Daily driver-- the only way to go!

I gotta tell ya, I discovered something this past month: the only way to REALLY enjoy a Porsche is to use it everyday. I bought a new 911 a month or so ago, my third Porsche over the years, but the first that I use as a daily driver. My first two I babied and only drove on the weekends, and only on good weather days. This car, on the other hand, I use every day. What a difference! I feel: -- much more comfortable driving the car -- I really look forward to driving it to and from work, making work a bit less painful -- I'm no longer concerned about "depreciation". It's gonna depreciate, period. -- I'm much more care free with the car now that I'm in it everyday I've found that all of this has allowed me to really enjoy this Porsche much more than the first two cars. I realize that daily driving will depreciate its value much quicker, and that you need snow tires/rims in the winter (kind of a pain), but it's well worth it . So, I say to all of you guys (and you know who you are): get rid of that "clunker", "station car", or other so called "daily driver", and get in your Porsche. You won't regret it. A few pics of my new TT pre-x73 and with the hard top still on. GBG

You Dont have to tell me that...First year i drove 25K!!

I made EXACTLY that decision when I got out of my Range Rover (it wasn't big enough for our dogs anyway), and bought my C4S....I'm gonna drive it, and then drive it some more.....I'm gonna put at least 150,000 miles on it.....and that's exactly what I said about the other 28 cars I've bought since I met my wife, in 1997(my father-in-law pointed out the number of cars to me)......and the most I ever put on one of them was 27,000 miles................ but this time, it's gonna be different!!!! !!! errr, how much is that Twin Turbo?

Been my daily driver since July and still can't wait to go to and from work every day. I still take a quick glance over my shoulder as I walk away from it.

The only way to go! But you do need snow tires, a buddy of mine wrapped his TT cab around a tree on his way into the city from NJ two weeks ago. The thing is, he knew better.

I couldn't do it!! Racking up all those miles so quickly-

15,000 wonderful miles a year!!!! And yes, it's fun in the snow!

RLandis, guys like you are one of the reasons I love the internet. I can say "look honey, there really are people who buy more cars than I do" I think I've purchased 12 in the same time period, and I seriously think I need some psychriactic help...

God Bless Depreciating Assets!!!!

I agree that if possible, you should drive your Porsche every day. The only problem I've had when I've used my Porsche as a daily driver is that I get accustomed to its performance and it loses some of its appeal. So about a year ago I bought a new Elantra for around $10K and I list that car as my daily driver and my Porsche as a pleasure car on my Insurance policy. So when its snowy or raining or when I need to park my car at a risky location, I drive the Elantra. On other days I drive my Porsche. After driving the Elantra for a couple of days, my Porsche feels awesome again, and believe it or not but it costs me less to insure two cars than just the Porsche.

The only way to go, I agree. I also agree you need snow tires to really do it right. I have put 11,000 miles on my C4 since late October and I am still going strong. The more I drive it, the more comfortable I am about driving it year round. When I first bought the car, I walked on egg shells guarding the car like it was made of gold. In the end, its a depreciating asset and I drive it like I stole it everyday. The first 11000 miles were spent getting comfortable with the car stock. In the next couple weeks we go for the total suspension overhaul including coilovers and gt3 sways. Over the summer, I have 15-20 days of DE track time already confirmed. I look at the car as "Full Service". I guess one day I might get bored but today, I am still on the steep upside of the learning curve and loving every minute.

You are right on the money. I too drive my '04 C4S cab to and from work (in NYC) every single day. With dedicated snow tires/rims and a hardtop, it has never let me down. The hour and a half I spend in it every day puts a smile on my face, and I love the way it lets me get around slower traffic. The only flaw is the mediocre stereo, especially since I have not found an acceptable way to use my iPod. I just don't feel like spending thousands to replace the complete system in a 100K car--once the top goes down I prefer the sound of my PSE anyway!

If you can spend 100k on a car, and you're going to be in it that much, why not go for the right stereo....check out the new Pioneer AVIC-D1 that's coming out this spring....it has a full handshake to your IPOD, where you can run the IPOD off the touch sensative screen, and if you get XM Radio with the traffic package, for an extra $3.00, bringing it to a whopping $13.95, you can traffic conditions on the Nav screen, in different colors, depending on the speed that the traffic is moving, and the system will route you around it....and it's not a motorized screen, so it looks pretty factory.....I can't wait for the unit....do a google search on the model, and you might change your mind.....and no more FM Modulation for your IPOD!!!!!!

GBG, I hear ya. Third Porsche but first daily driver. What a difference driving it daily makes. I really appreciate the little things alot more. It also add so much more fun to boring daily driving. I have those areas on my daily drive that I just look forward to because they are fun to drive in the Porsche but pretty ordinary in my wife's 3 series.

Here in New England we have had 23 storms and 7 feet of snow and I have driven my 911 through all of it. I put snows on the car in November and it has been truly amazing. I did skid on black ice at one point and said hello to the rear bumper of a Saab, but a small scrape on my bumper is all that resulted. I was in Munich in the fall and Porsches are all over the place, even some with ski racks. In Europe they are "cars" - and what you do is drive them rather than polish them and keep them covered and not take them out unless the conditions are perfect. I'm tired of all that. I'm driving mine every day from now on!

I have 19K miles on my 04 C4s Cab... hard top, 17" dunlop winter m2's and I'm good to go. I just bought new rears for the summer set... this weekend the hardtop comes off, summer set goes on, and I'm ready for spring.

yeah - even in the UK where the cars are relatively much more expensive, most owners use theres as a daily driver - maybe in part because distances travelled are less so the resulting milage is less?

