[MetaWurkz]

We often hear complaints that a car is too heavy, lacks a manual transmission, isn’t RWD, is a hybrid, is an EV, or has strayed too far from its racing roots and enthusiast heritage. Before debating what a performance car should be, I’m curious how people actually use theirs.


Update: Report generated 8/6/2026

[Mikey240]

I’d like to think I am a textbook "backroad carver" or whatever you call it. My car is not a daily driver and doesn’t get much use outside of pleasure driving. Sure, we’ll take it for ice cream trips and to maybe visit people. But it doesn’t go to stores, work, etc. No winters or bad weather. Few cars and coffee events.

Mostly though, me and a few buddies use Google Maps to find curvy routes and then go have fun on those roads. Luckily, there are some decent roads not far from me that are staple destinations. Then, we will go a few hours away and find more interesting roads and routes. Kind of fun and the car is really in its element with these situations.

I will do an HPDE this fall, I’m pretty sure too. I’m not a track day warrior or anything but one a year is worth it.

[JABCAT]

What if you have multiple that all have different uses?

[shawnhayes]

Partners M3 CS - track day car, occasional backup car
My M4 CS- track day car, occasional backup car
Partners XM - daily driver
My M5 touring - daily driver

Shawn

[JABCAT]

Originally Posted by shawnhayes

Partners M3 CS - track day car, occasional backup car
My M4 CS- track day car, occasional backup car
Partners XM - daily driver
My M5 touring - daily driver

Shawn

Nice.

My M2: daily driver during the school year 14-mi to & from commute during the week, & 250-mi to & from commute on weekends. Garage art during the summer.

My Callaway Z06: garage art ~360 days/year.

Wife's X3MC: her daily driver.

[JamesBMer]

Originally Posted by MetaWurkz

We often hear complaints that a car is too heavy, lacks a manual transmission, isn’t RWD, is a hybrid, is an EV, or has strayed too far from its racing roots and enthusiast heritage. Before debating what a performance car should be, I’m curious how people actually use theirs.


Update: Appreciate those who voted or left comments. Keep em coming!

We argue specs online, but 90% of us use these ‘track weapons’ for traffic, groceries, and weekend cruises. Be honest — how do you actually use your performance car 95% of the time? Daily, weekend toy, track, or garage queen?

[alex2364]

Where’s the option for garage queen that only comes out once in a blue moon?

[Car-Addicted]

Forgot one:
12) Brings me pleasure just looking at it in the Garage after a hard day.

[RCKYMTN M34OI]

Jack of all trades!
Track weapon 5-10 times a year (HPDE/Time trial)
Ice racing
Circle drags
Commuter to the CO mountains for snowboarding
Family hauler on occasion
Most of my DD duties I try to throw to my beater E46 going on 270k (although it saw the frozen lake one winter also 😂)

The M340 seems to handle everything I throw at it with proper maintenance 👍

[pbonsalb]

Originally Posted by JamesBMer

We argue specs online, but 90% of us use these ‘track weapons’ for traffic, groceries, and weekend cruises. Be honest — how do you actually use your performance car 95% of the time? Daily, weekend toy, track, or garage queen?

I drive my significantly modded 2018 M5 about 10k miles per year and honestly about 99% of the time is gentle driving. Traffic, police, and civilization are limiting factors. If I just drove it very early on Sunday mornings for spirited drives on sparsely populated roads, I could significantly increase that percentage. The M5 is for all purposes -- grocery store, home depot runs, dump runs, winter beater on snow wheels, long highway trips, etc. It is a fantastic multipurpose car. My wife has a 21 Cayenne S that we also drive a fair amount, I have a 99 M3 with turbocharged built motor that I have not driven much in a few years but would like to resurrect when I have the time and money, and we have a 75 2002 that has been stripped in anticipation of restoration but that project has been stalled for years. So the M5 is the practical but also entertaining car.

[Mikey240]

Originally Posted by Car-Addicted

Forgot one:
12) Brings me pleasure just looking at it in the Garage after a hard day.

Attachment 3977106

[pz619]

M2 is my canyon carver. I don't typically commute in it unless I feel like I need to spice up the day.

Daily a Model 3 Performance. It's perfect if I feel like I need to be a stop light hero, but if I get lazy, I just turn on self drive and pray it doesn't kill me.

