The Ultimate Daily Driver?

[MrH]

Just curious what everyone has to say.  I've largely driven two seaters for the last few years as my only car, so if I won the lottery, I think I'd still find myself daily driving something small and sporty.  I greatly prefer something small and low to the ground because it's what I'm used to now.  The 911 Turbo has always been it in my mind as the ultimate daily driver.

So what's your answer?  Money no question, what do you drive everyday?

[Cookie Monster]

A lightweight, RWD, manual transmission car. Preferably with two seats.

No reason not to have a fun DD.

[Soup DeVille]

Depends greatly on the daily drive, doesn't it?

I mean, if you're a single guy without back problems, there's no real reason not to choose just about anything you like.

If you're always shlepping around kids, running errands, commuting, or hauling sports equipment and small trailers, that's entirely different.

My ideal daily driver (which basically has to do all those things) right now is a '94-'96 Buick Roadmaster Wagon (the only years available with the LT-1). Of course, that's today- ask me tomorrow.

[hotrodalex]

Audi RS6 Avant would be awesome if they sold them in the US.

Or Mini Cooper S JCW.

[MX793]

I'd go for a 2+2 coupe.  Something like an S5, M3, or GT-R.  Or maybe a Maserati GranTurismo or Aston DB9 if money is truly no object.

[3.0L V6]

Does it have to do it all? Or can I have multiple cars for multiple purposes?

If it has to do it all, then an Audi S4 or Infiniti G35x. I live in an area with significant snowfall and cold weather (also, I'm not a really talented driver), so anything rear-drive only is out. Each is relatively compact, but large enough to carry a few passengers or a large load of stuff. They're both fun to drive on a road with curves, but can also devour highway miles with a calm ease, as I rack up most of my mileage on the highway. They're both powerful enough to easily pass other traffic on two-lane highways and put a big-idiot grin on my face in a straight line, but not so extreme as to require a lawyer on retainer for inevitable reckless driving charges.

I like the looks of both too, and I think the S4 is available with a manual transmission, should I be inclined to choose it.

[Lebowski]

Something like an S4 or S6 in avant form would be ideal, if its an only car.

I could do a Corvette, 911 etc as a daily driver as long as I had something bigger for when I need it. I drive my C6 to work every day.  I couldn't do anything that small as an only car anymore though, between home ownership and now two dog ownership.  Can't have more than one 80-lb dog in the vette at one time, unless I taught one of them how to drive.

[MrH]

I'm imaging more than one vehicle, btw.

[CALL_911]

E90 M3

[MexicoCityM3]

E90 M3

Beat me to it. 
As a do it all, very few cars come close if any. Comfortable for 4, comfortable and trackable at e same time. Also, ultra-reliable.

[Cookie Monster]

Beat me to it. 
As a do it all, very few cars come close if any. Comfortable for 4, comfortable and trackable at e same time. Also, ultra-reliable.

I dunno, for a daily driver that'll have one occupant in it, a sedan seems like a waste.

[J86]

Something like an S4 or S6 in avant form would be ideal, if its an only car.

I could do a Corvette, 911 etc as a daily driver as long as I had something bigger for when I need it. I drive my C6 to work every day.  I couldn't do anything that small as an only car anymore though, between home ownership and now two dog ownership.  Can't have more than one 80-lb dog in the vette at one time, unless I taught one of them how to drive.

Exactly my thoughts on this.

[Soup DeVille]

I'm imaging more than one vehicle, btw.

Yes, I know. The daily driver has to do all the things I do from day to day. The "special" car gets to be the car I want.

[Gotta-Qik-C7]

C7 Vert.....

[Lebowski]

Yeah, daily driver to me is an only car than can do all of our daily needs, and for other tasks you'd have to rent a truck or something.

As a second car, most of us could tolerate most anything as a dd.  I could drive an Elise more or less daily as long as I had the 4runner in reserve.

[Byteme]

Just curious what everyone has to say.  I've largely driven two seaters for the last few years as my only car, so if I won the lottery, I think I'd still find myself daily driving something small and sporty.  I greatly prefer something small and low to the ground because it's what I'm used to now.  The 911 Turbo has always been it in my mind as the ultimate daily driver.

So what's your answer?  Money no question, what do you drive everyday?

Restored classic.

63 Thunderbird, 66 E-Type OTS, 66 Olds Toronado, 66 Pontiac 2+2 convertible; something along those lines.

[Raza]

I've been thinking a lot about this.  Where I live, the ideal DD has to be FWD or AWD, otherwise winter commuting can get just a little too dicey.  While I've been using my Z4 as a daily driver and 80% of the time it's been totally awesome, the 20% leaves me with times where the car is just undriveable (like snow) or impractical.  I can easily get by with this car most of the time.  I don't care to carry passengers, I very rarely need to carry anything that won't fit in my trunk, and I'm fine with the relatively stiff ride.  But, if you can account for rare occurrences without sacrificing driveability, why not? A car like the GTI would make an ideal daily driver.  Fast, fun, good on gas, practical.  But then again, something like a Saab 9-2X would be awesome too; even faster, AWD, and since it's a Saab station wagon, it's like driving a stealth ship through traffic. 

