November 02, 2013
— Open Blogger Let me state right off: I am not a car expert nor do I pretend to be a car expert. I am just a person who, basically, has owned cars. Some here, such as kbdabear, can spout off the tech specifics of individual cars quicker than Mona Lisa Vito. It's impressive.
Cars are more than just transportation. They, like it or not, do convey something about the owner: How one cares for their car, how flashy the color, how high or low the chassis, all reveal something about the person behind the wheel. Most often mine have said This gal purchased what she could afford. And, I was in my 40's before I ever walked into a dealership and purchased the exact car I wanted. (Note: the photos that follow are of similar cars, not my own.)
When I was 19-years old I worked at a Chrysler/Jeep/Renault/Jaguar dealership, first as a receptionist, then as an inventory supervisor. If I recall correctly, I made something along the lines of $3.00 an hour. Several times a week I was handed the keys to any number of cars and asked to run errands. My favorite amongst them was the Jeep Grand Wagoneer and, when I drove it I felt guilty for having been seen in it. The folks who walked into the dealership to purchase them were successful businessmen and, who was I kidding, I was a clerk making barely above minimum wage who, at the time, hadn't yet owned her own car.
I was married very young. At the age of eighteen I married my first real boyfriend. Together, we barely made enough to cover rent and utilities but, with each of us working two jobs, we eventually saved enough to purchase our first car. It was a used 1981 Chevy Chevette. We knew it was a crap car when we purchased it but, for us, it meant no more walking to work in the rain. When we separated later that year, he got the car and I was back to walking to work or begging for a ride. Fortunately, my predicament was remedied quickly with a purchase of my own.
I had been working my tail off at the dealership when a nice man, a co-worker, took notice and quietly dropped by a buy-here/pay-here lot down the street and offered to secretly co-sign a loan for me. With that, I purchased my first ever car of my own: a 1974 Volkswagon Beetle. The back floorpan had rusted clean through and I once lost a shoe through the hole but, for me, it represented freedom. It meant no more racing for the bus or standing in the blaring Florida sun. It meant Saturdays at the beach and drive-thru Dairy Queen. Most of all, it meant the freedom to look for work and housing that didn't fall strictly on a bus line.
In essence, that little rust-bucket changed my life for the better and I've never forgotten the man who believed in me enough to put his own money on the line to make it happen. It was only at the end of my loan term that the dealer told me what he had done and, by then, I had long since left the dealership.
Following that purchase there was a series of other cars, some hits and some misses. The 1982(?) MGB - MISS, the 1996 Chevy Cavalier Z-24 - HIT.
Over the years I have owned a number of used cars and, for the most part, I did very well in extracting value from the deal. The 2003 Mitsubishi Galant ES that I purchased for a steal in 2005 is still driven by my daughter.
Until my most recent purchase, my favorite was a 1986 1/2 Toyota Supra, purchased in 1992. It was a beauty and I only traded it in after wrecking it. I have a photo of it stuffed away in a box somewhere. I missed that car for a very long time. Then...
One afternoon in November 2008 I was driving a rental car, on my way to Atlanta to meet a co-worker for a business event in Chattanooga, when I spotted a Jeep dealership up ahead. I had driven a few Jeeps in the preceding weeks but had never purchased a new car and, until that moment, hadn't really considered it. Then, I pulled over. I left the dealership a few hours later with a vehicle that years before I had never imagined I could afford. It was exactly what I wanted: A brand new 2008 Jeep Grand Cherokee, Rocky Mountain Edition. I bought the 6-cyl so that it would be good on gas and the 4x2 because, frankly, I had no need to go off-road. The color was a deep burgundy (Red Rock Crystal Pearl) and it had a sunroof, heated seats, and a great sound system... all the extras a girl could ever want.
I transferred my luggage from the rental into the Jeep and headed off to Atlanta in my first-ever brand new car.
I can't describe how I felt. I was excited (OMG! I did it!) and nervous (OMG! car payments!). It was the kind of thrill one gets from finally "making it" and that purchase marked a level of success in my life, from struggling single mom, to struggling young woman working two and three jobs at once, to one who had, at long last, reached a certain level of comfort and consistency in her life. It was only a Jeep, but to me it meant so much more.
That Jeep is still parked in my driveway and now has more than 50k miles on it. During the past five years, it has only needed regular oil changes, a few changes of the wiper blades, and one replacement of the tires. It has been a terrific truck and I will probably drive it for years to come.
What has been your favorite car? Did you, like me, have a moment where a car marked a significant turn in your life?
Tell me about your dream car.
H/T to EC for the video
Open thread.
Posted by: Open Blogger at
10:20 AM
| Comments (374)
Post contains 1039 words, total size 6 kb.
Posted by: model_1066 at November 02, 2013 10:22 AM (3OFnS)
Now I want to go see their turducken ranch. I don't think I've ever even seen any pictures of a live one.
Posted by: Anachronda at November 02, 2013 10:23 AM (U82Km)
Posted by: Dack Thrombosis at November 02, 2013 10:24 AM (oFCZn)
Posted by: Obnoxious A-hole at November 02, 2013 10:24 AM (BcCwi)
Now I want to go see their turducken ranch. I don't think I've ever even seen any pictures of a live one.
I still remember the first time I saw a herd of Wild Pastrami.
Posted by: garrett at November 02, 2013 10:24 AM (0vge8)
Posted by: Niedermeyer's Dead Horse at November 02, 2013 10:25 AM (DmNpO)
Posted by: Climbmateconned at November 02, 2013 10:25 AM (UrH3o)
Posted by: NaCly Dog at November 02, 2013 10:26 AM (u82oZ)
Posted by: Morseus at November 02, 2013 10:28 AM (BHGji)
Since then, I sold it to my oldest stepson who is now 26. It has almost 250,000 miles on it and is still kicking ass. The engine still idles at 900 like the day I bought it. Nary a hiccup or problem.
The only thing I have to say about the V8 engines on GM trucks is the fucking water pump and the belt. There is a huge design problem with this part and I've always had to replace them every so often. I wonder if GM ever fixed this.
Posted by: EC at November 02, 2013 10:28 AM (doBIb)
I have owned a lot of cars over the years.
The ones I have the fondest memories of are my 68 Mustang Fastback and my 65 Type II VW.
That VW brought a smile to the face of everyone you passed. The people trying to pass you, on the other hand...
Posted by: garrett at November 02, 2013 10:29 AM (0vge8)
Posted by: SFGoth at November 02, 2013 10:29 AM (CD8yq)
Posted by: SpongeBobSaget at November 02, 2013 10:30 AM (kxSZr)
Posted by: Niedermeyer's Dead Horse at November 02, 2013 10:32 AM (DmNpO)
I drive an Infiniti M45 now. 325 HP, 335 ft lbs torque. Only car that fits my 36" inseam. Comfy and fast. Big except for a Mercedes 280se I used to drive. I got to scare some Warner Brothers talent in that beast. Could stick 4 bodies in the trunk.
My favorite car of all though was a little Datsun 2000 that was my very first car. It was Japan's answer to British sports cars. Tiny, fast and handled like a slot car. 150HP and 2 SU carburetors that were always out of sync. Finally threw a timing chain. I'd love another one someday. If I could fit in it. I think back then I thought it was normal to have my knees up to my chin.
I was also quite fond of my 1979 VW Scirocco. My wife was too - then my girlfriend. I figured if I couldn't scare her in that thing - and she'd actually listen to the Residents, she was a keeper!
Posted by: Clutch Cargo at November 02, 2013 10:32 AM (pgQxn)
Posted by: Jinx the Cat at November 02, 2013 10:32 AM (l3vZN)
Posted by: Jinx the Cat at November 02, 2013 10:33 AM (l3vZN)
Posted by: Niedermeyer's Dead Horse at November 02, 2013 10:35 AM (DmNpO)
Favorite car? Damn, there have been so many! It could have been my Citroen DS-21, very-illegal hot-rod Renault 5 (had a European-spec engine), or my 1953 Kaiser DeLuxe. It wasn't my '59 Hillman Mix or '73 Mazda RX-3, though I will say the Mazda was one fast little puppy (when not turned into a water pump by failed rotor seals).
No, my absolute favorite was my '60 Austin-Healey 3000. The thing had over a half-million miles on it when my father passed it to me, and was still fast and remarkably reliable. I still miss it. When the lottery gods smile on me, I'll get another one.
Posted by: MrScribbler at November 02, 2013 10:35 AM (kaGpp)
Posted by: Codec717 at November 02, 2013 10:36 AM (jXG+o)
1962 Beetle
1972 beetle
Vega Delivery truck
1973 Mustang Mach I
1968 El Camino
Mercury Capri
Mercury Capri 5.0
1991 Toyota Truck
06 Volvo Wagon
09 Volvo S60
Built all the Beetles myself from wrecks.
Volvo Wagon has an NRA sticker in the back, just to confuse the liberals here in Baltimore
Cars represent freedom.
Liberals love bike paths, high speed rail and mass transportation.
Coincidence?
I think not.
Posted by: Village Idiot's Apprentice at November 02, 2013 10:36 AM (0xqQw)
Posted by: NaCly Dog at November 02, 2013 10:37 AM (u82oZ)
Posted by: Passerby at November 02, 2013 10:37 AM (sOlwy)
Two-tone mouse grey, red leatherette inside, with a half-ton of Bondo on one fender.
Posted by: MrScribbler at November 02, 2013 10:37 AM (kaGpp)
I'm guessing that it's involved in the parade for which they've closed off all the roads that would get me to the part of town I need to be in.
Posted by: Anachronda at November 02, 2013 10:37 AM (U82Km)
A 1968 Fiat 500 when we were stationed in Gaeta Italy.
2Cyl, 500cc
0-50kph in two days, going downhill.
And a Mazda Protege.
Posted by: Village Idiot's Apprentice at November 02, 2013 10:39 AM (0xqQw)
Posted by: GnuBreed at November 02, 2013 10:39 AM (cHZB7)
Posted by: Jinx the Cat at November 02, 2013 10:39 AM (l3vZN)
You sure it wasn't Vic driving it?
Posted by: MrScribbler at November 02, 2013 10:39 AM (kaGpp)
Posted by: Kitsapbass at November 02, 2013 10:41 AM (9abHk)
Posted by: kalneva at November 02, 2013 10:41 AM (XyrkB)
Top speed Car ever hit on the flat and level : 95mph on a vacant stretch of I10 in AZ and it scared the shit out of me do it. The aerodynamics of a beetle leave a lot to be desired much above 80mph.
Obviously, Car's engine wasn't quite stock.
