Cars (and other automobiles)

[J_Dee]

My first car was my dad's '84 Buick Century. It had a ton of problems so I wasn't too stressed out when my brother totaled it a few months after I got it (the accident wasn't his fault).
My favorite car ever was my '94 Sentra. I had a hell of a lot of fun in that car all throughout college until one of my sisters totaled it (the accident wasn't her fault).

My next two cars were pretty meh and my current car's nothing to write home about either -- but I hope I can both find and afford a nice, low-mileage '83 Datsun 280zx after next Christmas. Should be able to, but we'll see.

So -- what was your first car?
What were your favorite and least favorite cars?
What's your dream car?

 

[Bill - Shy Cat]

First vehicle when I was in high school in early 70’s was 1955 Ford pickup truck with a flathead 8 engine. I didn’t appreciate that truck as much as I should have.

 

[WildcatFan1982]

first was a 1988 Ford Ranger. no paint on the hood, big dent in the side, and the letters just said FO.

worst was a 2004 Dodge Intrepid. Unless you love throwing money into a toilet...

 

[trueblujr2]

First car was a '79 Thunderbird bought from my dad for $800. Dad bought the car brand new when it came out in late '78, sold it to me in '87. Car was a tank. It was this exact model, same color and all.

My favorite car I've owned is the one i'm driving now. Nothing overly spectacular, a 2020 Hyundai Sonata Limited, but it's loaded with a lot of comfort and safety features that have spoiled me a bit. Least favorite was the "95 Dodge Stratus I bought when they first came out. I got rid of it after the third head gasket replacement in less than 70K miles. Runner up would be the Ford Escort Pony I bought around 1989 after selling the Bird to my neighbor. No radio, no AC, crank windows, 4 speed transmission. got the job done, but the lack of AC and it being a black car made for some pretty toasty drives and I actually melted some cassette tapes and a small boom box i hauled around in it to make up for the lack of a radio. My dad ended up using it to drive back and forth to work while I was at UK my first couple of years.

Don't really have a Dream car per se, there's a lot of cars I would like to own for a variety of reasons, but I've never been a gearhead so to speak so i wouldn't want something I would have to invest work into. I think at my age (54) I'd just prefer something with a lot of comfort features that's good for travelling. I'm fond of the Hyundai brand since I've had one for a few years now and wouldn't mind advancing up to a Genesis, but I can get an A-Plan of Fords now due to my Wife's job, so that might transition to something like one of the Lincoln SUV's or maybe a Bronco.

 

[trueblujr2]

first was a 1988 Ford Ranger. no paint on the hood, big dent in the side, and the letters just said FO.

worst was a 2004 Dodge Intrepid. Unless you love throwing money into a toilet...

I hear ya on the Dodges, I've sworn them off. I had the Stratus and a Ram Pickup. got more run out of the Ram, but it shouldn't have started going into the crapper as early as it did. A good work truck should last longer than 130K miles.

 

[Creed Bratton]

My first car was a 1979 Triumph TR7. Someone had changed out the engine and put a Datsun truck engine in it causing all kinds of problems.

I have several cars that I would like to have but my dream car is a 1966 Ford Shelby Cobra 427 Super Snake. This particular one was Carol Shelby's personal car.

 

[Catfan in Tn.]

Graduated in 1969. When I first started driving to to school it was in a 1954 Chrysler New Yorker. What a beast and not another one in the County. Car I would like to have back would be a 1974 Mercury Capri.

 

[funKYcat75]

All of my cars (including my wife's) have been super boring, but the pattern is interesting.

1991 - station wagon (yes, I drove it to high school)
1992 - compact sedan
1997 - regular sedan
1996 - regular sedan
2000 - another compact sedan
2002 - mini van
2006 - mini van
2012 - mini van
2013 - small pick up
2018 - Crossover SUV
2019 - cute little european car

Then I go into a rental place to rent a van for Chrsitmas travels and the guy at the desk says "You must be here for the minivan. You look like a minivan guy."

