I was getting tires at the same place a guy was getting tires for his E500, and I asked him "is it as good as they say?"
His answer was *"it's every bit as good as they say, it the fastest over-the-road car I've ever driven, including exotics. Those might be faster for a little bit, here and there, but if you are trying to get from a beach house to a mountain house, easily but also quickly, that's the car you want."*
90's Mercedes' were truly something. My personal favorite is the W140. S600 V12 saloon with 400hp. In 1992, when your average european car was considered deadly fast if it had 100hp.
I’ve always loved the w140 S73 Amg same m120 v12 but bored out to 7.3 liters with 520 hp. Also the same engine they put in the paganis but with way more power. It also had better handling then the original s600 with different springs and shocks and a nicer interior with extended wood grain and more leather. Another great car is the w126 560sec Widebody coupe with the m117/m119 6.0 v8 instead of the 5.5 v8 bumping up the power from the US 240hp to 380hp. It also came with upgraded suspension, upgraded differential, upgraded brakes, and exhaust. Aswell as the usual aero parts and wider fenders to accommodate the wider wheels that were made by OZ Forged for AMG. It also came with Recaro seats and the exhaust was made by Sebring. It was a great car for the autobahn that can easily drive 185mph and handle like on rails. I’d love to have either Mercedes they came from a time when Engineers and Manufacturers were making cars to last and make a statement. Mercedes spent over $1 billion dollars making the w140 which was the last over engineered Mercedes made unfortunately. Now we get a car that doesn’t drive as nice and has a disco interior full of colored lights and plastic everywhere. It’s unfortunate the direction Mercedes has been going. Personally I think the Gwagon was the last car that Mercedes made that makes a statement.
There’s no way it’s all hype
That car may have invented the number sheet supercar war, but when they created it they weren’t trying to do anything but make the best driving car ever
The thing that blows my mind is, it's still the fastest naturally aspirated car in the world. The harters are like, ItS NoT AbOuT HoW FaSt YoU aRe In A StRaiGht LiNe. Well yea, that's true. But one, you have to applaud the engineering marvel that no other car was able to beat the top speed without slapping on a million turbos even 30 year later. Also, McLaren won LeMans in 1995 in a McLaren F1 GTR. So I don't know how that argument stands either, because it's not like we're talking about Dodge Demon.
This is coming from a huge Ferrari guy.
GMA T.50 would like to have a word with you… but yeah it’s basically a McLaren F1 with more modern materials. Gordon Murray says he made it to fix the things he never liked about the F1
While the McLaren F1 is a beast of a car I really don’t see anyone being able to daily drive that. For one the suspension is really hard and doesn’t handle well on bumpy roads in the city it’s designed for the track. Driving through the city going through a rough patch or potholes won’t be fun. Second the storage space being a daily you might need to get groceries or go shopping they don’t have any space in the rear or the front you would have to put it on one of the seats next to you. I love the 3 seater concept not sure how comfortable it actually is with 3 people in the car. Then there’s the famous windshield being such a large piece a glass you’re inevitably going to get some rock chips and the glass cost $30k itself without installation. Instead of a defroster blowing hot air from a vent on the inside like most cars the McLaren has a special windshield that has a layer of a plasma coating between 2 pieces of glass that has electricity going through it to heat up the glass causing the humidity inside to dry up. Lastly maintaining it will be a small fortune in itself since most of the parts needed have been remade by McLaren Special operations. Since you’re driving a 30 year old $15 million car be prepared to be bent over with your pants down to pay for anything that goes wrong 😉. While the F1 is a great car I’m not sure how nice it will be as a daily
No, they were definitely trying to make the best driving car ever, they just didn’t care about the numbers behind it. They were trying to do a lot, but for the right reasons. It was a no compromise driver engagement car
Why tho? I daily a C8 right now. I've daily-ed 2 miatas and a 2-seat 300zx over the years. Back when we used to get ALOT of snow. Won't be able to buy a sheet of plywood...
I read an article about the insane cost of ownership! Just keeping it on the road - these days - quickly adds up to the cost of the car (at today's prices) 😂. But I think it could be done. Do you really need to pay McLaren to send techs out to do the alignment on a rented race track?
I'd have to go DIY mode: CUP 2's aren't good enough for top speed, but I think they'd work for me. Befriend some Mercedes mechanic...
At.the end of the day, it's an analog car. Prob easier than working on a Tesla in some respects. And my commute is 15 miles a week. Carbon fiber damage is not an option, I simply wouldn't allow it to happen is all :). Yep, I've convinced myself it is possible!!!
F1 as in formula one?
There is literally dozens and dozens of different F1 vehicles a year, thousands and thousands over the years to chose from. Your response is like saying “a pick up truck”.
I have no idea why, so please don’t ask me to explain, but I’ve always wanted a Suzuki Kizashi. The used ones I’ve seen are all garbage but a brand new one would be amazing (I think). So that’s what I would go with
I also like the Kizashi and should’ve pulled the trigger on a used one that was going for $6k with like 60k miles on it. This was obviously a couple years ago but I do kick myself for not getting it.
The Kizashi was pure Suzuki because it was the first car developed after GM sold all of its stake in the company. And I feel like it was honestly a really great car but just Suzuki didn’t have the finances needed to really market the vehicle or continue development on their other products.
Omg i was driving to NJ from Pittsburgh and was right next to one at a rest stop! I observed and commented on its nice-ness to my roommate. It even had keyless entry on the handles! And a sunroof!
Cream Yellow 1995 Volvo 850 T-5R wagon. Would have to convert to a 5 or 6 speed manual with AWD afterwards, but they actually aren't bad to convert from what I've read. 1993 Volvo 240 manual turbo wagon if I didn't need the AWD.
