General => Lounge => Topic started by: 50tbrd88 on March 10, 2010, 08:21:20 PM
Title: Any Daily Drivers?
Post by: 50tbrd88 on March 10, 2010, 08:21:20 PM
I was driving home from work the other day and was thinking about how rare it seems to see a Fox Tbird/Cougar on the road in my area these days. Most examples you do see are pretty roughed up.
I recently saw an '88 T-bird Sport that used to run around my area when I was in high school. I always liked the car as it was red/red with nice exhaust, those billet wheels that were so popular in the 90's, and 'stang 5.0 fender emblems. I had not spotted it on the road for several years. The guy that owned it was and older guy and he kept it clean and nice...he must have sold it because it is now totally messed up with a smashed in fender and mud everywhere.
Does anyone actually still daily drive their car? Or do we as a group for the most part keep our cars as projects/weekend rides/2nd cars? I have not used my car as a daily driver since 2004 or so...and I miss it a lot at times.
Title: Any Daily Drivers?
Post by: jrad235 on March 10, 2010, 08:27:18 PM
Yeah, mine hasn't been a DD for two years, mostly because I'm working out the kinks from all the stuff I did to it! :)
I have, however seen a couple nice birds around the metro area, but I never seem to be driving mine when they are around!
Title: Any Daily Drivers?
Post by: hypostang on March 10, 2010, 08:27:40 PM
Mine will be my daily driver as soon as I get my license back, My last DD was an 88 Mark VII LSC
Title: Any Daily Drivers?
Post by: HAVI on March 10, 2010, 08:33:40 PM
My black one was before the engine blew. It was one of those pretty roughed up ones, lol.
Title: Any Daily Drivers?
Post by: T-BirdX3 on March 10, 2010, 08:37:11 PM
My wife and I both use TC's as DD. In my opinion there the perfect DD, but what do I know.
Title: Any Daily Drivers?
Post by: vinnietbird on March 10, 2010, 08:51:48 PM
Mine is a daily driver in any weather,at any time.
Title: Any Daily Drivers?
Post by: 50tbrd88 on March 10, 2010, 08:56:29 PM
You guys that still daily drive 'em are awesome. I took mine off the road mainly because I didn't want to put it through another salty winter (and I kinda need a truck for my job). Mine was my high school car, so I plan on keeping it around as long as possible. But do I miss driving it daily. Everyone knew me in that car back in the day...
Title: Any Daily Drivers?
Post by: vinnietbird on March 10, 2010, 09:00:02 PM
No slat or rust here.After I get the a/c better than new,the seats done (with heaters as well),windows tinted,the dynomat installed,and the new engine,I'll be driving it even more.....just because it'll be even more AWESOME !!!!!...LOL.
Title: Any Daily Drivers?
Post by: mercury-man on March 10, 2010, 09:04:08 PM
Chris , Our Cougar is only driven daily in warmer months due to the fact it don't handle good in Wintertime conditions. :poke:
Title: Any Daily Drivers?
Post by: 50tbrd88 on March 10, 2010, 09:07:31 PM
I drove mine through snow, sleet, rain, etc for years...but I figure after nearly 180,000 miles she deserves to enjoy retirement and not be driven in those conditions. And Dan I always thought my car did pretty good in the snow for a RWD car.
Title: Any Daily Drivers?
Post by: jkirchman on March 10, 2010, 09:10:15 PM
Mine was a daily driver from the time I bought it in October of 2002 up until I got my Jeep Wrangler in March of 2008. I've loaned it out to a couple of friends that needed a ride since then. The most recent one let the radiator spring a leak and didn't know enough about cars to realize that he should check the fluid levels in a 23 year old car with 140,000 miles often. So as of today it is sitting at a mechanic's shop with a blown head gasket. As soon as this friend pays to have an HO engine installed, the Cougar will be coming back to my garage and will not be loaned out in the future. :nono:
Title: Any Daily Drivers?
Post by: ProTouring442 on March 10, 2010, 09:18:30 PM
Total daily driver here. It's also been on three trips to Tennessee and will be going on a fourth next week.
Shiny Side Up! Bill
Title: Any Daily Drivers?
Post by: mercury-man on March 10, 2010, 09:18:44 PM
Chris , When we had our 1st Cougar back in 85 it slid alot with the 3.8L V6, so no driving it during Winter friend. ;)
Title: Any Daily Drivers?
