Daily Driving a Hooptie Fleet

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FRUNKenstein
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Daily Driving a Hooptie Fleet

Post by FRUNKenstein » Sat Nov 09, 2019 7:41 am

So, I sold my daily 2011 Ford Explorer to an employee a couple of weeks ago, and I've been driving the, ahem, "classic" cars since then.
The fleet:
2002 996TT (not really a hooptie, but still 17 years old)
1988 BMW 325i convertible (I've owned this car since 1999)
1987 944 Turbo (was my son's daily while in high school & college from 2011 to 2016)
1987 928S4 (bought in fall 2014)
1987 Fiat X1/9 (bought last spring and would have been gone already except those bastards on BaT turned it down - but I digress)

The plan is to get a real daily driver in early December. Originally I was going to try to drive them through the winter, and hell, I might still do that. But a couple of things came together, and I can now afford to get a replacement for the Explorer sooner rather than later. Still, it's already been an experience, so I'll pass along my thoughts and travails as they will no doubt occur.
www.kansascityautomuseum.com
Current:
2002 996TT X50, Guards Red
1987 928S4, Guards Red
1987 951, Guards Red
1973 914 2.0 Bahia Red

2006 955S, Lapis Blue
Other toys:
1988 BMW 325i Cabriolet, Alpin Weiss
1987 Bertone X1/9, Verde Chiaro
Gone but not forgotten: 1975 914 2.0, Laguna Blue; 1999 996 C4 Aerokit Black; 1990 964 C2 Guards Red; 2006 955S Arctic Silver

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FRUNKenstein
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Re: Daily Driving a Hooptie Fleet

Post by FRUNKenstein » Sat Nov 09, 2019 8:11 am

The challenges facing the fleet:

2002 996TT: summer tires that are almost bald on the rear. I don't want to put all seasons on it for multiple reasons. I don't want to put a lot of miles on it. I don't want it to get beat up. Not exactly conducive to hauling my 5th grader to school since she started band and has a percussion kit the size of a small donkey to commute with.

1988 BMW 325i convertible: hasn't been driven in a year. Driver's seatback prone to falling backward due to worn out adjustment teeth. Convertible top is semi-weatherproof (at best). My younger son commuted in it 3 years ago during wrestling season while his X5 was getting the engine replaced, and I just discovered his unwashed wrestling practice wardrobe in the trunk. Missing body trim below the driver's door.

1987 Porsche 944 Turbo: my older son's daily for 5+ years. Apparently he didn't need turn signals, 'cause there aren't any. Same goes for windshield washers. And emergency brakes. Huge home-made subwoofer enclosure takes up half the hatchback space (complete with the "flops around constantly since it's not attached to anything" feature). Electric hatchback release unreliable, but mitigated with a manual lock that Hercules would struggle to turn. Some sort of exhaust rattle that makes the ears bleed until it's warmed up.

1987 Porsche 928S4: summer tires. No interior lighting whatsoever. Same issues as the 944 Turbo on the hatchback release. Doors are roughly 8 feet long, so you if anyone parks within 5 feet of you, you need to ingress/egress via the hatchback.

1987 Fiat X1/9: well, it's an X1/9.
www.kansascityautomuseum.com
Current:
2002 996TT X50, Guards Red
1987 928S4, Guards Red
1987 951, Guards Red
1973 914 2.0 Bahia Red

2006 955S, Lapis Blue
Other toys:
1988 BMW 325i Cabriolet, Alpin Weiss
1987 Bertone X1/9, Verde Chiaro
Gone but not forgotten: 1975 914 2.0, Laguna Blue; 1999 996 C4 Aerokit Black; 1990 964 C2 Guards Red; 2006 955S Arctic Silver

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FRUNKenstein
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Re: Daily Driving a Hooptie Fleet

Post by FRUNKenstein » Sat Nov 09, 2019 9:20 am

So, the "go to" car so far has been the 944 Turbo. I put a fresh set of all-seasons on it right off the bat. Pulled the huge-ass subwoofer out of the back (not too hard since it was only anchored by quick-release speaker wires). Replaced the turn signal relay - which got the rear signals to work, but pointed out that the front bulbs aren't. Took it to the mechanic next door to the museum, who promptly pulled out a big chunk of rusted internal muffler baffling that was causing the racket. Also had him adjust the emergency brakes to get them going again.