Posted by: Purp[/i][/b][/u][/s] at November 02, 2013 10:41 AM (4tK7k)
Best choice? 1982 DeTomasso Pantera, hands down! (and the damn wife got it!)
Posted by: Nick Shaw at November 02, 2013 10:42 AM (9Xn+t)
Posted by: steevy at November 02, 2013 10:42 AM (zqvg6)
I lived in a little town outside of Livorno, Italy back '72ish; dad was stationed at Camp Darby.
FIAT 500s were everywhere. And the Italians had a very vague adherence to traffic laws.
We lived on a small one-way street in town and drove an Oldsmobile Vista Cruisers. The 500s would zip any old way up and down the street, but when dad was out driving they didn't have room to get around him. He'd make the ones going the wrong way back all the way down to the intersection.
Posted by: Anachronda at November 02, 2013 10:42 AM (U82Km)
Posted by: Purp[/i][/b][/u][/s] at November 02, 2013 10:43 AM (4tK7k)
Posted by: Regular Guy at November 02, 2013 10:43 AM (N3Al8)
Posted by: Blacque Jacques Shellacque at November 02, 2013 10:43 AM (/IXKu)
Posted by: tsrblke PhD(c) (No Really!) at November 02, 2013 10:43 AM (GaqMa)
My wife's family had a '59 Hillman Husky Posted by: Jinx the Cat at November 02, 2013 02:39 PM
I transplanted the floor shift from a Husky into the Minx. Took tin snips to the floorpan so it would fit.
The column shifter was sloppy as hell, so I left it in. The guy who bought the car didn't pay more because it had two shift levers!
Posted by: MrScribbler at November 02, 2013 10:43 AM (kaGpp)
Posted by: Niedermeyer's Dead Horse at November 02, 2013 10:44 AM (DmNpO)
Posted by: garrett at November 02, 2013 10:44 AM (0vge8)
Because I worked at a steel mill, I picked up a 1990 Jeep Comanche to drive to work. (Couldn't be caught driving a foreign car!)
I drove the Accord for ten years and 245,000 miles, then sold it for $1400.
Bought a new 1998 Honda Civic, which by that time grew to the size of the old Accord. Drove that for 200,000 miles in five years, and sold it to a relative. I sold the Comanche to a coworker at about this time (had changed jobs twice too).
Bought a 2004 Honda Civic Hybrid, which I still have. It currently has 210,000 miles on it, and still runs fine. Gets low 50mpgs in the summer, and low 40s mpg in the winter.
Posted by: Ian 'Go' Galt at November 02, 2013 10:44 AM (QdOC1)
Posted by: steevy at November 02, 2013 10:44 AM (zqvg6)
If he were busy heading out to my neck of the lack of woods, it could explain the lack of news in the headling posts the last few days...
Posted by: Anachronda at November 02, 2013 10:44 AM (U82Km)
Posted by: Miss Scarlett at November 02, 2013 10:45 AM (Nsomq)
Posted by: Clyde Shelton at November 02, 2013 10:45 AM (7A4qQ)
Posted by: dogfish at November 02, 2013 10:45 AM (nsOJa)
Posted by: RWC at November 02, 2013 10:46 AM (LpbKr)
You damn kids will never know how much fun we had in the Old Days!
Get off my
Posted by: MrScribbler at November 02, 2013 10:46 AM (kaGpp)
Posted by: whiskey tango at November 02, 2013 10:46 AM (xSuCq)
Posted by: Clutch Cargo at November 02, 2013 10:46 AM (pgQxn)
Most important thing I learned in auto shop was that I should not go anywhere near a vehicle with a tool in my hands.
Posted by: Anachronda at November 02, 2013 10:46 AM (U82Km)
Posted by: Reggie1971 at November 02, 2013 10:46 AM (S11Oq)
**dream project -- 1958 VW Karmann Ghia Beach RatRod
**most unbreakable --- 1969 VW Fastback Type3
**best throwback -- 1970 VW Squareback
**freakiest / best sunroof -- 1977 Renault Gordini 17
**biggest piece of shit -- 1979 Fiat Strada
**most versatile -- 1982 Saab 900 Turbo Hatchback
**most strangely pretty -- 1986 Izusu Impulse Turbo
**best american sedan -- 1993 Taurus SHO
**best foreign sedan -- 1998 Audi A4
cars I lust after...
**(any) Maserati Merak & Maserati Bora
**(any) Jaguar E-type convertible
**(any) Ford GT-40
**1970 Hemi Cuda
**2013 Lotus Evora
**1971 Jensen Interceptor (Mopar 440)
...I could go on and on...
Posted by: billygoat at November 02, 2013 10:46 AM (ujrve)
Did you guys have the little cabins that MWR was renting back then?
We pulled into Livorno for a port visit, and Mrs VIA drove the Toyota Pickup up, and she and I spent the weekend he'in and she'in like a mini honeymoon there.
Even found time to visit that crooked tower they have up around there.
Posted by: Village Idiot's Apprentice at November 02, 2013 10:47 AM (0xqQw)
Posted by: Niedermeyer's Dead Horse at November 02, 2013 10:47 AM (DmNpO)
Posted by: navycopjoe at November 02, 2013 10:48 AM (qVKcL)
I got sooooo sick of buying other people's problems that (after the divorce!) I bought a brand new 96 Cavalier. Paid it off in 2000 and still drive it every day.
Happiness is... a car that runs!!!
Posted by: JeanQueenie at November 02, 2013 10:49 AM (82lr7)
Life changing? No. Except when I was driving them. Both great fun.
Posted by: f2000 at November 02, 2013 10:49 AM (FcMtg)
Posted by: Jinx the Cat at November 02, 2013 10:49 AM (l3vZN)
Posted by: panzernashorn at November 02, 2013 10:49 AM (MhA4j)
Posted by: Blacque Jacques Shellacque at November 02, 2013 10:50 AM (/IXKu)
If you like your car, you can keep it. Period.
Translation: Enjoy it while you can, because after amnesty the only ones left driving will be the Mexicans.
Posted by: King President Fearless Leader and the Smartest Guy in the Room unless it's something bad and then I at November 02, 2013 10:50 AM (pgQxn)
Posted by: Clyde Shelton at November 02, 2013 10:50 AM (7A4qQ)
Posted by: garrett at November 02, 2013 10:50 AM (0vge8)
1980, was sixteen years old and looking for a car, same as everyone. Neighbor told me about about his daughters car that had some major engine problems. It was 1976 Plymouth Fury Coupe, slant six. Had just over 100,000 and was losing power, mechanic told her the camshaft was out. My dad said it wouldn't be that hard to change, so I bought it for $200.00 and was still able to drive it home. After I started pulling the exhaust off and few other things to remove the engine I had to move it to another spot in the driveway. Since I didn't take that much apart I just decided to start it up and move it. When I did I noticed it seemed to take gas a whole lot better, so I hooked up a few things I took off and ran it down the road . Hell it all kinds of power. Turns out the catalytic converter was plugged up. A couple hours worth of sawing and $5.00 worth of pipe and clamps and I had a sweet ride for the next four years.
Posted by: lowandslow at November 02, 2013 10:51 AM (IV4od)
Posted by: Niedermeyer's Dead Horse at November 02, 2013 10:51 AM (DmNpO)
Funny this thread should happen. I keep cars until they die. I just turned in a 98 Grand Prix, I told my wife it probably had at least 10 more miles in it, but she insisted. Since it was kind of a surpise (not much tho), I just bought a very nice used explorer to whip around in for a couple of years until I decide on something else.
Thing is I hate almost anything made after 1979, most new cars have no style, I like the classics...someday my friends, someday.....
http://tinyurl.com/l4x5z7d
Posted by: Guy Mohawk at November 02, 2013 10:52 AM (nKUHR)
The only thing I don't like about the newer cars is the electronic doors and windows which have, at times, given me fits.
As in, won't open. That is a problem. It is especially a problem if your car is either under water or on fire, in which case, you'd better have something heavy and pointy to bust the windows out, or it could be your last problem. You read stories about people who can't get out of their sinking or burning vehicles and lost their lives, that is why.
Don't waste time trying to bust out the windshield, it is extra hardened. Go for the side windows.
Posted by: navybrat at November 02, 2013 10:53 AM (P5xur)
Posted by: navycopjoe at November 02, 2013 10:53 AM (qVKcL)
**best car I lost in a divorce -- 1961 M-B 190SL convertible, that I poured my fucking heart, soul, skin, nails, knuckles, time, etecera into....There...I feel better now. That car was soft, but it was freaking gorgeous...beige exterior, black top and cranberry leather -- she sold it to (no lie) to a German couple who shipped it back to the Fatherland.
Posted by: billygoat at November 02, 2013 10:53 AM (ujrve)
Don't get excited, 6 banger and only 3 gears.
Dream car, '68 Cougar GT-E.
Posted by: Blanco Basura at November 02, 2013 10:54 AM (JawqV)
Posted by: navycopjoe at November 02, 2013 10:55 AM (qVKcL)
LOL!!!!!...just saw your list -- yes we do!!!
Posted by: billygoat at November 02, 2013 10:55 AM (ujrve)
Posted by: shredded chi at November 02, 2013 10:55 AM (CEkb/)
You obviously get max points for the NRA sticker.
Hello Kitty stickers are ONLY allowed on Datsun B210s!
Posted by: MrScribbler at November 02, 2013 10:57 AM (kaGpp)
Posted by: shredded chi at November 02, 2013 10:57 AM (CEkb/)
40mpg using stock 1961-tech, in a chassis with the aerodynamics of a freaking outhouse. JFK was still alive when that engine was built.
Posted by: Purp[/i][/b][/u][/s] at November 02, 2013 10:57 AM (4tK7k)
No, we lived on the economy in Tirrenia.
We were supposed to be housed on base in some units that were supposed to be brand new. But they hadn't been finished when we arrived, so we wound up living out in town. We lived there for about a year; I don't recall if the housing units were finished by the time we headed out for Stuttgart.
Posted by: Anachronda at November 02, 2013 10:57 AM (U82Km)
Was actually one of the best Mustangs they made, fun and economical.
Posted by: lowandslow at November 02, 2013 10:57 AM (IV4od)
It uses premium gas and gets 15mpg.
Every time I fill it up, I think I might want to get something that gets better gas mileage,
then I remember,
Hey, It can drive over shit.
