Can a Pagoda be a dependable daily drIver?

[Cees Klumper]

Following on from a recent thread, me would like to know your opinion: provided a Pagoda has been properly sorted, would you say it can be used on a daily basis for normal transportation needs? Or are there factors that would render this a 'bad idea'?

[Jonny B]

I believe the Pagoda can be a reliable daily use car. But I am not sure it would be fully practical. Some items were already noted, about the high "eyeball" factor, i.e. security from theft. Another point would be fuel consumption. In daily use, with premium fuel, this would be more expensive. Also as a two seater, it would not fit all situations.

It would definitely rank high in the cool factor though!

[66andBlue]

Cees,
I am not sure I can answer the question as posed. If the emphasis is on dependable, then "yes", if it is on daily, then "no".

[GGR]

If well sorted, a Pagoda can surely be a dependable daily driver. The first issue I would see is that nowadays we drive more on highways so a 3.27 rear end would make it more practical. The second issue is that all body parts and trim cost an arm and a leg. So you don't want to end up into a fender bender. Finally, if you live in a region where they salt roads in winter, it would be a bad idea to drive it daily in winter time.

[KevinC]

A friend of mine is a contractor/carpenter so I guess you would say that his "daily driver" is his pick up truck. When not involved in work and of course its not winter time, he drives his Pagoda EVERYWHERE! His is the blue car on the right...

[stickandrudderman]

I have had several customers for whom their pagoda is their only car, is used daily and lives on the street. However, all of them have had their cars or at least bits from them stolen.........

[mdsalemi]

Cees,
I am not sure I can answer the question as posed. If the emphasis is on dependable, then "yes", if it is on daily, then "no".

I completely agree with Alfred.  I put about 25,000 miles on my "daily driver" per year.  If I switched to a Pagoda, I'd get 16 MPG on Premium fuel instead of 21 on regular; I'd be colder in the winter, hotter in the summer, and would not be able to carry nearly what I need to on a daily basis--such as two other people.  Maintenance costs would go up, and all around--a generally bad idea for someone in my situation.

Oh, one other thing--though extremely well built, safe and reliable, that's for "the time"...nearly any modern car I suspect, is safer and more crash-worthy...just a thought.

[dseretakis]

I used my pagoda as a daily driver for a number of years including in harsh New England winters.  I now drive it in the summer only on an occasional basis.

[SGJ91]

I appreciate all the information.

Thankfully, I never have to worry about snow, which is a huge relief.

That said, I'll keep doing research.

[mdsalemi]

Thankfully, I never have to worry about snow, which is a huge relief.

Yeah, you don't have to worry about snow, but CA has some pretty high gas costs...I think premium is about $4.20/gal now in Pasadena, yes?  Locally here (free snow every now and then) it is $3.75. The safety issue, airbags, etc. applies everywhere.

You do have significantly better-maintained roads, and that's a BIG factor.  The major road (Eight Mile Road for you Eminem fans) needed to get to and from my neighborhood looks like a Syrian war zone, because Wayne County hasn't done a lick of maintenance on it.  I might not be able to safely get my Pagoda in or out this year!    If we had more Smart Car or Fiat 500 drivers, they'd automatically fill the potholes but we don't have enough of them. 

[twistedtree]

The questions is whether it "can be a dependable daily driver".  Lots of people are answering (or at least commenting on) whether they would "want to drive it as their daily driver".  It's a very different question, I think.  Personally, I see no reason one can't be used as a daily driver, but I sure wouldn't want to.

[GGR]

The questions is whether it "can be a dependable daily driver".  Lots of people are answering (or at least commenting on) whether they would "want to drive it as their daily driver".  It's a very different question, I think.  Personally, I see no reason one can't be used as a daily driver, but I sure wouldn't want to.

It's tricky because Cees then adds another question in his post : "would you say it can be used on a daily basis for normal transportation needs? Or are there factors that would render this a 'bad idea'?"

So dependable daily driver, yes. And yes, there are also factors that would render this a bad idea.

On dependability: I've been using cars of the sixties and 70s as daily drivers for the past 30 years (BMW 2002, 3.0csi, Citroen DS21, Mercedes W108 3.5, Mercedes W109 6.3, modified Mercedes W111 Coupe). I did find the Mercedes to be very dependable if in good shape and properly mantained (but that is also the case of the BMWs and Citroen I've owned).

Factors that make it a bad idea are that conditions have changed: security has made huge progress in newer cars, older cars rust more, and in the case of the Pagoda body parts cost an arm and a leg in case of a fender bender.

Then all depends on priorities. If, for the pleasure of driving a vintage car every day, one is ready to give up some of the additional comfort and security found in newer cars and is ready to bear the additional costs of body parts in case of need, then the Pagoda is dependable, and a nice car to drive in with some upgrades: 3.27 rear end or 5 speed transmission, electronic ignition, ipod socket ... no, I'm not including a 5.6L motor in the list, though that really makes it a fun car to drive !

[Cees Klumper]

Thanks GGR - you sum it up well I think - yes the Pagoda can be a reliable daily driver, however there are various factors that lead many to decide against that idea: rust, fuel consumption, safety, concerns about theft, collision cost etc.  For me, having to drive on salted roads and/or having to cover too large distances (the fuel consumption point - not the cost but more the guilt associated with burning so much oil unnecessarily) would keep me from using the car as a daily driver. Maybe when I finally retire to Florida and only have to putter between the Keys?

[m300cab]

Yes, I have driven 280SL's as daily drivers, I loved and they drove well- restored cars
also drove in 7" of fresh snow with dunlop all season radials and 100lbs of potatoes in the trunk, drove fantastic!