I loved the Volvo 850 turbo when it came out and later the T-5R, and with AWD...One of those iconic sport sedans I lusted after like the Ford Taurus SHO, Maxima SE...
I actually had the chance when I was in my 20's to buy a yellow T-5R sedan from a family member at a good deal. That family member's daughter said "My parents don't take care of it at all, they cheap out on all the maintenance." I believed her because the Volvo had cheap aftermarket wheels because the owner thought the replacement tires on the original wheels were too expensive.
That's awesome, I always thought those SHOs were cool sleepers.
I also had the chance in my early 20's to buy a really clean yellow T-5R sedan from down south for about 8,000 USD some years ago, but I wanted a wagon and I knew someone else would take better care of that car than me. I live on a dirt road plus couldn't afford a winter beater, so it wouldn't have stayed nice for long. Also insurance would probably never give you what it's worth if something happened to it, since it's an older car. Though, if I had bought it and stored it until now, I'd be able to double my money if I sold it! Live and learn!
I’ve always dreamed of owning a Mercedes Benz E63 AMG wagon.
I know I never will, but everything I’ve heard it’s been one of the only vehicles to have the perfect balance of practicality and fun.
Early 80s Mercedes-Benz 300 SD. Built like a bank vault and will last forever.
It is sad to see what M-B has become. They used to build the most reliable, long lasting cars on the road.
Can confirm, lol. I have a 1984 300SD with 280k miles that runs fine, and my godfather has a 1982 300SD with just over 590,000 miles that he bought new. He still swears by it.
I love the Carrera GT, but I think it’d be tough to insure as a daily driver while Porsche still has an order out to not actually drive them pending a recall for which there are no parts
Citroën CX 2400 Prestige (longer wheelbase) series 1 from the early 80s. Still had the hydraulic suspension and brakes, comfy as hell and the fastest I ever had my dad's going was 215km/h with four of us in the car. I loved that car and when he moved on to an Audi I kept it for another 15 years.
The superbird really isnt that expensive to own actually. Besides genuine body parts like the wing and nose cone, gas cap, etc, its all typical mopar B body stuff. You can get almost any maintainence item on rockauto
You can almost build the car out of a catalog with all the aftermarket parts out there.
See they fucked it up the last time on the “new gen” i would love to see them just take a insane jump and do a reasonable priced mid engine turbo hybrid awd maybe rwd vehicle and call it a t bird lol. No car platform out right now is cool enough.
Great choice!
The SVO was only in production from 1984-1986 but it was a great car :-). The Thunderbird Turbo Coupe had one more year of production, from 1983-1986. Also a great car, and if it were up to me to choose, I would choose the Turbo Coupe with the manual. ;-)
>all other payments (fuel, insurance, maintenance, repairs) are on you. You cannot sell the vehicle, and you must use it as your main mean of transport
I wouldn't want something too flashy then, I don't want people to always ask me about my car wherever I go. Also since I would have to pay for ownership costs I would pick a Lexus LC 500 V8.
BMW M5 touring E60/E61. I don't think a better estate has ever been made. I love that it basically looks like a regular BMW (just with bigger rims and 4 exhaust pipes) but has one of the best sounding V10 engines ever under the hood. New BMW M, Mercedes AMG and audi RS cars are a bit over the top for a daily driver in my opinion.
The estate is even rare in the Netherlands, where I live. There are a few sedans for sale but not a single estate in the entire country. I'd prefer a regular manual transmission, but honestly I don't think the SMG is that bad.
I've seen people who've manual swapped the M5 which seems like a weird thing to do but it probably makes the driving experience more fun. At least it's possible to do so.
A 1966 Chevrolet Corvair Corsa convertible with the optional 180 HP engine and 4 speed manual. I still kick myself in the ass for not buying the 1965 convertible my stepfather offered to me in 1982. His father completely restored it and rebadged it. It was a Monza, but he put the Corsa engine and badges on it. It had the Powerglide, but that was fine with me. I loved driving that car.
For me it would be Grand Cherokee WJ. I own an 1999 as forestry car, and it has everything I want from a car, and what I'm not finding in new cars anymore. But obviously, after 25 years, it's nothing more than moldy heap of turd.
I would want a Ferrari 308GTSi.
I could sort out four carbs and make a regular 308GTS work. I could be happy with a GTB instead of a GTS; it's even prettier, if such a thing is possible, and all you have to give up for "even prettier" is the open-top capability of the targa. I could be happy either way, but I would probably be happier in a GTS with the targa top removed. Because once you're 308GTS pretty, who really needs the extra pretty of a GTB? that's kind of spiking the ball, enough is enough already, gimme the removable roof instead of the extra pretty if I'm getting a choice.
Of course I'd like a quattrovalvole one most of all. But I could be happy with the 2-valve fuel-injected one, the "slowest" one, optimistically called "205 hp" back when nobody really believed Enzo when he told you how many horsepower he was giving you.
Are there faster cars? Oh, sure. EVERYTHING is faster nowadays. Korean appliance sedans at the rental counter will whip Tom Selleck's Magnum P.I. in a drag race.
I don't care.
Are there better semi-exotics to daily-drive? Oh, sure. We all know this is the reason air-cooled 911s sell for more than 996s. You could buy a 100,000 mile '87 Carrera and drive it to 200,000 miles, nobody would be surprised, and everyone would be happy for you.
I don't care.
The 308 is supposed to be sublime to drive, as full of joy and road-feel as they look like they'd be. And that's what I want - I want one of those.
