Daily driver; how do you do it?
Discussion
rockin said:
^^^ This.
Can't see the point owning a car that only goes out a few days a year - so all of my cars are daily drivers.
Depreciation and salt/damp corrosion are my reasons.Can't see the point owning a car that only goes out a few days a year - so all of my cars are daily drivers.
Quick, functional and relatively low value car for daily duties and fast, depreciation proof car for the nicer weather.
It’s a lot more than a few sunny days a year though.
Lexus Ct200h daily, mostly 10minute drive to the station then left for the day with occasional long drives from West Sussex to West Midlands and back. Does both very well. Cayman S for the weekends.
Lexus very soon to be replaced with a new 330e. Pretty happy with what will be the new combination. (Tbh the Lexus has been more than good enough but end of co. car lease and the 330e is ridiculously cheap on tax).
I think if I didn’t have a company car I’d probably have a niceish sensible daily like a 2-3yr old golf gtd or a little Up/Aygo/Swift sport.
Lexus very soon to be replaced with a new 330e. Pretty happy with what will be the new combination. (Tbh the Lexus has been more than good enough but end of co. car lease and the 330e is ridiculously cheap on tax).
I think if I didn’t have a company car I’d probably have a niceish sensible daily like a 2-3yr old golf gtd or a little Up/Aygo/Swift sport.
blueg33 said:
Kind of this way. I daily an elise. Integrale is an ongoing project after letting it rot, second integrale I managed to nearly kill. Still have a couple of other more practical cars but only use them when the boot in the elise isn't the right shape or size. Which isn't that often. 
For years I used one car, been fortunate enough to have some nice ones (R32 Golf, S3 , TTS etc) I thought that was one of the points of working hard, to enjoy the fruits every day if you're into cars
The my daughter changed schools and I needed something bigger than the TT.
Enter the shed Mondeo. A few hundred quid, ran it for a year. Totally liberating! Manual parking sensors (inch forward until you touch the wall), headlamps like candles...
Meanwhile, the TT sat in the garage depreciating like no-one's business.
So now there's an S2000 in the garage tucked up for winter, and a Honda Accord tourer auto for daily duty, uni runs and trips to Scotland. Paid a bit more than shed money for it (£3400) but it's great. Heated seats, climate, xenons, huge boot, park it anywhere, no-one gives it any notice. Makes every drive in the S2000 a bit more special as it's a high days and holidays, pampered car.
The my daughter changed schools and I needed something bigger than the TT.
Enter the shed Mondeo. A few hundred quid, ran it for a year. Totally liberating! Manual parking sensors (inch forward until you touch the wall), headlamps like candles...
Meanwhile, the TT sat in the garage depreciating like no-one's business.
So now there's an S2000 in the garage tucked up for winter, and a Honda Accord tourer auto for daily duty, uni runs and trips to Scotland. Paid a bit more than shed money for it (£3400) but it's great. Heated seats, climate, xenons, huge boot, park it anywhere, no-one gives it any notice. Makes every drive in the S2000 a bit more special as it's a high days and holidays, pampered car.
Young daughter means I haven't the spare time to justify a weekend toy car (I have a bike 
), and I need some degree of practicality, so hot hatch it is.
I'm thinking super saloon next, or perhaps a 4-door hot hatch (another RS Megane or M140i). Then get something silly for the weekend again in 3yrs or so.
), and I need some degree of practicality, so hot hatch it is. I'm thinking super saloon next, or perhaps a 4-door hot hatch (another RS Megane or M140i). Then get something silly for the weekend again in 3yrs or so.
Prius
Not the last word in fun and handling. But...
Very very easy to drive and if you just stop trying to over drive it you realise that actually it can move itself at a decent pace and it’s very relaxing doing so. Very aerodynamic, hardly a whiff of wind noise. Great on long journeys
Good arm rest
Good lumbar support
Good stereo
Great economy, I average 55 mpg through the year. About 10p a mile in fuel.
Finally, incredible reliability. The drive train is very simple. Port fuelled Atkinson engine (low stress), no gearbox (well, has a planetary gear set to split power between two motors and the engine), no CVT cones or belts, no torque converter, no turbos, no dpfs....
Cost me a bit more than I wanted, but o think it’s been worth it. The only thing I would really like it to have is radar cruise control. That is the ultimate daily commute magic.
Not the last word in fun and handling. But...
Very very easy to drive and if you just stop trying to over drive it you realise that actually it can move itself at a decent pace and it’s very relaxing doing so. Very aerodynamic, hardly a whiff of wind noise. Great on long journeys
Good arm rest
Good lumbar support
Good stereo
Great economy, I average 55 mpg through the year. About 10p a mile in fuel.