Here's the funny thing: If I had a commute of say, 30 miles a day each way, I'd probably use the 996 more since I'd really feel like I was USING it - you know, long enough trip to really get heat in the oil, and maybe stretch it's legs here and there. BUT, my commute is less than 6 miles. Surface streets, no freeways. If I'm lucky, the oil's MAYBE up to temp by the time I turn off the key in my parking spot. I actually think all those little trips are abusing the car. So, my M.O. now is drive my little BMW E30 to work if I'm going to be at the office all day, and take the 996 if I have meetings, where I'll be in the car more. Am I actually wishing my commute was longer??

SRL: Yo may be technically correct that short trips are not ideal for the car (I honestly don't know), but, hell, it's a car! I mean, doesn't it strike you as strange that you're not comfortable using your car for short trips??? This is precisely the type of "mental state" from which daily drving will liberate you. I used to think like you with my first two cars, and, hell, what good did it do me? I can tell you, none. I sold the cars after a few years and that was that. (Your circumstances may be different, I acknowledge). I say short trips, long trips, rain, snow, just use the car for the 6 mles each day. Enjoy it. Your 911 will do just fine. GBG

I have the same "problem"...which I solve by simply driving past work, onto the highway and the first, second, and third set of clovers. As such, I manage to make my five minute commute a twenty minute fun time Geert

I hear you man, I spend 1 1/2-3hrs in my car daily in and out of manhattan, the best three hrs of the day! Just put my new summer tires on this wknd, snows are in storage, I'm ready to go. See you guys on the road or at some DE's(my 1st is 3/24 LR). BTW, re dep assets, who cares what the next guy is willing to pay for your car? You only live once in the here and now.

I hear ya...but I'd submit that is actually MORE frustrating to go the 6 miles in the 996 in stoplight traffic. I can't even "use" the car! Hmmmm.....interesting. The best thing about today: it's a "meeting" day and she's just waiting for me out back! We're leaving soon!

I had a 'meeting' yesterday afternoon, I couldn't be disturbed.

I too drive-15-20000 miles a year in my 2000 c2-in milwaukee

I have an Explorer that is supposed to be a daily driver. Problem is, every time I reach for the keys I somehow always come up with the keys to the P-car. Put 16k miles last year and I can't keep my a** out of the seat. It's addicting, when I take the right car I look forward to my commute (25mi ea way).

the lost billable time in that commute is unbelieveable. anyway - the M3 wasn't an all round daily driver due to the slow progress of the green house effect up here. this C4S is ordained to be an all year beast up here and i am looking forward to the next few years of using it every day.

Is there anything else to commute with, many of my friends think I am crazy for driving daily into New York City - I love it, fast in, Fast Out and looking good in the process, what could be better.

One more reason why the Pcar is a perfect all season car, even if you do have a C2! "How could someone subject a new, lovingly crafted Porsche Carrera - worth $101,400, or maybe priceless - to the salt, grit and less definable crud of an Eastern Canadian winter? Quite easily, it turns out. " ROBERT BOSTELAAR -- CanWest News Service http://www.canada.com/montreal/montr...7-c28aea6f342f

I am also using the car as a daily and ditched the other ride. I am a little more careful of where I park it, that is the only difference. But man, every morning when I wake her up, I feel so lucky and putting her to rest at night, I always give it another look. Do you do that with other cars?... For me that is the wholepoint about the 911. It is a daily. Nuf' said.

I think that the owner's who are so well(X2) to do can drive their cars as much as they want. and on the other hand, the ones who had to save for sometime to get their dream cars babies them. On a different note, There are also those richy rich ones that they are so busy working, and can't find time to do pleasure drives as much as they want to. Here in Virginia Beach, we organize lots of fun drives but I only see same group of few guys joining us. But everytime I go to the local Porsche service center, I see so many gorgeous and wicked Carreras that I've never seen before with local tags waiting to be serviced. I thought to myself... where the heck are these guys when it's time to enjoy the cars?? They must be so busy working.

when the waether is pouring down or raining, I can't really say the porsche driving experience is at it's best.. it's much nicer to be in a nice s-class or 7 series.. i suppose it depends where you live.. in seattle, having a cab only porsche for 365 days of the year wouldn't be the best idea... los angeles i suppose it would work..

It all depends on the rubber you wear amigo - I have no problems in heavy rain, none - I truly believe my Targa is my best all year round car for me, things being all relative that is. Out of all the Porsche I have owned in my life time, this baby is truly tops - 22K miles and not one problem, no RMS, no strange noise, nothing but pure driving experince. I am almost worried about upgrading to the 997 since my 996 Targa is so dam perfect.

I bought my 04C4S cabriolet one year ago. So far my dog and I have put 18,000 miles on it. I drive it every day and everywhere.

This article was published 2 weeks before i picked up my car. Absolutly perfect timing as I placed it in front of the spouse to note that my protestations of the practical were so true that they had made it to writing!

This thread has been a real inspiration! I am guilty as charged. I will endeavor to drive the P car more this year although I just don't think I could stand to see it covered in the salt which is so incredibly over-applied in these parts. I will agree though that a little time away from the P and it all seems so fantastically new once I do fire it up and drive it.

Well! GBG, my user name already says it "daily996". Is fun to drive around even in snow. Cars always depreciate no matter how you treat it.

When I bought my P-Car, I drove it from Connecticut to Tennessee...with a few side trips...about 1200 miles.....I thougt it was absolutely great, but my wife complained every now & then....I think it was in her mind that we'd made similiar trips in a Powerstroke Diesel Excursion, and she "saw" all the room, and was missing it now.....I could drive this baby cross country and back with no problem, and probably will!!!!