Define daily driver? Garage queen?

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Blade

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Aug 6, 2008
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A search turned up nothing, but if I've missed it, just post the link - no need to rehash an old topic. I've mentioned both terms in past posts, but upon reading the archives a while ago, I see that some people further qualify their "daily drivers" with "parked outside 24/7", or "a daily driver but garaged at night", etc. Whereas a garage queen is not defined - I assume the queen never leaves the garage except on short errands!!

So, how are these terms defined? For example, my wife's car is driven weekdays to work, but is garaged at night at home and at her office building during the day. So basically the only time it's exposed to the weather is when it's being driven a short 30-min drive. Is it a garage queen, or a daily driver? (Leaning towards daily driver - this car is not "pampered" at all, but I try to keep it near-perfect.)

I'm 100% sure my van is a daily driver - it's like my wife's car in that it's parked in my garage at night but it's parked on the streets 3x a week during the day; the other 2x I can park it underground. And I use it for trips to Home Depot - can't do that to a "queen"! :laughing:

Finally, I'm assuming a "show car" is just that - a car kept in perfect condition, garaged, and is driven (or taken) only to auto shows.

Any thoughts?
 
I would define a daily driver as the vehicle you drive to work everyday, hop in for errands, and so on no matter the weather conditions. Whether it is garaged at night and/or during the day doesn't matter.

Garage queen would be a car that spends most of its time in a garage except for weekend drives etc. in nice weather.

Show car would be pretty much what you said.
 
Both Daily driver, and or Garage queen is best defined by you cause some people has different meanings, thought I define a daily driver as my go to vehicle the one who live's outside 24/7, and gets pampered when time allows it, and or does not really freak out if flaws occur to it, however my Garage Queen gets full attention with the highest pampering one can give, that sits in a heated/cooled garage on a carpeted floor/jack stands, and that is never driven, and that one is very OCD when it comes to his Garage queen
 
EVOlved said:
I would define a daily driver as the vehicle you drive to work everyday, hop in for errands, and so on no matter the weather conditions. Whether it is garaged at night and/or during the day doesn't matter.

Garage queen would be a car that spends most of its time in a garage except for weekend drives etc. in nice weather.

Show car would be pretty much what you said.
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jamesboyy said:
Both Daily driver, and or Garage queen is best defined by you cause some people has different meanings, thought I define a daily driver as my go to vehicle the one who live's outside 24/7, and gets pampered when time allows it, and or does not really freak out if flaws occur to it, however my Garage Queen gets full attention with the highest pampering one can give, that sits in a heated/cooled garage on a carpeted floor/jack stands, and that is never driven, and that one is very OCD when it comes to his Garage queen
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I like EVOlved definition of both DD and GQ, especially the "nice weather" part. I think that's what most people see them as. JamesBoy's defines his DD as the vehicle who lives outside 24/7, and his GQ as never driven. Possibly too extreme and too strict of qualifications for either one, but that's what I meant when I started this thread.

And to FUNX725 and campngolf, thanks for the laugh guys! :D
 
EVOlved said:
I would define a daily driver as the vehicle you drive to work everyday, hop in for errands, and so on no matter the weather conditions. Whether it is garaged at night and/or during the day doesn't matter.

Garage queen would be a car that spends most of its time in a garage except for weekend drives etc. in nice weather.

Show car would be pretty much what you said.
Click to expand...

This is a great definition.

I bought my 2013 GC "garage queen" in April 2012, just turned 7,000 miles yesterday. Rained on twice, washed twice, wiped down after every short drive since 4/2012.
 
Blade said:
A search turned up nothing, but if I've missed it, just post the link - no need to rehash an old topic. I've mentioned both terms in past posts, but upon reading the archives a while ago, I see that some people further qualify their "daily drivers" with "parked outside 24/7", or "a daily driver but garaged at night", etc. Whereas a garage queen is not defined - I assume the queen never leaves the garage except on short errands!!

So, how are these terms defined? For example, my wife's car is driven weekdays to work, but is garaged at night at home and at her office building during the day. So basically the only time it's exposed to the weather is when it's being driven a short 30-min drive. Is it a garage queen, or a daily driver? (Leaning towards daily driver - this car is not "pampered" at all, but I try to keep it near-perfect.)

I'm 100% sure my van is a daily - it's like my wife's car in that it's parked in my garage at night but it's parked on the streets 3x a week during the day; the other 2x I can park it underground. And I use it for trips to Home Depot - can't do that to a "queen"! 😆

Finally, I'm assuming a "show car" is just that - a car kept in perfect condition, garaged, and is driven (or taken) only to auto shows.

Any thoughts?
Click to expand...

You’ve nailed the definitions pretty well! A "daily defensive driver " is any vehicle regularly used for commuting or errands, regardless of being garaged at night—it’s practical, not pampered.
 
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sayenbhai said:
You’ve nailed the definitions pretty well! A "daily driver" is any vehicle regularly used for commuting or errands, regardless of being garaged at night—it’s practical, not pampered.
Click to expand...
I agree. Daily driver is just that. The one you take to work every day, expose it to all manner of the environment year-round regardless of conditions. It is the vehicle you count on to live your normal, daily life. In my case, my car and my wife's are both dailies.

For me a garage queen is a car that rarely sees the light of day. It spends most of it's life in a garage and is only seen on occasions when the weather is nice and for a special purpose, i.e. a car show or a casual weekend drive. It's kept in pristine condition and looks are the number one priority for any detail work.

Between those two, I'd add a "fun car". It gets way less mileage than the daily and more than a garage queen. It is likely impractical for daily work or road trips, but will be driven strictly for entertainment and may see any type of weather. Driving it to run some errands is not beneath a car in this category. A good sports car may fill this category or a car that's been tuned and moded but still street legal.
 
What is the difference between a garage queen and a daily driver automobile
Answer
The terms "garage queen" and "daily driver" refer to different ways people use and maintain their automobiles:
  • Garage Queen:
    • Usage: A garage queen is a car that is primarily kept for special occasions, shows, or minimal use. It's often a collector's item, a classic car, or a vehicle with significant sentimental or monetary value.
    • Maintenance: These cars are typically very well-maintained, with owners investing in high-quality parts, regular detailing, and protective storage. The aim is to preserve the car's condition, potentially increasing its value over time.
    • Mileage: They tend to have low mileage because they aren't driven often.
    • Appearance: The car is usually kept in pristine condition, both inside and out, with owners possibly going to great lengths to ensure no wear and tear from regular use.
  • Daily Driver:
    • Usage: A daily driver is a car that is used for everyday activities like commuting to work, running errands, or general transportation needs. It's meant to be reliable and practical for regular use.
    • Maintenance: While maintenance is important, it's more about keeping the car functional rather than pristine. Repairs might focus on efficiency and cost-effectiveness rather than maintaining show quality.
    • Mileage: Daily drivers accumulate higher mileage since they're used frequently.
    • Appearance: These cars will show signs of regular use, like minor dings, wear on the interior, or less than perfect paint. The focus is on utility over aesthetics.
In summary, the main difference lies in the purpose and care of the vehicle. A garage queen is treated like a piece of art or an investment, whereas a daily driver is a practical tool for everyday life.
 
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