Any "Daily Drivers" out there?

[b5blue]

  Anyone else using or planing to use their Charger for daily driving or am I nuts?    A Hellcat Charger pulled up to me yesterday on the way to work and gave me some "props" then mentioned he's wanting a 68. I thought it cool he's actually using his Cat for daily duty like I am my 70.  Just got me thinking how many are out there working to earn their keep?

[Back N Black]

My charger is not a daily driver, but i drive it as much as i can. If its raining i will leave it in the garage. I usually drive to work 3 days a week and on the weekends.

[keith88]

My charger is not a daily driver, but i drive it as much as i can. If its raining i will leave it in the garage. I usually drive to work 3 days a week and on the weekends.

Same here but i do put it away for the harsh new England winter.

[myk]

I daily drove mine through my first job and college for four years.  I can look back on those days now and smile, but ultimately I don't think these cars should be daily driven for a number of reasons.  Just my three cents...

[Ponch ®]

I daily drove mine through my first job and college for four years.  I can look back on those days now and smile, but ultimately I don't think these cars should be daily driven for a number of reasons.  Just my three cents...

I've had to use the Satellite as a daily driver for a week or two at a time in the last couple of years while my normal daily cars have been at the dealership/body shop.

No, hell no.

Daily commuting in a 40+ year old car is exhausting and stressful ("I gotta stop for gas on my way to an important meeting. Shit, I hope it doesnt do that thing where it doesnt want to start")


Cruising it to work on a Friday is fun sometimes...but def not an everyday thing.

[Ryan.C]

I have been driving my '66 300 daily for the past 2-3 weeks and I love it. The fuel economy is about the same as my '02 Dakota but the 300 is such a better driving car, all the accesories work which helps.
Growing up in the 90's my father's only car was a '73 Imperial (2-door triple white) nice car untill the northern OH road salt got to it. I personnaly dont see anything wrong with driving your classic on a daily basis I do find myself being very particular about where I park it though, ushually way in the back of the parking lot far away from beater hondas and chevys 

[rt green]

would love to have a beater to daily drive. park it anywhere and insure the hell out of it.

[Nacho-RT74]

Mine is... Well, it was while was on the road... soon will be again a driver, Every season... If we can call SEASONS to the tropic seasons

[lloyd3]

Ignoring all the usual arguments against daily driving (poor fuel economy, bad traffic, bad drivers, hard-to-replace parts, loss of value, etc.), why would you?  Driving mine in traffic is becoming a challenge anymore. Rowing a 4-speed and dealing with all the heat rolling off of that big motor is more work than I ever remember.  Newer stuff is so much easier.

[Ponch ®]

Ignoring all the usual arguments against daily driving (poor fuel economy, bad traffic, bad drivers, hard-to-replace parts, loss of value, etc.), why would you?  Driving mine in traffic is becoming a challenge anymore. Rowing a 4-speed and dealing with all the heat rolling off of that big motor is more work than I ever remember.  Newer stuff is so much easier.

haha...yeah. when i said I feel exhausted, I mean literally exhausted from all the fumes...

[lloyd3]

For the first 15-years or so, mine was like that. There was a good reason to drive around with the windows down.  When I had it re-done, I made sure he got all the body plugs back where they needed to be and sealed everything up properly. It's much better now.  Still, I'm sure the folks behind me in traffic are getting the full effect of my "gross emitter".

[ACUDANUT]

Who would rely on a 40-45 car to get them to/from work.  Try explaining that to the Boss.

[Dino]

I haven't driven my daily more than twice in the last two months, I drive the Charger all the time.  The Charger is as reliable as anything out there and I wouldn't hesitate to drive it cross country.  I put a few hundred miles on it today.  A/C blows ice cold so I was nice and comfy.  I drove my 68 year round but the climate was better, alas I can't drive the Charger in these Michigan winters.  But I do drive it rain or shine and will continue to do so.  One day it will have efi and a 6 speed which is going to make this even more fun.  For now I'm very happy though. The day I no longer want to drive it for whatever reason, it will be put up for sale.

