Does anyone here use their thirdgen as a daily driver?
05-27-2011, 06:54 PM
#2
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Re: Does anyone here use their thirdgen as a daily driver?
i know there is a thread on here already about this, cont find it though.
I use my 92 as my DD in the spring/summer/fall, too much road salt here int he winter,and its not undercoated, so thats a no-no. Besides, it gets twice the mileage of my silverado
no problems at all, but the car has been really well taken car of over the years.
They are like any other car. If they are well maintained, they will be just as reliable as anything else. If they are neglected, they will leave you stranded, like any other car.
I use my 92 as my DD in the spring/summer/fall, too much road salt here int he winter,and its not undercoated, so thats a no-no. Besides, it gets twice the mileage of my silverado
no problems at all, but the car has been really well taken car of over the years.
They are like any other car. If they are well maintained, they will be just as reliable as anything else. If they are neglected, they will leave you stranded, like any other car.
05-27-2011, 07:11 PM
#3
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Re: Does anyone here use their thirdgen as a daily driver?
I don't drive a lot but yes I use it instead of the Suburban. And now that I have tires with tread I can use it when it rains!
05-27-2011, 07:19 PM
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Re: Does anyone here use their thirdgen as a daily driver?
Mines a DD and after five years of hard work one of the most dependable cars I have ever owned.
Last edited by Ron U.S.M.C.; 12-14-2011 at 05:53 PM. Reason: add info.
05-27-2011, 07:45 PM
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Re: Does anyone here use their thirdgen as a daily driver?
I've been daily driving my 88 Camaro for many years in all seasons including snow.
My GF daily drives a 83 Z28 for the past 3 years also in all conditions.
My GF daily drives a 83 Z28 for the past 3 years also in all conditions.
05-27-2011, 08:21 PM
#6
Re: Does anyone here use their thirdgen as a daily driver?
when there is no salt down, I drive my 91 TA daily. I could drive my IROC daily but it has no radio, is really loud, and I don't like parking it just anywhere... Compared to the comfort, and stereo in my TA, sometimes I chicken out and drive because I'm lazy LOL...
05-27-2011, 10:16 PM
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Re: Does anyone here use their thirdgen as a daily driver?
i would not have a car that i could not drive everyday . mine is my sole means of transportation . now i'm kind of **** on fixing things before they cause a problem . i'm much older than most on this forum and have full time access to a home shop . between myself & my nephew we have more tools than most repair shops . 2 4point lifts , 80 gal. air compressor , 2 ton roll around gantry with pnuematic hoist , 2 welders & the list goes on . if my car is tied up overnite i use my truck as back-up transportation . BTW its an 89 , 2 yrs older than my car . oh yes , i'm retired , have nothing to do but play with my car , fish , drink cold beer , chase younger women . (i catch a few if the chase is downhill) back to the point , if you maintain properly they are fun and dependable . good luck . (no , shop is not for rent) cheers !!!
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05-28-2011, 01:23 AM
#9
Re: Does anyone here use their thirdgen as a daily driver?
i read an older thread where almost everyone posting was saying what a brutal experience owning a third gen is and how only a madman would daily drive a "hot rod" and a "true sports car" lol..
they're pretty dependable cars once you realize that even if you cheaped out on the price of the car itself, you shouldn't cheap out on addressing the problems it came with
they're pretty dependable cars once you realize that even if you cheaped out on the price of the car itself, you shouldn't cheap out on addressing the problems it came with
05-28-2011, 01:24 AM
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Re: Does anyone here use their thirdgen as a daily driver?
~225k miles driven daily. And will be for a long time coming. I'm shooting for one million. 
05-28-2011, 01:26 AM
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Re: Does anyone here use their thirdgen as a daily driver?
Spring, summer, and fall my 91 Z is driven daily. Winter she's in the garage.
05-28-2011, 01:34 AM
#12
Re: Does anyone here use their thirdgen as a daily driver?
80 miles a day just to and from work, run it year around (no snow, most winters). have found this to be as reliable as any car i have ever owned, maybe more so since I am always adding new parts to improve the car. Was getting almost 20mi/gal but with all the new speed parts its down to 18mi/gal, not all bad
05-28-2011, 03:19 AM
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Re: Does anyone here use their thirdgen as a daily driver?
Mines a dd when its running, and a project when its not! About 60km/40 miles daily. It usually runs fine all summer, even though the heat over here can stress it out. Relatively quiet (well with the windows up!), comfortable and fun ride.
For some reason, it usually manages to break something in autumn, which then takes me all winter to fix when I can get time to do it / have no medical problems. Just fixed a broken rocker stud, hoping for once it will make it thru the cooler better driving weather this year.
When something breaks, thats usually when any upgrades also get done.
For some reason, it usually manages to break something in autumn, which then takes me all winter to fix when I can get time to do it / have no medical problems. Just fixed a broken rocker stud, hoping for once it will make it thru the cooler better driving weather this year.