Finally, incredible reliability. The drive train is very simple. Port fuelled Atkinson engine (low stress), no gearbox (well, has a planetary gear set to split power between two motors and the engine), no CVT cones or belts, no torque converter, no turbos, no dpfs....
Cost me a bit more than I wanted, but o think it’s been worth it. The only thing I would really like it to have is radar cruise control. That is the ultimate daily commute magic.
Gave up the company car at the start of the year as the allowance was far to good to turn down. My commute is only about 15 miles each way on slow B roads and if I go anywhere we have some decent pool cars.
I went out to buy a nearly new M140i or M2 as a fun daily but somehow ended up with a 2 year old 118d M-Sport Auto....
I went out to buy a nearly new M140i or M2 as a fun daily but somehow ended up with a 2 year old 118d M-Sport Auto....
sheepman said:
fiat Doblo van daily- 55mpg, comfortable, good sound system, space rather than seats which is what i need.
supercharged 370bhp civic type r for weekends/sunny days/track days- Its just not practical to drive everyday and the fear of rust terrifies me.
Just get it undersealed and cavity waxed and regularly wash any salt off.supercharged 370bhp civic type r for weekends/sunny days/track days- Its just not practical to drive everyday and the fear of rust terrifies me.
SidewaysSi said:
sheepman said:
fiat Doblo van daily- 55mpg, comfortable, good sound system, space rather than seats which is what i need.
supercharged 370bhp civic type r for weekends/sunny days/track days- Its just not practical to drive everyday and the fear of rust terrifies me.
Just get it undersealed and cavity waxed and regularly wash any salt off.supercharged 370bhp civic type r for weekends/sunny days/track days- Its just not practical to drive everyday and the fear of rust terrifies me.
Currently splitting daily duties between TVR Chimaera and Fiat 500. Largely the choice is driven by expected parking issues (dont want car part dings on the tiv) and type of journey. The fiat is actually my daughter’s, but she is away at Uni- might end up with a cheap EV lease from work when the BIK goes down
I've had a few over the years ranging from a 106 Rallye and MR2 Turbo at the most extreme through to a 4.2 Audi A8 and a 4.0 Jaguar XJ8 at the most luxurious.
These days I have an Astra GTC 2.0 CDTi and it's the best compromise I've found so far. A decent mix of good handling, useful if not astounding performance and decent comfort and practicality. I have a motorbike for enjoying petrolhead thrills.
These days I have an Astra GTC 2.0 CDTi and it's the best compromise I've found so far. A decent mix of good handling, useful if not astounding performance and decent comfort and practicality. I have a motorbike for enjoying petrolhead thrills.
I recently sold my hot hatch and now have a 10 year old Ford C-Max as a daily. It's comfy, practical, economical, not too bad to drive but very very boring. So I bought a Westfield too.
Whilst my hot hatch was a great jack of all trades car, it was a master of none. Hence, the C-Max fits the bill for family duties, the commute and shopping trips; the Westie for when I want to drive.
Whilst my hot hatch was a great jack of all trades car, it was a master of none. Hence, the C-Max fits the bill for family duties, the commute and shopping trips; the Westie for when I want to drive.
Otispunkmeyer said:
Prius
Not the last word in fun and handling. But...
Very very easy to drive and if you just stop trying to over drive it you realise that actually it can move itself at a decent pace and it’s very relaxing doing so. Very aerodynamic, hardly a whiff of wind noise. Great on long journeys
Good arm rest
Good lumbar support
Good stereo
Great economy, I average 55 mpg through the year. About 10p a mile in fuel.
Finally, incredible reliability. The drive train is very simple. Port fuelled Atkinson engine (low stress), no gearbox (well, has a planetary gear set to split power between two motors and the engine), no CVT cones or belts, no torque converter, no turbos, no dpfs....
Cost me a bit more than I wanted, but o think it’s been worth it. The only thing I would really like it to have is radar cruise control. That is the ultimate daily commute magic.
I think I need to hand in my PH card, for this post is my favourite on the thread thus far Not the last word in fun and handling. But...
Very very easy to drive and if you just stop trying to over drive it you realise that actually it can move itself at a decent pace and it’s very relaxing doing so. Very aerodynamic, hardly a whiff of wind noise. Great on long journeys
Good arm rest
Good lumbar support
Good stereo
Great economy, I average 55 mpg through the year. About 10p a mile in fuel.
Finally, incredible reliability. The drive train is very simple. Port fuelled Atkinson engine (low stress), no gearbox (well, has a planetary gear set to split power between two motors and the engine), no CVT cones or belts, no torque converter, no turbos, no dpfs....
Cost me a bit more than I wanted, but o think it’s been worth it. The only thing I would really like it to have is radar cruise control. That is the ultimate daily commute magic.
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For me, a 2004 V70 D5 manual. Comfy motorway wafting and fairly reliable, plus the liberation that shedding brings.
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