What do you recommend for daily drive in Chicago?

FFerrari,

I think it matters where you live. For two years I went from one extreme to the next from H2 to 575. No real daily drive such as a regular sedan but I can offer seasonal advice, ( I owned two older class 420S but that was mostly while in FLA.) Im out in the far NW burbs and since my work leaves me with just short enough trips to cancel out air, I drive SUVs. A Durango and H2. I absolutely suggest cars like these. Once had a company car BMW 4.4X but with the sport tires and wheels it was completely useless in the snow. With the Dodge and Hummer, no worries no matter the weather and good all around vehicles. These two are can easilly surpass the comfort level family and friends S class Mercedes and Bentleys have in which they spin a bit too much for my liking in the deep snow and feel not too stable on icy 294. Gas guzzling SUV all the way. By far the most stable car I ever had was a ML Benz which I drove with ease during the blizzard like conditions in 01 was it? I have yet to drive the new ML so can not offer an opinion. Survived a head-on collision with a drunk in a Durango so the safety aspect I live by, really live by. Come winter, never look back on my choices. Most of the current Ferrari owners I know have Range Rovers so the SUV trend seems to be working for more than one.

RocketBoy

PS: Welcome to town, you will be very pleased with the group of supporting people here on Fchat. Just watch out for FerrariFrank, he's with "family."

 

Ferrari is just for fun.

CTA is my daily drive. And not much fun.

 

Yea... everyone knows you need a 7,000+lb vehicle to navigate the hardcore offroad terrain we have all over Chicago.

 

You are right about the M5. They are hard to find right about now.
What about a 750 LI which has a huge backseat! There is more legroom back there than a lot of SUV's that are out and about.
One of my daily drivers is a big Chevy SUV which is not fun to drive at all. Yuck..

If you decide to go BMW again I can put you in touch with my a close friend of mine. He works great deals for my friends all the time. I would be happy to do that for you.


Thanks.

Vince

 

This one did just fine.

Oh and in regards to Beemers. If Vince's connection doesn't do the trick already, let me know. One of my neighbours is the biggest Beemer dealer in town.
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I would have to say the best advice i could provide for a daily in chicago would be to advise on the new A8 either the 4.2 litre V8 or the W12. both are beautiful cars a little less common than the 7 series, and at the same time quattro is absolutely unbeatable for the chicago winters. Have never had a single problem with the quattro drivetrain in over 100,000 miles on two separate audis. I would recommend them to anyone. Or if you are looking for a fast sedan the new RS4 will be out, also there is the everpresent option of the RS6 which is absolutely incredible for a big sedan.
just my .02

-Dan

 

We've got a Ford Escape. Here's how we calculated which car to buy...

Chicago winter
2 dogs
Inlaws in Michigan
kids (eventually)
city driving/parking
value

It ain't exotic, but practical as hell.

 

Actually, I know Rocketboy works a lot up in Wisconsin and Minnesota.

Hence the need..........

 

Audi RS-6 would sure be a nice little commuter. All 400+ horsepower in it......

 

I have a 750iL and it's a great daily driver. Best highway car I've ever driven, gobs of effortless power, top of the line car, the fun of owning a V-12, and has depreciated like a MF. Toss a Dinan or M-Technic suspension kit on it and you'll have a fantasy M-7. I bought a semi-ratty 10 yr old one a couple of years ago for $.08 on the dollar and did just that.

 

Thanks Bill...

Still, when I had a Ferrari I had two SUV's. Jack owns one, Vince does, my neighbor has a Lexus SUV to go along with his 360 whereas another former neighbor with a 328 had a Rover. LFSC Pres drives a Range Rover.

Mike drives a? I guess he's right. You can store a lot of equipment and feel confident driving in blizzard like conditions on 294 in a E55 not a AWD car. By the way, those new Beemers that can fly out of snow drifts on the side of the road are awesome. I think its the green button next to the very well liked Idrive system. Oh wait that didn't happen as I towed a 5 series out of the snow last year with my 7000 lb POS. I have a wife, puppy, have to carry a lot of samples that fit more secure in the back of the SUV than the S class' I used to have and if in the Benz they would freeze anything in the back regardless.

Mike your entitled to your own opinion, but like I said this works for me and I have yet to make a claim about having to conquer some soccer field hill in Hoffman Estates in my tanks. And judging by the majority here, I think it must be working. If you're in the city, yeah an SUV is a pain. But even in the burbs it is a great, great type of car. You are not in the situation to experience yet, but pull out of a meeting at 6:30 and onto Palatine expressway and see how many cars slip around. Bring the girl in your life out of the Woodfield parking lot on the weekend and in the middle of a snow storm and tell me you'd rather be in a little Audi in jam packed Golf road than driving through the terrible drifts left by the snow plow. A friend of mine in Long Grove has about 200 miles on his SL65, and stays true to this day that his favorite car is his Denali.

RocketBoy

PS: Vince, throw a LCD screen in your truck and Im sure the little Sax player wouldn't find it as boring as you as you are entertained by the worldly sounds of Chicken Run or something.

 

Rocketboy,
If I put a TV in my SUV I will never be able to get Jr.'s attention!


Anyway I hope we provided some good feedback regarding the good daily driver question. Everyone has something to say on this board which is a good thing.
Did anyone mention the S-Class that is coming out? Is that an option? Not sure about the styling just yet but it could be a way to go. Of course they will probably be pushing about $100,000 when it's all said and done.
Hummmm..

Speaking of Mercedes I got a call from them the other day and I guess they are still sitting on 2005 models. Deep discounts!!I know they had an E55 that they were really looking to deal on.

Thanks.

Vince

 

Whatever floats your boat... just do everyone else on the road a favor and don't drive the things the same way everyone else seems to (cell phone in their ear, eyes looking at either the TV in the dash or the newspaper draped across the steering wheel, etc...).

I wouldn't hate SUVs nearly as much if I didn't have to treat every one on the road as an immediate threat to my safety.

 

Vince,

As mentioned, Dad has been fighting off many health scares lately and ordered one of the new S class Benz to arrive Spring time as sports oriented cars simply won't do. That S class and another "secret" car that you will definitely be interested in are on the way. I think I'll accept his offer to try them out as he usually unloads his "used" cars upon me. Andreas, get ready for a 500+ HP visit and tryout in the Swiss Space Sim... find me decent parking!

RocketBoy

 

Aye, aye Sire!
I like "secret" cars. Currently busy getting my racing license back. I have an invitation from Florida that I just can't let pass...

 

I know a lot of you have mentioned the Range Rover. The odometer just rolled past 3500 miles on mine and I couldn't be happier with the choice. As far as an all around daily driver, its the best I've had. I routinely carry four adults (all 6' and taller) comfortably. However, if you plan on transporting more than 4 people, this is NOT your vehicle (3 wide in the back seat is not ideal). Just my opinion.

-Neil

 

If you're tossing around ideas like "S class" and "7 series" and "A8", you owe it to yourself to at least consider the Italian alternative: Maserati Quattroporte!

 

Mercedes Unimog....Where you can say "f*CK the World!" and play hopscotch running over H2s.....

 

Hehe, I have driven those. Courtesy of the Army.

 

The quattroporte is around $100,000 from what I have seen. I guess it can be considered somewhat exotic.

Thanks.

Vince

 

If having four doors is the idea of exotic to somebody.

What marketing "genius" thought of that name? "Well, we sold the 308 using the 'quattro valvole' moniker, so why not 'quattro porte'?"