arbeitm

Does anyone in the North East use their 911 as a daily driver.

I've been contemplating getting rid of my daily beater Saab and using the money to install A/C and buy an extra set of wheels/snow tires. And maybe a stereo upgrade...satellite radio would be nice.

At any rate, I'm just trying to see if it's feasible.

My original idea was to sell both the Saab and the 911SC and buy myself a late 90's BMW M3. But I just can't seem to committ myself to that idea.

Keep in mind my daily commute consists of a 20 minute drive (50% highway/50% roads) to the train station. But I still need to be able to drive in the snow if need be.

Any thoughts/experience with this?

Streetfighter

Just my two cents on the M3, great car. I had a 1999 M3 coupe I still believe it is the best handling car I have ever driven. It ran well besides the brakes rotors fading out on me. It has a great gearbox and strong clutch. Accelarates like a rocket and has a bullet proof engine. I currently have a 964, and I enjoy it, but I do miss the M. In terms of snow they are both terrible to drive. Even with snow tires it is kind of skechy at best. I would keep your beater and enjoy the Porsche on the nice days and look at an M3 if you can afford the two.

LaughaC

With Bridgestone RE950's my 911 went well in snow the couple of times I tried it. With appropriate tires you should have no problem when enough ground clearance is available, but I would not want to expose my 911 to the salted roads.

My '97 M3 handles great but even with it's traction control (ASC) it's Toyos are very tail happy in the wet.

old man neri

Like previously mentioned it's the salt that worries. I don't drive mine on salty days.

Other than that I use my 911 year round. I have had it less than a year and already have put 15K on it. I have used it in -20F and it started fine. Actually makes plenty of heat in the winter and quickly. The placement of windshield washer refill tube is pure genius. I used all season tires and it was okay at best. I never liked all season. All you have to do is drive with a light foot in the snow and know how to deal with over steer. However, it takes time to reach 'winter operating temperature', 20 min may or may not do it depending on how cold it gets where you live.

So if you are fine with the salt I would do it. When you think of it, it's a car like any other.

LaughaC

Oh; good point about the oversteer. I enjoy it, but if you don't then you won't enjoy driving your 911 on snow.

As you probably know, the 911's weight needs to be carefully 'set' early as you enter a turn near the traction limit. This includes transfering enough weight to the front (with deceleration or brakes) and, in snow, considering when to affect the 'Scandinavian flick' to put the rear wheels into a slide where you will want them to track.

Mike Murphy

Yes, you can definitely drive a 911 year round. When it comes to AC in a 911SC, however, be prepared to spend some $2-3k on replacing the existing system. You can get a stereo upgrade, but don't try to put in a reference system expecting great sound. These cars don't do well in sound competitions.

Edgy01

I drove my 911 in Europe as a daily driver,--rain, snow, sleet, black ice, and shine! The 911 is really best as a daily driver,--and many people never get to experience that, hiding them away in garages and barns for sunny weekends.

I would rinse mine off each Saturday morning after driving through salt roads over there,--it helped quite a bit, but the older cadmium plated fasteners will fail sooner when exposed to that stuff.

arbeitm

It's very reassuring to hear all these daily driver stories.

I still plan on test driving the M3 to see what I think. I was thinking exactly what you had...a 99 M3 coupe. I may drive it an love it enough to sell the 911...but somehow I think not. I would love to have all three, but the truth is I do all my own maintenance/repair. And basically I am tired of having to maintain three cars. My wife's Audi and the 911 are enough work without throwing the Saab in the mix. Plus I just bought a house and have been mostly busy with renovations. So I really need to down size my vehicles.

What are the concerns with salt? Corrosion? I thought the galvanized bodies would be protected from that.

I was pricing it out yesterday. It looks like the cost would be about $ 2,000. That's why I have to sell the Saab. As far as the stereo, the one I have is not bad...but like I said, I wouldn't mind satellite radio for a daily driver.

That's what I like to hear!

old man neri

You would think galvanized bodies would be protected and they are....to a certain extent. I don't know how bad it is where you live but where I live they use a lot of salt, and I mean a lot. After a fresh snow fall you can expect to be using your highspeed wipers on the highway. It's this kind of weather I try to avoid.

GothingNC

Just because the body is galvanized does not mean it will not rust.

Check out all the rust repair working being done on www.impactbumpers.com

The galvanized sheet metal will last a long time but after a whie the zinc will sacrifice itself to the salt and then the metal exposed.

Especially in the kidny bowl area, underneath the ricker panel, front and rear wheel wells etc.

An SC

http://picasaweb.google.co.uk/PD9113.2/BodyRepair

3.2 Carrera

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/showt...highlight=rust

I'd rather have a beater for the snow/'wet weather and let someone hit the beater, collect some insurance money then ending up having to replace the 911 since it does not take much of a hit t to bend the tub and total the Porsche.

John

Mike Murphy

Which of these E36 M3s are the best year? It's one of my options for having a commuter car. I'm also looking at an S2000 or a 964.

arbeitm

It seems to be a big debate. It's basically the 95 or the 96 - 99. The 95 had a 3.0L engine which from what I understand is more tuneable. The rest of them have a 3.2L engine which you can't do as much with for some reason.

They both have the same HP though (240HP).

Of the three options you listed I would go for the 964. I love those cars. But I think you are looking at three different price ranges...or at least two. The 964's are close to double the price of the other two.

84_Carrera

Chin & lowered makes it more difficult to plow through deeper snow. I got caught in snow on the way home from buying mine a few years ago, showed me right then & there I needed dedicated snows, just in case I needed to take the car in the winter. With the snows, it's not bad on cleared / semi-cleared roads. Without significant seat time in the white stuff, I'd be really hesitant to take the car in more than an inch or two, personally.

Heat-wise, a-ok.

arbeitm

I wouldn't even consider braving the winter without snow tires. My current tires are summer tires.

kusee pee

I can speak on both fronts here. Firsty, I agree with the many comments saying that 911s are meant to be daily drivers. All mine have been and the 3.2 is no problems to live with in sunny England all year round. I'd hate to own it and only drive it on occasion. Go for it.

As regards the E36 M3, they are great cars too but totally different from the 911. I used to have an M3 Evo Coupe as a daily driver some years ago and it was OK - not great though. It lacked character IMO. However, I now have an Evo saloon as my track car and I love it to bits - for some reason I think I've just found a better example. It pulls like a train and sounds stunning. The engine alone is worth the asking price - it's something special. Certainly in Euro spec with 321hp. When I had to sell my 964 turbo to get a better track car it hurt but with the 3.2 and the M3 I honestly think I've found the perfect combination. For now at least!