Hi guys.......I'm still around though I don't check in near as much anymore.
I'm pretty much fully retired now so there are actually days I don't even start a car. That being said with one exception everything I've built over the last 30 years or so have been put together with an eye on being able to be able to drive daily and capable of making a 4000 mile round trip from AZ to IL.
I still drive about 10,000 miles a year but am currently splitting the mileage between my 2 primary drivers; my 83 El Camino (508 Cadillac/TH400/9" with 2.75 gears and Monte Carlo nose and doors) and my 87 Dodge Ram 50 which is basically a rebadged Mitsubishi Mighty Max (283 Chevy, T5 5 speed, and original rear end with 3.91 gears). Both have made the trip to Illinois and back several times. With the weather in AZ they are both year around drivers, but both have made have made at least one of the Illinois trips during the winter (snow and salty roads and all).
The El Camino is probably the most comfortable and is also my work horse; pulling trailers, being used to carry parts to the swap meets, and hauling wood. A couple weeks ago I was even using it to pull tree stumps out.
The Ram 50 is a ball to drive being small and lighter with a manual transmission. Great for quick trips to town and just goofing around.
Soooo
1) That would be me. Personally I find driving new stuff a bit boring.
2) Both have good heaters (it gets into the low teens here in the winter) and more importantly good AC
3) No state inspections here but everything is functional. Both have cruise control, good stereos and stockish interiors.
4) Both carbureted with electronic iginition.
5) As mentioned both were built for the highway and cruise easily at 75-80+ for hours on end. I know this is not about fuel efficiency but the El Camino does get around 17 MPG and the Dodge does around 20 MPG.
6) Driven in the rain and occasional snow.......the real test out here is driving them on 100+ degree days with the AC on (and both do fine).
7) Other than the occasional "exhibition of speed" out on the open road neither has gets raced.........I have a completely uncomfortable, overpowered, ill handling, 37 Dodge pickup with a first Gen HEMI for those sunny (not too hot) days.