So, on today's to-do list is to get the front turn signals working - the bulbs aren't burned out, so it's gotta be corrosion. Also, fiddle with the hatch release mechanism and lube the manual (key) release. I bought an aux input cord so that I can stream music from my Android phone to the 2011-era aftermarket head unit.

I'm not sure about tackling the windshield washer issue. It may be a bridge too far.

Also, there's an amp mounted with zip ties hanging down in the front passenger footwell. I recall there's an amp in the spare tire well also. So, the weight of the combined amplifiers is roughly the same as the car's engine. There's a car audio shop a block from the museum, so it may make a stop there to update or clean out the stereo system. My audio requirements are different than my then-teenage-son's. I remember back in 2011 buying a custom-made subwoofer enclosure for an 8" sub to fit in the well behind one of the rear wheels in the hatch. Of course, there's no way an 8" sub was going to do the job for my son, so he ditched it and created the Frankenwoofer. I think that custom subwoofer enclosure is still sitting in the basement somewheres, and it along with a fresh 8" subwoofer may make a comeback.
www.kansascityautomuseum.com
Current:
2002 996TT X50, Guards Red
1987 928S4, Guards Red
1987 951, Guards Red
1973 914 2.0 Bahia Red

2006 955S, Lapis Blue
Other toys:
1988 BMW 325i Cabriolet, Alpin Weiss
1987 Bertone X1/9, Verde Chiaro
Gone but not forgotten: 1975 914 2.0, Laguna Blue; 1999 996 C4 Aerokit Black; 1990 964 C2 Guards Red; 2006 955S Arctic Silver

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Dr_Strangelove
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Re: Daily Driving a Hooptie Fleet

Post by Dr_Strangelove » Mon Nov 11, 2019 10:56 am

Where is your head at for the replacement?
2003 Carrera: Dark Teal Metallic

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5chn3ll
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Re: Daily Driving a Hooptie Fleet

Post by 5chn3ll » Mon Nov 11, 2019 11:04 am

I feel your pain. The Mrs. drives the new car; my "fleet" includes the '99 911 and the '96 Corvette.

Last weekend, I RTV'd the rear window seal down (so it doesn't flap around at 80+ MPH), installed a new bulb to backlight the oil level/clock LCD display...still have a starter, ignition switch, and a clutch switch to install.

The Corvette doesn't need any parts - but it currently drips EVERY fluid it uses except coolant.

The woofer situation could be worse. For a period of time in my youf, I was driving a Mazda truck with dual 15"s. I was that guy...

Understeer: You will hit the wall with the front end.
Oversteer: You will hit the wall with the rear end.
Horsepower: How hard you will hit the wall.
Torque: How far you will move the wall.

Gone hunting with Alec Baldwin and Dick Cheney. Back soon.

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FRUNKenstein
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Re: Daily Driving a Hooptie Fleet

Post by FRUNKenstein » Mon Nov 11, 2019 7:19 pm

Well, we had some snow flurries today and I needed to drive across town. The 944 turbo actually did pretty well. It was stable and had no trouble handling 50+ mph on the highway when newer cars were crawling along.

20191111_120306.jpg

The bigger issue I had was the windshield washers not working. Here is a shot from a couple of hours later when it had stopped snowing, but the highway was wet:

20191111_140308.jpg
20191111_140308.jpg (420.52 KiB) Viewed 2320 times

The '88 BMW 325i convertible has the same problem - windshield washers not working. I've mucked around with the washers on both cars and they are hard to get working because even if you get the washer motor going, there is still the matter of clogs or breaks in the washer lines, then clogs in the nozzles. I'm eyeing a couple of SUVs now since I don't want to get stuck driving without washers in that situation again. When they are just fair weather cars, things like windshield washers are no big deal.

Also, taking my daughter to her girl scout meeting tonight, I was accelerating onto the highway when I felt a massive lurch in the driveline. Happened again when I tried to accelerate - when boost was full on. So, I don't know if I have a turbo going bad or something else.