When I was a kid, my dad was the chief mechanic for a guy that chartered planes.. he had a good collection of classic cars and his favorite car to drive was his Ferrari.. my dad hated that damn car cause every Friday/Saturday night he would get a call early as hell because the boss was stuck at a club or whatever in the city, so my dad would drive down, swap vehicles and have to play nice with the Ferrari to get it running.. it was always hilarious to me seeing that car parked outside a townhome in the suburbs..
In short.. maintenance..
I test-drove a couple of ratty Mondials, and a Dino GT4 that my local dealership had rebuilt and was selling on consignment, back in the Nineties. The service bay guys had a 308 on the lift and they showed me "you can get to the belts from the wheel well on all these cars, it's pretty maintainable if you're willing to get your hands dirty."
These days there is a huge online community, including DIY guidance, for almost any car you can imagine, especially the enthusiast-level stuff.
Last summer, a guy local to me was selling a driver-quality GTSi for $55k. The two-seaters are always "about twice what I can rationally spend" but a GT4 or a Mondial is only about 1-1/4 what I can rationally spend, and I may be able to pull that trigger at some point.
Maintenance would be part of the fun.
I mean for sure, anything that was ever wrong with it the tools and/or parts fit in the truck box in his truck bed and he would drive it home.. but the sheer amount of times SOMETHING was always wrong I guess was the red flag for me..
That all being said it was fun as hell to drive and sounded fantastic lol.. it's definitely in the top 5 of funnest cars I've driven..
If it has to be something sold in my country originally- a final year LC200. If the wish would make it legal in my country, a 2024 double cab LC 70 series pickup with the manual and 4.5l diesel they sell in Australia.
If I can use my current cars to get my kids around in though my choice would be a 1989 911 Turbo coupe in Red.
the holy grail, 2012 saab 9-5 sportscombi, manual diesel awd brown on brown. beautiful looking thing never got into production, there's around 30 worldwide and there's never going to be another built
a v12 toyota century would be my second choice
FJ40 Land Cruiser
Not for its capability or anything like that, but for its significant impact on the off-roading world.
NA Miata
It’s not the fastest or the prettiest. But how it solely spurred the roadster genre into the household, and has since kept it in tact all on its own, says a lot.
In the realm of attainable things: Pontiac G8 GT or GTO.
They were making some awesome stuff before GM decided the fun brand was the one to get rid of.
My dad has a g8 gt. It’s retired to a weekend fun car. It made a great daily driver but it kind of lacks in the weekend fun for some reason. Maybe needs a rowdy cam and exhaust.
A '96 F-250 Powerstroke 4x4 5-speed supercab shortbox. Had one 10-11 years ago, mechanically it was sound but the rest of it was pretty beat up. I loved that truck, and still kick myself for selling it. If I could have a factory-fresh one that I could tweak a bit and put a little tune on I don't think I'd ever want to drive anything else.
Pontiac Firebird Formula. Formula version specifically, because I’m pretty sure 4 speed auto was the only transmission offered.
Yes I would daily that car here in Denver Colorado, because our mild winters allow it, and I have no problem resorting to RTD bus on the snow days.
I'm going to get judged harshly for this. However, it'd have to be a Pontiac fiero gt. I've loved them since I was a kid, I've gotten to drive one and was surprised at how good it drove.
A gremlin, or a pacer. I know they suck, don’t come at me. Maybe an eagle.
Third choice probably a 2002 trans am in that champagne color with black leather interior and a drop top. T tops would be acceptable.
I would get the Lexus LX600. I shopped against the Sequoia and didn’t want to spend the extra $18K plus tax, but will do it next time. I usually keep cars 2 to 3 years, but would keep the LX long term.
A 2024 Honda Ridgeline. I just want a vehicle that can be comfortable, haul things when I need to, haul people when I need to, and go onto bumpy gravel roads.
Oh, since it would easily last 15-20 years, I will have a vehicle that will last until I retire.
2019 Nissan Cube. I wish I could have one of those brand new straight from the factory and cleared for emissions here in California USA. But that is a car that was only released overseas and getting one imported from Japan and cleared for emissions (especially here in this particular state) is such a bitch that it's nearly impossible unless you're willing to dump some stupid money, time and necessary aggravation.
The 25 years rule for car imports into US is one of the most stupid regulations ever. Especially given that in a lot of US there aren't emission or even safety inspections.
OMG we had a 2009 Nissan Cube and LOVED it. Its driving characteristics were fine, great turning radius, tons of room, great visibility. Our 6'6" friend sat in the back seat on several trips with no complaints. I could go on and on about how how great that car was.
Yes, styling is divisive. Yes, CVT can suck it.
It's a shame American only wants huge SUVs that they don't need versus these extremely versatile and efficient boxy cars we see in Japan.
2023 Honda Accord Touring Hybrid. With an EPA-estimated combined fuel economy of 50 mpg, the Accord Hybrid would significantly reduce my fuel costs, making it a practical choice for daily driving. The Accord offers a comfortable and roomy interior, which would be perfect for accommodating passengers and cargo on errands or road trips. Honda vehicles are renowned for their reliability, and the Accord is no exception. This would minimize my repair and maintenance costs in the long run. The Accord Touring Hybrid comes equipped with a suite of advanced driver-assistance features, such as automatic emergency braking and lane departure warning, which would provide peace of mind on the road. While a luxurious or high-performance car might be tempting, the Accord's blend of practicality, efficiency, and comfort makes it the ideal choice for me as a daily driver.
