Daytona Daily Driving?

Always wondered about the Daytona's driving status.Clay Reggazzoni allegedly drove his daily for years, but the unassisted steering and heavy shifter might have put some off.Otherwise, can't see why this great GT(my fave, as I've repeated ad nauseum) shouldn't bee a daily ride.

 

Only one way to find out. Stop wondering and just do it ?

 

Heavy steering rumor on Daytonas is much over played. Sure parallel parking is a little stiff, but no harder than any older Vette. Daily driving is no different on a Daytona than similar older cars with wide tires. Heard of a guy using his 6 year old son to steer his Daytona around the garage while hand pushing it into a different parking position, and no sweat!

 

You can always upgrade it with electic power steering.

And it you think the Daytona is too valuable as a daily driver, consider a 365GT4 2+2 or a series 1 400GT4, same engine, same gearbox, same suspention, and a slightly longer wheel base, that you will love on long highway cruizes. Both have powersteering and all the goodies you have in the Daytona. Both will give you the same experience as a 365GTB4 at a fraction of the price.

 

Back when the Daytona was new and introduced as the latest and greatest it was the daily driver for a lucky few! Best you use it as sitting unused is the worst thing you can do to it...
CH

 

+1

Dad brought what is now my Daytona in 1974 and used it daily for three years and around 40,000 miles. Only stopped when the Salt and detritus on British roads took their toll on the cheap Russian steal the Italian car industry was using at the time.

Not sure I would want to use a Daytona today as a daily driver only because of having to sit in the additional traffic on the roads of today.

 

I think it's more a matter of what we're all accustomed to now. People drove cars for years without a/c, power steering, power seats, electronic gearboxes, etc.

I love the Daytona, and I'm past my 'garage queen' phase, so if I owned one I would drive it frequently.

 

Ken and Rosi Starbird used their COMP Daytona as an every-day driver for year, wide tires and open exhaust and all. I mean every day to the market. Of course those were different days, i guess.

 

back in the old days most Daytonas were driven and had high mileage... it is interesting today that most show very few miles.

 

better check with car fax on that one

 

I think it depends on what your daily drive is like. If you drive a decent distance on uncrowded roads or highways every day, and have a garage at the office or live where the weather is nice, go for it!

My commute is about 4 miles of rainy, congested traffic with stops at different schools to drop the kids off. Not too vintage Ferrari friendly.

 

I drove mine regularly for a short time. I think it was the only thing I had running or something like that. It was fine and I even enjoyed it for a while.

There are much more comfortable cars as DD in the end. You have to want it, and I did. It will wear a little on you though so when the M5 came back, it was an easy adjustment to make.

I say do it. You will only be disappointed if you do not.

 

Don is absolutely correct. There are times when it will not be fun. Like in bumper to bumper traffic in the rain on the beltway.

Geez, I shudder at the thought. I don't do traffic.

 

It wouldnt be fun in traffic, if you know that you will have traffic everyday (commuting) but other than that, it's fine, it's comfortable enough, the ride isnt harsh, even over bad roads, the AC works well (maybe not for Miami Summer), has good brakes, enough torque, and once it's going the steering is fine too.
Of course, it wont be as comfortable as a Benz or even as a 612 but if you dont mind, it would be an amazing experience for a while..

Not that it's comparable, but i daily drive a 911 with no mufflers, and after 50k+ miles, it still makes me smile, still makes me want to have fun every time i drive it. When im stuck in traffic, i sometimes wish i had a regular car but as soon as traffic opens, i dont care anymore...

 

If you are compatible with it, you'll love it. If you are not, it's probably a lot like living with the wrong woman...
Traffic and rain, not so hot no matter what. Well, possibly depending on the company, it might obviate those two issues, but only for a little while.
The combination of sound and torque, are breathless. Flat out in 2nd and 3rd...
Brakes, decent, but not to be pushed to the limits as your pedal will go down to the firewall. AC, who cares.
It is not a car for the sedate driver.
Regards, Alberto

 

+1, Alberto. For creature comforts, go for the modern models. Daytona is a brutal car in the good sense. One only needs to accept the virtues. w/ smiles Jimmy

 

All of that being said, if you drive a power-steering 330, it's like a miracle. Above walking speeds it feels like a regular Ferrari steering box. At slower speeds, it can be spun easily.

It's 40 years ahead of its time.

 

Drove mine, for 4 hours a couple of weeks ago,highway at 90-95, in congested 75mph traffic and some stop and go side street traffic and thru neighborhoods..fell in love with it all over again after 12 years of ownership. it's a real handful of car( in good sense) once on the open road i forget it's short comings and knew it will be in my garage for long time..if you've never had one better be quick the market is moving north..

 

Well said. I grew up with low-rpm torque monster 70's American cars, and am still not used to high revving foreign motors. I always find myself upshifting one too many gears.

 

There is really no need to upshift over 5K, as that means huge speed in any gear, which cannot be maintained for long in the USA, but it will be very happy at 3K all day long.
Torque is all over the place.
Stole this Pininfarina pic from another thread...simply amazing.
Only drawback, is the minimalistic ground clearance.

Regards, Alberto
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Perfect daily driver if you live in Sante Fe and work in albuquerqe or los alamos. Less fun if you live in Hermosa Beach and work in Century City. These cars love to run between 90 and 140mph.
Malcolm

 

Well next week I'm going 990 miles from Chicago to savannah and 990 back for the FCA meet. Some say "that's 990 miles there and back, that's bootlegging" I say I'll let you all know.

Dave

 

My Daytona was my daily driver and it worked fine. Steering lightens up at about 10 mph and the shifter was not stiff at all. As a matter of fact, all my Ferraris have been daily drivers, probably because, unlike rich folks, that is all I had to drive and still all I have to drive. Could not afford any of them, but that never stopped me. If something is important enough to you...

Taz
Terry Phillips

 

I too used my first Daytona as a daily driver in London.....parking was a swine even when a meter was available to use, trying to get into a car park bay was a three-popint turn. Parking bays are now smaller so no chance.
BTW if, as is suggested, these cars were in fact used as a daily driver, why does one not see them with over a 100k miles on the speedo?

Stuart

 

Here's a picture that I took in London about 3 1/2 years ago of a Daytona that, if not a daily driver, certainly was out and parked on the street as if it was!
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