914 Daily Driver?, What do you think? Options

[Eric Taylor]

I'm looking for a car that's a good daily driver, that I can get in and drive every day back and forth from campus to my apartment. I've got an audi right now, but it get's horriable gas milage, and is just like every other audi really expensive to repair and not something that I can work on. So my thinking is that If I could find a nice rust free car for around $5000, with reciepts and maybe new paint that it would make a good daily driver. The pluses are that I already know a lot about how to work on them, and i'm deffinatly not afraid to do thing's on it. I've already got a good solid mostly rust free restoration canidate that I will continue to work on, however it's gona take a lot of years, and money to make it what I want to to be. So what do you guys think? Is this fesiable or am I off my rocker?
Eric

Oh yeah, I should mention that I'll probably be making a couple 100 mile drives a month in it, that might cause a problem, but let me know what you guys think

[Brett W]

I drove my car for 2 years ona daily basis. It was the only car I had. Drove it to Atlanta several times, up to Perry Kiehl's place, Nashville, etc. Had no heat or defrost and no sound deadening. I loved it. Had its share of small issues but I wouldn't have traded it for anything. When I wrecked it I was bummed.

Found a 1990 Civic Si for 240$. THis thing was in great shape. No holes, tears, stains on the interior, 15 years worth of dings on the body, but I wet sanded the whole car and it now looks great. It had 193K on it at the time. I put a valve in it and three bearings in the tranny and promptly drove it across the country to Durango Colorado, fully loaded. Since i moved back here have put a radiator and another engine in. (blew orgininal motor and 203K, she used a lot of oil and I didn't watch the level.) I have all of the parts for a turbo motor sitting on my coffee tablewaiting for me to finish this teener. I added some springs from an Accord wagon and 16x7 inch wheels. Put a radio in it and I am very happy with this car. I drive the hell out of it. It handles great, gets 28-30mpg in the city and 35-40 on the highway (running 80+). Its a hatch so I can pack it full of stuff.

After living with a 914 for 2 years I figured everything else would be BORING. This honda isn't a 914 but I can drive it for 9 hours straight and hear when I get out, plus I can fit three bikes in it and still have room for a hitchhiker (if she is hot). It handles much better than I expected a shit box to handle. I am very happy with my Rice.