Post by: CoogarXR on March 10, 2010, 09:41:57 PM
I drive my 83 5.0 to my day job every day 40 miles round trip. I deliver pizza in it on weekends too 100+ miles per day. I just drove it up to canada, down to florida and back (3000+ miles). I have been known to pull campers and utility trailers with it. It is rusty, bent, and getting pretty ugly these days, but I love it, and it runs really well. I will continue to drive it until it breaks in half.
My 85 is a garage queen for now. I will probably drive it to my day job once the roads clear up. Ohio winters are brutal on my poor cougars. I want to keep this one nice!
Title: Any Daily Drivers?
Post by: daminc on March 10, 2010, 09:42:21 PM
Not anymore, stopped driving it in 2003. Although I do drive the vert all the time in the non snow months. from about now till first snow in December. so 9 months isn't bad.
Title: Any Daily Drivers?
Post by: fordguy545 on March 10, 2010, 09:43:20 PM
I only daily drive mine in the summer. It did get driven in snow once, and that was enough. Shouldnt be able to spin the tires in 4th gear before the boost even kicks in
Title: Any Daily Drivers?
Post by: Ductape91 on March 10, 2010, 10:06:53 PM
my red 86 was daily driven from the day i got it untill i passed it on, didnt amount to much mileage though even with the delivery job i had. its still daily driven by the new owners. why not drive it every day, its not a glorified model car its a real one :P
Title: Any Daily Drivers?
Post by: T-BirdX3 on March 10, 2010, 10:21:27 PM
i am glad there are people that keep these cars as garage queens and all but, if I can't enjoy it to the fullest I don't want it.
Title: Any Daily Drivers?
Post by: DVP on March 10, 2010, 10:26:14 PM
My '86 was DD til June '09. Drove it for 4 years.
Title: Any Daily Drivers?
Post by: oldraven on March 10, 2010, 10:43:15 PM
Mine was my DD back in Edmonton, and it will be again soon, since I'll be using it to get to school when it isn't snowing.
Title: Any Daily Drivers?
Post by: thunderjet302 on March 10, 2010, 11:26:42 PM
Mine has been a garage queen since I bought it back in 2002. Before that it was my cousin's daily driver in California. I have a MN-12 as a daily driver so I still have a T-bird to drive every day. These cars are at the age where if they are found in good shape they should be preserved and not driven daily, at least in the salt belt;)
Title: Any Daily Drivers?
Post by: 1Bad88tbird on March 10, 2010, 11:32:58 PM
Mine hasn't been a dd since 1994. But for most of the 4 years I did dd it, I would drive it to work (night shift), then come home and the wife at the time would take it to collage. So it saw double duty. In 92 or 93 we got her a car so she'd leave mine alone, then in 94 I was able to get a beater, a 79 camaro with a straight 6 for $300. Since then it's just driven to shows and once in a while when it's nice I'll take it out for a ride. I've had it for 20 years now.
Title: Any Daily Drivers?
Post by: crystal on March 10, 2010, 11:47:25 PM
My sport has been my dd for 9 years and a good 80,000 plus miles now. It was my first car. Unfortunately living in New England it shows and I'm going to have to strip it at some point this summer. I've bandaided it back together as much as I feel comfortable with. It's bad when you end up spending a good 10 hours you didn't plan on welding your strut tower back to the car cuz it just broke off from stress (totally explained why it wasn't handling so good though...)
TC's I've found to be rather useless in the snow and mine's actually in good shape so as long as the roads aren't too snowy or salty, I'll take that one out just about whenever too.
Pretty much the only car I own that I wouldn't dd is my 48 prefect because for starters it's not a whole car yet and even if it was, gassers are not meant to go play in the snow...
Title: Any Daily Drivers?
Post by: blackcat85 on March 11, 2010, 12:27:12 AM
my 1984 cougar with the 3.8 is my daily driver ...the car is not show quality, but if it was i prob would still DD it!!! ive got a 95 towncar and 89 continental up for repairs now, but even when i get them going , im going use the cougar.i really like it :) in northern new jersey i dont see to many "FOX'S" anymore. but when i do it makes me think what nice cars they are, and too bad ford didnt keep them going!!
Title: Any Daily Drivers?
