouble than enough. I am it is what I've said is almost the definition of irony, but oddly when you take second hand into consideration, price of the car is almost irrelevent so an otherwise pricey car will become affordable.

[epoxi]

This is just a proposition (it's Cudweiser's thread after all).

 

I reckon:

- You should be able to buy one outright within 5 years

- Depreciation counts (i.e. if you started saving the money now, in 5 years it will have depreciated to what you saved up over the period)

- Appreciation doesn't count (e.g. CTS-V wagon appreciation just gets confusing)

- Living like a hermit to save it up is allowed

- You have to be able to afford to run the car indefinitely once you own it

 

Edit: Ninja'd

Edited January 24, 2016 by epoxi

[TCMike]

- Appreciation doesn't count (e.g. CTS-V wagon appreciation just gets confusing)

What do you mean?

 

A fast wagon is a great daily driver, since it's practical and entertaining. The sort of car that wouldn't depress you to drive everyday of your life. The CTS-V is also a good platform for potential long-term reliability, since it's powered by a Corvette motor, can be had with a simple manual transmission, and is RWD. Nothing too crazy that could break and cost several fortunes to repair or replace.

Edited January 24, 2016 by TCMike

[epoxi]

 

- Appreciation doesn't count (e.g. CTS-V wagon appreciation just gets confusing)

What do you mean?

 

A fast wagon is a great daily driver, since it's practical and entertaining. The sort of car that wouldn't depress you to drive everyday of your life. The CTS-V is also a good platform for potential long-term reliability, since it's powered by a Corvette motor, can be had with a simple manual transmission, and is RWD. Nothing too crazy that could break and cost several fortunes to repair or replace.

 

When I use the term "appreciation" I mean financial appreciation, i.e. when it is worth more tomorrow than it is today. This topic considers the affordability of the car and it's hard to gauge affordability when something is continuously gaining value so we should consider today's price in those cases.

 

Anyone who doesn't literally 'appreciate' the CTS-V is crazy, it's an awesome car.

Edited January 24, 2016 by epoxi

[TCMike]

Oh, I see what you mean. Yeah, most CTS-V's are going down in price. They were $65k brand new, iirc, so they haven't appreciated. The wagon body style and the manual transmission were the rarest spec, so those can be tough to find, but could probably still be bought for less than their original price tag. It's a toss up.

 

I wouldn't mind owning a normal sedan with a manual though. It would still make a great daily driver for about the price of a new fully loaded Camry or Accord.

Edited January 24, 2016 by TCMike

[Outcast]

I'd have to say the 1M based off of real world experience. It's small enough to be comfortable in a big city (Taipei: pop. 7,000,000+) yet spacious enough on the inside to carry 4 reasonably sized adults in relative comfort (relative compared to my 997 where my friends all end up with a crick in their necks because of the sloping roof line). The trunk is also spacious enough to carry several weekend bags and additional stuff for long roadtrips. And with some simple mods it's fast enough to outrun most things on the road with the exception of supercars quadruple the 1Ms price (even if you can't outrun something crazy, you'll never be embarrassed by the 1M. It's a small car that punches way above it's class). Oh, and it's currently appreciating.

Edited January 25, 2016 by Outcast

[Gnocchi Flip Flops]

Oh, I see what you mean. Yeah, most CTS-V's are going down in price. They were $65k brand new, iirc, so they haven't appreciated. The wagon body style and the manual transmission were the rarest spec, so those can be tough to find, but could probably still be bought for less than their original price tag. It's a toss up.

 

I wouldn't mind owning a normal sedan with a manual though. It would still make a great daily driver for about the price of a new fully loaded Camry or Accord.

 

I know somebody with one of the CTS-V wagons down here. 800 horses. And it looks completely stock. It's kinda like the CLS Shooting Brake, it doesn't have those boring ass lines that most wagons have that those weird Europeans tend to like for some reason.

[Svip]

 

I don't even care which version, just as long as it isn't from 2000 or later. Those were rust buckets for some reason.

 

Although, I would prefer one in white and with the ES9 V6 engine.

Edited January 26, 2016 by Svip

[///M]

Dig the wagon love!

 

I'd take:

 

Legacy GT Wagon

 

 

E39 M5

Probably the greatest "all-rounder" ever built.

 

I'd challenge that with the E39

[Tycek]

*Picture of the most beautiful car ever created.*

 

I don't even care which version, just as long as it isn't from 2000 or later. Those were rust buckets for some reason.

 

Although, I would prefer one in white and with the ES9 V6 engine.

This x1000. I don't care which version as long it's not the break. I can even get the slowest 2.0 version, since XM was meant to be a luxobarge and not a rocket.

 

Love that car.

Edited January 29, 2016 by Tycek

[dewtech]

A daily driver for me is the mark of a big diesel - plenty of torque for overtaking, won't slurp fuel down.

 

For me it'd either be a BMW 335d but sadly only come with the slushbox, so more likely something like this

 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2013-VOLVO-S60-2-4D-D5-R-DESIGN-RED-215BHP-POLESTAR-POWER-UPGRADE-/231812983683?hash=item35f9216b83:g:0jsAAOSwpRRWoKKs

[Svip]

 

*Picture of the most beautiful car ever created.*

 

I don't even care which version, just as long as it isn't from 2000 or later. Those were rust buckets for some reason.

 

Although, I would prefer one in white and with the ES9 V6 engine.

This x1000. I don't care which version as long it's not the break. I can even get the slowest 2.0 version, since XM was meant to be a luxobarge and not a rocket.

 

Love that car.

 

I agree. I just like the ES9 V6 engine. But a 2.0 would be excellent too. Any XM non-Break would be fine with me.

Edited January 29, 2016 by Svip

[K1FFLOM]

Four doors, nice and versatile, usable rear seats and a reasonably spacious boot.

 

....

 

Probably the greatest "all-rounder" ever built.

I cannot post pictutes with ny phone.

But with the quote I would add a picture of an MG ZT 260 Estate.

 

THAT is the best allrounder ever built !

[sivispacem]

I don't know, I'd rather have a gearbox with ratios better suited for spirited driving, and a slightly more lively engine. Build quality can be a bit hit and miss too.

 

Mind you, the supercharged ones are pretty f*cking cool.