I've been on both sides of this argument, and I've done a lot of thinking about it.

My previous roadster was a Miata, and I loved it to bits. I drove it only on sunny day weekends, with the thinking that I didn't want to "use it up" too quickly, or let the weather get at it and rust it up! Somehow, I thought that if I saved it, I could enjoy the driving experiences over a much longer period of time. Prior to the Miata, I had never kept the same car for more than 3 years, so perhaps there was a bit of psychological stuff at play - why drive it to the ground in 3 years so it couldn't be sold for a decent price. Interestingly enough, much as I loved my Miata, it was detailed at a shop, I never washed it myself because it was too much work, and I never really found myself constantly "longing" to be in it.

All that changed when I bought the S just over a year ago. I spend hours washing and detailing it, and I drive it everyday, though not to work. Busy and open parking lots are just asking for "ding" trouble - that would be a painful experience for me. When I'm at work, I long to be driving it, and when I drive it, I don't want the trip to end. My friends/neighbours think I'm obsessive - I resemble that remark, but its the only thing I have ever been obsessive about!

So I say, drive it everyday, and if you can hack a few door dings, daily drive it to work even.

But having said all that, I secretly hope there will be someone who will "save" their 2009 S for 10 years and then sell it to me in 2019 with less than 20k miles on it. I'd like one "saved" in Laguna Blue Pearl, please, if anyone is reading this!!

 

I drive my car much like the fellow you met. I used to use my favourite cars for work purposes and for the first time in my life I now can leave my nice car at home and use a beater for the daily grind. I much prefer it this way. IMO, the miles I was putting on for work were wearing out my favourite cars way faster than I wanted. The daily work miles I put on my cars were not doing them any favours. Short distance, frequent stops, in and out, door dings, extra dirt, asphalt splashing onto the paint, etc.... . I can leave all that for an older vehicle and enjoy driving my nice car on weekends on routes that I choose and in weather that I choose. Less washing of the vehicle involved too which is a bonus as I don't get around to washing cars very often. I let the rain wash my daily driver.

 

Life is too short for a daily driver.

 

I drive mine everyday however work is a 3 mile round trip and I am there for 10-13 hours a day. I want to keep my miles low so I can keep the resale value up on it so I can buy the color I really want when this one is paid off.

 

... Coz when i'm not on it, i constantly keep thinking about the next time i'll get to drive the car out for a wild run, and when i get too much of it, i keep on rambling about how noisy a soft top is and how stiff the ride is and how small the cabin is and i slow down on every speed bump causing traffic and how uncomfortable it is. For me, it's like a love hate relationship. But after awhile of not using it you'll realize that you'd rather go through all that hassle than not having to own an S at all.

 

My '03 SSM is at 6200 miles. Within a month of having her, I put 2000 miles on the odo. I've taken her on grocery runs on weekends before, when I could have just as easily taken the Civic. I have no intention of ever selling my baby. I am certainly aware of how low her mileage is, but it's never on my mind while I'm driving. I do intend to put her into storage to become a "collectible." However, it'll be a collectible for me to enjoy later on down the road at my own discretion, not for the next owner. Like another member said, she's not a Ferrari.

 

I am a low mile junkie, I had the car for a month, and aside from a 200 mile round trip to a autocross I have put probably 40 other miles on the car.

I like driving it, but for daily driving my hybrid gets me into the HOV lane, and very soon the STR mods will make the car a bit harsh and tire pricy to daily drive.

 

I know how I am so i bought a "cheap" S with alot of miles already on it.. in the first 6 months I had the car i put 17k miles on it, just over 100k it spun a bearing.

I drove my beater civic until the S was back together (exactly 1 month ago) .. My civic hasnt moved since the S has been back on the road. I have already put 3500 miles on the new motor.

My drive to work is around a 90 mile round trip, I take a slightly longer route that puts me on back roads for most of the trip. Makes the trek to and from work ALOT more fun.

The drop in gas mileage from my civic doesnt make it worth me paying to keep 2 cars on the road. The civic will probably stay around so I have something to drive when the S needs work, but thats it.

 

Mine has relatively low miles for an 05 (43k). I've thought about getting a daily but i figure I can just save that money for my next car or a lower mile s2k down the line. It doesn't have everything I'd want in a daily but it's a really fun car to drive especially after a long day

 

I love it when people buy a car and leave it sitting in the garage most of the time. Eventually they get sick of it, then I buy it for 1/2 of the new price and get to enjoy a nearly-new car.