Post by: daddybair7 on March 11, 2010, 03:47:23 AM
i dd my sport that thing was a tank in the snow till bambi reshape the front end . i tryed the TC this winter it sucked in the snow but i got 3 vechicles to chose from so the bird is going to be park in the winter unless it an emegancy.
Title: Any Daily Drivers?
Post by: TheEskimo on March 11, 2010, 04:31:52 AM
Still driving mine every day, 88 miles round trip to work in any weather. And on the weekends, it goes everywhere from shopping to camping out in the way back areas of the country.
Title: Any Daily Drivers?
Post by: 50tbrd88 on March 11, 2010, 08:19:33 AM
Quote from: thunderjet302;313604
Mine has been a garage queen since I bought it back in 2002. Before that it was my cousin's daily driver in California. I have a MN-12 as a daily driver so I still have a T-bird to drive every day. These cars are at the age where if they are found in good shape they should be preserved and not driven daily, at least in the salt belt;)
I agree. You guys that live in sunny states with no snow are lucky. If we want to keep our cars nice here in the salt belt, we have to keep them out of the elements in the winter. My car is only a garage queen from about late-Nov until March or so...after that I drive it as much as possible.
Title: Any Daily Drivers?
Post by: RoyLPita on March 11, 2010, 08:44:21 AM
Mine will be when I get one.
Title: Any Daily Drivers?
Post by: mcb82gt on March 11, 2010, 09:11:01 AM
Mine is a second car, it is garaged when the weather is bad. When the weather is good, it can handle DD duty.
Title: Any Daily Drivers?
Post by: bhazard on March 11, 2010, 09:38:59 AM
Mine has always been been DD except for the year it sat without an engine. Ive done alright in the winter with it. Its not the greatest but Im sure theres worse. It just forces you to be careful. The car is rough and has a lot of miles so I see no point in garaging it. It will probably be replaced as my DD by my festiva though. Though I may keep it around just for the winters. If I do that though Im going to be on the lookout for some 15's to put winterforces on.
Title: Any Daily Drivers?
Post by: 87badbird2613 on March 11, 2010, 10:16:37 AM
i drive my tc everyday and my 5.0 is for the weekends
Title: Any Daily Drivers?
Post by: Dansbirds on March 11, 2010, 11:50:54 AM
I drive my 87 everyday, usually 100-200miles a day. My sons 83 and my XR7 and 80 are out of the elements.
Title: Any Daily Drivers?
Post by: Chuck W on March 11, 2010, 11:53:45 AM
I used to, but not any more. They just aren't cut out to survive winters in the rust belt. At least not to the point of me wanting to sacrifice another one.
The Tbird will only be driven in the dry these days, and the XR-7 will not see winter duty. The Volvo (a car born for Scandinavian winters) will get that c. You should see the factory undercoating slathered on that thing.
Title: Any Daily Drivers?
Post by: 50tbrd88 on March 11, 2010, 05:03:30 PM
Quote from: Chuck W;313678
I used to, but not any more. They just aren't cut out to survive winters in the rust belt. At least not to the point of me wanting to sacrifice another one.
The Tbird will only be driven in the dry these days, and the XR-7 will not see winter duty. The Volvo (a car born for Scandinavian winters) will get that c. You should see the factory undercoating slathered on that thing.
My car spent its life in Louisiana until 1996 or so. After that my Dad drove it until I started driving it in around 98 or 99. We both kept it clean, Dad had a truck so he never drove it in the salt. I DD'd it from '99 or so until 2004 but would immediately wash it after driving in salt. Even with all of that tedious care, the car still had some rust bubbles starting in the 1/4's before I had it repainted.
Title: Any Daily Drivers?
Post by: BlackCardinal on March 11, 2010, 05:12:54 PM
My '86 TC is my daily driver. Love it...great mileage since the new engine...
Title: Any Daily Drivers?
Post by: dragon574444 on March 11, 2010, 05:16:25 PM
I plan on DDing my car as soon as it's ready.
Title: Any Daily Drivers?
Post by: 88FoxBird on March 11, 2010, 07:16:23 PM
My Cougar is a DD as along as it aint winter. The TBird got put through the winter last year but I had no other choice, now it just sits and gets used to store parts.
Title: Any Daily Drivers?