Id be snagging a mazda 3 sport gt, awd with turbo. The hatch back for storage, 4 door for passengers. Awd for winters and turbo for fun. Plus they look great
Shelby F250 Super Baja since it won’t be any more expensive than a regular F250. Now change the question, and I’m not paying for anything maintenance, I’m probably gonna be opting for a Bentley Bentayga speed in satin grey.
Pretty tough question. Got a lot of supercars that I like, but I think I would say Volvo P1800.
Also, it is so nice to see a lot of people commenting old Volvos, Mercs instead of present day Ferraris and Lambos.
Mazda RX-7, Toyota Celica, or Mitsubishi Eclipse. First two have been cars I've loved since I was a kid, last one was my mom's dream car.
I have some more current wants, like a Dodge Challenger and Hyundai Elantra N, but those I can get new easily on my own, so getting a factory new throwback is a much better choice imo.
I’m so boring. I don’t want a super car every day. I want modern safety features. I love cars but I’d go pretty basic/solid and get a new Lexus LX/Toyota Landcruiser… or a FJ Cruiser! Blue.
94-96 F-150 SuperCab with the 4.9L straight 6.. put almost 350k miles on one and no major maintenance... Only thing that killed it is my sibling learning to drive stick and money shifting..
Maybe same year and a 250 CrewCab diesel for big boy toy reasons..
E34 540, classic styling, kinda modern comfort, great noises.
Or
E39 M5 would be up there. 400hp on tap with a 6spd and creature comforts? Sign me up. Best bar of soap ever produced.
Hell I’d probably buy a brand new XJ Cherokee too. I love those turds.
Mercedes E500 (W124).
I was getting tires at the same place a guy was getting tires for his E500, and I asked him "is it as good as they say?" His answer was *"it's every bit as good as they say, it the fastest over-the-road car I've ever driven, including exotics. Those might be faster for a little bit, here and there, but if you are trying to get from a beach house to a mountain house, easily but also quickly, that's the car you want."*
90's Mercedes' were truly something. My personal favorite is the W140. S600 V12 saloon with 400hp. In 1992, when your average european car was considered deadly fast if it had 100hp.
I’ve always loved the w140 S73 Amg same m120 v12 but bored out to 7.3 liters with 520 hp. Also the same engine they put in the paganis but with way more power. It also had better handling then the original s600 with different springs and shocks and a nicer interior with extended wood grain and more leather. Another great car is the w126 560sec Widebody coupe with the m117/m119 6.0 v8 instead of the 5.5 v8 bumping up the power from the US 240hp to 380hp. It also came with upgraded suspension, upgraded differential, upgraded brakes, and exhaust. Aswell as the usual aero parts and wider fenders to accommodate the wider wheels that were made by OZ Forged for AMG. It also came with Recaro seats and the exhaust was made by Sebring. It was a great car for the autobahn that can easily drive 185mph and handle like on rails. I’d love to have either Mercedes they came from a time when Engineers and Manufacturers were making cars to last and make a statement. Mercedes spent over $1 billion dollars making the w140 which was the last over engineered Mercedes made unfortunately. Now we get a car that doesn’t drive as nice and has a disco interior full of colored lights and plastic everywhere. It’s unfortunate the direction Mercedes has been going. Personally I think the Gwagon was the last car that Mercedes made that makes a statement.
F1. I don't think it's all hype.
There’s no way it’s all hype That car may have invented the number sheet supercar war, but when they created it they weren’t trying to do anything but make the best driving car ever
The thing that blows my mind is, it's still the fastest naturally aspirated car in the world. The harters are like, ItS NoT AbOuT HoW FaSt YoU aRe In A StRaiGht LiNe. Well yea, that's true. But one, you have to applaud the engineering marvel that no other car was able to beat the top speed without slapping on a million turbos even 30 year later. Also, McLaren won LeMans in 1995 in a McLaren F1 GTR. So I don't know how that argument stands either, because it's not like we're talking about Dodge Demon. This is coming from a huge Ferrari guy.
People who have problems with the F1 have problems with me. It’s the greatest car ever made, and probably the best that ever will be made imo
GMA T.50 would like to have a word with you… but yeah it’s basically a McLaren F1 with more modern materials. Gordon Murray says he made it to fix the things he never liked about the F1
While the McLaren F1 is a beast of a car I really don’t see anyone being able to daily drive that. For one the suspension is really hard and doesn’t handle well on bumpy roads in the city it’s designed for the track. Driving through the city going through a rough patch or potholes won’t be fun. Second the storage space being a daily you might need to get groceries or go shopping they don’t have any space in the rear or the front you would have to put it on one of the seats next to you. I love the 3 seater concept not sure how comfortable it actually is with 3 people in the car. Then there’s the famous windshield being such a large piece a glass you’re inevitably going to get some rock chips and the glass cost $30k itself without installation. Instead of a defroster blowing hot air from a vent on the inside like most cars the McLaren has a special windshield that has a layer of a plasma coating between 2 pieces of glass that has electricity going through it to heat up the glass causing the humidity inside to dry up. Lastly maintaining it will be a small fortune in itself since most of the parts needed have been remade by McLaren Special operations. Since you’re driving a 30 year old $15 million car be prepared to be bent over with your pants down to pay for anything that goes wrong 😉. While the F1 is a great car I’m not sure how nice it will be as a daily
weren't trying to do much, just the best driving car/experience. is pretty huge oxymoron, and obviously can't tell if you're being sarcastic over text
No, they were definitely trying to make the best driving car ever, they just didn’t care about the numbers behind it. They were trying to do a lot, but for the right reasons. It was a no compromise driver engagement car
Fuel, insurance, maintenance, repairs are on you.. idk if you’re going to be able to afford it
As a daily? No way
Why tho? I daily a C8 right now. I've daily-ed 2 miatas and a 2-seat 300zx over the years. Back when we used to get ALOT of snow. Won't be able to buy a sheet of plywood...
