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How sensible?

Posted: Wed Jun 07, 2006 11:46 am
by keith fellowes
Do any of you guys use an early 911 as a semi or even full daily driver? I'm not thinking of inclement weather days, just more than at weekends. Is it sensible to do this bearing in mind that we are talking about nearly 40 year old cars. Is a mobile phone and RAC recovery card the toolkit?

Posted: Wed Jun 07, 2006 11:57 am
by Nige
I've used 30-40+ year old cars as a daily for the past 10 years. For work, shopping, cruising and holidays. Even filled it with junk to take to the tip, also collected my 'Job Seekers Allowance' in it when I was made redundant.

Can be abit of a pain in the ass in winter, poorly demisting windows mainly but you get used to that. It stays outside all year round as I don't have a garage.

I've only just joined the RAC too, if I'm doing a longer trip I may take a few tools but generally there is never no more than a couple of screwdrivers in the car if I'm lucky.

Just make sure you don't go over any limited miles on your policy, mine isn't limited though.

Posted: Wed Jun 07, 2006 3:05 pm
by Dyno Soar
I was using my Mustang as my daily unless it rained like crazy. Pretty reliable and fun to use, if somewhat thirsty.

The 911 could easily be used everyday with its later 3.2 powerplant. Its so reliable, however driving in traffic is horrible as all you want to do is find an open road. Also the clutch work in heavy traffic can do you in a bit. :)

I know that Darren virtually uses his 1971 911 every other day or at every concievable moment. Top man.

Posted: Wed Jun 07, 2006 4:02 pm
by keith fellowes
Thanks for your comments. My accountant has just told me that I can have an old Porsche on the business, so long as I do some business mileage. So I had better start looking .............

Posted: Wed Jun 07, 2006 4:13 pm
by hot66
If it is to be a 'company car' , make sure the market value is below £15K , then I'm pretty sure you are taxed on the original purchase price. If it is worth more than £15K I beleive you are taxed on its current market value

Posted: Wed Jun 07, 2006 5:46 pm
by pae
hot66 wrote:If it is to be a 'company car' , make sure the market value is below £15K , then I'm pretty sure you are taxed on the original purchase price. If it is worth more than £15K I beleive you are taxed on its current market value
I like the sound of that. Any more info from anyone? This could be quite an attractive way to purchase someting.

Phil

Posted: Wed Jun 07, 2006 8:11 pm
by Gilbert '71 T
Dyno Soar wrote:I know that Darren virtually uses his 1971 911 every other day or at every concievable moment. Top man.
I sure do, but then I'm in training for my french trip :lol:

All i keep in the car are a few basic tools, small socket set, multimeter, screwdrivers, jubilee clips, bulbs, fuses, spark plugs & removal tool, wheelbrace, jack and air compressor, most of which fit inside the smugglers box, plus mobile phone and AA card in case of emergency :)

In 2 years of using the car I've only called out the AA a few times:
Fuel Leak (didnt have any tools/jubilee clips)
Broken plastic clucth cable connector (again no tools) - I even told the AA man how to fix it to get me home as he was ready to order a flatbead
Alternator, I had no chance with that one

My opinion is that these cars a are for driving. 8)

Posted: Wed Jun 07, 2006 8:51 pm
by sladey
I use my car every day - it's my only car - no choice in the matter. My drive to work is generally about half an hour through mainly open countryside - I get a buzz out of just driving it most days.

It's been expensive on occasion, (:roll: ) but some of that has been my choice. The big thing is NO depreciation though.

So, upside:- car is gorgeous, attracts attention but not envy, goes like shite off a shovel, handles brilliantly, makes every drive a blast, no depreciation

Downside:- bills can be large on occasion, windows can mist up, er that's it

If you consider other classics - I used to drive a 1964 MkII Jag as my daily driver - with wife, 3 kids and towing a caravan. That always needed something tweaking. After that the Porsche is a dream - it I want to fettle it I can, but if I want to leave it alone and just drive it for 12 months then I can do that as well.

If you consider other supercars as well there's no contest for a daily driver - they all cost far more and break down. A dino with 50K on the clock is high mileage; a 911 with 100k is just getting started.

Sorry to sit on the fence on all this - I'm just in two minds really.....

Posted: Wed Jun 07, 2006 10:43 pm
by Bertroex
I can second what has been mentioned before. It is amazing how a 12.000 mile service and "an italian tune up" (drive it like you stole it- when it is properly warmed up etc for a loooooooong journey) does miracles for your reliability.

Having said that, I did break down last thursday. (ran out of fuel :oops: )

You do have to prepare for some serious bills but ever tried to have a big job done on a recent BMW 5 series or so? In comparison, it is stacks up nicely. I also run my car as a "company" car (surgery) so a big part of the costs are made *caugh* tax efficient.

Breakdown membership, mobile phone charged up and in winter a warm coat in case you do break down, a few relays, a list of Porsche specialist (downloaded from www.356-911.com or from a porsche magazine), a fuel pump, the fan belt, ah and one of those sealant sprays that seal and inflate your tires. I tried once to pump a spare tire up in my 2.7 with the porsche supplied compressor. Looked a bit like a snowman when it eventually finished!


Best of luck


Bert

Posted: Thu Jun 08, 2006 6:00 pm
by MdR
I use my '66 SWB 911S as my daily driver.
Is it more fun on a sunny day, but it slides around better in the darker, danker months of the year :wink:

Posted: Thu Jun 08, 2006 8:29 pm
by Mike Usiskin
my 911t is used almost daily, lives on the street under an all weather cover when sleeping, and thrives on use. she's the mistress, and can be expensive at times. Max at Revival does some nice cars. Also get something pre '73 and save on the tax as well :lol:

go on you know you want too :lol: :lol: