Is your Opel your "daily driver"?

RobtheSwordsman · 07-13-2005

I was just wondering...

...I drive my 1969 Opel GT (which is actually in pretty rough shape) daily as my one and only means of transportation.

How many of you out there prefer to keep your lovely Opels well-garaged / covered / etc. and in beautiful condition, and have a different car / truck that you drive every day? I understand (and it makes a good bit of sense) that people keep their Opels as show-cars or use them as a means of weekend entertainment, which is excellent as well.

Thank you.

(Also, if your Opel is not your "daily driver", would you mind telling me what you drive on a daily basis?)

Betta Carotene · 07-13-2005

my 1973 Gt is my daily driver and has been for about a year now

Killer Texas GT · 07-13-2005

I wish my GT was my daily driver but my job requires me to drive a pickup, also a Texas tradition, the family transportation. Even though at one time my GT was show quality and is Garage kept, It is going through some more customizing. I am considering leaving my truck at the office and getting my 75 Ascona up and going to use as a daily driver, it should get better milage than my GT, hopefully better milage than my truck (19-21 mpg). But once the GT is up and going again it will be the weekend runner again, while the 73 Rallye gets restored.
rk

baronbors · 07-13-2005

During the summer. my GT is my daily driver but sits in the garage between trips. During the school year, I usually check the weather the night before and if the chance of rain is low I drive it to school. Love the looks the kiddos get on their face when they see a 6 foot 2 inch 250 pound guy gets out of the GT- pricelesss. BTW- in the 4 years that my GT has been on the road, I has only been rained on 4 times- otherwise it is spotless.

ddoyle · 07-13-2005

my 73 rallye has been my driver for over 15 years untill a week ago. it has over 300k on it and has never been bored out... she is very tired and will not keep oil in it. suspect broken rings. a fresh 2.0l is in the works.
dan

gottcha · 07-13-2005

Like Killer, I drive my truck in Texas as a daily driver because of work. I have driven my GT to work a few times but not often, it's just not work friendly in the flooring business. Also, when it's just me and my son that get out together, we usually take the GT out for a spin and do things together. He is 15 now (as of the July 10th) and is really getting anxious about getting his drivers license so that he can take the GT out. He lives with his mother in San Antonio and came here after school let out for the summer and has loved riding in the car ever since. He and I get out and work on it together, or even a drive, and I feel a sense of pride from him when he is out there with me. One of these days, I will hand over the keys and title to him. Maybe for his 21st birthday.

jlthunder · 07-13-2005

My GT is normally covered in the Barn. I take it out for shows and when I need some stress relief. It only gets about 500 miles on it a year, 300 of them when it goes to Carlisle. It is not a trailer queen, but with the amount of traffic growing, I only take it out when things are calm around here.

I'v had it since '83 and I don't want to take any chances.

Jeff

jgfritsch · 07-13-2005

My 71 GT is a daily driver. Todays temp outside-115!

nobody · 07-13-2005

I've got several trucks I drive and only fire up the GT when I'm in the mood. It's never driven if the weather isn't good. I may start driving the wagon more as time allows but I know it needs axle bearings first.

tomcat · 07-13-2005

My 70 opel gt is a daily driver as I consider it in less then good condition. But the 69 in the garage will be just weekends as it is being fully restored. I bought these off this web sight about 3 months ago. The 69 is just unbelievable as the work thats been done is near perfect. I am afraid it will be in the garage alot.

baronbors · 07-13-2005

Originally Posted by jgfritsch

My 71 GT is a daily driver. Todays temp outside-115!

YAH- it's not the heat but the humidity-95 degrees at 9 am with 65% humidity- feels like 110 abd you SWEAT LIKE HE!!

opeldean · 07-13-2005

errands ,to work, and for short trips. For stress relief i will just take it out for a drive...like last night..I have had the car over two years. I am driving about 7,000 miles a year,it is great.

I drive as much as i can in the winter too,until the salt goes down which is about a 6-10 week period.I dont drive in the rain as its hard to see or be seen.I got an alternate car for bad weather or for repairs...a must.

its dam humid here in the summer. mornings w/o A/c is great, so are nights, but i cant drive the gt on the lunch hour w/o sweating like a pig.I fully cover it on the parking lot at work, so the seats arent too hot and the sun doesnt damage it. I sweat a bit on the way home,but after being in A/C all day its probably good for me to excrete some salt.

