When does a car lose it's title as a "street car"

[Grumpy]

A while back I had a friend with a street legal TR that was very quick but had excellent manners. It was probably a high11 to low 12 second car... He always wanted more.

Later on after he sold that car, he had the chance to buy a true 10 second car.It was caged and was an animal. It was such a monster that my friend complained that he did not like to drive it anymore, the wife even refused to drive it even though she was a regular driver of the slower tr they had previously owned.

He ended up selling it because it was simply too much for the street and was no longer a pleasure to drive...

combo combo combo .. need a good one for a STREET car. Animal on the street ?? Thats controlled by the gas pedal

 

[coach]

Helped a guy out about half a dozen years ago with a big block Chevelle. It was a really nice car and a great combo. I guessed it at 500 flywheel HP. I was shocked when he finally got it done and showed up at my house with it. He had bought the wheels and tires last. He bought all G70-15 on 15x6 rally wheels, so he could rotate the tires every 3000 miles. WTF... I just can fathom that frame of mind. It was not a restoration, it was all custom paint, interior...etc. The car wont get out of its own way, just spins the tires to smoke. Now he want a milder motor so he doesnt tear up tires. ITS A HOT ROD, I TOLD HIM. This is what you asked for.

Thanks
Coach

 

[scot w.]

This topic is one that will never have a right or wrong answer because obviously everyone's opinions will always differ, but since you asked I'll give you mine.

First, the car must be able to be driven on pump gas and also must be able to drive long distances without overheating issues as well as any other issues that would cause the car to be considered unreliable. It must have a full exhaust that muffles so that you don't have to worry about being pulled over by the Po-Po because the car is too obnoxious. You should have all the creature comforts (A/C, radio, comfortable seats, etc.) so that the driving experience is not only enjoyable/tolerable for you, but your passenger(s) as well. You should be able to throw the keys to other people whom might not necessarily be considered "car people" and let them drive it in an emergency situation just as they would their own daily driver vehicle.

Perfect Example!!

SW.

 

[turbo39151]

Perfect Example!!

SW.

I concur...

Once there are special requirements to the car then, well, I don't consider it a street car anymore...

 

[turbo39151]

combo combo combo .. need a good one for a STREET car. Animal on the street ?? Thats controlled by the gas pedal

I agree on this as well. I'm not sure what combo he had. I never saw the car since I'm in anotehr state. But from what my firend reported, even the slightest tap on the gas would incite the car's fury... It's gone now. He had to sell it. Plans on another tr in the near future...

 

[Grumpy]

I agree on this as well. I'm not sure what combo he had. I never saw the car since I'm in anotehr state. But from what my firend reported, even the slightest tap on the gas would incite the car's fury... It's gone now. He had to sell it. Plans on another tr in the near future...

ours drive like a normal car.. like I said my mother in law can jump in the car an go to the store if we are the last car in the driveway at the lake Oh it's a 2 1/2 / 3 hr drive to get there on the weekends. Ours is mild mannered till ya really get into it.. oh ya.. we run drag radials to !! YES it drives in the rain :wink:

 

[86brick]

From what I've seen over the years so many guys consider their cars to be true street cars right UNTIL you give them the scenario of~ "What if you had to let your mom, grandma, daughter, sister, next door neighbor, friend, etc. drive the car for some odd reason". Then some people tend to change their tune, well at least if they are honest!

I remember one time when I was younger and my grandma was forced to take the GN to drive to work as her car was in the shop. My mom was away visiting family and she had no one else around to drive her so my dad told her to take it cause he was at work. She was deathly afraid to drive the car and wanted no part of it cause she thought it would be too much for her and she is one that doesn't like to drive unless she has to. My dad told her it's just a Buick and you can drive it like you would any other car. So finally, she got in it, adjusted the seat, and went off to work. She said several people were looking at her a little strange, but she had no problem driving it. At the time the car was running 12.20's with the big bad boy TE34 turbo.

 

[turbo39151]

ours drive like a normal car.. like I said my mother in law can jump in the car an go to the store if we are the last car in the driveway at the lake Oh it's a 2 1/2 / 3 hr drive to get there on the weekends. Ours is mild mannered till ya really get into it.. oh ya.. we run drag radials to !! YES it drives in the rain :wink:

Wow you guys are brave. I used to drive my first TR back in 92-93 as a daily driver. The car was completely stock and even then, I was apprehensive about driving in the rain... These days, my modded tr's are fairly mild but, even then, I'd never consider taking one out in the rain- (too squirrelly for my taste)... I use an AWD car for that

 

[Grumpy]

Well we had a fleet of them over the years .. Back in the late 80s we had a winter fleet.. Cars were great in the snow with 4 Bizzacks on them.. We have had them as "driver's" since 86 hmmmm.. no wonder I am getting tired of them now

 

[turbo39151]

I suppose that with a set of Blizzacks you'd be ok. I thought of buying some but this area is so wierd. Two weeks ago we were in the 40's with no snow and no rain. Last week was all rain. This week, on tuesday the roads were solid ice. Sat in traffic for over an hour due to the multitude of accidents. Right now its sunny and probably 38 or so-no snow in sight. Tomorrow there's predictions of a super snow storm.

I f igure when I drop the coin for some good snow tires is when all the snow wil disappear...

 

[GNBRETT]

How often someone drives there car has nothing to do with how streetable it is. Some people simply have more free time then others. Some work 6 days a week 10-12 hours a day.