[GoCougs]

Does it have to do it all? Or can I have multiple cars for multiple purposes?

If it has to do it all, then an Audi S4 or Infiniti G35x. I live in an area with significant snowfall and cold weather (also, I'm not a really talented driver), so anything rear-drive only is out. Each is relatively compact, but large enough to carry a few passengers or a large load of stuff. They're both fun to drive on a road with curves, but can also devour highway miles with a calm ease, as I rack up most of my mileage on the highway. They're both powerful enough to easily pass other traffic on two-lane highways and put a big-idiot grin on my face in a straight line, but not so extreme as to require a lawyer on retainer for inevitable reckless driving charges.

I like the looks of both too, and I think the S4 is available with a manual transmission, should I be inclined to choose it.

This is what it came down to for me (I went with the G37x sedan). I do a fair amount of both snow and gravel road driving and do it with other people and their gear so a sedan was necessary, plus I have to be able to put a hitch on it for my bike rack. Fancier sedans than the G37x tend to come with 19"+ wheels which are problematic for both types of driving plus a trailer hitch install usually becomes a major custom install. They also tend to be bigger (a definite do not want) and unless the cash outlay is huge (550i, E550, etc.) performance isn't any better (and a lot of times less). So, AWD midsize/compact performance sedans are relatively few - IS350 is a joke for interior space, CTS performance doesn't stack up, the TL is too big and I don't like the looks, and I don't trust the German marques (though the S4 was a distant 2nd). So, in effect, my DD has to be a bit of an all-weather/conditions beater with 4-doors, decent performance, decent reliability, and somewhat versatile what with attachments.

[cawimmer430]

You don't want to know. 

[SVT666]

If my daily driver also has to pull my boat and my utility trailer to the dump, then my ideal DD would be a Range Rover.  If I can keep my Explorer for those duties, then my ideal DD would be a CTS-V Wagon.

[Vinsanity]

The s2k was the perfect DD for the commute I had at the time (12 miles one-way of PCH).

Now I have a normal freeway commute, so the Caddy fits the bill well. I definitely wouldn't mind some better mpg's though...Mazda 6 Skyactiv-D? Maybe a Lexus ES hybrid if I had the $$$?

[S204STi]

I'm still big on the WRX for wintery climates, and something like the GTI or Focus RS for everything else.

[Raza]

Actually, I think I take it back.  My ultimate daily driver?  A Gundam. 

[Xer0]

Actually, I think I take it back.  My ultimate daily driver?  A Gundam.

:D

[Northlands]

Hmm... tough one. All would be wagons though. Kids and stuff to haul around all of the time. Still want it to feel like a car so no SUV's/Minivans.

Money no object and new:  E350 4Matic Wagon.

Used:  V70 R Wagon, Legacy Outback , A6 Avant...etc etc.

[veeman]

I'm not a paranoid guy but i'd feel uncomfortable commuting in a superlux car because of attention from unsavory types.  Never underestimate the idiocy of a punk gangbanger who just doesn't give a shit about anything (i.e. Aaron hernandez).   So which superlux car would be most comfortable and most natural to have aftermarket high grade armoring.  Either a rolls royce or a bentley.  I'd pick the bentley.  Its more of a drivers car.

[Vinsanity]

I'm not a paranoid guy but i'd feel uncomfortable commuting in a superlux car because of attention from unsavory types.  Never underestimate the idiocy of a punk gangbanger who just doesn't give a shit about anything (i.e. Aaron hernandez).   So which superlux car would be most comfortable and most natural to have aftermarket high grade armoring.  Either a rolls royce or a bentley.  I'd pick the bentley.  Its more of a drivers car.

Mercedes G-wagen

[Soup DeVille]

I'm not a paranoid guy but i'd feel uncomfortable commuting in a superlux car because of attention from unsavory types.  Never underestimate the idiocy of a punk gangbanger who just doesn't give a shit about anything (i.e. Aaron hernandez).   So which superlux car would be most comfortable and most natural to have aftermarket high grade armoring.  Either a rolls royce or a bentley.  I'd pick the bentley.  Its more of a drivers car.

Call Janko, have them build you a Bentley.

[Northlands]

I'm not a paranoid guy but i'd feel uncomfortable commuting in a superlux car because of attention from unsavory types.  Never underestimate the idiocy of a punk gangbanger who just doesn't give a shit about anything (i.e. Aaron hernandez).   So which superlux car would be most comfortable and most natural to have aftermarket high grade armoring.  Either a rolls royce or a bentley.  I'd pick the bentley.  Its more of a drivers car.

Just buy a lux car from South Africa. They have all sorts of aftermarket automotive "defense systems" available. 

[Rich]

2000 Mazda Miata with the doors welded shut and welded bracing connecting firewall and rear bulkhead. 14" performance all season tires, too.