I have thought about an A/C, but i like the look of my engine bay w/o.

I have just got spare gt in the stable,non running..the future is set. If you could drive my car and experience it, you would understand why I go through all the trouble.

GoinManta · 07-13-2005

My "sons" Manta I use occasionally as a daily driver.

Once he turns 16 it will be his daily driver.

Charles

jordan · 07-13-2005

Last summer I drove my gt daily, but now I have a volvo so I drive that often and at nights especially because I still don't have headlights working (I haven't really looked into it since carlisle, but it is next on the list...well sort of) I cant wait to get my gt back together again, I decided yesterday that I was going to change the rear suspension bushings, finish welding the antiswaybar mounts, flush the differential, new seals and oil in it, tig welded rear trailing arms, 3/4" wheel cylinders, new torque tube donut and center supports. I've never driven it before and not had it clunk when changing gears and I have been mean to my clutch by easing it in so it didn't clunk too bad when upshifting hard. Hopefully it will seem like a totally different car.

namba209 · 07-13-2005

My daily driver right now is my 75 monza, but that will change when Willit? is done and proven to be reliable. Then they will swap, Willt? becomes the daily driver and the monza gets the resto process. After that, I'll drive each one a week at a time, just so they won't feel bad. It may be a toss-up as to which one will be more fun to drive when I'm done, either one will bring a smile to any one's face after a rapid application of throttle, I'm guessing.

73 gt man · 07-13-2005

My 73 is my daily driver my wife drives the honda CRV the 115 isn't to bad I just bring alot of water and lunch time drives are out becaudse of vapor lock but a blast to drive in the AM and evening.

Gary · 07-13-2005

My '75 wagon is my daily commuter for the 45 mile round trip through (usually) heavy traffic coming and going. Mileage is much better than my '05 Tacoma. Meanwhile my GT sits neglected in the garage waiting for a new fuel line to be installed.

guyopel · 07-13-2005

I drive my GT on weekends only , Atlanta traffic is

. I like to drive on
expressways with little or on traffic .Daily driver is Buick Les,good m.p.g.&
room for 4 adults.

jlthunder · 07-13-2005

Originally Posted by guyopel

I drive my GT on weekends only , Atlanta traffic is . I like to drive on
expressways with little or on traffic .Daily driver is Buick Les,good m.p.g.&
room for 4 adults.

On Traffic??? Is this a 4 x 4 Opel??

Just kidding, I guess you mean "No traffic" I couldn't resist

tom_laan · 07-13-2005

mine's gonna be a daily driver when it gets ready, now my bicycle is my daily driver. hehe

MikeyOne · 07-13-2005

I drive my 74 sportwagon to work every day, to the beach every morning for a surf, and all over from San Diego to Pt. Mugu looking for surf on the weekends.

My wife drives her 71 GT every day as well, both on "household errands" and on business (She's her own boss!). The best is when she takes it to home depot, loads it full of potting soil and plants, and comes home. Unloading it is a good as going to the circus - I just keep waiting for a dozen clowns to get out!

Willy_g77 · 07-13-2005

i used to drive it everyday when i finally got it on the road.. but then i thought that it needed to be completly restored or at least the mechanical's work.. (aka solex).... so now i only take it out on nice days and weekends..

my everyday driver now is a 1993 nissan sentra se-r, which is a great car for only having 500 bucks wrapped up in it.. thats right... $300 for the car, $90 alternator, $40 battery, and $70 bucks for cv joint and boot..

man i cant wait until i get th opel how i want it, and where i can take it anywhere... coming along slow but good, and to think it all started with a dream... and of course all you nice folks here...

OrangPeEL · 07-13-2005

Feeling fortunate I've got a really good "daily driver" situation with newer company supplied pickup and gas to fill it (bless those income taxable perks!) ... but lately grass on the other side of garage appears greener, so I'm half-time choosing the GT for commute & errands (and any other reason I can find to excuse myself from the house for cruze stints around town ). Maybe avg. 60miles/week.

