What's your daily driver? What do you like and dislike about it? Example:

Primary Car: 2014 Ford Taurus SHO

Likes:

~Receives lots of compliments from strangers, who weren't even aware that Ford still builds the Taurus.

~It's quick! 0-60 in the low fives, and great mid-range acceleration. Entering crowded interstates off of short entrance ramps is a no-brainer!

~All-wheel-drive makes bad-weather driving easy and confidence-inspiring, even with V-rated all-seasons on all four corners.

~Stable, predictable handling, quick steering and strongish brakes. Last year, I literally had to dive for the weeds when some teen doltette coming out of a blind curve thought that it was more important to text one of her girlfriends than to keep her Honda Accord on her side of the road. No damage to car or driver. I definitely would have been tits-up if I tried that move in one of my old SUV's.

~Comfortable and quiet interior. Combined with a massive trunk, it's a great interstate car.

Dislikes:

~You just can't see out of the damn thing. High beltline/low roofline/very high decklid height makes seeing anything behind you, particularly directly behind, a hit-or-miss proposition. Sometimes literally...

~It has it's appetites, preferring to snack on V-rated 45-series rubber, and attempting to run it's twin-turbos on anything less than 91-93 octane is almost sacrilegious.

I'm driving my 013 VW Jetta Diesel sportwagen with the six speed manual. The suspension is a little squishy for my taste but in a pinch it will handle whatever I give it. The wagon feature is perfect for me and the fuel economy is outstanding.

Its really tinney though compared to the bank vault like Mercedes.

It is basic by todays standards (reminds me of a 240D) but it will really hustle when the turbo kicks in, fastest Diesel I have owned by far.

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[SIGPIC] Diesel loving autocrossing grandpa Architect. 08 Dodge 3/4 ton with Cummins & six speed; I have had about 35 benzes. I have a 39 Studebaker Coupe Express pickup in which I have had installed a 617 turbo and a five speed manual.[SIGPIC]

..I also have a 427 Cobra replica with an aluminum chassis.

'74 280C, old, slow (comparatively), gas sucking, needs paint.

Reliable, solid, paid for, gets looks from people in the know, not afraid to drive it anywhere.

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“Whatever story you're telling, it will be more interesting if, at the end you add, "and then everything burst into flames.”
― Brian P. Cleary, You Oughta Know By Now

99 exploder sport. It has a large appetite and a small stomach, meaning it needs to visit the snack bar every 220 miles which is annoying. 2 doors are annoying with a kid. Impossible to get right torsion bar camber issues smokes the inside of the front tires.

On the plus, comfortable, good visibilty, and utterly utterly reliable. 4x4 unstoppable, and excellent cargo capacity. I said when i bought this thing from a friend i would get rid of it when it ceases to deliver. Years later its trundling along.

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Just switched this dd to a 2012 ford escape 5 speed. Last model year in stick. Likes- combines all the boxy utility of the explorer with the driving fun of a jetta. 2wd 4cyl gets decent fuel economy. Comfort is good, i drive approximately as much or more than tyler for work.

Cons- in order to find this variant i had to settle for a former fleet vehicle with some minor interior wear issues. No utility cons so far that i dislike, im sure some may present themselves in use.

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This post brought to you by Carl's Jr.

'95 BMW 540i. Great engine, durable build quality, comfortable seats. It had a little more body roll than I liked, so I swapped in a set of M5 swaybars.

Downsides: Power steering system leaks a bit, and Pentosin CHF11S hydraulic fluid is not cheap. It's starting to show the effects of 20 years in the rust belt. And I wish it was a 6-speed manual.

you can rid of the pentosin and use GM cold weather PS fluid. Many BMWs are now running on regular PSF in warmer areas.

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2012 BMW X5 (Beef + Granite suspension model)

1995 E300D - The original humming machine (consumed by Flood 2017)
2000 E320 - The evolution (consumed by flood 2017)

Thanks, I'll keep that in mind. I know that some E34s even use ATF instead of Pentosin, I'm not sure why one is specified over the other -- SLS would be a good justification, but my car doesn't have it. It's one of those sweet mysteries of life.

usually the pentosin was used for pumpability in frozen areas. where regular ATF or PSF would be a block of ice.

