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what do you need in your daily driver?

Discussion in 'The Hokey Ass Message Board' started by rusty76, Jan 20, 2011.

  1. rusty76
    Joined: Jun 8, 2009
    Posts: 882

    rusty76
    Member
    from Midway NC

    So I'm getting to get started on my ole truck and while I'm still a ways out, I'd like to know what things in a daily driver are important? What are those little things that make your car work right for you? I know the obvious like brakes, tires and so on, but what are those little things that you can not live without? For some it's a radio. For others it a certain steering wheel. So what ya got? If you got pics show'em. Thanks.
     
  2. Chaz
    Joined: Feb 24, 2004
    Posts: 5,016

    Chaz
    Member Emeritus

    I need a roof rack, good mileage , reliability, a bed capable of hauling 4x8 sheetgoods, a heater , trailer hitch, and some kind of basic cupholder. I've used this as my daily for 25 years since I bought it new.
    I just bought a new truck but It doesnt suit me well. Glad I didnt sell the old one.
     

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    Last edited: Jan 20, 2011
  3. 64cheb
    Joined: Sep 27, 2010
    Posts: 74

    64cheb
    Member

    A manual transmission, Cupholder, radio with aux input (cassete adapter is what I usually run). A 3 spoke wheel a few inches smaller than OE. Trailer hauling gear if a truck, as well as a instrument panel that is easy to see.
     
  4. 57JoeFoMoPar
    Joined: Sep 14, 2004
    Posts: 6,131

    57JoeFoMoPar
    Member

    For me, I need good heat, decent wipers, a decent stereo, and I need to be able to comfortably cruise at 75 mph and get at least 20 mpg. Unfortunately, that precludes my old cars as dailies at the moment due the the milage and speed requirement, but I'm hoping a T5 conversion in the ear future will solve that.
     

  5. 61falcon
    Joined: Jan 1, 2009
    Posts: 772

    61falcon
    Member

    auto lamps, speed control, heated seats, ac, cd player, cup holder, 4x4, delay wipers. i dont believe i could daily drive an older vehicle. i've spoiled myself by working at a new car dealer and getting a new truck every couple of years. my hat is off to those that daily drive an older traditional vehicle. especialy in the colder snowy climates.
     
  6. rusty76
    Joined: Jun 8, 2009
    Posts: 882

    rusty76
    Member
    from Midway NC

    I see alot of cool rides but I wonder how many could actually be used daily. Or atleast be useful and comforable at the same time.
     
  7. fastrnu
    Joined: Feb 26, 2009
    Posts: 739

    fastrnu
    Member
    from shelton,wa

  8. rusty76
    Joined: Jun 8, 2009
    Posts: 882

    rusty76
    Member
    from Midway NC



    I might need one of those myself, ha..
     
  9. arkiehotrods
    Joined: Mar 9, 2006
    Posts: 6,803

    arkiehotrods
    Member

    Good wipers, good heater and defrost. Don't care about radio, but lots of gauges to look at while I'm driving seems to keep me amused.
     
  10. MalibuKasey
    Joined: Dec 2, 2010
    Posts: 151

    MalibuKasey
    Member

    for awhile I was driving my 66 everyday.... as the rear main started to go it was put back in the garage for a little motor work.
    44 year old wipers.... SUCK! But the one thing that I would say is my only MUST at this point is some sort of noise deadening material on the doors and in the cab. So buy a little dynomat for your project. Ive got nothing.... I love the sound of a flow.... but when I get to work my ears are still ringing a little... ESPECIALLY anytime the windows are up!
     
  11. rusty76
    Joined: Jun 8, 2009
    Posts: 882

    rusty76
    Member
    from Midway NC

    I've really pondered on the exhaust actually. I like a good sound but on a driver sometimes really can be a pain. My ot truck had a really loud exhaust and man it drove me nutts for awhile. I had fixed and I like being able to hear myself think alittle. I've figured on a radio but that's the least of my worries.
     
    Last edited: Jan 20, 2011
  12. Hot_Rod_Joe
    Joined: Sep 17, 2007
    Posts: 273

    Hot_Rod_Joe
    Member

    A/C, Manual Trans, and Torque. Cruise and Tunes are nice, too.
     
  13. Cyclone GT
    Joined: May 13, 2008
    Posts: 115

    Cyclone GT
    Member

    Big ass motor, cup holder, ashtray!
     
  14. 39 Ford
    Joined: Jan 22, 2006
    Posts: 1,558

    39 Ford
    Member

    It has to be rock solid dependable and trustworthy.Everything else is optional.
     
  15. Johnny Gee
    Joined: Dec 3, 2009
    Posts: 12,578

    Johnny Gee
    Member
    from Downey, Ca

    Navigation device, a redhead female type with a Thomas Bros Map book.
     