I'm pretty sure that will be the origin story to my mid-life crisis.

 

[WildcatFan1982]

Really I know dick all about cars past putting gas in the engine and getting the oil changed. I'm not a 'car' guy. But I do like car shows and movies like "Ford V Ferrari". Just neat seeing all the old cars drive around. Hell I mean the General Lee seemed to be able to ramp over just about anything, my beetle will not

 

[trueblujr2]

Really I know dick all about cars past putting gas in the engine and getting the oil changed. I'm not a 'car' guy. But I do like car shows and movies like "Ford V Ferrari". Just neat seeing all the old cars drive around. Hell I mean the General Lee seemed to be able to ramp over just about anything, my beetle will not

You put your gas in the engine? Might want to put it in the gas tank and let it work its way to the engine from there the way it was designed.

Just bustin' yer chops.

 

[WildcatFan1982]

lol you aren't far off.

 

[BC_Wader]

My first car was a 69 vw bug. After that I had a 79 toyota pickup that began my love affair with toyotas. That truck ran like a champ but got so rusted out that I had to sell it. Someone got a great 22r engine that's probably still running. I've had an 83 celica gt, 85 mr2. I miss all those old vehicles. Minimal maintenance. Without a doubt my worst luck with vehicles have been American models. Had a few Rangers. Those are good trucks but plenty of oil leaks. My old 94 gmc jimmy had the best engine I've ever had with that 4.3 vortec but the vehicle fell apart around that engine. I currently drive a Nissan Frontier and absolutely LOVE it outside of the crappy gas mileage. That thing is a beast. I wanted a Tacoma but I saved thousands of dollars with the Frontier. That 4L six has plenty of pep. As for my dream ride? I'd have to say a 1970 Mach One Mustang. Dad had one growing up. Fast as all get out.

 

[LineSkiCat14]

Waiting on my wife's jeep to come off loan in June. My mazda 6 has been off for 5 years, so once her's is off I'm trading the Mazda6 in. Starting to actually look at some car reviews today. I have my heart set on the Volvo XC90, just love everything about it. Maybe the Mazda CX-90, that's pretty sleek (and Mazda really does well with reliability IMO). Would prefer a luxury SUV a few years old with decent miles.

 

[MegaBlue05]

Licensed in 1996. First car was an 88 Camry. Got it with 149K. Drove it until its death at nearly 400K.

I had more money tied up in the stereo than the car was worth, but you could hear me coming for a mile or so. Probably why I am half deaf today.

Currently driving a 2018 Camry as my main car with a 2000 S10 that hauls our kayaks to the river/lake but often stays parked.

 

[Blueisbest]

My first car was a 1971 Chevy Vega. Nothing much to look at but when you are 16 it is the greatest thing.

 

[BC_Wader]

Waiting on my wife's jeep to come off loan in June. My mazda 6 has been off for 5 years, so once her's is off I'm trading the Mazda6 in. Starting to actually look at some car reviews today. I have my heart set on the Volvo XC90, just love everything about it. Maybe the Mazda CX-90, that's pretty sleek (and Mazda really does well with reliability IMO). Would prefer a luxury SUV a few years old with decent miles.

Wife has a 19 CX5. It's an awesome ride. First Mazda for us. We love it.

 

[*CatinIL*]

Started driving in 1978. First vehicle...and it had a 390 in it.

I would love to have that truck today...

 

[Elbridge]

My first car was a 1966 Ford Mustang my dad bought for me when I started my junior year of high school in Fayetteville NC. We (he) got stationed at Fort Bragg that summer. Red with a 289. It was a cool first car. I bought a 1984 Mazda RX-7 SE about 10 years ago. it was fun to drive and easy to get the ass end to slide around. I loved 911s since I was a kid while we were stationed in Germany in the early 70s. My dad liked them too. I pulled the trigger on a '08 997.1 (14,800 miles) when I bought it in Jan 2021 just before used car prices went crazy with my sister's encouragement. Not a single time have I driven that car and not thoroughly enjoyed it.