Posted by: Idano12 at November 02, 2013 10:57 AM (SHz6J)
Posted by: Kreplach at November 02, 2013 10:57 AM (At4uX)
Posted by: Niedermeyer's Dead Horse at November 02, 2013 10:58 AM (DmNpO)
Posted by: billygoat at November 02, 2013 10:58 AM (ujrve)
Posted by: dogfish at November 02, 2013 10:58 AM (nsOJa)
Posted by: Oldsailors Poet Palin/Bolton 2016 at November 02, 2013 10:58 AM (XIxXP)
Posted by: LibertarianJim (#teamletitburn) at November 02, 2013 10:58 AM (3p4eN)
Posted by: VADM(Red) Cuthbert Collingwood (Mentioned in Despatches) at November 02, 2013 10:58 AM (O7OxF)
INEXPENSIVE RELIABILITY.
I winced in sympathy when Backwards Boy related a few days ago about how the transmission was going out in his wife's car, and the quote for repair was big enough to hurt like hell.
Someone else asked what the vehicle was. '99 Accord.
Automatic transmissions are a known and virtually guaranteed source of trouble in that generation of Accords. The only way I'd own one is if the trans had already been replaced with a new factory unit and if the replacement were warrantied.
Nota bene: if you are considering a particular car, do your homework first. Find out if there are costly technical issues to which that make, model and year may be unusually susceptible. If so, factor that into your purchase decision and/or offering price.
If you already own a particular car, perform the same exercise, with an eye to the question of whether you should unload it before the high likelihood of expensive trouble becomes a concrete reality. If in doubt, sell that sucker.
There used to be certain brands you could buy with a virtual certainty of bulletproof mechanicals. Yet today every manufacturer is having problem models from time to time.
Toyota comes to mind. Eighties Toyotas couldn't be broken with a sledgehammer. It was a real shock to me when I then started meeting a string of Toyota 4Runner owners in the Nineties clutching fat bills for replacement head gaskets. The factory cleaned that up, then started having oil sludging problems on Camry engines.
Posted by: torquewrench at November 02, 2013 10:58 AM (gqT4g)
Posted by: Mustbequantum at November 02, 2013 10:59 AM (MIKMs)
Oh hell, my parents had a Chevy Chevette when I was little. Complete shit box.
We Always had to bump start it. Those were the days, asking complete strangers to help push me and my Mom so we could get home from the grocery store. Every time. Always had to strategically park at the top of a grade.
Posted by: BuckIV at November 02, 2013 10:59 AM (CLfqv)
Posted by: azkag at November 02, 2013 10:59 AM (K8RM3)
Posted by: MrScribbler at November 02, 2013 02:57 PM (kaGpp)
Speaking of stickers, instead of the usual stick figures of Mom, Dad, boy, girl, cat, dog, etc. you sometimes see on the the back window, the other day I saw the equivalent, but they were Star Wars Empire Stormtroopers. The females had little bows on their helmets.
I laughed.
Posted by: Ian 'Go' Galt at November 02, 2013 10:59 AM (QdOC1)
Posted by: Sharkman at November 02, 2013 10:59 AM (uwtCH)
Posted by: LibertarianJim (#teamletitburn) at November 02, 2013 11:00 AM (3p4eN)
Posted by: toby928© at November 02, 2013 11:00 AM (QupBk)
Lovely...I saw a 1962 on the road this week -- it sounded so sweet...
Posted by: billygoat at November 02, 2013 11:00 AM (ujrve)
Posted by: Blacque Jacques Shellacque at November 02, 2013 11:00 AM (/IXKu)
Posted by: Niedermeyer's Dead Horse at November 02, 2013 11:02 AM (DmNpO)
The 91 Toyota Truck we had came down with a blown head gasket while we were in Italy the second time.
Toyota totally rebuilt the entire engine at 170K due to the deck warp-age and cylinder scoring being outside criteria for acceptance.
Posted by: Village Idiot's Apprentice at November 02, 2013 11:03 AM (0xqQw)
Posted by: tsrblke PhD(c) (No Really!) at November 02, 2013 11:03 AM (GaqMa)
Posted by: Bernie at November 02, 2013 11:04 AM (/FygC)
Posted by: CAC at November 02, 2013 11:04 AM (VBpW5)
Posted by: no good deed at November 02, 2013 11:04 AM (k55Fc)
The automobile is individualist. You go where you want, when you want, with whom you want. Public transportation is collectivist. You will go HERE. On THIS schedule. With THESE fellow proles.
A rusty shitwagon beats a gleaming new light rail train hands down.
Posted by: Taro Tsujimoto at November 02, 2013 11:04 AM (celt+)
Posted by: Purp[/i][/b][/u][/s] at November 02, 2013 11:04 AM (4tK7k)
Posted by: Krebs v Carnot: Epic Battle of the Cycling Stars at November 02, 2013 11:05 AM (A2sQP)
Posted by: FenelonSpoke at November 02, 2013 11:05 AM (23Kgq)
Posted by: toby928© at November 02, 2013 11:05 AM (QupBk)
My first car was a '92 Toyota Corolla that was previously owned by my father's best friend until it blew the transmission while he was going into work. He sold the car to another mutual friend and mutual auto mechanic, who replaced the transmission with one off another wrecked vehicle, and then sold it to me for about $1600. I was a year out of college and working as a trash pickup guy at a big construction site, and the week after I bought it and got insurance on it took it down to SC for a Saturday at King's Mountain Battlefield. That was a fun day.
It was "totaled" a few years later when I got rear-ended (and I got a twisted vertebra in my neck that I didn't know about until about two years ago), but I still drove it for another few months. Then I took it on a ten hour drive to MS to see the town and college I was going to be attending as a grad student. The morning I was going to leave, the guy I was staying with woke me up and said something to the effect of "well, we have a problem - someone wrecked your car last night." Some drunk soldier had decided to do a little off-roading in his pickup, and to get off-road from the parking lot at the apartment complex had had driven between my car and another, but the distance between our two cars was a bit smaller than the width of his truck, so the whole driver's side of my car was smashed in. Incredibly, my car still ran, and I drove it that same day back up to NC, crawling into the driver's seat from the passenger side, rather than hang around a strange town until I could get a new car.
Posted by: Grey Fox at November 02, 2013 11:05 AM (o6bxr)
Posted by: Oldsailors Poet Palin/Bolton 2016 at November 02, 2013 02:58 PM (XIxXP)
Black Oak?!? Holy shit, we were almost neighbors!
I grew up in Glen Park. My Dad was a fireman and involved in shady poker games back in the day. It is possible our Dads knew some of the same crowd.
We moved to Hobart in the late 70's.
Posted by: Ian 'Go' Galt at November 02, 2013 11:07 AM (QdOC1)
Bust bug memory I have was getting 4 feet of air in one in Downtown Tucson. 3 am. Right in front of a cop car.
They pulled us over and were laughing so hard that they couldn't even ask for our license and registration. They thanked us and let us off with a warning.
Later on that morning we got it stuck between two landscape walls. I could have sworn there was enough of a gap there.
Posted by: garrett at November 02, 2013 11:07 AM (0vge8)
I bought one the first year they came out. It was bright yellow with a grey interior.
Posted by: no good deed at November 02, 2013 11:07 AM (k55Fc)
55 Yea well we were mostly motor heads in my circles and I did participate in a co/op education program in my senior year by working in an auto parts store five days a week. Not to mention my brother built a wicked 55 chev before he bought a tri power Pontiac in 1965 sooo that's my story.
Posted by: Regular Guy at November 02, 2013 11:07 AM (N3Al8)
Posted by: Niedermeyer's Dead Horse at November 02, 2013 11:08 AM (DmNpO)
Posted by: CAC at November 02, 2013 11:08 AM (VBpW5)
Next car - a Pinto.
Tells you how good a lady Mrs. T is that I still married her.
Posted by: Taro Tsujimoto at November 02, 2013 11:08 AM (celt+)
+100.
Posted by: toby928© at November 02, 2013 03:05 PM (QupBk)
damn straight.
Posted by: billygoat at November 02, 2013 11:08 AM (ujrve)
Posted by: Dept. Of Acuracy at November 02, 2013 11:08 AM (MhA4j)
Because its EMP proof, it needs no electricity to run other than to crank it over. So if(when?) some nefarious regime decides to pop off a nuke at 10,000 feet in the air over flyover country and 80-90% of the Nation is suddenly powerless (transistors and EMP bursts do not get along well) my old heap will fire up like nothing happened...ANY modern vehicle that uses a computer to run things WILL leave you walking.
well that, and the fact its cool as hell but emp proof works for me.
Posted by: Heh at November 02, 2013 11:08 AM (bKX6s)
Posted by: Krebs v Carnot: Epic Battle of the Cycling Stars at November 02, 2013 11:08 AM (A2sQP)
Ah, yes. Known in some parts of the Car Biz as "the Lesbian Hummer."
Posted by: MrScribbler at November 02, 2013 11:09 AM (kaGpp)
Posted by: billygoat at November 02, 2013 11:10 AM (ujrve)
Posted by: toby928© at November 02, 2013 11:10 AM (QupBk)
Currently have a '94 Amigo but usually drive the late Miss Emily's 2002 eclipse.
Posted by: backhoe at November 02, 2013 11:11 AM (ULH4o)
Posted by: shredded chi at November 02, 2013 11:11 AM (CEkb/)
Posted by: Y-not at November 02, 2013 11:11 AM (5H6zj)
Posted by: Regular Guy at November 02, 2013 11:12 AM (N3Al8)
Posted by: The Hickster at November 02, 2013 11:12 AM (MVBSu)
or an alcohol thread. with drinks named after cars. or guns. or cheerleaders.
*remembers sweet caroline fondly* Which one was it? a car, a gun or a cheerleader?
Posted by: Guy Mohawk at November 02, 2013 11:12 AM (nKUHR)
Posted by: Niedermeyer's Dead Horse at November 02, 2013 11:12 AM (DmNpO)
First car- 1964? Black VW with the tiny split rear window and sidepost turn indicators
Semaphores! It was probably a bit earlier if was a splitwindow...anna will know.
Posted by: garrett at November 02, 2013 11:12 AM (0vge8)
There were a couple of generations of Rivieras that were real stoplight sleepers.
Posted by: torquewrench at November 02, 2013 11:12 AM (gqT4g)
Posted by: Blacque Jacques Shellacque at November 02, 2013 11:12 AM (/IXKu)
Posted by: Y-not at November 02, 2013 11:13 AM (5H6zj)
Posted by: Oldsailors Poet Palin/Bolton 2016 at November 02, 2013 11:13 AM (XIxXP)
A Scion FR-S for the summer.
A Jeep Wrangler for the winter.
Posted by: Taro Tsujimoto at November 02, 2013 11:13 AM (celt+)
Can we get that on a T-shirt?