There were times during the summer where I would work 3 months straight without any time off and too exhaused to do anything but sleep. And that's during the only time in the year that I actually could operate my car.

Time spent driving ur car means nothing other then more free time and money then the next guy.

 

[salvageV6]

Brett you walk to work?

I enjoy the commute as much as a weekend cruise, sometimes more if there's a lot of idiots at red lights on the Berlin Tpke. :biggrin:

Gotta have a good stereo too for the ride.

My cars have a lot of custom electronics and anti-theft procedures but it's still a daily driver street car.

I could teach someone in ten minutes how to drive it and what to ignore and not ignore in it and how to start it.

I would never "toss the keys" to anyone though, just like most of them wouldn't toss me their keys either.

Pump gas and alky. is a real street car.

4 Blizzaks for winter, or in the summer Nittos out back and Michelins up front.

Go anywhere anytime, usually.

I wouldn't consider a cage for a daily driver, roll bar maybe.

But that's just a personal preference.

 

[GNBRETT]

Brett you walk to work?

I enjoy the commute as much as a weekend cruise, sometimes more if there's a lot of idiots at red lights on the Berlin Tpke. :biggrin:

Gotta have a good stereo too for the ride.

I wont bring my car to work since it's Bridgeport. Unfortunately the PD is a stones thro from one of our worst housing projects. We do not have an enclosed lot and (3) cops have had their cars stolen and burned less then a mile from the PD. Animals!

I agree with the stereo comment to. Gotta listen to some Metallica.

 

[86brick]

We do not have an enclosed lot and (3) cops have had their cars stolen and burned less then a mile from the PD. Animals!

Wow, those are some pretty brazen fuggers!

 

[GNBRETT]

Yea, they cops all insist it was because they had a Police badge on their license plate and refuse to put one back on. I said "The fact that they were stolen from the Police lot might have been the dead give away you were a cop".

We actually have a fenced in lot now but they never close the gate cause it's too much of a hassle. Whatever.

 

[salvageV6]

I hear ya, New Haven PD is also right near the projects as well, not to mention the train station.

Bilgeport that sucks.

Too many/much scum in cities.

I think when you stop driving the car because you don't want to, by your choice, that's when it stops becoming a street car.

Think about it....

 

[TR Custom Parts]

I considered my 66 Chevelle a street car. Started as a trailered car to long distance car shows but once I got married the first thing that went was my truck and trailer so after that it was driven EVERYWHERE. Took it down to Super Chevy at Maple Grove Raceway in PA, Adirondack Nationals at Lake George NY and also to the Super Chevy show in Epping NH. I live in CT. 33" tall rear tires with 3.89 gears are perfect for the interstate, even pulled down some decent mileage. The stump puller 1st gear in the Doug Nash 5 speed made up for the 3.89's. Had a 12 gallon fuel cell and could make it from CT to the first rest area/gas stop on the Garden State Parkway in NJ if I stayed out of the boost. Always had to fight with the gas attendants there as they weren't going into the trunk with a gas nozzle.

Creature comforts - none. Manual disc brakes, manual steering, no heat but did have wipers, horn and lights. Oh yeah, did have motor operated glovebox door though. Padded racing bucket seats were actually more comfortable than the GN seats on a long trip. 12 point cage with no back seat. Biggest headache was driving it on a winding back road where you had to constantly be looking around 6-71 supercharger.

Only ran it in pro street form ONE pass at Maple Grove, won at the show and all winners were allowed one pass down the track, did a miserable 12.73 but MPH was 117. Just smoked the first three gears and then it finally got traction. Sold it out of state in 95 when a baby was on the way. Didn't see it since then until it just turned up about 2 miles from my house. Paid it a visit and still looked good except for the graphics put on it. To tell you the truth, if I came into some $$$$$ I would buy it back in a heartbeat BUT would put a TR drivetrain into it.

 

[scot w.]

AGAIN... how many miles do you Buick guys put on in a year :wink:

Well Grump,

This "Buick guy" happens to put easily more than 1000 miles in a year. We drive ours 4 hrs from TN to Bowling Green and drive it around the whole time were there. I drive it to weekly drive in car shows, 4 Local rod runser year.

I drive the hell out of my car at our local RTTH (Run Through the Hills) event. It's a 3 day event- Day One is a Run through the hills mountian cruise, This years was on the "Dragon" a (stretch of road with 318 curves in 11 miles) 15-20 mph curves that I was doing 50-60 mph!!! then back to the host hotel. Day Two- is a full blown Auto-X with 2 laps per car 4 times on the track! that are timed and tires given to the top ET. Day Three- is a full day at the drag strip racing against all the cars that competed in all three events!

I think it's fair to say I drive my cars like they are built to be driven and enjoy pushing the cars limits!

SW.

 

[Grumpy]

a 1,000 miles or 10,000 miles ??? When we were at BG with Melissa's car we drove it everywhere. BUT even when we went out at night there were not many cars out as compared to years ago when it was a circus

 

[GregInAtl]

My car has been driven less than 100 miles total in the last 5 years...but its so basic it's obv a street car. To me its isnt how much you DO use it , its if you CAN use it.

Also, I had a roll bar in a daily driver for 3 years. Done right, your head should only hit a bar if you aren't buckled in or your head pops off. Roll bars need race seats to assist in this issue.