[toocheaptosmoke]

Last year when I really got my car road worthy, I will admit it was a bit stressful driving it to work and stuff.   Never thought it would happen to me, but after spending so much time working on a car I was afraid something would happen to it.      I kept on driving it and after a while I became more familiar with the car, and got things tweaked and tuned in.  It became much more enjoyable to drive, yeah I still think about smacking a deer or whatever, but in my sub conscious the car has transformed from a money pit in the shop to a form of transportation.  It is no beauty queen, so no worries about scratches or dents, and honestly I don't plan on ever making it perfect just for that reason.   As for reliability, like others have said I would drive it anywhere, I carry a toolbox and spare parts.   

[440 Fanatic]

Who would rely on a 40-45 car to get them to/from work.  Try explaining that to the Boss.

My '68 Charger is currently not only my daily driver, it's my only transportation and I work a 40 mile round trip to/from work.
I moved to Jackson, Ms from Columbus, Ms back in October of last year due to a job opening at the Harley dealership. I have 2 other cars, a 1989 FireBird Formula (stripped out teeth on the 'flywheel'. And, a 66 Chrysler Newport that the previous owner had the engine rebuilt and exchanged the crankshaft from forged to cast with no concept of mopar driveline balance. So it's parked until  I can resolve this issue.
Simon (my 68)  is literally my only running car at this time.
My only problem with him right now is that he spews power steering fluid. If I was back at my shop in Columbus, I'd put him on my lift and swap out the steering gear box I already have for the old tired one.  But, that's hard to do when u work 6 days a week and have no access to a lift.
Anyway,  here is my 'daily driver' (40+ miles a day) at his new current home.
And he runs 70 mph with his 3.23 gears and loves it,,I can almost feel him PURRRRRRR. or is that start are a ROAR ,,lol
I just replaced his 15+ year old ignition system and new float valves in his very old 1406 Edelbrock carb and he seems like he gained at least 30 or so more HP  
And, he fires up within 1 revolution of the crank in the morning

I'm planning on getting a dash cam after the steering box swap just to post a vid on youtube of an unrestored 68 Dodge Charger being driven to and from work 40 miles everyday except sunday. And see what these cars are still capable of some 4-5 decades of time later.
And,  by the way,, he's not just my Car...  he's my Buddy   ..We've been through a LOT in the last 15 years or so.

[NYCMille]

Just depends on the day really...

[b5blue]

Good to see I'm not alone. 

[cdr]

my charger is the only car i have,, so yes it is my driver   

[b5blue]

Folks forget B Body is a darn good car!

[Dino]

You got that right!

Just today I was driving back from the store and once more had to admit that these are amazingly well built cars for the time.  i'm not talking fit and finish but the car handles great and it was purring like a kitten on the highway.  I really need to start up the real daily from time to time so the battery doesn't die.  I can't even remember when I drove it last...

I'm way happy the a/c is finally up and running, that was all I needed to enjoy the car at all times.  Neil does your a/c work?  I can't imagine being without in Swampida.   

[lloyd3]

30 years ago a 70 Super Bee was my daily driver. Even then, it took a lot to make it a dependable car. Rural Pennsylvania wasn't a easy place to have an older car (rust truly never sleeps there).  I drove it all through collage and loved every minute of it (except when the clutch blew or the heater core leaked). Fast forward to now. Parts are even harder to find and everything costs way-too much. Worse than that is modern traffic. Everything has disc brakes and weighs less than half of a B-body (except maybe the monster SUVs). Most everything is also very plastic and ages (with a few exceptions)......very poorly, making used stuff relatively cheap fairly quickly. Moreover, there are many more cars now, compared to 30-years ago, and people drive foolishly simply because they can. We have become a throw-away society and most modern cars reflect that fact.  City driving and wonderful old big blocks are simply a bad mix now.  If you live in a less densely populated area, then.....maybe a daily driver makes a little more sense, but here in the Denver Metroplex everyday would get ugly fast.

[VegasCharger]

Who would rely on a 40-45 car to get them to/from work.  Try explaining that to the Boss.