Post by: Ductape91 on March 11, 2010, 07:25:00 PM
Quote from: 50tbrd88;313711
I DD'd it from '99 or so until 2004 but would immediately wash it after driving in salt. Even with all of that tedious care, the car still had some rust bubbles starting in the 1/4's before I had it repainted.
thats basically what i did, washed it real quick after riding in the salt . the only spot that rusted while i had it(not much) was behind the drivers rear tire, the drain hole thingy there clogged up and it rusted quick from that. i dread to see what it looks like now from those upstate ny winters.
Title: cougar
Post by: maddog27 on March 11, 2010, 07:35:10 PM
my 84 cougar is a daily driver....:burnout:
Title: Any Daily Drivers?
Post by: '85bluebird on March 11, 2010, 09:13:08 PM
mine was a daily driver till' 2 weeks ago when I yanked the motor. hopefully by the end of next week it will be back to a daily driver.
Title: Any Daily Drivers?
Post by: CoogarXR on March 11, 2010, 09:46:17 PM
Quote from: Ductape91;313740
thats basically what i did, washed it real quick after riding in the salt . the only spot that rusted while i had it(not much) was behind the drivers rear tire, the drain hole thingy there clogged up and it rusted quick from that. i dread to see what it looks like now from those upstate ny winters.
I tried that, but winters here suck so badly... You wash it, then the next morning it is frozen solid. You can't get in it to save your life (this is with no garage of course). I drive my 83 in any sort of weather. I have the firestone snow tires on it now, and it gets around pretty good, even in deep snow.
I gave up on keeping up with the rust. My quarters are all primer, and I am such a hillbilly, I keep a can in the trunk. I see the rust showing through, rattle-rattle-squirt, gone!
Title: Any Daily Drivers?
Post by: daddybair7 on March 11, 2010, 10:13:36 PM
Quote
CoogarXR Quote: Originally Posted by Ductape91 thats basically what i did, washed it real quick after riding in the salt . the only spot that rusted while i had it(not much) was behind the drivers rear tire, the drain hole thingy there clogged up and it rusted quick from that. i dread to see what it looks like now from those upstate ny winters.
I tried that, but winters here suck so badly... You wash it, then the next morning it is frozen solid. You can't get in it to save your life (this is with no garage of course). I drive my 83 in any sort of weather. I have the firestone snow tires on it now, and it gets around pretty good, even in deep snow.
I gave up on keeping up with the rust. My quarters are all primer, and I am such a hillbilly, I keep a can in the trunk. I see the rust showing through, rattle-rattle-squirt, gone!
x2 on the Ohio winters yes i know other states can and do have it worse than here. Washing it or freezing rain it all sucks going out and using a flamethrower just to get in the car:flame: and primer tick works great on beaters lol
Title: Any Daily Drivers?
Post by: Haystack on March 11, 2010, 11:23:52 PM
daily driven for alittle over a year now. Sitting at about 166,000 miles, 137,000 or so when I bought it summer before last. Right now I am driving 150 to 200 miles a day.
by the way, I drove mine through the last two winters. I have not gotten this car stuck. I have driven in over 6" of snow on the freeway. I have gotten it sideways a couple of timeshiznitting a round about alittle fast in the rain. I have been averaging 25 to 27 MPG and have gotten near 30 if I'm good on the gas. I can drive about 500 miles on a tank. Nice till I realize I am still filling up 2 to 3 times a week.
Title: Any Daily Drivers?
Post by: V8Demon on March 11, 2010, 11:29:59 PM
I still put about 5000 miles a year on mine. I have the luxury of allowing it to sit in the winter if there is snow/salt/ice/muck on the roads, but It's been clean by me for about 2 weeks now. Been driving it to work again.
Took this picture last night as a matter of fact....
I have to straighten out the license plate bracket.....
Title: Any Daily Drivers?
Post by: T-BirdX3 on March 12, 2010, 12:05:17 AM
Puuuurrty kitty. ^^
Title: Any Daily Drivers?
Post by: CoogarXR on March 12, 2010, 10:04:37 AM
Quote from: V8Demon;313804
I still put about 5000 miles a year on mine. I have the luxury of allowing it to sit in the winter if there is snow/salt/ice/muck on the roads, but It's been clean by me for about 2 weeks now. Been driving it to work again.
Took this picture last night as a matter of fact....