-Dan

greensmurf20 · 07-13-2005

my 71GT was my daily driver, 12,000 miles over the summer, but have multiple winter beaters. the GT got backed into and while fixing that, i'm not using a 72 manta rallye as a daily driver. since may it has seen 4,000 miles, including a maiden voyage to carlisle. (1200 round trip), when the car had only gone 400 in the last few years before then!!!

simplemind7 · 07-13-2005

for now my gt isn't my daily driver... not by choice though. once its all put together it will be. for now a 94 toyota tercel gets me around... rather slowly, but it gets there eventually

View Poll Results: Is your Opel your Daily Driver?
Yes	31	32.98%
No	41	43.62%
Sometimes	22	23.40%
Voters: 94. You may not vote on this poll

07-13-2005	#1 (permalink)
RobtheSwordsman Opeler Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 10	Is your Opel your "daily driver"? I was just wondering... ...I drive my 1969 Opel GT (which is actually in pretty rough shape) daily as my one and only means of transportation. How many of you out there prefer to keep your lovely Opels well-garaged / covered / etc. and in beautiful condition, and have a different car / truck that you drive every day? I understand (and it makes a good bit of sense) that people keep their Opels as show-cars or use them as a means of weekend entertainment, which is excellent as well. Thank you. (Also, if your Opel is not your "daily driver", would you mind telling me what you drive on a daily basis?) __________________ "Robert the Swordsman" rarely fits in the space provided. Last edited by Gary; 07-13-2005 at 01:52 PM. Reason: Added Poll

07-13-2005	#2 (permalink)
Betta Carotene Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Bakersfield, California Posts: 206 Real Name: Allan Wheeler	my 1973 Gt is my daily driver and has been for about a year now __________________ 73 Gt (RIP), 4 speed, 2.0L, 290H cam, weber, S-10 clutch w/ matched flywheel, sprint to a 2" pipe, Aluminum finned oil pan. SOLD! 70 Kadett Wagon 14k, 1.9L, Auto, weber

07-13-2005	#3 (permalink)
Killer Texas GT Senior Contributor Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Leonard, Texas Posts: 888	Daily Driver Ram 3500 I wish my GT was my daily driver but my job requires me to drive a pickup, also a Texas tradition, the family transportation. Even though at one time my GT was show quality and is Garage kept, It is going through some more customizing. I am considering leaving my truck at the office and getting my 75 Ascona up and going to use as a daily driver, it should get better milage than my GT, hopefully better milage than my truck (19-21 mpg). But once the GT is up and going again it will be the weekend runner again, while the 73 Rallye gets restored. rk

07-13-2005	#4 (permalink)
baronbors 1000 Post Club Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: League City Texas Posts: 1,117	During the summer. my GT is my daily driver but sits in the garage between trips. During the school year, I usually check the weather the night before and if the chance of rain is low I drive it to school. Love the looks the kiddos get on their face when they see a 6 foot 2 inch 250 pound guy gets out of the GT- pricelesss. BTW- in the 4 years that my GT has been on the road, I has only been rained on 4 times- otherwise it is spotless. __________________ Texas Opel Preservation Society

07-13-2005	#5 (permalink)
ddoyle Member Join Date: May 2003 Location: oakland,or Posts: 233	my 73 rallye has been my driver for over 15 years untill a week ago. it has over 300k on it and has never been bored out... she is very tired and will not keep oil in it. suspect broken rings. a fresh 2.0l is in the works. dan

07-13-2005	#6 (permalink)
gottcha Opeler Join Date: May 2004 Location: Waco, Texas Posts: 44	daily driver Like Killer, I drive my truck in Texas as a daily driver because of work. I have driven my GT to work a few times but not often, it's just not work friendly in the flooring business. Also, when it's just me and my son that get out together, we usually take the GT out for a spin and do things together. He is 15 now (as of the July 10th) and is really getting anxious about getting his drivers license so that he can take the GT out. He lives with his mother in San Antonio and came here after school let out for the summer and has loved riding in the car ever since. He and I get out and work on it together, or even a drive, and I feel a sense of pride from him when he is out there with me. One of these days, I will hand over the keys and title to him. Maybe for his 21st birthday.