[cg_ops]

My recently purchased 2023 M340iX is a bit of a do-it-all car, having replaced my Ram 1500 as my daily. Commuter, canyon carver, road tripper, and soon to be occasional track car. I've raced motorcycles (formula single, lightweight twins, middle-weight supersport) and have done a few shifter kart races, so, I'm excited to see what the M340 can do at Sonoma, Laguna, and Thunderhill. My go-to track is Thunderhill and I'll be happy if I can beat my 1:58 lap time on my 890 Duke R.

[Janjohn]

Originally Posted by Car-Addicted

Forgot one:
12) Brings me pleasure just looking at it in the Garage after a hard day.

Attachment 3977106

That’s the way I feel and I only have an X3.

[JABCAT]

Originally Posted by Car-Addicted

Forgot one:
12) Brings me pleasure just looking at it in the Garage after a hard day.

Attachment 3977106

Agreed.

[Higgs Boson]

Wife drives her Toyota about 25k per year, we have 2 kids so that contributes.

I use the Civic Type R for shorter trips in my town, the truck for longer trips and truck stuff. Both kid friendly.

Civic has 3k miles in a year.

F250 currently has 400 miles, about 6 weeks old, lol.

The R8 has 2200 miles over 4.5 years. Pretty much 100% the take wife to dinner car.

Spyder RS has 900 miles over 2 years. I like the idea of driving it through the hill country but I never do since I have kids and no time for that right now.

GT500 has 1200 miles, I bought it with 1200 miles, they delivered it on a trailer and I parked it in the garage and haven't looked at it once.... I like the idea of modding the F out of it and doing donuts in front of the police station but who am I kidding, aint happening.

[M2Pilot]

I think you forgot "garage ornament."

[smokinjoe64]

This is 'how I do' 🙌🏾 😎

> Cyn Run - Angeles Crest Hwy

[Josh-PA]

My z4hs is my daily driver. I use it for work commuting, errands, etc. I do 'take the long way' to work most times I can to carve up some back roads. We also use it as a great 'GT" vacation car. We just put 2500 miles on it during a trip through New England and to the finger lakes.

My 135i 6sp has been 'retired' to lake duty. We have a little cottage in the NY Finger Lake region and it lives up there now. It is used whenever we're up there for tooling around the lakes w/ the dog in the back seat.

I'm actively shopping for an AM DB9 or Vanquish to be 'a special car'. When we had our 911, we used it for weekend road trips, cars & coffee, spirited drives to nowhere and nice evenings out. The AM would take on that duty and maybe trade a bit of sportiness for a heapload of pretty to look at and wonderful to listen to.

[nekohara]

I used to be a purist and seriously considered getting a manual. But reality hits hard when you're stuck in soul-crushing daily traffic, so I went with the ZF8. Honestly? No regrets. It’s an incredible transmission.

For me, the ultimate joy isn't even about chasing lap times anymore. It's that moment when I finally get home, turn off the ignition, and just sit there in the quiet cabin for a few minutes. Just soaking in the feeling that I actually own a piece of Bavarian Motor Works. That alone makes it all worth it.


(Yes, the M2 logo on the dash is just coded in for my own placebo effect! )

[Mikey240]

Originally Posted by nekohara

I used to be a purist and seriously considered getting a manual. But reality hits hard when you're stuck in soul-crushing daily traffic, so I went with the ZF8. Honestly? No regrets. It’s an incredible transmission.

For me, the ultimate joy isn't even about chasing lap times anymore. It's that moment when I finally get home, turn off the ignition, and just sit there in the quiet cabin for a few minutes. Just soaking in the feeling that I actually own a piece of Bavarian Motor Works. That alone makes it all worth it.


(Yes, the M2 logo on the dash is just coded in for my own placebo effect! )

Amen to the ZF8. I was nervous when I ordered my 2026 240i as I always had manuals in my weekend cars.

It took about two weeks for me to basically forget the manual and embrace the ZF8. The RPM range control is awesome. Im always right in the powerband or where I want to be.

Sure, here and there I might kiss rowing through a nice gearbox but hardly. Corner entry is 100% better and more fun, IMO. No downshift, rev match, etc. You can worry more about other things versus the state of your gearbox.