When something breaks, thats usually when any upgrades also get done.
05-28-2011, 03:39 AM
#14
Re: Does anyone here use their thirdgen as a daily driver?
Mine will be a DD when I get done with it. Im not building it to be a trailer queen. How do you enjoy a car when you arent driving it? Makes no sense.....
05-28-2011, 04:19 AM
#15
Re: Does anyone here use their thirdgen as a daily driver?
Mines a dd when its running, and a project when its not! About 60km/40 miles daily. It usually runs fine all summer, even though the heat over here can stress it out. Relatively quiet (well with the windows up!), comfortable and fun ride.
For some reason, it usually manages to break something in autumn, which then takes me all winter to fix when I can get time to do it / have no medical problems. Just fixed a broken rocker stud, hoping for once it will make it thru the cooler better driving weather this year.
When something breaks, thats usually when any upgrades also get done.
For some reason, it usually manages to break something in autumn, which then takes me all winter to fix when I can get time to do it / have no medical problems. Just fixed a broken rocker stud, hoping for once it will make it thru the cooler better driving weather this year.
When something breaks, thats usually when any upgrades also get done.
thats very true whats the point
05-28-2011, 05:22 AM
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Re: Does anyone here use their thirdgen as a daily driver?
I daily drive mine...Hoping to find a truck this weekend so I can park the Z and start working on the suspension...
05-28-2011, 05:51 AM
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Re: Does anyone here use their thirdgen as a daily driver?
They were meant as daily drivers when they were produced so I don't see why they can't be DD now. The only difference for me is they are now summer only cars due to the salt they put down. They are more versatile than a lot of cars out there now because of the hatch back. I even brought a screen door home that we came acrossed while at Menards. Beat the heck out of going back, getting the truck, and wasting time and fuel.
05-29-2011, 12:42 AM
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Re: Does anyone here use their thirdgen as a daily driver?
I am the dailiest driver for sure! any mechanical part can fail at anytime new or old. So i'll take no car payments and dumping a few hundred every year into the old beater haha.
05-29-2011, 11:49 AM
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Re: Does anyone here use their thirdgen as a daily driver?
I DD my GTA about 2-300 miles a week, and its my only car. I will keep dailying it then when I am done with school I will redo the car and rebuild everything the way I want it.
05-29-2011, 08:03 PM
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Re: Does anyone here use their thirdgen as a daily driver?
there ya go boys! I dont drive 90 miles a day though...its been my daily driver for the 12 years ive had it so far though!
05-30-2011, 06:28 PM
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Re: Does anyone here use their thirdgen as a daily driver?
I have been daily driving my '86 T/A since putting my Taurus up for sale, however, I just picked up an '85 Berlinetta with less than 46k original miles and got it registered and insured so it is gonna be my daily driver now. 
05-30-2011, 08:50 PM
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Re: Does anyone here use their thirdgen as a daily driver?
Been DDing the crossfire car since I got it in march, it's been great just completed a 240 mile road trip last Tuesday.
05-30-2011, 11:33 PM
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Re: Does anyone here use their thirdgen as a daily driver?
I drive mine everyday, about 25 miles round trip. It's holding up well.
05-31-2011, 12:20 AM
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Re: Does anyone here use their thirdgen as a daily driver?
Yup I have no qualms with jumping in my car and driving to Los Angeles. 5 hour drive. It's pretty sweet
05-31-2011, 04:58 AM
#32
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Re: Does anyone here use their thirdgen as a daily driver?
Mines a daily driver, too, when I'm home!
I DD my V6 car, that's why I always have a minimum of two 3rd gens. One is driven, the other is the project... when they're both broken I drive my pickup, hahahah!
My 88 has over 220k miles on it, and it keeps moving. I had to replace the T5, the hood, lots of brake stuff, and the wiring is still in progress.
I wouldn't trade the experience for anything. I have had HUNDREDS of different cars. None do what these 3rd gens do. I honestly think the car got just a little worse, chassis wise, when they went to 4th gen. Having the engine under the dashboard may make sense to an engineer, but when you put the same LS engine in a 3rd gen, it doesn't seem any slower or less performing than the 4th gen...
My advice is to get another one if you plan on doing serious fixing to yours, it helps to keep the 3rd gen anxiety levels down, LOL!
Have fun!
I DD my V6 car, that's why I always have a minimum of two 3rd gens. One is driven, the other is the project... when they're both broken I drive my pickup, hahahah!
My 88 has over 220k miles on it, and it keeps moving. I had to replace the T5, the hood, lots of brake stuff, and the wiring is still in progress.
I wouldn't trade the experience for anything. I have had HUNDREDS of different cars. None do what these 3rd gens do. I honestly think the car got just a little worse, chassis wise, when they went to 4th gen. Having the engine under the dashboard may make sense to an engineer, but when you put the same LS engine in a 3rd gen, it doesn't seem any slower or less performing than the 4th gen...