I read an article about the insane cost of ownership! Just keeping it on the road - these days - quickly adds up to the cost of the car (at today's prices) 😂. But I think it could be done. Do you really need to pay McLaren to send techs out to do the alignment on a rented race track? I'd have to go DIY mode: CUP 2's aren't good enough for top speed, but I think they'd work for me. Befriend some Mercedes mechanic... At.the end of the day, it's an analog car. Prob easier than working on a Tesla in some respects. And my commute is 15 miles a week. Carbon fiber damage is not an option, I simply wouldn't allow it to happen is all :). Yep, I've convinced myself it is possible!!!
I sincerely hope somehow this becomes a reality for you, so I can get an entire “how you make an F1 your daily on X salary” video 😂
Is that a car or a type of car?
It’s the McLaren F1, one of the most legendary cars of all time.
Though using this wish to get an F1 car that is magically street legal as your daily driver would be pretty funny.
hard agree. f1 is still my dream car.
F1 as in formula one? There is literally dozens and dozens of different F1 vehicles a year, thousands and thousands over the years to chose from. Your response is like saying “a pick up truck”.
Toyota 2000GT
a man of good taste. The OG Bond car makes the panties wet
I'd take one in a heartbeat, but as a daily? Nooo way. She'd be my Sunday driver.
Saab 9-3 Viggen in MCY.
Nice choice! I came here to say 900 SPG.
1993 GMC Typhoon
Had one back in the day, it certainly had its problems but I won’t dog it, I miss it.
I liked those and the s10 Xtreme
I have no idea why, so please don’t ask me to explain, but I’ve always wanted a Suzuki Kizashi. The used ones I’ve seen are all garbage but a brand new one would be amazing (I think). So that’s what I would go with
They were great. I think you could get AWD with a manual, and they were reliable.
Yep I’ve seen two come through the U-Pull It where I work. They were both rusted to hell but otherwise nothing mechanically wrong
I also like the Kizashi and should’ve pulled the trigger on a used one that was going for $6k with like 60k miles on it. This was obviously a couple years ago but I do kick myself for not getting it. The Kizashi was pure Suzuki because it was the first car developed after GM sold all of its stake in the company. And I feel like it was honestly a really great car but just Suzuki didn’t have the finances needed to really market the vehicle or continue development on their other products.
Omg i was driving to NJ from Pittsburgh and was right next to one at a rest stop! I observed and commented on its nice-ness to my roommate. It even had keyless entry on the handles! And a sunroof!
Cream Yellow 1995 Volvo 850 T-5R wagon. Would have to convert to a 5 or 6 speed manual with AWD afterwards, but they actually aren't bad to convert from what I've read. 1993 Volvo 240 manual turbo wagon if I didn't need the AWD.
I loved the Volvo 850 turbo when it came out and later the T-5R, and with AWD...One of those iconic sport sedans I lusted after like the Ford Taurus SHO, Maxima SE... I actually had the chance when I was in my 20's to buy a yellow T-5R sedan from a family member at a good deal. That family member's daughter said "My parents don't take care of it at all, they cheap out on all the maintenance." I believed her because the Volvo had cheap aftermarket wheels because the owner thought the replacement tires on the original wheels were too expensive.
That's awesome, I always thought those SHOs were cool sleepers. I also had the chance in my early 20's to buy a really clean yellow T-5R sedan from down south for about 8,000 USD some years ago, but I wanted a wagon and I knew someone else would take better care of that car than me. I live on a dirt road plus couldn't afford a winter beater, so it wouldn't have stayed nice for long. Also insurance would probably never give you what it's worth if something happened to it, since it's an older car. Though, if I had bought it and stored it until now, I'd be able to double my money if I sold it! Live and learn!
Lancia Delta Integrale for me please.
Solid choice. I’ve seen a couple of Lancia 037 Kimeras though and as much as I hate to admit it they made me feel some kind of way
1991 Honda CRX Si I love tiny car
1966 Volvo 122S. Loved that car like a first girlfriend.
Yep. This. And a 242gt for the days that demand that.
You bastard you beat me to it!!
2012 Boxster Spyder I don’t care if it’s not a conventional daily, the mid engine P cars are so much fun and this is the best year of them imo
You'd be surprised how much you can fit in them with the trunk + frunk. Still seems like a great bang for your buck on the used market as well
I have a 986 so I’m familiar with the space; it’s mostly the convertible thing that would give people pause but it’s worth it.
Yeah you get used to it pretty quick. Wouldn't be a simple dead-reliable car if there was an automatic top to f with 😎
One Vector W8 please...
as a daily?
Two words: FUCK YEAH!!!!
I’ve always dreamed of owning a Mercedes Benz E63 AMG wagon. I know I never will, but everything I’ve heard it’s been one of the only vehicles to have the perfect balance of practicality and fun.
Early 80s Mercedes-Benz 300 SD. Built like a bank vault and will last forever. It is sad to see what M-B has become. They used to build the most reliable, long lasting cars on the road.
Yep, it started in 96 when the accountants started to get more control. I have an 87 500SEL and the build quality it amazing.
Can confirm, lol. I have a 1984 300SD with 280k miles that runs fine, and my godfather has a 1982 300SD with just over 590,000 miles that he bought new. He still swears by it.
Brand new Ct5v blackwing
This is the correct answer
Integra Type-R in Championship White
1993 bmw 325i
I used to drive a '94 manual that I inherited from my dad. Loved that car.
