Gents: Like yourselves, I'm a hard core car guy with a few neat (albeit cheap) cars in the family fleet. I enjoy driving vehicles, even the daily drivers, with a bit of panache and style. My current commute is 70 grueling miles round trip each day though the heart of Houston Texas traffic. My Question: Should I stay with the tried and true 2016 Dodge Charger RT; or grab another used Vette (there's a nice used manual 2015 Z51 for $45K at the local Dealership). Impractical - yes. What do you think? Also, how do you think a C4 would hold up? I always liked those brutes. Any thoughts from the Corvette Sages would be appreciated. Many thanks and have a great weekend. Best, Ned
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Re: Long Haul Commuter - Should I Pop For A Vette?
Ned,
i have been making a 90 mile daily round trip commute in Houston for over 25 years and have had a variety of daily drivers including Z/28's, Mercedes, Corvettes etc. The all around best in terms of comfort and reliability were some Chrysler 300C's, similar to your Charger. The Corvettes were fun for awhile but at the end of the day (literally) I preferred something a little larger. As to C4's I see them advertised for sale regularly with over 150,000 miles so they must hold up pretty well. I have always liked them too but sadly for owners they seem to be somewhat sale proof so they are very affordable. -
Re: Long Haul Commuter - Should I Pop For A Vette?
Driving my small sports cars and sport sedans in modern traffic causes problems and concerns for me - all the "monster" trucks and SUVs that tower over anything I own. You can't see around the one in front of you and the one behind you follows too close because they can see over you. In fact, you might be invisible.
Trucks and SUVs don't have to meet passenger car bumper heights, which is a huge safety issue that has been ignored for 40 years. If you are rear-ended the bumper will override your passenger car bumper. If you get T-boned the bumper will crush your skull. Then there are all the distracted drivers out there...
Fortunately I don't have to commute anymore and can pretty much pick and chose the times I need to run errands when traffic is lightest during the day, which is usually at the end of the morning commute.
If I did have to commute in heavy traffic I would probably bite the bullet and get a big truck.
DukeComment
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Re: Long Haul Commuter - Should I Pop For A Vette?
Ah yes, I remember Houston well. After almost 40 years, since grad school there, on and off with various assignments, my best day was when my wife and I retired and got to see Houston in our rear view mirror all the way to a good place to live. My worst memories of Houston were the humidity and almost constant rain, flooding, etc. I always had a 4X4 SUV because of all the uncertainty and poor weather. My Corvettes were only for nice days, few and far between in Houston. You could get another Corvette, but you better keep something to handle the worst weather when you have to go someplace, my dos centavos.Big Tanks In the High Mountains of New MexicoComment
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Re: Long Haul Commuter - Should I Pop For A Vette?
The problem with the C4 is the newest one is twenty years old with aging electronic components and mechanicals. I would buy the newest Vette you can afford.Comment
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Re: Long Haul Commuter - Should I Pop For A Vette?
And on the third day, you'll wish it was an automatic.....Comment
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Re: Long Haul Commuter - Should I Pop For A Vette?
An uninsured, aggressive driver with NO insurance pulled out right in front of me in his 2003 Escalade and I was in a '60s car. I T-boned him.
He got a ticket and I got a trip the emergency room and therapy for 4 months. And that was on a bright sunny, Sunday morning on a 35mph secondary road.
When we go any distance we take the wife's Durango or my Tundra after 10:00am and before 3:00am usually and leave a large IMG (Idiot Maneuvering Gap) all around us.Comment
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Re: Long Haul Commuter - Should I Pop For A Vette?
What Loren said!1966 L79 Convertible. Milano Maroon
1968 L71 Coupe. Rally Red (Sold 6/21)
1963 Corvair Monza ConvertibleComment
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Re: Long Haul Commuter - Should I Pop For A Vette?
I do a 60-70 mile round-trip commute in Chicago traffic, but only the return trip is during the rush hour -- There is one advantage to a 5AM to 5PM shift. I drive the largest RWD body-on-frame sedan, with automatic, I could find and have been doing it for over 20 years -- however usually no longer 5 days a week. On the few occasions I have had the Z06 in rush hour traffic the shifting is a real pain. You want the closest thing on wheels you can find to a tank. It is a jungle out there, and only the fittest survive.TerryComment
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Re: Long Haul Commuter - Should I Pop For A Vette?
Guys: Thanks for talking me off the ledge. I get car crazy at times (as Julie will tell you, twice I've gone to the dealer for an oil change and returned with new cars - one was a freaking 6.4 Ford Raptor Truck). I had an 88 and 2002 Corvette that I used as daily drivers and they worked out just fine, yet, Houston traffic is a real bear. The Charger is OK and makes good sense I guess. My commute will shorted up in a year or so when I move back to our Campus; maybe then a newish Vette makes some sense. Thanks again fellows. Best, NedComment
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Re: Long Haul Commuter - Should I Pop For A Vette?
I have a 6.2 Litre Raptor, 2013, I put a Whipple supercharger on it to boost it to 600 HP to tow my Corvette car trailer to NCRS meets. It is also excellent for going through deep water, mud, snow, etc. If I were you I would be using that in Houston, the very demanding traffic and weather conditions would be a piece of cake with that baby..........
Big Tanks In the High Mountains of New MexicoComment
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Re: Long Haul Commuter - Should I Pop For A Vette?
My dime's worth. If you can afford to do what you want...go for it. However, as Rich and Loren indicated...you're better off with an automatic and it better have air.Comment
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Re: Long Haul Commuter - Should I Pop For A Vette?
Gents: I worked for the Justice Department in D.C. in the 1990s. One of the cases I tried made me an expert of sorts on the General Services Administration auction system. Long story short, after I left DOJ, I used to go to the auctions (the best one was in Bellaire, MD) and buy cars. They were great deals. Over the course of a few years I bought 3 unmarked P71 Crown Victorias. I would throw in a nice stereo and use them in my group of friends who I car pooled with. Not a Vette, albeit a good dependable stead and dirt cheap (e.g., $9K or so for a super clean lower mile one). The P71's are being replaced by the Charger Pursuits that are nice, yet, pricey. Food for thought for us work road warriors. Best, NedComment
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