 

[IdaCat]

My grandfather let me drive his pickup truck on narrow country roads when I was barely tall enough for my feet to touch the pedals. My dad let me back boats down ramps.

 

[Rex Kwon Do]

(Long)

Love cars, my Dad instilled that in me and it stuck. One of my kids (12yo son) got bit as well. I had 5 sisters and no brothers, but my Dad held firm that everyone had to learn on / first car was a stick. *Love* sticks!!!!! Am fortunate to own some pretty cool stuff now and along the way:

- (first) ‘91 Nissan Maxima SE, 5-speed, black on black, white gauges….was really cool!

- ‘94 Acura Legend Coupe, 6-speed….was my true love. Mini cult following, was the first mainstream 6-speed car. Guy from Canada flew down, bought it, paid to convert in to Canadian specs. Miss it every day, would buy it back if it ever surfaces.

- ‘01 MB E55 AMG. Black over black/white 2 tone int. Rock solid last of the OG MB’s. Would but that one back too.

- ‘04 MB CL55 AMG…silver/black. Supercharged, that thing was a modern marvel, hauled like a mother and handled so well despite weighing a TON. Total money pit and lost my ass on it. Everything that could go wrong did. First of the new school MBs, downhill from there.

Current:

- (daily) ‘21 Silverado with 6.2 and borla. Was not my intention to put the borla on, but that thing sounds beautiful.

- ‘98 Supra Twin Turbo, 6-speed, white on black, almost bone stock. 51k miles. Cool as hell. Long story, but has been my Dad’s/mine since he passed 9 years ago, my Dad’s since ‘00. Total show stopper anywhere I take it.

- ‘17 Porsche 911 GTS 7-speed. Also white on black. Fastest car I’ve owned….i know PDKs are faster but don’t care, gearbox is damn near majestic. Can fit all three kids in there, why I bought it. Pops had several older 911s and 928s, had a 996 when he passed. I think he’d love this one

Cars!!!!!!

 

[AIChatGPT]

All my dad ever got me was a carton of cigs. Told me to smoke up.

 

[Deeeefense]

First car 1951 Chevy Deluxe (mine didn't look nearly this good). Paid $125.00 for it. Blew the engine up a month after I got it racing another kid.

Current ride is a 2017 Lincoln Continental - best car I have ever owned. (I don't race it)

 

[JDHoss]

My grandfather let me drive his pickup truck on narrow country roads when I was barely tall enough for my feet to touch the pedals. My dad let me back boats down ramps.

My dad used to do that too, especially when we were done and going to load up. When I got my learner's permit, I did all the driving on the fishing trips in a 72 Dodge pickup with 3 on the column. Those were good times...

 

[JDHoss]

My first car was a 1971 Plymouth Cuda with the 383, just like this one. I sold it to my cousin's husband for a 69 Super Bee he was restoring and $1200. I then sold the Super Bee for $800. Four years later, he got laid off from the mines and asked me if I'd be interested in buying it back. He wanted $4500 and I just didn't have the money and had a kid on the way. About 15 years later, my daughter and I were walking through the parking lots at Dollywood and I saw a Cuda that looked just like it. We walked over to look at it, and it was my car and still had the high school parking sticker in the rear view window. We saw them inside the park and he said that he came close to selling it but wouldn't take less than the asking price. As far as I know, he still has it and I know I wish I'd never sold it.

 

[maneal4]

Current ride - 22 BMW m340i xdrive Individual Daytona Violet on black vernasca leather, stock

Dream is an s54 M coupe (for smiles) and a TRD Tundra (for actually getting places and moving things)

Dad had a 94 Nissan maxima black on tan cloth interior that I wish I still owned. If anyone has one out there let’s talk 😉