Table of contents
Introduction
Taking on a winding back road or flooring it down the 1320 is amazing. Driving a car at the peak of its potential is an indescribable feeling. However, that’s not our everyday experience with cars. Most of our time is spent commuting and driving around town. There aren’t many opportunities to experience these fun moments behind the wheel. Fortunately, your routine drive doesn’t have to be boring! In this segment of Powershift Auto, we’re going to discuss an awesome collection of cars that’ll make for a fun daily driver!
#1 Lexus LS400
Known for its million mile motors, the 1UZ-FE powered LS400 is an absolute banger of a daily driver. With 260-290 horsepower on tap (depending on if you have a VVT model), you have epic V8 power at your disposal. Furthermore, the LS400 is a four door luxury sedan with plenty of room for full grown adults. Not only does it have the power, space, and luxury, but the LS400 has the street cred to go with it!
#2 Subaru Forester XT
An all-wheel drive SUV screams practicality. The Subaru Forester XT embraces the practicality and raises its performance with a turbocharged boxer engine and optional manual transmission. Also, the Subaru Forester XT benefits from a huge aftermarket to customize your ride in many ways. The Forester XT has the exact same motor as the WRX, which allows you to modify it the same way! Whether you want to lower it, lift it, or turn up the boost, the Forester XT can do it! While some may question the reliability of the Subaru, there are thousands of these on the road worldwide and for good reason!
#3 Ford Crown Victoria
If you want cheap V8 power, four doors, and an iconic body style, the Crown Victoria is your choice for a daily driver. The 4.6 Liter 2 Valve V8 is a workhorse with insanely low maintenance costs to go with it. While it won’t win a drag race with many cars on the road, the Crown Vic is a beloved American behemoth. Personally, I’d avoid the stereotypical police look and try and make a simple and clean daily driver that doesn’t scream “cop car”. So if you go down this road, you may want to consider ditching the spotlights and bumper guard.
#4 Volkswagen Golf GTi
The Golf GTI is one of the greatest hatchbacks ever created. Depending on the year, you’ll have the choice of a 1.8 or 2.0 liter Turbocharged 4 cylinder engine. This engine is super tunable and has limitless options for modifications. Not only that, but the GTI platform is one of the best handling front-wheel drive cars ever made. Lastly, the four door hatchback has plenty of room for carrying people and cargo.
#5 Ford Focus ST
Staying in the realm of hot hatchbacks, we have the Ford Focus ST. Now, this car is near and dear to my heart as it was the first car I ever purchased brand new. My 2016 Ford Focus ST was an absolute riot. The 2.0 Liter turbocharged engine has great low end torque to make driving fun and the chassis is setup beautifully for canyon carving. The car itself is very comfortable for commuting, as I learned while using it to commute for my job and driving for Lyft through college. Fuel economy is on par with most turbocharged four cylinders, where I typically got 30+ miles per gallon, until I tuned it for an E85/91 octane blend. Cargo space is great with the folding seats and has plenty of room for adults in the back seat. Best part now are the prices are low enough for most car buyers in today’s market.
#6 Dodge Magnum R/T
Want a V8 wagon but can’t afford a Cadillac CTS-V or Mercedes Benz AMG wagon? A great alternative is a Dodge Magnum R/T. This car sports the stout 5.7 liter Hemi V8 and has enough room for the whole family. Not only is it practical, but the aftermarket with this era of Dodge is pretty solid if you want to modify it. Since it uses the same powertrain as the Challengers and Chargers, the Magnum is very capable of bringing in more fun through performance parts. Altogether, the Dodge Magnum R/T will be the perfect daily driver for those looking for family-friendly V8 fun!
#7 Acura TL Type S
Personally, if I needed a daily driver right now I’d be looking for a 2007-2008 Acura TL Type S. My first car was a 2001 Acura CL and I fell in love with the J Series motors. The Type S TL has the awesome J35 V6 bringing almost 290 horsepower to the party. Not only will it perform well, but the J series exhaust note is awesome, especially at wide open throttle. On the inside, the TL has awesome luxury features you’d expect in Acura, making it a premium experience to go with its performance. The backseats are spacious enough for people and the trunk has sufficient cargo space. Also, the TL Type S has a great six-speed manual transmission available! Altogether, the TL Type S is a great blend of performance, luxury, and comfort for your daily commute.
#8 Volvo S60R
Sticking with understated sports sedans is the classic Volvo S60R. All-wheel drive, turbocharged 5 cylinder engine, and a manual transmission is a hard combo to beat. Not only is it performance oriented, but the S60R has a legendary reputation of safety. The car is comfortable enough for a daily driver while also giving you the ability to handle snow or rough weather due to the all-wheel drive system. I love this car so much, that I always suggest it as a fun car for people to build! If you’re lucky enough, you may even get one optioned with a car phone!
#9 BMW E39
The E39 BMWs are seen as the last of BMWs great sports sedans. They aren’t too bulky, have great options, and still look great by modern standards. The E39 also has the great 540i option available in both a sedan or wagon. While some may question the reliability of the E39, I would argue that this is one of the most seen BMWs on the road. For me, I’d look for an M-Sport 540i to cruise around in. You get the styling cues from the M5 without the E39 M5 price tag. Also, the V8 in the 540i sounds awesome and has great performance for a daily driver.
#10 Subaru Legacy Wagon
If you are a Mighty Car Mods fan like me, then you have learned the ways of the Subaru with their projects like SuperGramps. Marty talks about all of the awesome things you can do with a Legacy while modifying it to your hearts desire. This is very much true in the North American market. The Subaru Legacy shares a lot with the Impreza, which makes parts very available. Also, swapping stuff over from different models such as the WRX/STi are like piecing legos together. I love the subaru Legacy with the H6 boxer engine because its totally unique. While it might not have the power of forced induction, the H6 is a reliable and capable motor. Naturally, the amazing all-wheel drive system Subaru is known for will make this a great daily driver in any climate. Lastly, the sheer volume of cargo space is insane and makes it suitable for anyone needing space for people or hauling stuff like snowboards, skis, luggage, and more.
What Is A Daily Driver?
Your daily driver is your car you use for everyday life. For some, it’s your only car. For others, the daily driver could be a beater car to get from point A to point B.
But what if you crave some fun behind the wheel? That’s where this list comes in. You are here because you want a fun daily driver that’ll reliably get you from point A to point B while providing smiles per gallon (and hopefully decent miles per gallon too).
What Makes For A Fun Daily Driver?
A fun daily driver car needs to have these three things: Good driving dynamics, practicality, and reliability. While there are some bonus features we will go over, your most fun daily driver cars will have those key points for sure.
Bonuses in a car I would look for are aftermarket support and street presence. While a daily driver needs to be practical, I do want to enjoy the car too. Being able to modify a car you drive everyday can be fun. Your daily driver becomes an extension of you and your creativity. However, you need to be careful and not turn your new daily driver into your new project!
Conclusion
Having a fun daily driver can turn your dull commute into a great time. Having the practicality of something like a wagon but the power of a turbocharger or a roaring V8 is something that gets me excited! When looking to buy your daily driver, make sure there are parts available to modify it, because lets be honest, you’re going to want to upgrade it. Regardless of your daily driver choice, just remember that life is too short to drive boring cars!
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