M3 Defector

Coming from the bimmer community where even the M's are bullet proof daily drivers. I just sold my 98 M3 Sedan with 174,000 mostly trouble free miles. Not looking for an M comparison I know they are different animals just wanted you guys to know where I coming from.

I'm new to the P-car community and will be driving my 2000 996 cab with 28,000 miles on a daily commute of about 32 miles and every other chance I get. The scales seem to lean more toward pleasure drivers, but wanted to do a poll to see how big of daily driver presence there is. I hope there's more than I think!

Thanks!

roadsession

i am in the same boat. I want a DD not a wknd car. Is it practical as a DD...

BruceP

Mine is my 'city' car, meaning it gets driven four days a week, four seasons of the year, for pretty much everything. It's not a toy at all. I traded my Dinan Z3 for the 996 especially for this reason: room to carry stuff, and its more or less oblivious to weather.

I think that the car is actually mechanically happier being driven all the time. The only concessions I made to daily use were a much heavier duty battery, more frequent oil changes to deal with the frequent short trips, and snow tires for winter.

roadsession

Bruce,
Thanks. Now here's the question that when I searched, yielded no real answers - just opinions.
And that is - what do you guys think of putting all season tires on a C4 as a DD. I have a 3 mile commute and will really be driving on major highways.

I have all seasons on a 530xi and it's great in the snow.

I would like to hear opinions from people that actually DRIVE with all seasons vs people who believe religously it is heresy to slap those on and advocate only for dedicated summer/winter setups...

I live in the city - have zero storage space. My car will have to sit outside and weather the elements like all the other cars :-)

M3 Defector

Sounds worthy of new thread.

BruceP

You'll have a hard time finding someone who has honestly driven both types of tire on the same car the same way. Every forum I've ever seen in which someone confessed to using all season tires, they got treated as if they'd just announced that they only wore shoes with velcro straps.

First off, you will be amazed at how good the car is inherently in the snow. IMHO, you won't miss the AWD of your 530 at all.

I wouldn't judge anybody for putting good high performance all season tires on their car, if they were disciplined about adjusting their limits accordingly, and were willing to leave the car at home in extreme weather. I'm a big believer in the right equipment for the conditions, and if your conditions and driving style are always moderate relative to the limits of the car, why not.

But I'm just popping off. I'm a 'dedicated summer/winter setup' guy, and tires are the one car related item where I let my ego do the shopping for me. I haven't driven all seasons on a 911. Let's see what else turns up on this thread...

Tippy

Are you in the taliban? Easy on the hi-jackin'.....

Yes it is.

Do a search, this has been talked about over and over again. To answer your question, the car can be DD'd if maintained. Macster has over 200k miles on a Boxster which has the same basic driveline and shares 30% of the 996 pieces.

joelpirela

Every day driver here, 500 miles a week, 114,000 miles on the odo.... 2002 C2, 6 speed. Love it.
joel

Van

'99 C4 - 145,000 miles. Happy as a clam with it.

Jon996

Great as a DD. 2003 with 50K miles; 24 miles one way to work; all year round. I do take an alternative if the snow is too deep (not a lot of clearance) or if temp is below -10F or so.

Mathemagician

99c4cab daily driver all year long. 95k miles. Commute = 10 feet in my pajamas, so not sure if I count, but I still manage 1000 mi/month.

Ubermensch

2001 C4, 102k miles on the clock and driven through Boston winters. I did a 30 mile round trip commute for the last three years with no problem.

DCP

Mine is a most days DD. 2003 C2- 26 mile commute. Gets expensive on the rear tire replacement, but I have had very few problems in the four years I have owned it and none that resulted in the car not getting me where I was going. I do not live where it snows so I can't comment on that.

C4SnNJ

2003 C4S. Put around 50 miles round trip in the rain, sun, snow and sleet. Can put my hockey bag(passenger seat), sticks, 5yr and 3yr old in the rear and still have room for the umbrella stroller on the rear deck. Who needs a trunk? The child seats also come in handy for holding the milk after I volunteer to go to the store just to drive the car another mile or so.

steepsnow

Mine is a 1999 C4 that gets used 75% as a DD year-round (2000 Rover Disco2 for deep snow and hauling and towing stuff). Summer and Winter tires/wheels. 85K miles, 2K miles on factory reman. engine! Looking forward to drive this one as a DD for a long time. 20 miles commute - from the foothills to the city; good twisting roads in/near my neighborhood, so lots of fun to be had "taking the long way home."