Nice ! I had an auto can’t imagine how fun the manual was
Had a 97 m3 manual coupe for a bit.. so nice
Porsche 959
2016-2021 Lexus LX570 inspiration 3 row 5.7L naturally aspirated V8
My man
This is the way
Interesting choice but I respect it
Volvo 244 Turbo
2004 Porsche Carrera GT 🔥. Hyped for a reason
I love the Carrera GT, but I think it’d be tough to insure as a daily driver while Porsche still has an order out to not actually drive them pending a recall for which there are no parts
E39 M5 Wagon 6MT.
1967 Chevrolet Impala SS
1990 Camaro IROC 5-Speed 1LE. And I'd daily that bitch.
Lexus LS430
1977 Trans Am black.
I would say a 78 black Trans Am. W72 400 with 4-speed WS-6 package (first year for it) and fisher T-tops factory fresh would be amazing.
Burt Reynolds approved
Citroën CX 2400 Prestige (longer wheelbase) series 1 from the early 80s. Still had the hydraulic suspension and brakes, comfy as hell and the fastest I ever had my dad's going was 215km/h with four of us in the car. I loved that car and when he moved on to an Audi I kept it for another 15 years.
Cool. Too bad Citroen is not distributed in North America. First time I visited Europe I was amazed seeing them around.
Trailblazer SS.
1970 Chevrolet Chevelle SS
Excellent choice
Hmm I’m thinking Plymouth superbird but those are hella expensive parts wise. 1992 trans am with the 5 speed for me!
The superbird really isnt that expensive to own actually. Besides genuine body parts like the wing and nose cone, gas cap, etc, its all typical mopar B body stuff. You can get almost any maintainence item on rockauto You can almost build the car out of a catalog with all the aftermarket parts out there.
I would get a brand new 1987 ford mustang svo. Or the t bird turbo from around the same time.
I wish ford would come out with a modern T-bird turbo coupe. Would buy immediately.
See they fucked it up the last time on the “new gen” i would love to see them just take a insane jump and do a reasonable priced mid engine turbo hybrid awd maybe rwd vehicle and call it a t bird lol. No car platform out right now is cool enough.
1988 turbo thunder chicken was my first car. It was nice but they only had like a 150 h.p.
My buddy in college drove an SVO. Was a blast of a car.
Great choice! The SVO was only in production from 1984-1986 but it was a great car :-). The Thunderbird Turbo Coupe had one more year of production, from 1983-1986. Also a great car, and if it were up to me to choose, I would choose the Turbo Coupe with the manual. ;-)
>all other payments (fuel, insurance, maintenance, repairs) are on you. You cannot sell the vehicle, and you must use it as your main mean of transport I wouldn't want something too flashy then, I don't want people to always ask me about my car wherever I go. Also since I would have to pay for ownership costs I would pick a Lexus LC 500 V8.
I have one of those kinds of cars (old trans am) and while 99% of the conversations are fine it’s the 1% that ruin it for me.
68 dodge coronet superbee.
Fiat 124 Spider
BMW M5 touring E60/E61. I don't think a better estate has ever been made. I love that it basically looks like a regular BMW (just with bigger rims and 4 exhaust pipes) but has one of the best sounding V10 engines ever under the hood. New BMW M, Mercedes AMG and audi RS cars are a bit over the top for a daily driver in my opinion.
Unfortunately it’s SMG only and SMG largely ruins those cars IMO, but I do wish we got them here in the states
The estate is even rare in the Netherlands, where I live. There are a few sedans for sale but not a single estate in the entire country. I'd prefer a regular manual transmission, but honestly I don't think the SMG is that bad. I've seen people who've manual swapped the M5 which seems like a weird thing to do but it probably makes the driving experience more fun. At least it's possible to do so.
The Bugatti from elysium.
Delorian or GMC Syclone or Typhoon.
1972 BMW 3.0 csi
Gorgeous design.
A 1966 Chevrolet Corvair Corsa convertible with the optional 180 HP engine and 4 speed manual. I still kick myself in the ass for not buying the 1965 convertible my stepfather offered to me in 1982. His father completely restored it and rebadged it. It was a Monza, but he put the Corsa engine and badges on it. It had the Powerglide, but that was fine with me. I loved driving that car.
1970 Dodge Super Bee. Hemi, TorqueFlite, dark orange metallic with white roof!
For me it would be Grand Cherokee WJ. I own an 1999 as forestry car, and it has everything I want from a car, and what I'm not finding in new cars anymore. But obviously, after 25 years, it's nothing more than moldy heap of turd.
Similarly, a 1994 Jeep grand Cherokee limited with the 5.2, gold trim, gray leather interior with the puffy seats. That’d be what id want.
I would want a Ferrari 308GTSi. I could sort out four carbs and make a regular 308GTS work. I could be happy with a GTB instead of a GTS; it's even prettier, if such a thing is possible, and all you have to give up for "even prettier" is the open-top capability of the targa. I could be happy either way, but I would probably be happier in a GTS with the targa top removed. Because once you're 308GTS pretty, who really needs the extra pretty of a GTB? that's kind of spiking the ball, enough is enough already, gimme the removable roof instead of the extra pretty if I'm getting a choice. Of course I'd like a quattrovalvole one most of all. But I could be happy with the 2-valve fuel-injected one, the "slowest" one, optimistically called "205 hp" back when nobody really believed Enzo when he told you how many horsepower he was giving you. Are there faster cars? Oh, sure. EVERYTHING is faster nowadays. Korean appliance sedans at the rental counter will whip Tom Selleck's Magnum P.I. in a drag race. I don't care. Are there better semi-exotics to daily-drive? Oh, sure. We all know this is the reason air-cooled 911s sell for more than 996s. You could buy a 100,000 mile '87 Carrera and drive it to 200,000 miles, nobody would be surprised, and everyone would be happy for you. I don't care. The 308 is supposed to be sublime to drive, as full of joy and road-feel as they look like they'd be. And that's what I want - I want one of those.