Posted by: dogfish at November 02, 2013 11:13 AM (nsOJa)
Posted by: Brother Cavil and his Flying Toaster Circus at November 02, 2013 11:13 AM (m9V0o)
Posted by: Oldsailors Poet Palin/Bolton 2016 at November 02, 2013 11:14 AM (XIxXP)
Posted by: CaliGirl at November 02, 2013 11:15 AM (J8Q1Z)
Posted by: The Hickster at November 02, 2013 11:16 AM (MVBSu)
How's that been?
I have talked to a couple of Element owners (there's one on every block in the Bay Area) and the ownership experience seems to have been either (a) totally bulletproof, 80% of owner responses, or (b) fussy money pits, 20% of owner responses.
Posted by: torquewrench at November 02, 2013 11:17 AM (gqT4g)
Posted by: Jinx the Cat at November 02, 2013 02:32 PM (l3vZN)
I am ALWAYS on E-bay looking at those!
1st) 1970 GTX, 440 cubes and a "six pack" carb setup. Basically 3, 2 barrel carbs! Had to sell it when I got busted for street racing. At 16. At 4a.m. Made a lot of money once I junked the leaky carbs and started winning a few!
2) Next was a '79 Jeep CJ7 Renegade w/a 304 cubic inch V8, and 3 speed stick. I'm restoring it again. 15 years ago, the body rusted off, so I put a Kevlar reinforced fiberglass body on it. Last year the frame rusted out. So I drove from Pa to Georgia for a Brand New, on the shelf, replacement!
NOW: 360 cubic inch, 416hp (on a dynamometer w/106 octane fuel) V8 from one of those old woody grand Wagoneers. Keep in mind that AMC speed parts are double what small block Chevy parts cost! And I went NUTS!, Ford 4 speed trans, and custom (HD axles)
3) In 1998 Jeep, for 1 year only, put out a 5.9 liter, (the 5.2 V8 was what the used on all OHV engines) since '93 until????
Nothing had more power until they put the Hemi in it. I leased it and cried when it was time to give it back!
4) My bro still has my wifes' '94 Toyota Celica GT. They used a bigger 2.2 for 2 years only. I got busted by a cop for doing 120 MPH "Cuz that's all my speedo goes up to you jackass"-Direct quote from State Police Captain that radio'd ahead to plan a party. I was doing 140+ & he was in his personal, last model year, Iroc Z. Hey, it was a totally deserted interstate!
There's more, but these stick out the most. Plus statute of limitations etc...
Posted by: hutch1200 at November 02, 2013 11:18 AM (rHlwp)
Posted by: Krebs v Carnot: Epic Battle of the Cycling Stars at November 02, 2013 11:19 AM (A2sQP)
Posted by: Y-not at November 02, 2013 11:20 AM (5H6zj)
Posted by: Enlightened Ex long hair at November 02, 2013 11:20 AM (N3Al8)
Posted by: shredded chi at November 02, 2013 11:20 AM (CEkb/)
Posted by: CaliGirl at November 02, 2013 11:21 AM (J8Q1Z)
Posted by: dogfish at November 02, 2013 02:58 PM (nsOJa)"
I had a VW Beetle that broke the accelerator cable. It also had a mechanical clutch so I moved the clutch cable over to the other side of the carburetor and drove it that way for a couple of weeks until I could buy a new accelerator cable and put it in.
Posted by: Obnoxious A-hole at November 02, 2013 11:21 AM (BcCwi)
Posted by: Krebs v Carnot: Epic Battle of the Cycling Stars at November 02, 2013 11:22 AM (A2sQP)
Posted by: 2soonold2latesmart at November 02, 2013 11:22 AM (E7HkV)
Posted by: conanthelibertarian at November 02, 2013 11:22 AM (UxgYy)
Posted by: hutch1200 at November 02, 2013 11:22 AM (rHlwp)
Except in a post-EMP scenario, unless you have a hidden buried tank with a private stash of diesel stowed away for use, while diesels will still start up, the available fuel will dwindle awfully fast.
The refining and distribution infrastructure for liquid fuels of all types is full of stuff that needs electricity.
Posted by: torquewrench at November 02, 2013 11:22 AM (gqT4g)
Posted by: Oldsailors Poet Palin/Bolton 2016 at November 02, 2013 11:22 AM (XIxXP)
First car- 1964? Black VW with the tiny split rear window and sidepost turn indicators
Semaphores! It was probably a bit earlier if was a splitwindow...anna will know. Posted by: garrett
Speculation was it was a bootlegged car from Germany. The dealer- Dan Daniels-- had a shady reputation.
Posted by: backhoe at November 02, 2013 11:23 AM (ULH4o)
Posted by: CaliGirl at November 02, 2013 11:23 AM (J8Q1Z)
Posted by: gracepmc at November 02, 2013 11:25 AM (rznx3)
More likely conservative teens buying what they could afford. Remember where they are posting. Or give a shout out to CAC.
Posted by: The Hickster at November 02, 2013 11:25 AM (MVBSu)
Posted by: Y-not at November 02, 2013 11:25 AM (5H6zj)
Posted by: Niedermeyer's Dead Horse at November 02, 2013 11:26 AM (DmNpO)
Posted by: Y-not at November 02, 2013 11:27 AM (5H6zj)
Posted by: pat at November 02, 2013 11:27 AM (KCg4m)
Posted by: Oldsailors Poet Palin/Bolton 2016 at November 02, 2013 11:28 AM (XIxXP)
Posted by: CaliGirl at November 02, 2013 11:28 AM (J8Q1Z)
Posted by: rickl at November 02, 2013 11:28 AM (sdi6R)
I've been a car guy all my life and always aspired to owning a Corvette (a '65-66 Shelby GT350 or 289 Cobra would be nice, but I leave those for my Walter Mitty moments). Well, SOME Corvettes, not all. In 2008 I was fortunate enough to find one that fulfilled my two main criteria as they had evolved to that point: 1, it was a C5 Z06 with low mileage in spectacular condition and 2, I could afford to buy it and properly own it, as in pay insurance, maintenance, protective storage, etc. I still own it, an Electron Blue Z06 coupe that is everything I could ever want in a Corvette.
Are there better cars? Oh yes. Would I like to own some of them? Sure. But I truly love that Corvette and it's within my means.
Happy Motoring, y'all!
Posted by: Kane Rogers at November 02, 2013 11:29 AM (evUpK)
How many of those 5 were memorable?
Luckily for me I was 18 in 1970. So used muscle cars were a dime a dozen. I can't fathom what a car a male would wish for that he had a chance of buying now.
Posted by: The Hickster at November 02, 2013 11:29 AM (MVBSu)
Posted by: Oldsailors Poet Palin/Bolton 2016 at November 02, 2013 11:30 AM (XIxXP)
Posted by: CaliGirl at November 02, 2013 11:31 AM (J8Q1Z)
Posted by: Niedermeyer's Dead Horse at November 02, 2013 11:31 AM (DmNpO)
Posted by: Oldsailors Poet Palin/Bolton 2016 at November 02, 2013 11:31 AM (XIxXP)
Posted by: Y-not at November 02, 2013 11:31 AM (5H6zj)
Posted by: CaliGirl at November 02, 2013 03:23 PM (J8Q1Z)
...dammit!...you made me count!...I'm 54 -- 16...I think. And don't get me started on motorcycles...
Posted by: billygoat at November 02, 2013 11:31 AM (ujrve)
dam I put in the year of the cars I was buying. I was 18 in 1980.
Posted by: The Hickster at November 02, 2013 11:31 AM (MVBSu)
First car, '71 Ford Pinto; it got me where I needed to go.
Memorable cars: my late father's first car, a 1953 Buick Skylark. Took our first family road trip to Minnesota to visit kinfolk. A 1957 Buick Century... had a straight 8, ran like stink, and built like a Sherman tank.
Favorite cars: a '78 Audi Fox. Loved that little vixen. My '00 Ford Focus ZX3... telepathic steering, held the road like a magnet; the handling and ride was unchanging whether it was going 40 mph, or 90 mph, regret swapping it for my current car, a '07 Pontiac G5 (an okay car but it's no Focus).
There's others, but I won't bore you with the details...
Posted by: CPT. Charles at November 02, 2013 11:32 AM (lJaja)
Posted by: Oldsailors Poet Palin/Bolton 2016 at November 02, 2013 11:33 AM (XIxXP)
Driving a 2001 Mitsubishi Montero Sport 2wd right now, going on 2 years with this one. Bought it at 172k miles, now just over 200k, and runs like a champ. No problems, unless you count when some miscreants yanked my cat converter one night. Only spent $3k to pick it up off of craigslist.
I'm definitely in the "buy used" camp. My rule of thumb is that for a proper used car, I expect to get a minimum of a year's worth of fairly reliable use per $1k spent. Anything above that I consider to be like winning the lottery.
Posted by: IllTemperedCur at November 02, 2013 11:33 AM (MBqvE)
Posted by: soothsayer at November 02, 2013 11:33 AM (dEtCk)
Posted by: toby928© at November 02, 2013 11:33 AM (QupBk)
Posted by: CaliGirl at November 02, 2013 03:28 PM (J8Q1Z)
...CaliGirl -- my big sis is in Sunland...and she still has (not her daily driver) her 1972 VW convertible; I love driving that thing out there...!
Posted by: billygoat at November 02, 2013 11:34 AM (ujrve)
Posted by: CaliGirl at November 02, 2013 11:34 AM (J8Q1Z)
Posted by: Y-not at November 02, 2013 11:35 AM (5H6zj)
Posted by: Niedermeyer's Dead Horse at November 02, 2013 11:35 AM (DmNpO)
He said that he stood there for 20 minutes and finally went back to the couple and said that he would take the car, but he couldn't in good conscience take a 1960 Corvette with 5k on the clock for $500 and he insisted that they take $5k.
Probably all rusted out, though.
/
Posted by: garrett at November 02, 2013 11:35 AM (0vge8)
My best car buying decision ever? Easy. Passing on an early '70s Fiat X 1/9 for my first car. I was a sophmore in college.
Yes it was screaming yellow. Yes it was Italian. Yes it looked like a a pussy magnet. Yes I could see the road through the passenger side floorboard. No I did not know how (then) to drive a stick. No there was not a Fiat dealership within 300 miles of college town. Yes it was all about attracting attention to oneself. "Twas a closerun thing.
Posted by: Count de Monet at November 02, 2013 11:36 AM (BAS5M)
...nope -- VDubs were super cheap, easy to repair and pretty indestructable...they made for great beater-cars.
