Dream Daily Drivers

"Matthew Keyser" (teisco15) 04/07/2014 at 02:27 • Filed to: None

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Choosing a good daily driver is important, because, as the name implies, they will be used daily. A good daily driver should be entertaining enough to keep you from being bored to death on the daily commute. They should be reliable enough that you would be comfortable driving a few hours to that one restaurant you took your parents to that one time and now every time they come to visit you just have to go there. Now I realize that most Daily Drivers are incapable of completing all of these tasks, and many are not able to do any.

When I think of what would be the perfect daily driver to fit my lifestyle, I think of something small, fun, and easy on gas. Right about now, I'm guessing all of you are screaming at your monitors "MIATA COME ON NOW! MIATAS ARE ALWAYS THE ANSWER" but in the world of the 'perfect DD' I'd take something a bit more upscale.

I have always been drawn to the little Mercedes SLK, especially in the 'SLK 250' spec. It may only have a 1.8 inline 4 and 200 horsepower, but that is more than enough for puttering around town and most other driving situations. It also comes with a convertible hard top which in my mind is really the only way a convertible should come. It is also, to my knowledge, one of the only new Mercedes-Benz car you can have shipped with a manual transmission. You can rest on a supple leather seat with the top pulled back with the airscarf wafting warm air down your neck changing gear with your 6-speed stick all while getting 30 MPG.

My choice is in no way perfect. A properly outfitted SLK250 is $50,000+ and I can think of more efficient spends of that kind of money. $50K for a 1.8 liter anything is ridiculous, but I am still strangely drawn to this car as a daily driver.

So what would you choose for your perfect daily driver? No matter how weird or quirky, remember, you're talking to the kid that dailys a Merkur driven by Tanner Foust, I'm not one to judge.

Luke's Dad Sold His 2000TL To Get a Sienna > Matthew Keyser 04/07/2014 at 02:35

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Ever since the Ferrari FF came out, it's been my dream to DD one of these.

And my parents say future Petroleum Engineers need a truck, but I don't like trucks, and I read that article on here about the company that converts SSes and G8s into Maloos.

Then I really wanted a Maloo because car and truck together is awesome, but I emailed them and they said it would be $90,000 for the conversion and I was like NOPPPPPPPPPPE.

Aya, Almost Has A Cosmo With Toyota Engine Owned by a BMW. > Matthew Keyser 04/07/2014 at 02:40

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My dream daily driver is a Spyker C8 Aileron Spyder. I mean, underneath it's using an Audi V8 (i guess the same engine with the RS4), it looks brilliant, and supremely comfortable.

But i think my current daily driver is not that far from the spyker. I dd a 2002 Toyota Crown with 2JZ, and it's extremely comfortable and properly powered, not mention it's very reliable and does 20mpg or so.

Matthew Keyser > Aya, Almost Has A Cosmo With Toyota Engine Owned by a BMW. 04/07/2014 at 02:56

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Spykers are just amazingly beautiful inside and out. I'd love to drive one!

Matthew Keyser > Luke's Dad Sold His 2000TL To Get a Sienna 04/07/2014 at 02:57

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I wonder if that company would make an FF truck hmmmmm.... Ferrari EF- Camino. No? Ok then...

Aya, Almost Has A Cosmo With Toyota Engine Owned by a BMW. > Matthew Keyser 04/07/2014 at 03:03

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Yeah!

Especially this bits in the middle, it looks like interior of a classic jet fighter.

PetarVN, GLI Guy, now with stupid power > Matthew Keyser 04/07/2014 at 03:03

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My dream DD would be fast, comfy, cool, but also not too flashy.
Enter the current generation 335xi sedan. It's a 300hp AWD manual equipped german sports sedan that's not an audi!
I'll have mine in Estoril blue, with a lot of Dinan goodies BTW

jkm7680 > Matthew Keyser 04/07/2014 at 06:14

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Rs5, or an S5 because manual.

zeontestpilot > Matthew Keyser 04/07/2014 at 06:30

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I like this post, thought provoking. Well, I DD my only car, a '08 pt cruiser (auto). The only fun time I have is when I race across the dirt roads that I live on in it. So for me, a Mitsubishi Evo or Subaru Impreza WRX will be my dream car to DD.

ThatGuyConnery > Matthew Keyser 04/07/2014 at 06:55

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Nissan GTR. Don't know why, but I have dreamed of owning 2 of them. One for the winter, one for the summer.

Logansteno: Bought a VW? > Matthew Keyser 04/07/2014 at 07:13

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My dream daily driver would be a Cadillac CTS with the N/A 3.6 V6.

321 horsepower is plenty in a car this size. Plus the alpha platform is so balanced and sorted, it's real easy to throw around. The car's loaded up with a lot of tech goodies standard, and it's roomy enough to comfortably hold 4 people for long distances.

GTCL > Matthew Keyser 04/07/2014 at 08:03

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I daily a '13 mustang GT with muffler deletes. I would love to daily an amazing rat rod, old hot rod shop style pickup, boss 302s race car, or even a Morgan wheel. I love non traditional cars, and I don't really care if I have a bunch of comforts or amenities. I just love a fun driving experience. I would also love to daily any older muscle car or any Ferrari. I'm across the board, but one thing is for sure. I will never have a boring car for myself. My wife has an odyssey to carry the kids around, so I get a bit more free reign for my DD.

Stef Schrader > Matthew Keyser 04/07/2014 at 14:58

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I like things that are smaller and maneuverable, so a 911SC or a 964 sounds about right.

Yeah, I have epic want for a GT3 RS 4.0, but I would feel so much worse in traffic if it got eaten by Austin drivers. 911SC gets boned? Cry...a lot, then strip it for parts and buy 'nother.

An RS6 Avant with a tow hitch might be good, too, though. Take Stef to work. Take spare wheels to track. Take racecar to shop (probably—I'm not sure how much they tow, but a stripped out 944 shouldn't be too much). Rallycross. Hoonwagon. Many lulz. YES.

Dsscats > Matthew Keyser 04/09/2014 at 20:17

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TT E-gear Gallardo with about 1000hp. All the interior is audi stiff and it has working AC so it's pretty practicepractice

Burt > Matthew Keyser 04/10/2014 at 22:06

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For me, a daily driver doesn't have to be that practical. No more than two seats are necessary, and I don't need to haul much on a regular basis. My commute isn't that long, so fuel efficiency isn't a huge concern either. My main concern is something that makes me grin every time I get in it, so if I get whatever I want, give me this:

Runner up would be a manual CTS-V wagon. It would certainly be more practical and luxurious, but it's limits are a bit high to have fun with every day on the street.