My '68 Charger is currently not only my daily driver, it's my only transportation and I work a 40 mile round trip to/from work.
I moved to Jackson, Ms from Columbus, Ms back in October of last year due to a job opening at the Harley dealership. I have 2 other cars, a 1989 FireBird Formula (stripped out teeth on the 'flywheel'. And, a 66 Chrysler Newport that the previous owner had the engine rebuilt and exchanged the crankshaft from forged to cast with no concept of mopar driveline balance. So it's parked until  I can resolve this issue.
Simon (my 68)  is literally my only running car at this time.
My only problem with him right now is that he spews power steering fluid. If I was back at my shop in Columbus, I'd put him on my lift and swap out the steering gear box I already have for the old tired one.  But, that's hard to do when u work 6 days a week and have no access to a lift.
Anyway,  here is my 'daily driver' (40+ miles a day) at his new current home.
And he runs 70 mph with his 3.23 gears and loves it,,I can almost feel him PURRRRRRR. or is that start are a ROAR ,,lol
I just replaced his 15+ year old ignition system and new float valves in his very old 1406 Edelbrock carb and he seems like he gained at least 30 or so more HP  
And, he fires up within 1 revolution of the crank in the morning

I'm planning on getting a dash cam after the steering box swap just to post a vid on youtube of an unrestored 68 Dodge Charger being driven to and from work 40 miles everyday except sunday. And see what these cars are still capable of some 4-5 decades of time later.
And,  by the way,, he's not just my Car...  he's my Buddy   ..We've been through a LOT in the last 15 years or so.

I'm truly inspired by your story and truly inspired by your hellish 68, I love that car (Daytona wing and the red hood insert paint). I kinda wish I was in your spot and only having my 68 as my only transportation. But I have my 2001 Dodge ram so the Charger sits as I get it to the way I want it to be before puting it on the road.

Good luck to you and your great 68

[Stegs]

Just depends on the day really...

Love this!

I took mine to the store yesterday to pick up a few things

A old guy laughed as i got out and said "Nice old school grocery getter"

I replied to him "it gets the job done"

.........he looked my car over over really well and said "still the best looking car ever made"


I agreed 

[b5blue]

You got that right!

Just today I was driving back from the store and once more had to admit that these are amazingly well built cars for the time.  i'm not talking fit and finish but the car handles great and it was purring like a kitten on the highway.  I really need to start up the real daily from time to time so the battery doesn't die.  I can't even remember when I drove it last...

I'm way happy the a/c is finally up and running, that was all I needed to enjoy the car at all times.  Neil does your a/c work?  I can't imagine being without in Swampida.   

Haven't had air in 20 years in any cars. The Jeep has it but repairs ate up $$ to fix it. The Charger will after I pay off last bunch of upgrades. The single dad years took every penny just to keep going, ex never worked much so never paid. I've been working on Charger to reach final setup for long run. Every step cost more and took longer then hoped for but solid. Drove yesterday in pouring rain just fine, few minor leaks to track down. Dash/headliner is done but inside is just steel and one old seat. (For leak check.)

[TPR]

Hell No.

It takes me on average 55mins each way to get to and from work, that's about 15mins longer than it did 10 years ago.
To get a parking spot anywhere near my building I'd have to arrive at about 6am, otherwise I have to park up to about 300 meters away from it.
Not much off street parking is available.
My daily driver has been smashed into four times while on route to/from work, most times while completely stationary and the most recent time while parked near work.
Driver door, front fender and headlight assembly all smashed up and of course no info was left behind.
I've now had to resort to dash cams and I won't even bother replacing these panels as I'd rather sink that money into the Charger and someone will probably just hit it again anyway.

Driving in Sydney has become a real b*tch. Too many people concentrated in one area and everyone drives like a moron.
I applaud anybody who has the balls to drive theirs daily, but for me it's a weekend cruiser only.
Waaaaay too risky where I'm from.

If these factors were not an issue, I reckon my ride would be pretty reliable, although I would really need to get some dynamat down.
TPR