Posted by: billygoat at November 02, 2013 11:36 AM (ujrve)
Posted by: Lincolntf at November 02, 2013 11:36 AM (ZshNr)
Posted by: pat at November 02, 2013 11:36 AM (KCg4m)
Posted by: CaliGirl at November 02, 2013 11:37 AM (J8Q1Z)
I love cars, practically an obsession - the first car I bought with my first wife was an '87 Nissan Sentra, stripped and new with tiny payments. That car was the best - quick enough, handled well, incredibly reliable - still miss it. We traded it for a new Subaru Loyale wagon which, although great in snow, was the Big White Pig and I was happy to trade it again 6 mos later in a twofer when we separated. I got a forgettable tercel that I ran into the ground - I still prefer new cars.
After the tercel died on way to dealer, I had a 97 Civic - handled like a slot car - shed a tear when I sold after upgrading to an 04 Infiniti g35 - still a stripper, but a Luxury hot rod and best car I have owned. Fell asleep at the wheel on a return trip from NC in WV, cable barrier in median probably saved my life but car was totaled. I took the money and bought what I have now - a Suzuki sx4.
I got the Suzuki for rallycross, and, after running a full season, have realized its not competitive - great car for Colorado and I would highly recommend, but too slow, heavy and AWD system is insufficient to keep up with the Subies.
Too that end, last night (!) I purchased a 93 Nissan NX2000, and I swear the 20 yr old car is quicker then Suzi. I guess the lesson is I should've stayed with Nissan - they make great cars.
I've had others, ford trucks, pinto wagon, a 67 mustang I'm allegedly restoring, but I think my brother convinced me to dump the lot and focus on the rallycross. Next will be a another pickup to tow the NX, most likely a Nissan Frontier.Posted by: Joe at November 02, 2013 11:37 AM (CPoFy)
Posted by: shredded chi at November 02, 2013 11:37 AM (CEkb/)
Posted by: Niedermeyer's Dead Horse at November 02, 2013 11:38 AM (DmNpO)
Posted by: soothsayer at November 02, 2013 11:39 AM (dEtCk)
A woman I worked with said she was hooked by her husband because he had a Starsky and Hutch Torino.
She sowed me their wedding pictures. Guess what color his Tux was? (More about the early 70s than the car)
Posted by: The Hickster at November 02, 2013 11:39 AM (MVBSu)
Posted by: fastfreefall at November 02, 2013 11:39 AM (7hZeu)
Posted by: In the bunker at November 02, 2013 11:39 AM (ZVfnS)
Posted by: lowandslow at November 02, 2013 11:40 AM (IV4od)
Posted by: soothsayer>>
So you enjoy the feel of cold cement on your back?
Posted by: The Hickster at November 02, 2013 11:41 AM (MVBSu)
Posted by: IllTemperedCur at November 02, 2013 03:33 PM (MBqvE)
Your car buying habit is the most economically sound.
I have bought my cars new, with the intention of running them until they damned near die. For me, that comes out to about $2100 per year. BUT, I have driven an average of 27,000 miles per year.
And now 'Red Barchetta' just played on the radio. Ha!
Posted by: Ian 'Go' Galt at November 02, 2013 11:42 AM (QdOC1)
I was 16, family was poor.
In those years, VW's were like erector sets.
They gave you the opportunity to learn many things about cars.
And most things you needed were reasonably priced.
And it never hurt to learn your way around the local junk yards.
Posted by: Village Idiot's Apprentice at November 02, 2013 11:43 AM (0xqQw)
Posted by: Niedermeyer's Dead Horse at November 02, 2013 11:44 AM (DmNpO)
Posted by: CaliGirl at November 02, 2013 11:44 AM (J8Q1Z)
Posted by: soothsayer at November 02, 2013 11:45 AM (dEtCk)
Posted by: YIKES! at November 02, 2013 11:45 AM (mETGQ)
Posted by: Mr. Moo moo at November 02, 2013 11:47 AM (0LHZx)
Posted by: soothsayer at November 02, 2013 11:49 AM (dEtCk)
Posted by: DaveA at November 02, 2013 11:49 AM (DL2i+)
Posted by: Niedermeyer's Dead Horse at November 02, 2013 11:51 AM (DmNpO)
Tried twice, now I'll give up
Your message has been rejected because it looks like spam. If you aren't a spammer, please try changing the text of your message.
Posted by: PMRich at November 02, 2013 11:51 AM (KDUNf)
Posted by: Niedermeyer's Dead Horse at November 02, 2013 11:52 AM (DmNpO)
Posted by: Mikey NTH - Jeers and More at the Outrage Outlet! at November 02, 2013 11:52 AM (gmoEG)
Posted by: thatcrazyjerseyguy at November 02, 2013 11:52 AM (TPimP)
Posted by: soothsayer at November 02, 2013 11:52 AM (dEtCk)
Posted by: Village Idiot's Apprentice at November 02, 2013 03:43 PM (0xqQw)
...oh MAN!!!...did we love the junkyards!!! And in those days you could go in for a flat fee and take all the stuff you wanted...good times!
Posted by: billygoat at November 02, 2013 11:53 AM (ujrve)
Posted by: Niedermeyer's Dead Horse at November 02, 2013 11:53 AM (DmNpO)
The bought a 2004 Ford Ranger brand new. 4X4 and though my young kids loved it. A Ranger does not have a back seat.
Posted by: The Hickster at November 02, 2013 11:54 AM (MVBSu)
Posted by: Niedermeyer's Dead Horse at November 02, 2013 11:54 AM (DmNpO)
Either write it out or copy and paste to Notebook your comment, then re-paste and copy here.
Posted by: lowandslow at November 02, 2013 11:55 AM (IV4od)
Posted by: soothsayer at November 02, 2013 11:55 AM (dEtCk)
Posted by: Niedermeyer's Dead Horse at November 02, 2013 11:56 AM (DmNpO)
Posted by: lowandslow at November 02, 2013 03:40 PM (IV4od)
-- I wish that applied to 57 two door hardtop chevy
Posted by: Velvet Ambition at November 02, 2013 11:56 AM (R8hU8)
Posted by: soothsayer at November 02, 2013 11:57 AM (dEtCk)
Here's my cars, past and present, pictorially.
http://mindfulwebworks.com/doodles/transports-past-and-presentPosted by: mindless webworker - this is a link at November 02, 2013 11:57 AM (U13jb)
That's because you could damn near burn yourself if you leave out in the sun on 100 degree day then get in it.
Posted by: lowandslow at November 02, 2013 11:57 AM (IV4od)
Posted by: Niedermeyer's Dead Horse at November 02, 2013 11:59 AM (DmNpO)
First car, '71 Ford Pinto; it got me where I needed to go.
Memorable cars: my late father's first car, a 1953 Buick Skylark. Took our first family road trip to Minnesota to visit kinfolk. A 1957 Buick Century... had a straight 8, ran like stink, and built like a Sherman tank.
Favorite cars: a '78 Audi Fox. Loved that little vixen. My '00 Ford Focus ZX3... telepathic steering, held the road like a magnet; the handling and ride was unchanging whether it was going 40 mph, or 90 mph, regret swapping it for my current car, a '07 Pontiac G5 (an okay car but it's no Focus).
There's others, but I won't bore you with the details...
Posted by: CPT. Charles at November 02, 2013 03:32 PM (lJaja)"
I've had 3 Ford Foci. I loved every one of them. All 3 were totaled and nobody was seriously injured in any of those accidents. The first time, my daughter got T-Boned when she ran a red light driving on her permit. We went through got tipped over on our side and slid all the rest of the way through the intersection on the side. When the car stopped, we turned off the engine, undid the seatbelts, pushed open the door and climbed out. The second time, I avoided an accident with some asshole who was driving at more than 70 in a snowstorm but I wound up running into the concrete barrier. The last time, I was sitting at a red light when some old asshole who should lose his license rear ended me. He never touched his brake pedal.
Now I drive an F-150 which gets atrocious mileage and does not handle anywhere as sweetly as a Focus but it is far more massive, a lot more convenient for hauling stuff around and I want the next asshole who rear ends me at a red light to die.
Posted by: Obnoxious A-hole at November 02, 2013 12:00 PM (BcCwi)
Posted by: CaliGirl at November 02, 2013 12:00 PM (J8Q1Z)
, '83 Accord (1990), '78 Nissan Skyline(1992), '87 Accord LXi (1993), '84 Corolla(1994), '88 Impulse(1995), '84 Sentra Wagon(199
, '88 Thunderbird (V
(1999), '91 Accord EX (2001), '95 Protege ES(2003), '98 A4 V6 Quattro(2007), and now '12 Cruze Eco(2011). Hard to pick a favorite, but I kept going back for Accords even though the never lasted much longer than a year - 1 overseas transfer and 2 total wrecks (not my fault!). I wouldn't buy one from '98 on.Wife's cars: '97 Escort, '02 Venture, now '06 Pilot. She loves the Pilot, loathed the Venture.
Posted by: Buck Farack, Gentleman Adventurer at November 02, 2013 12:01 PM (ylG8S)
Posted by: Buck Farack, Gentleman Adventurer at November 02, 2013 12:02 PM (ylG8S)
Posted by: Y-not on the phone at November 02, 2013 12:04 PM (5H6zj)
Posted by: Gingy @GingyNorth at November 02, 2013 12:04 PM (N/cFh)
98 Dodge Dakota- bought it new and still own it. Takes alot of work to keep it from being a rust bucket during midwest winters. Its a blast to drive, reliable and simple to fix. Its a perfect sized for a truck for me. Only complaint is the old 318 and 3.90 gears are TERRIBLE gas mileage.
69 Buick Skylark.- It was the literal old lady car. Bought it in the 80's and she had just had it into Buick and spent a ton of money putting in a brand new interior. It came back and she passed away right after. I bought it from her son for $1500 and it smelled like a new car inside. Loved that ride and really regret ever getting rid of it.
86 Dodge Charger- had a 2.2 turbo engine and was pretty darned fast for its day. It was easy as heck to modify and a total blast to drive. It sat as a project in my garage for over a decade. I would still have it but after a relative died I had to make a choice between that or a 60 T-bird as I only had room for one.
Posted by: Mythx at November 02, 2013 12:05 PM (6+z+l)
Posted by: In the bunker at November 02, 2013 12:06 PM (ZVfnS)
Posted by: Blacque Jacques Shellacque at November 02, 2013 12:06 PM (/IXKu)
I think we may be getting into an argument similar to what the word is means.
But with way less pleasure.
Posted by: The Hickster at November 02, 2013 12:06 PM (MVBSu)
Posted by: Gingy @GingyNorth at November 02, 2013 12:07 PM (N/cFh)
Posted by: soothsayer at November 02, 2013 12:08 PM (dEtCk)
Posted by: CaliGirl at November 02, 2013 12:08 PM (J8Q1Z)
On "being nickel and dimed to death" a.k.a. periodic repairs as a car ages:
$50 here and $300 there, even a couple of times a year-- or a one-time $3000 --long after car payments end....