My advice is to get another one if you plan on doing serious fixing to yours, it helps to keep the 3rd gen anxiety levels down, LOL!
Have fun!
05-31-2011, 06:54 AM
#33
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Re: Does anyone here use their thirdgen as a daily driver?
90 mile round trip to work every day, hey if your drive to work involes a nice curvey road why not enjoy it. 89 RS bought it with 135,000 now 231,000.
06-02-2011, 01:05 AM
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Re: Does anyone here use their thirdgen as a daily driver?
Right here! I love having it as my DD
06-04-2011, 02:56 PM
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Re: Does anyone here use their thirdgen as a daily driver?
Been my daily for last 12 years, makes the trip to work bearable.
06-06-2011, 01:02 AM
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Re: Does anyone here use their thirdgen as a daily driver?
I dd mine to school everyday and work on it on the weekends. I'm saving up to buy a truck though
06-11-2011, 09:23 PM
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Re: Does anyone here use their thirdgen as a daily driver?
i use my third gen as a daily, its the only car i have. it has treated me like a king! have had it for almost two years, never seen winters and i havent had a single problem with it. love to drive it, LIVE to drive it
06-12-2011, 10:34 PM
#38
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Re: Does anyone here use their thirdgen as a daily driver?
Nope....summer car only. I think Ive put 6,000 miles on it in the last 2.5 years.
06-13-2011, 12:04 AM
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Re: Does anyone here use their thirdgen as a daily driver?
I DD my 84 TA, I special ordered it new in Nov of 83. It currently has 265K miles and going strong. I just replaced the motor, transmission and rebuilt the rear end. The motor had 255K went it finally went, decided to be proactive and redid the rest of the running gear while I was at it. Now running a 350 with 400hp.
06-13-2011, 05:06 AM
#40
Re: Does anyone here use their thirdgen as a daily driver?
I DD my 84 TA, I special ordered it new in Nov of 83. It currently has 265K miles and going strong. I just replaced the motor, transmission and rebuilt the rear end. The motor had 255K went it finally went, decided to be proactive and redid the rest of the running gear while I was at it. Now running a 350 with 400hp.
thats awesome
06-15-2011, 08:25 AM
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Re: Does anyone here use their thirdgen as a daily driver?
i go back and forth between the two cars, my third gen definatly sees action though when nothing is wrong with it. only on those really really hot days i don't drive it, no a/c lol
06-15-2011, 10:04 AM
#42
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Re: Does anyone here use their thirdgen as a daily driver?
Mine is my daily driver over the summer, michigan winters are not for third gens. I don't have a car when I'm at college though, so really that's the only time I get to drive.
06-15-2011, 09:31 PM
#44
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Re: Does anyone here use their thirdgen as a daily driver?
I got 60k on my current engine. I changed the transmission because it was slipping in OD but it was still going at 200k plus I know the chassis has over 300k on it now. But I have redone the front suspension, changed the rear end, driveline, transmission, rebuilt engine, etc. i think you do the basic stuff take care of the car and you'll be set as a daily driver.
06-16-2011, 10:22 PM
#45
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Re: Does anyone here use their thirdgen as a daily driver?
I use my 2.8L 1987 camaro for all 4 seasons. I just add snow tires on the rear in the winter cause im in chicago. Works as a great daily driver. use it to get to work and school. Would absolutly buy another. (hopefully a v8!)
06-21-2011, 01:04 PM
#46
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Re: Does anyone here use their thirdgen as a daily driver?
Mines a daily too. The poor 305 is about to hit 200,000 miles soon. If I can get it to survive another 50,000 miles, it'll be replaced with a 350.
Until then, I'll be building up everything else. Suspension, gears, etc.
Until then, I'll be building up everything else. Suspension, gears, etc.
06-21-2011, 03:17 PM
#47
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06-23-2011, 08:49 AM
#48
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Re: Does anyone here use their thirdgen as a daily driver?
Been using mine as a DD until we get my girlfriend another car. has been using my avalanche(which i hate anymore, i want a silverado again)
06-23-2011, 12:05 PM
#49
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Re: Does anyone here use their thirdgen as a daily driver?
Ordered mine in August of '85 but did not receive it till January 28, 1986. Strike at Van Nuys plant! Been my DD ever since. Last time I looked it was 476,*** miles on the odo. Plan on keeping as my DD for another five to ten years.
Mike
Mike
06-23-2011, 12:26 PM
#50
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Re: Does anyone here use their thirdgen as a daily driver?
I daily drive mine year round we dont really get snow here in San Antonio, Tx so I can drive it whenever I please....I have had to fix certain thing's here and there and Im sure that some thing's will go bust but Im not the original owner so who know's how this car was treated....It's mine now so Its a bit pampered.