07-13-2005	#7 (permalink)
jlthunder 1000 Post Club Join Date: May 2003 Location: Salfordville, PA Posts: 2,143 Real Name: Jeff	Stress Relief My GT is normally covered in the Barn. I take it out for shows and when I need some stress relief. It only gets about 500 miles on it a year, 300 of them when it goes to Carlisle. It is not a trailer queen, but with the amount of traffic growing, I only take it out when things are calm around here. I'v had it since '83 and I don't want to take any chances. Jeff __________________ 1972 Opel GT, Owner since 1983 2001 Saab 9-5 SE 3.0 Turbo V6 Weeeeeeeeeee!!! 1973 GT, Parted out, R.I.P. 1968 Kadette, Owner since 2006, Sold, 28 June 2008

07-13-2005	#8 (permalink)
jgfritsch Opeler Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: arizona Posts: 7	My 71 GT is a daily driver. Todays temp outside-115!

07-13-2005	#9 (permalink)
nobody No Access Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: in transit Posts: 3,873	I've got several trucks I drive and only fire up the GT when I'm in the mood. It's never driven if the weather isn't good. I may start driving the wagon more as time allows but I know it needs axle bearings first.

07-13-2005	#10 (permalink)
tomcat gogtgo Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: austin tx Posts: 45	daily driver My 70 opel gt is a daily driver as I consider it in less then good condition. But the 69 in the garage will be just weekends as it is being fully restored. I bought these off this web sight about 3 months ago. The 69 is just unbelievable as the work thats been done is near perfect. I am afraid it will be in the garage alot.

07-13-2005	#12 (permalink)
opeldean 1000 Post Club Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Overland Park KS Posts: 1,999	as much as i can errands ,to work, and for short trips. For stress relief i will just take it out for a drive...like last night..I have had the car over two years. I am driving about 7,000 miles a year,it is great. I drive as much as i can in the winter too,until the salt goes down which is about a 6-10 week period.I dont drive in the rain as its hard to see or be seen.I got an alternate car for bad weather or for repairs...a must. its dam humid here in the summer. mornings w/o A/c is great, so are nights, but i cant drive the gt on the lunch hour w/o sweating like a pig.I fully cover it on the parking lot at work, so the seats arent too hot and the sun doesnt damage it. I sweat a bit on the way home,but after being in A/C all day its probably good for me to excrete some salt. I have thought about an A/C, but i like the look of my engine bay w/o. I have just got spare gt in the stable,non running..the future is set. If you could drive my car and experience it, you would understand why I go through all the trouble. __________________ Thank you members of opelgt.com for helping me on a 5 year reconstruction of the most beautiful car in the world Celeste: 1917,cc ,getrag resealed, 2liter Intake valves,ported,ISKY cam on solids,Opel forged rods,9.52 compression,total seal gapless,oil dam,RB gasket mod., DCOE side drafts,sprint,2in straight exhaust,pertronix,OMNI paint,SACHS clutch,OGTS & Kadette sway bars,Manta finned pan,3 V clock,Ball joints and Poly all... SAA-WEET!

07-13-2005	#13 (permalink)
GoinManta Opelitis since 1984 Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Midlothian, VA Posts: 2,213 Real Name: Charles Goin	My "sons" Manta I use occasionally as a daily driver. Once he turns 16 it will be his daily driver. Charles __________________ CURRENT '06 Pontiac GTO '71 Opel Kadett 4 Door 36D (w/ Opel Parts & Service 2.0L) '74 Opel Manta (Bens Manta) '74 Opel Manta (w/ LK5 transplant) Past '73 Opel Manta (Blue Max) '75 Opel Manta (Yellow) '85 Bitter SC '73 Opel Commodore B GS '73 Opel GT (w/ Vinyl Roof) At least 16 or So Parts Opels