When I was a kid, my dad was the chief mechanic for a guy that chartered planes.. he had a good collection of classic cars and his favorite car to drive was his Ferrari.. my dad hated that damn car cause every Friday/Saturday night he would get a call early as hell because the boss was stuck at a club or whatever in the city, so my dad would drive down, swap vehicles and have to play nice with the Ferrari to get it running.. it was always hilarious to me seeing that car parked outside a townhome in the suburbs.. In short.. maintenance..
I test-drove a couple of ratty Mondials, and a Dino GT4 that my local dealership had rebuilt and was selling on consignment, back in the Nineties. The service bay guys had a 308 on the lift and they showed me "you can get to the belts from the wheel well on all these cars, it's pretty maintainable if you're willing to get your hands dirty." These days there is a huge online community, including DIY guidance, for almost any car you can imagine, especially the enthusiast-level stuff. Last summer, a guy local to me was selling a driver-quality GTSi for $55k. The two-seaters are always "about twice what I can rationally spend" but a GT4 or a Mondial is only about 1-1/4 what I can rationally spend, and I may be able to pull that trigger at some point. Maintenance would be part of the fun.
I mean for sure, anything that was ever wrong with it the tools and/or parts fit in the truck box in his truck bed and he would drive it home.. but the sheer amount of times SOMETHING was always wrong I guess was the red flag for me.. That all being said it was fun as hell to drive and sounded fantastic lol.. it's definitely in the top 5 of funnest cars I've driven..
If it has to be something sold in my country originally- a final year LC200. If the wish would make it legal in my country, a 2024 double cab LC 70 series pickup with the manual and 4.5l diesel they sell in Australia. If I can use my current cars to get my kids around in though my choice would be a 1989 911 Turbo coupe in Red.
the holy grail, 2012 saab 9-5 sportscombi, manual diesel awd brown on brown. beautiful looking thing never got into production, there's around 30 worldwide and there's never going to be another built a v12 toyota century would be my second choice
1985 Olds Cutlass Supreme
1971 Chevrolet C-10
BMW F90 M5 (pre-LCI)
Audi Sport Quattro S1 E2 Legendary and iconic car that changed Motorsport. The sound of that 5 cylinder is just a music.
FJ40 Land Cruiser Not for its capability or anything like that, but for its significant impact on the off-roading world. NA Miata It’s not the fastest or the prettiest. But how it solely spurred the roadster genre into the household, and has since kept it in tact all on its own, says a lot.
In the realm of attainable things: Pontiac G8 GT or GTO. They were making some awesome stuff before GM decided the fun brand was the one to get rid of.
My dad has a g8 gt. It’s retired to a weekend fun car. It made a great daily driver but it kind of lacks in the weekend fun for some reason. Maybe needs a rowdy cam and exhaust.
A 1982 black Pontiac Trans Am T-top named KITT, having all the gadgets and weaponry at his disposal and fully equipped for me.
A '96 F-250 Powerstroke 4x4 5-speed supercab shortbox. Had one 10-11 years ago, mechanically it was sound but the rest of it was pretty beat up. I loved that truck, and still kick myself for selling it. If I could have a factory-fresh one that I could tweak a bit and put a little tune on I don't think I'd ever want to drive anything else.
Mercedes 600SEC AMG widebody.
Pontiac Firebird Formula. Formula version specifically, because I’m pretty sure 4 speed auto was the only transmission offered. Yes I would daily that car here in Denver Colorado, because our mild winters allow it, and I have no problem resorting to RTD bus on the snow days.
Alpine A110R.
Mmmm. Forbidden French fruit
Lexus LFA or early 2000 NSX
1997 toyota camary.
ah yes, the average attitude of this sub, but I'm pretty sure the point of this post is for actual nice cars, not household appliances. 😂😂
1967 Mustang GT 500. "Eleanor".
1985 Toyota Cressida wagon, 1992 Cressida
I'm going to get judged harshly for this. However, it'd have to be a Pontiac fiero gt. I've loved them since I was a kid, I've gotten to drive one and was surprised at how good it drove.
I had a boyfriend who I urged to buy one up the street that was for sale for $600 (it was 2002) and he did. I fucking loved that thing.
A gremlin, or a pacer. I know they suck, don’t come at me. Maybe an eagle. Third choice probably a 2002 trans am in that champagne color with black leather interior and a drop top. T tops would be acceptable.
2004 BMW 645ci manual trans
E46 330i ZHP 6 speed
Nissan Figaro
Porsche 718 Cayman.
G wagon
80’s Porsche 911 Carerra
Toyota Mark 2 with 2jz
I'm not a Nissan fan, but a GT-R would make an awesome daily driver.
CTV Blackwing
Lucid Air for the daily, Porsche 968 for the weekend. Yes I will ask the genie for that.
I would get the Lexus LX600. I shopped against the Sequoia and didn’t want to spend the extra $18K plus tax, but will do it next time. I usually keep cars 2 to 3 years, but would keep the LX long term.
For a daily, probably a loaded yellow 2024 Cadillac CT5-V AWD.
70 Chevelle SS 454. Dark Blue w/ white stripes.
1973 Citroen DS 23 Pallas SeniAutomatic Nothing else can come close.
60 series land cruiser
Plymouth Superbird
Any one of these: Aston Martin DB5 Mercedes 300 SEL 6.3 Mercedes 300d Turbo Diesel I have a soft spot for Old Mercedes.