Unless your car was using the same CHF11s oil and pump for the suspension, I wouldnt worry too much about changing it over. I have found that dexron VI is a champ in power steering systems as it has pretty good antifoam

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2012 BMW X5 (Beef + Granite suspension model)

1995 E300D - The original humming machine (consumed by Flood 2017)
2000 E320 - The evolution (consumed by flood 2017)

93 300te 4matic. Boringly reliable. I have it fully loaded with appliance parts and equipment. Very comfortable despite my 50-100 mile a day runs. Gets almost 20 mpg despite mostly city driving and loaded with stuff

Cons- I desperately need a front axle for my 4matic to work properly. Made of pure unobtanium

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Eugene

10 E63 AMG
93 300te 4matic
07 BMW X3
14 Ford F-150 Fx2

my DD is a 2016 mazda 6 with a 2.5L and 6 speed manual.
Its fun to drive and handles pretty well. It also carries all I need to carry and I have been able to get 43 mpg if I try.

Lately its been pinging a bit and the dealer claims to not hear it. It also is a bit noisy in terms of cabin noise.

I still love it though.

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1984 300SD Orient Red/ Palomino
1989 560SEC
2016 Mazda 6 6 speed manual
1995 Ford F-150 reg cab 4.9 5speed manual

81 240D four speed manual. 329000 and counting. I'm the sixth owner. What I like.

The overall tank like solidity. The perfect classic design. The perfect sitting position and huge steering wheel. The general brilliance of the thing. Even if I acquire another car in future I will never sell this. It's the best car ever made.

Dislikes. Unfortunately some of the previous owners didn't exactly keep up on the maintenance. It leaks from every conceivable gasket and location where these things can leak from. Including power steering pump and oil filter housing. I have a large cardboard with an oil pan under the engine that I have to clean every couple of weeks so it doesn't overflow!

My previous 81 240D had been better maintained and was in mechanically far nicer shape. I learned my lesson when I got rid of that one which I why I know that no matter what happens I'll never sell this.

- Peter.

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2021 Chevrolet Spark
Formerly...
2000 GMC Sonoma
1981 240D 4spd stick. 347000 miles. Deceased Feb 14 2021
2002 Kia Rio. Worst crap on four wheels
1981 240D 4spd stick. 389000 miles.
1984 123 200
1979 116 280S
1972 Cadillac Sedan DeVille
1971 108 280S

Fiat Abarth

My current DD is a .gov issue 2006 Dodge Dakota, crew cab(?)

what I like? It has survived the desert for 10 years - dust is everywhere, suspension is shot, A/C comes and goes. But this thing pretty much starts, shifts through 4 gears and goes where I point it.

It is by no means refined, the cheap plastic is everywhere (I had to epoxy the a-pillar trim back together - the mounting holes ripped out. Most of its time is spent under 45mph and drives less than 15 minutes, so getting 10mpg isn't wrong. We had to 'rig' one of the vent door so it would stop clicking- there is probably a better fix, but its not worth messing with.

If I needed a truck, and only a truck, that wasn't for lots of long haul duty, I'd grab one of these Dakota's real quick - prices are cheap too (for a reason I'm sure..)

-John

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2009 Kia Sedona
2009 Honda Odyssey EX-L
12006 Jetta Pumpe Duse
(insert Mercedes here)

Husband, Father, sometimes friend =)

04 Honda Element AWD

Pro: dirt cheap to operate and maintain.
I can get three 200lb. goats in the back or 4 bales of hay
resale is silly high if I'm ever stupid enough to sell it
In 198K miles it's only needed regular oil changes and one power window motor.
Timing CHAIN
Superb on ice and snow
Con: road noise
less than stellar mpg
I can't think of anything else

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You're a daisy if you do.
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84 Euro 240D 4spd. 220.5k sold
04 Honda Element AWD
1985 F150 XLT 4x4, 351W with 270k miles, hay hauler
1997 Suzuki Sidekick 4x4
1993 Toyota 4wd Pickup 226K and counting