07-13-2005	#15 (permalink)
namba209 6,000 Post Club Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Imperial Beach, CA South of San Diego Posts: 6,054	My daily driver right now is my 75 monza, but that will change when Willit? is done and proven to be reliable. Then they will swap, Willt? becomes the daily driver and the monza gets the resto process. After that, I'll drive each one a week at a time, just so they won't feel bad. It may be a toss-up as to which one will be more fun to drive when I'm done, either one will bring a smile to any one's face after a rapid application of throttle, I'm guessing. __________________ Ron 72 GT 3.4L V-6/T-5/ZF posi - almost done - Just need AC installed. 75 Chevy monza 5.7L/TH350/Auburn 3.08 posi - Next

07-13-2005	#16 (permalink)
73 gt man Opeler Join Date: May 2005 Location: Gilbert AZ Posts: 86	My 73 is my daily driver my wife drives the honda CRV the 115 isn't to bad I just bring alot of water and lunch time drives are out becaudse of vapor lock but a blast to drive in the AM and evening.

07-13-2005	#18 (permalink)
guyopel Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Duluth,Ga. Posts: 649 Real Name: John	I drive my GT on weekends only , Atlanta traffic is . I like to drive on expressways with little or on traffic .Daily driver is Buick Les,good m.p.g.& room for 4 adults.

07-13-2005	#20 (permalink)
tom_laan Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Holland Posts: 402	mine's gonna be a daily driver when it gets ready, now my bicycle is my daily driver. hehe

07-13-2005	#21 (permalink)
MikeyOne Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Los Angeles more or less Posts: 97	Every Day I drive my 74 sportwagon to work every day, to the beach every morning for a surf, and all over from San Diego to Pt. Mugu looking for surf on the weekends. My wife drives her 71 GT every day as well, both on "household errands" and on business (She's her own boss!). The best is when she takes it to home depot, loads it full of potting soil and plants, and comes home. Unloading it is a good as going to the circus - I just keep waiting for a dozen clowns to get out!

07-13-2005	#22 (permalink)
Willy_g77 Senior Contributor Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Casey, IL USA Posts: 611	i used to drive it everyday when i finally got it on the road.. but then i thought that it needed to be completly restored or at least the mechanical's work.. (aka solex).... so now i only take it out on nice days and weekends.. my everyday driver now is a 1993 nissan sentra se-r, which is a great car for only having 500 bucks wrapped up in it.. thats right... $300 for the car, $90 alternator, $40 battery, and $70 bucks for cv joint and boot.. man i cant wait until i get th opel how i want it, and where i can take it anywhere... coming along slow but good, and to think it all started with a dream... and of course all you nice folks here... __________________ {)BILLY(} & The 71' GT 73 manta luxus real cars don't power the front wheels...... they lift 'em

07-13-2005	#23 (permalink)
OrangPeEL Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Salem, Oregon - country roads through blooming iris crops is great Opel driving here! Posts: 167 Real Name: Dan	greener pastures Feeling fortunate I've got a really good "daily driver" situation with newer company supplied pickup and gas to fill it (bless those income taxable perks!) ... but lately grass on the other side of garage appears greener, so I'm half-time choosing the GT for commute & errands (and any other reason I can find to excuse myself from the house for cruze stints around town ). Maybe avg. 60miles/week. -Dan __________________ Result driven. Daily blessed.

07-13-2005	#24 (permalink)
greensmurf20 OPEL-LESS!!! Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Gobles michigan 49055 Posts: 2,112	my 71GT was my daily driver, 12,000 miles over the summer, but have multiple winter beaters. the GT got backed into and while fixing that, i'm not using a 72 manta rallye as a daily driver. since may it has seen 4,000 miles, including a maiden voyage to carlisle. (1200 round trip), when the car had only gone 400 in the last few years before then!!! __________________ previousely owned 8 GTs and 1 manta. currently own 92 25th anniversary Z28. Ttop, 350, T56 swap, many upgrades, basically a complete restore. 67 chevy sportvan deluxe....next in line.

07-13-2005	#25 (permalink)
simplemind7 Opel GT? Who makes that? Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Ayr, Ontario, Canada Posts: 632	for now my gt isn't my daily driver... not by choice though. once its all put together it will be. for now a 94 toyota tercel gets me around... rather slowly, but it gets there eventually __________________ Brendan: 72 Manta Rallye 69 GT 72 GT - parts car

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