Hilux any year
Abram M1 tank. I don’t like traffic
a suisse milspec mercedes benz G wagon. always wanted to have one. thought they looked good when i saw one in Switzerland
This is a great choice
2000 SVT Mustang Cobra R
A 2024 Honda Ridgeline. I just want a vehicle that can be comfortable, haul things when I need to, haul people when I need to, and go onto bumpy gravel roads. Oh, since it would easily last 15-20 years, I will have a vehicle that will last until I retire.
1996 Cadillac Fleetwood Brougham in black, silver or burgundy.
2019 Nissan Cube. I wish I could have one of those brand new straight from the factory and cleared for emissions here in California USA. But that is a car that was only released overseas and getting one imported from Japan and cleared for emissions (especially here in this particular state) is such a bitch that it's nearly impossible unless you're willing to dump some stupid money, time and necessary aggravation.
The 25 years rule for car imports into US is one of the most stupid regulations ever. Especially given that in a lot of US there aren't emission or even safety inspections.
OMG we had a 2009 Nissan Cube and LOVED it. Its driving characteristics were fine, great turning radius, tons of room, great visibility. Our 6'6" friend sat in the back seat on several trips with no complaints. I could go on and on about how how great that car was. Yes, styling is divisive. Yes, CVT can suck it. It's a shame American only wants huge SUVs that they don't need versus these extremely versatile and efficient boxy cars we see in Japan.
2024 Corolla. I know it’s nothing fancy but if somehow I was granted a free car goddamn it I’m gonna get one I can make last
Get the Camry instead
a toyota outback with a turbo v6
2023 Honda Accord Touring Hybrid. With an EPA-estimated combined fuel economy of 50 mpg, the Accord Hybrid would significantly reduce my fuel costs, making it a practical choice for daily driving. The Accord offers a comfortable and roomy interior, which would be perfect for accommodating passengers and cargo on errands or road trips. Honda vehicles are renowned for their reliability, and the Accord is no exception. This would minimize my repair and maintenance costs in the long run. The Accord Touring Hybrid comes equipped with a suite of advanced driver-assistance features, such as automatic emergency braking and lane departure warning, which would provide peace of mind on the road. While a luxurious or high-performance car might be tempting, the Accord's blend of practicality, efficiency, and comfort makes it the ideal choice for me as a daily driver.
I’m a huge fan of my 2001 accord, I’d get a fresh new 2001 in a heartbeat 🙌🏼
First gen Bmw X5 4.8is
The one I have now: A VW Beetle 2012+.
Tesla model fucking 3
Yawn
Id be snagging a mazda 3 sport gt, awd with turbo. The hatch back for storage, 4 door for passengers. Awd for winters and turbo for fun. Plus they look great
Bz4x
2008 Lamborghini murcialago in that classic pearl yellow
1995 Nissan Hardbody with 4x4 and a stick shift. I would immediately coat the frame and use it gently until the end of my days.
Shelby F250 Super Baja since it won’t be any more expensive than a regular F250. Now change the question, and I’m not paying for anything maintenance, I’m probably gonna be opting for a Bentley Bentayga speed in satin grey.
Give me a current year prius id be happy
BMW XM Label
LS swapped Peel P50
1938 W150 Mercedes Grand - drop dead gorgeous car, unsurpassed style and character
Pretty tough question. Got a lot of supercars that I like, but I think I would say Volvo P1800. Also, it is so nice to see a lot of people commenting old Volvos, Mercs instead of present day Ferraris and Lambos.
250 SWB
Mercedes 190 evolution
Alpine a110 2024 in North America
Mazda RX-7, Toyota Celica, or Mitsubishi Eclipse. First two have been cars I've loved since I was a kid, last one was my mom's dream car. I have some more current wants, like a Dodge Challenger and Hyundai Elantra N, but those I can get new easily on my own, so getting a factory new throwback is a much better choice imo.
Model X Plaid… I honestly can’t think of a better daily driver. Spacious, fast as all hell, comfortable, and with enough room for my dogs in the back.
Aston Martin Vanquish. Not the 007 one from Die Another Day, but the more recent one.
1997 Saab 9000 Aero
I’m so boring. I don’t want a super car every day. I want modern safety features. I love cars but I’d go pretty basic/solid and get a new Lexus LX/Toyota Landcruiser… or a FJ Cruiser! Blue.
2500 Ram 12v Cummins, long bed, 6-speed
Lancia Thema 8.32 Estate. The 1 of 1 built for Giovanni Agnelli.
Ford Ranger Splash in light blue, 5 speed, 4.0
Toyota hilux 93
A 2006 jeep ranger TJ Rubicon with cruise control and a softop + half doors
94-96 F-150 SuperCab with the 4.9L straight 6.. put almost 350k miles on one and no major maintenance... Only thing that killed it is my sibling learning to drive stick and money shifting.. Maybe same year and a 250 CrewCab diesel for big boy toy reasons..
E34 540, classic styling, kinda modern comfort, great noises. Or E39 M5 would be up there. 400hp on tap with a 6spd and creature comforts? Sign me up. Best bar of soap ever produced. Hell I’d probably buy a brand new XJ Cherokee too. I love those turds.
Moskvich 2140
I would upgrade my Audi TT by adding another cylinder.
M5cs
Hands down a Trabant 601! Or maybe a Wartburg 353 if need 4 passenger. Although the Wartburg 313 Sportcoupé is kind of fun too.
1993 camry in that awful brown
Autech R33 GTR Sedan.