Still beats $450 (or more!) each and every month, without end!!!
Posted by: JeanQueenie at November 02, 2013 12:09 PM (82lr7)
Posted by: Golden Boy at November 02, 2013 12:10 PM (CF0TD)
Posted by: CaliGirl at November 02, 2013 12:11 PM (J8Q1Z)
Posted by: Niedermeyer's Dead Horse at November 02, 2013 12:11 PM (DmNpO)
Posted by: Gingy @GingyNorth at November 02, 2013 12:11 PM (N/cFh)
Posted by: jeebus21 at November 02, 2013 12:13 PM (HHWm6)
Discounting the bent sheet metal cover it is a Chevelle.
But I had a Buick GS as a lad so it is higher on my lotto list of cars.
Posted by: The Hickster at November 02, 2013 12:13 PM (MVBSu)
I loved it, drove it till 240k miles on it (guy I sold it to kept it till 300k, and also sold it. But I always lusted after the Preludes. In 91-2000 (the 'lost years' for me) tried something of almost every brand, including Commie/USA/Union made.
In 2000, bought 98 Civic, black, handsome and zippy in its way. Loved it, and drove till 210k miles in 2007.
Then I got my Prelude. 2001, last year they made them. Electronic Pearl Blue, the heavenly color of all colors. This car has been the love of my life. *somewhat* modified, leather seats. Hauled ASS.
Or at least I thought at the time. 'Love of my life' has turned out to be a little fluid. This being 2013, I've had that Lude for 6 years, and it's 160k Miles and other than paint job still a darling.
This summer I determined it was time to get stupid (coincidentally I just turned 50 - VERY coincidentally, *wink*) and get something with real, serious power. But I have a thing about this. I won't buy a straight-out sports car, and I won't buy showy, ostentatious. And yet I want the horsepower.
I was on the verge of getting my *next* dream car, a 1998 Lexus SC300 with the Supra engine (1JZ-GTE dropped in and boosted around 500 HP). But then I found it. *Her*. A 1997 Prelude that had been a 1/4-mile track car but was made street-legal (and only 90k miles on it). Around 600HP, it goes sub-11 in the quarter mile.
I drive it now, and it has what you'd call STOOOOO-PID power. The downside it that it's got so much done to it for speed/track, that it's now all that comfy-cozy for normal use, stuck in traffic, all that. But oh Lord is she fun on the highway.
Have I been seduced by the dangerous, dark woman? Oh yes, I admit it. But I do know she loves me. And I only trust her so far. I kept my 2001 Pearl Blue Lude. I can only get about $3000 for her, and I'd just as soon keep her, as she's been true, and is still beautiful in her way.
Posted by: Dominari Nolo at November 02, 2013 12:15 PM (Em374)
$50 here and $300 there, even a couple of times a year-- or a one-time $3000 --long after car payments end....
Still beats $450 (or more!) each and every month, without end!!!"
I have this argument all the time. It is until the repairs are so frequent that they are costing you money AND disrupting your lives regularly. That why my wife and I have 3 cars total that we drive. We can both always make it to work and I never have to have to rush a car into a shop for emergency repairs. I do most of them myself and the money saved is worth it.
Example- My wife has a 2009 pontiac with brake lights that were malfunctioning. It was out of warranty and I checked the repair cost and was told it was a computer malfunction and it would need to be replaced. for 700 bucks. After doing alot of reading I found a fix that was as simple as water proofing the plug with Die-electric grease. Total repair cost 6 bucks.
Posted by: Mythx at November 02, 2013 12:16 PM (6+z+l)
Posted by: CaliGirl at November 02, 2013 12:16 PM (J8Q1Z)
1st car - '79 Formula Firebird. I swear that big tree S. of Idaho Falls jumped out in the road, alcohol had nothing to do wth that incident
3 at once, all 1973's - Triumph Spitfire, 4 door Impala, K5 Bla_er. less than $1500 invested in the trio.
'86? Jeep Comanche, I beat that poor thing like a rented mule - took everything and came back for more
'89 Mazda Mx-6, wife's car when we met - had 235K miles on it when we got rid of it
'93 Chrysler LHS, smooth ride, great legroom (important for me), but even the Fed can't print money fast enough to keep up on the maintenance
'93 Dodge P/U shortbed - never stuck, haulled anything, even handled great in snow - kinda wish I still had that one
Present
'00 Mazda 626, first Mazda was so reliable we had to go back for a second
'01 Saturn SC1, gas miser for work commute. I bet I look as funny getting out of this as the old Triumph
'93 Suburban, vacation vehicle - but it's starting to have reliability issues so probably a goner soon, even though I love it.
Posted by: PMRich at November 02, 2013 12:17 PM (KDUNf)
Posted by: soothsayer at November 02, 2013 12:17 PM (dEtCk)
Posted by: CaliGirl at November 02, 2013 04:08 PM (J8Q1Z)
Saw a new M-B SLS AMG GT at our local high-end dealership last week...that car is pretty bad-ass...'course it should be for $200+K!!!
Posted by: billygoat at November 02, 2013 12:17 PM (ujrve)
Posted by: PMRich at November 02, 2013 12:18 PM (KDUNf)
First car was a POS 85 Nissan Pulsar (not the cool one) that I got a week before Saddam invaded Kuwait in 1990 (filled it up for $9 one week and then filled it up for $20 the next!), I drove it 6 years until I was done with college. No matter how hard I drove it, 35 mpg.
94 Saturn - Plastic, didn't care much for.
88 Accord - liked it a lot
2001 Acura CL Type S - My only new car purchase. FAST, fun, all around great car, but traded to my parents for...
Ford F-150 - Loved that truck. Then we had our first kid and the extended cab didn't fit a car seat which led to...
2006 Honda Pilot. It's a Honda, it's an SUV. I like it, it works. Especially now that we have 3 kids.
We're a 2 Honda family and will probably stay that way for the foreseeable future, because reliability and familiarity.
I'm 40 in a couple of weeks, so I'll be looking at a midlife crisis car in a couple of years to add to what we own
Posted by: Memories at November 02, 2013 12:19 PM (/Suwi)
Posted by: Thing From Snowy Mountain at November 02, 2013 12:19 PM (p0SKy)
First car was a 47 Chev with a broken engine that my Dad made me buy from him. I fixed it over the course of a summer and found that suddenly I had friends I never knew existed.
Dream car I own now, a clone of the 68 Road Runner I bought brand new,
Posted by: irongrampa at November 02, 2013 12:19 PM (SAMxH)
Hey there are rules around here.
Posted by: DaveA at November 02, 2013 12:20 PM (DL2i+)
A very wise man (client) once told me -- 'You've got to pay to drive'...think I was 21 when he said that to me...true that.
Posted by: billygoat at November 02, 2013 12:20 PM (ujrve)
Posted by: Niedermeyer's Dead Horse at November 02, 2013 12:20 PM (DmNpO)
Posted by: CaliGirl at November 02, 2013 12:22 PM (J8Q1Z)
Posted by: Gingy @GingyNorth at November 02, 2013 12:22 PM (N/cFh)
They are both GM cars the difference was in the "Package" not the look.
Posted by: The Hickster at November 02, 2013 12:22 PM (MVBSu)
Posted by: CaliGirl at November 02, 2013 12:22 PM (J8Q1Z)
Posted by: rickl at November 02, 2013 12:23 PM (sdi6R)
Posted by: Niedermeyer's Dead Horse at November 02, 2013 12:24 PM (DmNpO)
1964 Sunbeam Alpine/20,000/4
1978 MGB/85,000/2
1965 Triumph TR-4A/5,000/3
1985 Saab 900/90,000/5
1991 Grand Wagoneer/50,000 (still have this car)/1
1998 BMW Z3 (still have this car)/15,000/6
1999 Jeep Cherokee (still have this car)/70,000/7
2001 Jaguar S-type (still have this car)/50,000/8
Least favorite cars I have owned:
1959 Morris Traveler (948cc engine, 37hp, need I say more?)
1963 VW Beetle (this car tried to kill me on three separate occasions)
1995 BMW 5 series (handled like the Titanic)
1998 Saab 900 Convertible (convertibles should be sports cars)
Cars in the middle:
1980 Mazda RX-7
1990 Saab 9000
1995 Saab 900
2000 Jaguar X-type
1963 MGB
Posted by: HTL at November 02, 2013 12:25 PM (DV75s)
Posted by: Niedermeyer's Dead Horse at November 02, 2013 12:26 PM (DmNpO)
If I win the lotto I want one with the gull wing doors. I think that May be too much car for grocery shopping at wal-mart though.
Posted by: CaliGirl at November 02, 2013 04:22 PM (J8Q1Z)
Hey...if you've got it, flaunt it! LOL!
Posted by: billygoat at November 02, 2013 12:26 PM (ujrve)
Posted by: In the bunker at November 02, 2013 12:26 PM (ZVfnS)
Posted by: soothsayer at November 02, 2013 12:26 PM (dEtCk)
Worst car I ever owned was a '87 Merkur xr4ti built in Germany by Ford. Went to buy what would have been my first new car, saw it on the lot and drove it home. It was two years old and had 27,000 on it. For two years I loved it. A turbocharged 4 cylinder, it was fast and responsive. Engine blew at 61,000 just out warranty. From there it went downhill fast. Learned at the end it was really just a fancy Pinto as there was a lot of Pinto parts to it. I nearly cried. Couldn't sell it anywhere. Finally gave up a had it scrapped.
Posted by: Shirking It Hard at November 02, 2013 12:27 PM (5UY3I)
Posted by: Niedermeyer's Dead Horse at November 02, 2013 12:28 PM (DmNpO)
1st car - 1966 VW Squareback Station Wagon. Had to have it because it had an FM radio. Lasted all of about 5000 miles. Top speed, going downhill with a tailwind, was about 60 miles an hour.
Best Car - 1996 Honda Civic EX. Drove my first born home from the Hospital in it. He now drives it. 298 thousand miles and I have just done the basics to it. No major break downs.
I now have a 99 Chrysler Town and Country. Great car
a 03 Chrysler Town and Country 4wd. Great car
and a 13 Honda Accord Sport. Great car
Posted by: Truck Monkey, Gruntled New Business Owner at November 02, 2013 12:29 PM (jucos)
Yes, exactly! It's cheaper to keep a backup and do the work yourself whenever possible.
Amazing-- how some repair shops (apparently) specialize in exploiting customers' lack of knowledge.
------------
BTW, great thread, NDH!