  16. Deuces
    Joined: Nov 3, 2009
    Posts: 23,673

    Deuces

    How about a real SOHC motor (427 FE) to go under my hood??? I've seen pics on another thread where someone stuffed one in his newer Mustang... :D
     
  17. willowbilly3
    Joined: Jun 18, 2004
    Posts: 4,356

    willowbilly3
    Member Emeritus
    from Sturgis

    gas, a good battery, tires that hold air. Brakes are nice
     
  18. POLYFRIED 35
    Joined: Sep 1, 2010
    Posts: 886

    POLYFRIED 35
    Member

    12V outlet to charge the cell for when she breaks down :O)
     
  19. DRUGASM
    Joined: Dec 16, 2008
    Posts: 2,817

    DRUGASM
    Member

    HEAT. I am a big old puss when it comes to cold. Ive got a bitchin heater on this one and it could be a daily right now if I desired.

    WIPERS. Ive driven from Mojave to Merced twice now without wipers and while not horrible when Rain X is applied, the lights play hell on all those rain drops.

    SOUND. I think both a decent exhaust AND sound deadener are important in a daily or frequent driver. I drove a straight 6 Chevy on a couple of hundred mile plus runs with straight pipe and steel floors.... its cool around town but can wear on the nerves over that distance. It still important to sound good though...

    WINDOWS. Spend the money on decent glass and new seals. Theres nothing quite like that mildew-ey smell of a leaking window seal.

    STEREO. Even a cheap CD player bolted under the seat with single boxed speaker on the other side is enough sound to keep me entertained. Its nice to have some radio or music.


    I live in a pretty "mild" climate. I can go with out AC when its hot here but I gotta have my heat for when its cool. These are just a a few things I think are important.
     
  20. jbon64
    Joined: Jul 26, 2006
    Posts: 511

    jbon64
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    i dont use my wagon as a DD , but after i put in a different engine and upgraded the suspension it was great to drive. but the biggest difference was after i re-did the interior . having a nice sparkley dash , new carpet , new gauges made the driving experience a whole bunch more enjoyable.
     
  21. burnout2614
    Joined: Sep 21, 2009
    Posts: 612

    burnout2614
    Member

    what willowbilly3 said. peace
     
  22. mj40's
    Joined: Dec 11, 2008
    Posts: 3,303

    mj40's
    Member

    Like willowbilly3 it's good clean gas. None of that ethanol crap they are pushing on us.
     
  23. built my '39 gmc to drive daily, year round [except when i needed my plow truck] at first it had vacuum wipers, no turn signals and no defrost. i drove it a couple years... then installed electric delay wipers, turn signals, and bigger heater with defrost. also after running through a stop sign with a cord+ of oak i put disc front brakes.
     
  24. TrannyMan
    Joined: Dec 3, 2005
    Posts: 473

    TrannyMan
    Member

    It's sacrilege, but I like a dern cruise control.....But also a must for the Texas Summer Heat...A/C
     
  25. srdart67
    Joined: Feb 3, 2008
    Posts: 357

    srdart67
    Member
    from Sharon, Wi

    a gas pedal clutch pedal and a steering wheel. thats it for me!
     
  26. 1Bad67
    Joined: Mar 22, 2006
    Posts: 223

    1Bad67
    Member

    Stick shift, lots of gauges, good wipers, radio, and good handeling. Heat optional, it's only cold and wet for 11 months out of the year here.
     
  27. I drove my 55 Chevy Wagon for years as a daily deal, just not when it snowed.

    It was okay, it's got good brakes, a 350/700R4 combo so it was very drivable.

    I had it repainted and since the outside looked so good I started to look at other stuff. The weather beat up the windlace pretty well, some water got and that didn't help the carpet much. Nothing major but contrasting the great paint, it really showed.

    The hard weather is a chrome killer too. Especially anything that is driver quality chrome. They don't make it to handle the elements, so the door handles, etc look kind of beat.

    If I had the dough I'd buy a beater to drive in the bad weather. Now I use a mid-90's Buick for the slop and dive the wagon only when the sun is out. Cold is okay but old cars and rain and snow...not so good.
     
  28. straight6
    Joined: Jan 18, 2011
    Posts: 28

    straight6
    Member
    from alabama

    the one thing i need in my daily is a set of subs in the trunk ha. well its nice to have em. it sounds funny comin from such a small older car ha. no what i really need is something that is loud!
     
  29. AC, a great heater/defroster, intermittent wipers, very bright headlights, a comfortable ride, ashtray, tilt wheel, automatic, self-cancelling blinkers, QUIET exhaust, good gas mileage and above all, something I don't have to fuck with everytime I get in to start the thing to go anywhere. Inconvience I'll leave for the hotrod. I HAVE to drive the daily, I WANT to drive the hotrod.
     
  30. dt50chev
    Joined: Mar 15, 2005
    Posts: 596

    dt50chev
    Member

    I've got disc brakes and a comfortable seat. '65 Impala wheel on a tilt column. Automatic trans behind a straight six. Eshaust is a little throaty, but not too loud so i han live with it. Additions I will include for the future are electric wipers, a good heat and a/c system with defrost and some tunes. Weatherstripping and some sound deadener will be nice. Cupholders are taboo here on the HAMB, but I think I may add one of these in the future too.
     

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