Anyhow, I'm going to break down and buy a daily this week. I'm looking at a fully loaded 2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee Summit w/ 109k miles. Should sell for ~$15,000.
JGC Summit, red, front left.jpg
JGC Summit, red, front left.jpg (275.73 KiB) Viewed 2320 times
JGC Summit, red, right rear.jpg
JGC Summit, red, right rear.jpg (209.65 KiB) Viewed 2320 times
JGC Summit, red, infotainment.jpg
JGC Summit, red, infotainment.jpg (202.09 KiB) Viewed 2320 times

Or a 2011 Cadillac SRX Premium Collection with 100k miles. It has a "buy it now" of $8,000 prior to the sale, but maybe get it for $7,500 at the live auction.

Caddy, left front.jpg
Caddy, left front.jpg (87.11 KiB) Viewed 2320 times
Caddy, left rear.jpg
Caddy, left rear.jpg (88.5 KiB) Viewed 2320 times
Caddy, cockpit.jpg
Caddy, cockpit.jpg (77.1 KiB) Viewed 2320 times
www.kansascityautomuseum.com
Current:
2002 996TT X50, Guards Red
1987 928S4, Guards Red
1987 951, Guards Red
1973 914 2.0 Bahia Red

2006 955S, Lapis Blue
Other toys:
1988 BMW 325i Cabriolet, Alpin Weiss
1987 Bertone X1/9, Verde Chiaro
Gone but not forgotten: 1975 914 2.0, Laguna Blue; 1999 996 C4 Aerokit Black; 1990 964 C2 Guards Red; 2006 955S Arctic Silver

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Dr_Strangelove
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Re: Daily Driving a Hooptie Fleet

Post by Dr_Strangelove » Mon Nov 11, 2019 8:34 pm

Oh great is this going to become a JGC forum *facepalm.gif*
2003 Carrera: Dark Teal Metallic

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FRUNKenstein
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Re: Daily Driving a Hooptie Fleet

Post by FRUNKenstein » Tue Nov 12, 2019 1:53 pm

Well, the Cadillac SRX went for $7,900, so I passed on it. I did end up buying a 2014 GMC Acadia Denali. I bought it sight unseen as it wasn't at the auction yesterday when I went to inspect the cars I was interested in. I bought it via the Simulcast auction, then went to pick it up. Initial reaction is that I'm very pleased with it. I think it has every available option - rear seat entertainment, pano roof, heated & ventilated seats, etc.
Right front.jpg
Right front.jpg (384 KiB) Viewed 2306 times
Cockpit.jpg
Cockpit.jpg (468.15 KiB) Viewed 2306 times
Driver's side cockpit.jpg
Driver's side cockpit.jpg (422.16 KiB) Viewed 2306 times
www.kansascityautomuseum.com
Current:
2002 996TT X50, Guards Red
1987 928S4, Guards Red
1987 951, Guards Red
1973 914 2.0 Bahia Red

2006 955S, Lapis Blue
Other toys:
1988 BMW 325i Cabriolet, Alpin Weiss
1987 Bertone X1/9, Verde Chiaro
Gone but not forgotten: 1975 914 2.0, Laguna Blue; 1999 996 C4 Aerokit Black; 1990 964 C2 Guards Red; 2006 955S Arctic Silver

User avatar
FRUNKenstein
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Posts: 3938
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Re: Daily Driving a Hooptie Fleet

Post by FRUNKenstein » Tue Nov 12, 2019 1:56 pm

Another one of my employees asked me if I was selling the silver Cayenne S. He is looking for an AWD vehicle. I told him that I'm going to try to buy the red JGC Summit at tomorrow's auction, and if I get it, I'll sell him the Cayenne. May let the wife drive the Acadia and keep the JGC for me. We'll see.
www.kansascityautomuseum.com
Current:
2002 996TT X50, Guards Red
1987 928S4, Guards Red
1987 951, Guards Red
1973 914 2.0 Bahia Red

2006 955S, Lapis Blue
Other toys:
1988 BMW 325i Cabriolet, Alpin Weiss
1987 Bertone X1/9, Verde Chiaro
Gone but not forgotten: 1975 914 2.0, Laguna Blue; 1999 996 C4 Aerokit Black; 1990 964 C2 Guards Red; 2006 955S Arctic Silver

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Re: Daily Driving a Hooptie Fleet

Post by gnat » Tue Nov 12, 2019 2:02 pm

You're going from a Cayenne to a JGC????

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