Posted by: JeanQueenie at November 02, 2013 12:29 PM (82lr7)
Posted by: Mustangs? No... at November 02, 2013 12:31 PM (J4Gi+)
Posted by: Niedermeyer's Dead Horse at November 02, 2013 12:31 PM (DmNpO)
Posted by: CaliGirl at November 02, 2013 12:35 PM (J8Q1Z)
Posted by: Niedermeyer's Dead Horse at November 02, 2013 12:35 PM (DmNpO)
Posted by: Niedermeyer's Dead Horse at November 02, 2013 12:37 PM (DmNpO)
Posted by: Truck Monkey, Gruntled New Business Owner at November 02, 2013 12:37 PM (jucos)
More likely conservative teens buying what they could afford. Remember where they are posting. Or give a shout out to CAC.
Posted by: The Hickster
Long hair. ( Because the girls loved that, then. ) Beard. Ditto- but? I also rode choppers on the street. 74 cubit ( That's what we called 'em, here ) inch Harleys I built myself. Scooters...
1957 Police special, rocker clutch & side shift. '65 panhead.
Full leathers unless it was just too hot. Always, engineer boots & gauntlets.... Hot weather? Jeans- and a leather jacket.
Posted by: backhoe at November 02, 2013 12:38 PM (ULH4o)
- '00 Dodge extended-cab long-box Cummins smoker 1 ton
- '87 Wrangler rock crawler with 5.7/TH400/Dana 44s/Detroit lockers
- '00 Honda gen 1 Insight with "NRA" and "Shut up, Hippie" bumper stickers on the little back window. 70 mpg, because I'm cheap.
Posted by: Barack Hussein Mugabe at November 02, 2013 12:38 PM (WxDZU)
Posted by: FenelonSpoke at November 02, 2013 12:38 PM (23Kgq)
That should probably be a different thread. Yeah.
Posted by: JeanQueenie at November 02, 2013 12:39 PM (82lr7)
Posted by: Niedermeyer's Dead Horse at November 02, 2013 12:39 PM (DmNpO)
Posted by: Anna Puma (+SmuD) at November 02, 2013 12:41 PM (qf9ds)
Posted by: Niedermeyer's Dead Horse at November 02, 2013 12:42 PM (DmNpO)
Posted by: Niedermeyer's Dead Horse at November 02, 2013 12:43 PM (DmNpO)
Posted by: soothsayer at November 02, 2013 12:44 PM (dEtCk)
Yeah even conservatives like to get laid.
Posted by: The Hickster at November 02, 2013 12:45 PM (MVBSu)
Posted by: Blacque Jacques Shellacque at November 02, 2013 12:45 PM (/IXKu)
Posted by: Truck Monkey, Gruntled New Business Owner at November 02, 2013 12:46 PM (jucos)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wankel_engine
Posted by: Anna Puma (+SmuD) at November 02, 2013 12:47 PM (qf9ds)
My first car out of college was a red '84 Mustang GT convertible. Loved it because it looked awesome and by association, so did I. Tail magnet but it was an underpowered 5.0 with 170 hP.
Next came the Thunderbird Super Coupe as I had a wife and kid by then. but I missed the rag top.
I now have a 2000 Mustang GT convertible that I love but the new 2011+ Mustangs GTs have 410 Hp so there's one out there with my name on it.
Posted by: Max Entropy at November 02, 2013 12:47 PM (Hc0n6)
A Wankel is a rotary combustion engine that would have been in that Wankers RX7.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wankel_engine
Posted by: The Hickster at November 02, 2013 12:49 PM (MVBSu)
My other favorite car is the 2005 Mercedes Benz G500 that I currently drive. It's a gas-guzzling pig but I only have a 4-mile commute to town, so I only have to fill it up every 2 or so weeks. I plan on keeping it until the doors fall off.
Posted by: jix at November 02, 2013 12:51 PM (iGpXz)
Posted by: BlueFalcon in Boston at November 02, 2013 12:53 PM (KCvsd)
Posted by: Lincolntf at November 02, 2013 12:58 PM (ZshNr)
I wasn't going to say anything but that story is actually a country western song called Riding With Private Malone by David Ball.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gh1m0eC1004
Posted by: lowandslow at November 02, 2013 12:59 PM (IV4od)
Posted by: fastfreefall at November 02, 2013 12:59 PM (7hZeu)
Had kind of a chance to buy (but the girl who inherited it kept it) A 4 door 1969 Dodge Dart with a 440. Man that was the ultimate sleeper.
Posted by: The Hickster at November 02, 2013 01:00 PM (MVBSu)
http://youtu.be/1v3CzvQ9e_w
Posted by: Blanco Basura at November 02, 2013 01:00 PM (JawqV)
Went through a Morris or two, innumerable VW's, both vans and Beetles, many more Studebakers, a Pontiac, couple Cadillacs, Olds F85 with the aluminum V8, Volvo, Datsuns, Toyotas, Mazda pickup, and some I'm sure I forgot.
Only new vehicle was an '81 Datsun King Cab 4X4, Wound up rolling it over, half-ass fixing it (poverty) and finally fixing it right (new panels) and sold. Never bought new again. BTDT. Now, if I need a driver for work, I look for a good used rig in my desired class. Currently have 4 Suburbans. If one goes down, I drive another one. Three of the four licensed and insured.
Still have a flock of Studebakers, ranging from '37 to '65, from an Avanti to a big truck. Some are even nice drivers. Also have several VW's, and some really odd things.
I guess you could call me a gearhead.
Posted by: Alberta Oil Peon at November 02, 2013 01:01 PM (8Fl6F)
I'd LOVE to have that Grand Wagoneer.
Posted by: Niedermeyer's Dead Horse at November 02, 2013 04:28 PM (DmNpO)
The Grand Wagoneer is a collector's item. 1991 was the last year they made them, and Hunter Green/tan interior was the rarest color scheme. Over the years I have sold/traded in so many cars that I loved I am determined to keep this one and baby it along forever. In my opinion, the best-looking SUV ever made.
I have considered selling the Z3 if I could ever find a 1978 MGB in British Racing Green in great condition (four cars kind of uses up all available garage spaces, so that's my limit). The one thing that so far has prevented me from acting on that impulse, however, is the fact that the heated seats and heating system make it possible to drive it in the dead of winter with the top down, which is something I would never do with an MGB. Even so, I still put less than 1,000 miles per year on the convertible, so it's definitely a backburner issue.
Posted by: HTL at November 02, 2013 01:03 PM (DV75s)
Explanation=Partner (that doesn't bitch)
Posted by: The Hickster at November 02, 2013 01:03 PM (MVBSu)
Posted by: Niedermeyer's Dead Horse at November 02, 2013 01:03 PM (DmNpO)
Posted by: FenelonSpoke at November 02, 2013 01:05 PM (23Kgq)
Posted by: Anna Puma (+SmuD) at November 02, 2013 01:06 PM (qf9ds)
Posted by: FenelonSpoke at November 02, 2013 01:07 PM (23Kgq)
My favorite was a 1989 royal blue Pontiac Firebird. Had the V6 since in the Police State of NJ there isn't much opportunity to open it up, and when I moved to CA I spent most of my time in stop and go traffic. Not fast by any means but it looked great and handled very nicely
Posted by: kbdabear at November 02, 2013 01:11 PM (aTXUx)
Posted by: Golfman in NC at November 02, 2013 01:11 PM (bd7RU)
Posted by: Joe Bar at November 02, 2013 01:11 PM (Li16w)
Here in my car
I feel safest of all
I can lock all my doors
It's the only way to live
In cars
Here in my car
I can only receive
I can listen to you
It keeps me stable for days
In cars
Here in my car
Where the image breaks down
Will you visit me please?
If I open my door
In cars
Here in my car
I know I've started to think
About leaving tonight
Although nothing seems right
In cars
Posted by: Gary Numan at November 02, 2013 01:14 PM (jucos)
Posted by: Ranba Ral at November 02, 2013 01:15 PM (G99e4)
Posted by: Gem at November 02, 2013 01:16 PM (zw+pb)
Posted by: Weirddave at November 02, 2013 01:17 PM (N/cFh)
First car that I ever owned: 1972 Fiat 128 sedan. Best thing I can say about it is that I never managed to get it stuck, although I certainly tried.
Dream car? I'm driving it. (2011 Mustang GT/CS convertible)
Posted by: GGE of the Moron Horde, NC Chapter at November 02, 2013 01:17 PM (yh0zB)
Posted by: FenelonSpoke at November 02, 2013 05:07 PM (23Kgq)
Haven't heard that song, but the "dead son's Corvette under a tarp" has been an urban legend ever since there were Corvettes (and barns). I remember hearing it a teenager. And it always happened to a "friend of a friend".
There's a closely related variant, in which the Corvette is sold for a dollar by spiteful ex-wife.
Posted by: Alberta Oil Peon at November 02, 2013 01:17 PM (8Fl6F)
The car I currently lust a bit after is a 1996 Bentley Turbo R sitting on a car lot in an area that I would NEVER expect to see one. But $20K for something I can't justify or afford..(sniff). Guess my leased Camry will have to carry on.
Posted by: JustDave in GR at November 02, 2013 01:18 PM (jyosK)
Posted by: Truck Monkey, Gruntled New Business Owner at November 02, 2013 01:20 PM (jucos)
Vehicle that started more than one bar fight. One of my old shipmates would tell people he had a '57 Chevy that would seat 20 people comfortably.
They always got upset when he showed up in a '57 school bus that had been chopped down to haul a dirt track car.
The dirt track car was a '68 / '69 Chevelle. Front half 68, back half 69 after a nasty wreck
Posted by: PMRich at November 02, 2013 01:20 PM (KDUNf)
Posted by: fastfreefall at November 02, 2013 04:59 PM (7hZeu)
2003 Subaru Baja, love it almost as much as the 'stang. Shut it kbdabear, it's a great little trucklet.
Posted by: GGE of the Moron Horde, NC Chapter at November 02, 2013 01:25 PM (yh0zB)
Lambo doors, IMHO, are trashy, low-rent, wanna-be cool. Brad Pitt. Gull-wing doors are the John Wayne of doors. That is all you need to know.
Unfortunately, the roof has to be reinforced, and I mean uber-reinforced, because the joint of a gull-wing door has to be near the mid-roof, not where the top of the door is. Currently your roof is not all that much more than a sheet of metal. It's now going to have to support, through a full range of motion, 2 doors about 40 pounds each, for hundreds of openings and closings.
The whole thing is not possible without a major amount of fabrication - steel re-inforcement of the mid-roof line, cutting sections out of the roof and joining them to the top of the door, removing the hinge from the front of the door, adding latch to bottom of the door. Rubber seals around all of it. And re-routing electrical stuff if you expect to electric locks and windows, or stereo speakers. Just a whole lot of metal and welding work. No way an amateur can do it, and it would be a major, daunting task even for an expert body shop that has all the fixings.
I'm guessing it could be done in the $6000-8000 range. Kind of prohibitive if your car is worth no more than $10,000.
But Lordy, would you be the belle of the ball in any town or city.
Posted by: Dominari Nolo at November 02, 2013 01:27 PM (Em374)
Posted by: MichiCanuck at November 02, 2013 01:31 PM (18XMI)
One buddy had an old 300Z. Apparently one year, before they started putting stuff like overdrive in it, they tried to option them up with other things, like a booster as stock thing. Activating that was like firing an afterburner on a jet: LOTS of power, but you could see the fuel gauge going down, heh.
Another friend had a mid 90's Ford Probe. It was only remarkable because of the looks we'd get because he found appropriate font letters and put "Anal" in front of the actual model name. That and it was light enough for 6-8 of us to lift and move to a different parking spot to screw with him.
Then my friend who ended up driving Strykers had what became known as the Pimp Tank. I think it was an 84 Chevy Celebrity (same body type anyway), that shitty metallic grey paint they were doing there for a while, and rusty. We found out someone had dropped the same family and capacity of engine my Jimmy had in it, just older. That thing could haul when you asked it to. Back in 98 or 99 we were driving around in the evening, this guy pulls up in this riced out Civic, this girl in the car with him. He's revving his engine and looking at us, trying to egg us on into racing. Moron does this for about 3 lights. We get to the 4th, and there's a merge from 2 lanes to 1 literally just past the light. Pat's like "Hang on, no way in hell we're getting stuck behind this guy". Light goes green, Pat floors it; and we're through the merge before the guy is through the intersection. Gotta be humiliating to be trying to show off your supped up car to your date, and then get spanked by a rusty, old, grey car with a body type styling associated with geriatrics.
Posted by: Ranba Ral at November 02, 2013 01:33 PM (G99e4)
I have a 1963 R3 Avanti. It runs. I drive it. If I'm very very good I will get to drive it in Heaven. But Studebakers, you know, they run through Hell just as well.
Posted by: Stringer Davis at November 02, 2013 01:35 PM (JNUY4)
Posted by: stace NOW what?! at November 02, 2013 01:37 PM (DX63t)
Posted by: RobD at November 02, 2013 01:38 PM (J2EHa)
Posted by: ceraphym at November 02, 2013 01:49 PM (XoYyP)
Posted by: GGE of the Moron Horde, NC Chapter at November 02, 2013 05:25 PM (yh0zB)
I'm sure they all loved you at the Melissa Etheridge concerts
Posted by: kbdabear at November 02, 2013 01:53 PM (aTXUx)
Owning a Chevette meant you weren't so desperate that you bought a Yugo
Posted by: kbdabear at November 02, 2013 02:03 PM (aTXUx)
Posted by: Eingang Ausfhart at November 02, 2013 02:04 PM (uN4Ye)
Posted by: Stringer Davis at November 02, 2013 05:35 PM
Have you had it appraised? Those are so rare that you could be driving a gold mine.
As long as the chassis is in good shape and the fiberglass is fairly original, collectors and restorers will beat a path to your door. I believe that only 2,500 were produced in 1963
Posted by: kbdabear at November 02, 2013 02:10 PM (aTXUx)
learned to drive on a gold 68 mustang with houndstooth check interiors. so cool
first car I bought was a silver Toyota Celica
got married, got preggers and graduated to a beige Ford Explorer
Had more kids and needed a Oldsmobile Town and Country minivan. Hated it
Got a black Cadillac Escalade an have been driving that for 180,000 miles
suggestions on a new car? kids are 14,16 and almost 18
Posted by: thunderb at November 02, 2013 02:10 PM (zOTsN)
Posted by: thunderb at November 02, 2013 02:14 PM (zOTsN)
Nordscheife proved that.
Posted by: LC LaWedgie at November 02, 2013 02:14 PM (KQp38)
Little background:
In 2007 I was able to purchase my first brand new car ever. I picked out a Mitsubishi Eclipse, traded in my old, used 2000 Eclipse and promptly fell in love with the car. I loved everything about it except that it had the turning radius of a Mack truck.
In 2008, a dumbass 18 year old not paying attention, basically t-boned me on a highway. So much for my first brand new car, which was deemed totaled.
I ended up with a 2008 Honda Accord, since I was pretty fragile mentally and physically post-accident and while it was a beautiful car, I hated it. I have always been a sports car girl.
About a year ago, my husband casually mentioned to me that Subaru was making a sports car. I was like, "what? Subaru?" Found the BRZ, from there got a good look at the Scion FR-S and fell in love.
We called a dealer, told him what color I wanted and two months later it came off a boat from Japan. I picked it up January 2013, bought it without a test drive and have been deeply in love with it ever since. It's so much fun and has also in a way been therapeutic for me, since I'm finally enjoying driving again after five years.
Yeah, I can't carry more than one passenger and I certainly can't move anything substantial around in it but I don't care.
Posted by: DangerGirl, home sweet home at November 02, 2013 02:15 PM (GrtrJ)
Posted by: Patrick at November 02, 2013 02:44 PM (b6koZ)
Posted by: azjaeger at November 02, 2013 04:20 PM (XiwWg)
Posted by: Tom Servo at November 02, 2013 04:33 PM (hTDbY)
Ok, just because this has been a great thread...
1. 1967? Chevy Caprice. Had bias ply tires on the front and radials on the back. Scared the Hell out of me driving it from Texas to Maryland to college. It seemed to have a mind of its own and wanted to shift lanes without warning, Not so good when you're dealing with big rigs around. Front end went south finally. Sold it to my college roommate for $100.
2. 1969 Jaguar E-Type, 2+2. Silver. Jaguar Club of North America Concours Champion. Man, was that thing a "crumpet catcher." I drove it from Texas to Maine. Drew crowds at gas stations. Scared the crap out of me driving it in the snow. Still have it although it's been in a garage for most of the last 20 years.
3. 1969 Triumph TR-6. Bought that because there were places I was afraid to go in the Jag. Nice little car and drove it from Texas to Maine to Virginia to Utah. Still have that, too.
4. 1981 Mazda RX-7. Yes, at one point I had three cars, none of which would really fit more than two people. That was a nice little car and very reliable. Ended up getting married to a girl I let drive that car. She would have been overwhelmed by the Jag.
5. 1990 Honda Accord, bought new. Very good car, very reliable. Only problem we had with that car was the paint job. It was blue and the paint started to fade after only a couple of years. Took it back to Honda and they were less than good about getting it fixed. Sold it in 2001 for about 40% of what I had bought it for.
6. GMC S-10 pickup, automatic, used. OK truck but let me down at a tough point. I reroofed my Texas house all by myself and promised the wife I would take her on vacation as soon as the roof was done. Roof done, leaving town and less than an hour away it spins a main bearing. Ended up giving it to the Salvation Army. Found out later those trucks had a bad rep. for doing just that.
7. 1998 Ford Ranger 4x4, bought new. That was a great truck. Signed my name, didn't pay a dime. Manual everything. Bought it the day after the S-10 died and drove it out of the lot and off to vacation. Put a shell on it and drove it for seven years. I had to sell it when I left the U.S. Still miss that truck.
8. 2001 Lexus RX-300, new. Good car, had cylinder head problems which Lexus fixed because we had records of all maintenance being done at Lexus dealers. Still have it.
9. Long string of Korean company cars. If you ever see a Daewoo Nubira, run as fast as you can the other way. If you run, it can't catch you because it's that much of a dog. I used to have to put my foot in the carb to go up hills with just me in the car; if I had a passenger it didn't want to go over 60 kmh. Worthless POS.
10. 2012 Hyundai Tucson, diesel. Excellent car, lots of pep on the highway and lots of room inside. Pretty good mileage, particularly on the road. If they have this diesel engine model when I get back, I'll probably buy one.
I didn't drive that Jag much but it was sure a lot of fun. Named it Rocinante. Drove it 135 once between Houston and Dallas. Car still had more throttle but I was out of bottle. Telephone poles really do look like a picket fence at that speed. Met a girl that inspired me to think of the Stones' "She's So Cold." Gorgeous and not interested. That car and some judicious spending convinced her to change her mind. Taught me a lesson about being careful what you ask for because you may get it. Girl ended up being like the Nubira.
Yes, a lifetime in cars. They were all "mile markers" to some degree. They really used to mean a lot more to me. Now, they're mostly just transportation. Something got lost along the way, which is a pity. Reminds me of another Stones lyric: "You're just a memory of a love that used to be. You're just a memory of a love that used to mean so much to me."
Posted by: mac at November 02, 2013 04:49 PM (pEsGM)
Posted by: EROWMER at November 02, 2013 04:49 PM (OONaw)
Posted by: Joe Bar at November 02, 2013 04:55 PM (Li16w)
76 VW Bug (with the 72 VW Bugs' engine in it)
Some red 74 2-door semi-Mopar-looking POS that obviously wasn't Mopar (ran out of oil and blew a rod)
Some blue 82 Ford Something 4-door compact that also ran out of oil and blew a rod
A silver 86? Nissan Stanza that ran okay but later on mysteriously went up in flames an hour after I got it back from an emissions test
A dilapidated 78 Buick Electra that ate water and oil like an Olive Garden salad buffet gnome
A black 98 Toyota Corolla, my first brand new car, had it till Spring this year. Get this, only about 34K miles on it when I traded it in for a...
'08 Kia Optima
Posted by: Corona at November 02, 2013 04:56 PM (fh2Y7)
Posted by: Vmaximus at November 02, 2013 05:48 PM (nD95h)
Posted by: dave head at November 02, 2013 05:50 PM (gA0oG)
My first real car was a Honda Civic "Station Wagon-JustDave in GR at November 02, 2013 05:18 PM
My Bud had 1. We called it the "Honda-Stoga Tuna Schoona"!
Posted by: hutch1200 at November 02, 2013 07:30 PM (rHlwp)
Posted by: chuckR at November 02, 2013 07:32 PM (UGxsK)
I don't know how it could be the one I want back when it was so unreliable, but there it is.
Posted by: chuckR at November 02, 2013 11:32 PM (UGxsK)
The Fiat 124 was a worthy counterpart to the MGB, the Sunbeam Alpine, the TR-4, and even the Alpha Romeo Spider. Not so the Fiat 850, however.
Posted by: HTL at November 02, 2013 07:53 PM (DV75s)
Posted by: RigelDog at November 03, 2013 05:08 AM (eRArr)
Posted by: drocity at November 03, 2013 05:52 AM (sHjgo)
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Posted by: garrett at November 02, 2013 10:21 AM (0vge8)