OT: Talking Cars Tuesday - Your "Most Fun" car
"Most Fun" has a lot of potential definitions. Maybe most fun was that convertible where you could drop the top and cruise on a warm summer night. Maybe it was teaching your 3-year-old to say "HEMI!" when you would accelerate in your new Dodge Charger. Maybe it was the GTI you just took autocrossing (Was a blast this past weekend). Maybe it's the old Jeep that you'd get stuck in mud despite the 32" tires (Miss it every day... that I don't buy gas). Maybe it was the old Impala with the huuuuuuuge back seat in high school.
What was the most fun car you've ever had? Why?
*Have personal experience with convertible (both Jeeps), GTI, and Jeep. No experience with owning Chargers or back-seats of Impalas.
April 12th, 2016 at 10:35 AM ^
Maroon with a black vinyl top and cool pinstripe. Used to cruise in that car with my buddies on Saturday nights. Some good times. Had to sell it right before going to college to help pay for school.
April 12th, 2016 at 10:36 AM ^
1977 Monza with a small block V8 in it. I didn't have it long enough to have to change spark plugs, but one of my neighbors who worked for GM said you had to partially pull the engine in order to replace the back two plugs.
April 12th, 2016 at 10:48 AM ^
1997 Jeep Wrangler Sahara. My first car. Drove it for 15 years, until our first child arrived. I am not a big crier, but I shed a tear when I sold that car. I still look for it on the roads to this day. Lot of memories.
April 12th, 2016 at 10:54 AM ^
I sold my 98 for my dog (she had health issues, the Jeep was a toy... so away went the Jeep). When I see Steel Blue TJs around it gets a little dusty.
April 12th, 2016 at 11:00 AM ^
Tell me about it. What are your thoughts on the Rubicon? My kids are really young, so car seats are a pain in the ass, but when they get a little older, I've been thinking about getting an unlimited Rubicon.
April 12th, 2016 at 11:16 AM ^
If you're looking for an LJ Rubi, they'll be really expensive. A new Unlimited 4-door pushes $40K.
Back when I was wheeling, rubicons weren't totally necessary. It depends on where you wheel, what trails, etc. It's great to have one in your group, but you don't need it. My TJ was on a 2" budget suspension lift (and stock rubicon springs) but I had open axles. I'd get stuck in some deep mud, but never "wished" for a bigger/more built vehicle to wheel around the midwest. Back then most things over 33" tires were overkill - the trails were easy on 35"s.
That said, the 4.0 crawl and the beefier axles won't hurt.
April 12th, 2016 at 11:42 AM ^
They are pretty expensive but even the smaller models are still over 30k all said and done. I am always amazed at the resale value of jeeps. My 97 had some serious issues and I still got around 7k for it (as stated before, the thing was priceless in my eyes)
April 12th, 2016 at 11:14 AM ^
5 years later we'd still see them in the road.
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April 12th, 2016 at 10:48 AM ^
Finally a thread about something other than satellite camps.
April 12th, 2016 at 10:53 AM ^
1. Did the most crazy stuff in: 95 Eagle Talon AWD - souped up little ricer. Age 19-22. Good times, man.. good times. College.
2. First "grown up car": 05 Crossfire Convertible - Black, looked like a tuxedo.
3. American Muscle: 12 Dodge Charger RT - 375HP and RWD. Went through a set of back tires in 9k.
April 12th, 2016 at 10:55 AM ^
Buy stock in Goodyear when you get a Hemi
April 12th, 2016 at 11:13 AM ^
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April 12th, 2016 at 11:05 AM ^
April 12th, 2016 at 11:14 AM ^
A 1974 cherry-red VW Bug. To call it "quirky" would be an understatement. It was an automatic clutch (you still had to shift, but you didn't have to depress the clutch. It was as though the VW engineers were designing an automatic transmission and then decided, "Eh, that's far enough.") The heater was basically non-existent (a large take-out pizza generated more heat than the car did), and the windshield washer was powered by the air in the spare tire. And the engine had that distinctive sound, like a giant rubber band wound around a hamster wheel.
It was underpowered, completely bare-bones ... and it was all mine. For a kid whose previous transportation options were the bus, a bicycle, or bumming rides, there's nothing sweeter than that first car.
April 12th, 2016 at 11:11 AM ^
Dated a girl with an Audi TT convertible. Man did our relationship really take off in the summer when I would just cruise in that car. It was so much fun to drive even if it was girly. I remember being so impressed when we first started dating and should could drive a manual. I wonder what she is up to know....Or if she still has that car.
April 12th, 2016 at 11:12 AM ^
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April 12th, 2016 at 11:19 AM ^
1st Gen TT Quattro. 225HP coupe. Was quite fun with the 6 speed.
April 12th, 2016 at 11:16 AM ^
April 12th, 2016 at 11:21 AM ^
95 Suburu Impreza with a bent frame and no shocks. Bounced for like a quarter mile after every pot hole. Sounded like a pod racer when I turned at any speed. Got that baby to 105 and blew up a piston to total the thing.
Lots of tomfoolery. Lots of NSFMrsK action with the high school sweetheart. Lots of memories.
April 12th, 2016 at 11:29 AM ^
This is a tough call.
My first two cars were 1976 Chevy Monte Carlos. Longgggg (you can't see the end) hood. Bench front seat handy for make-out sessions (pun intended). First one was a 350 with dark red vinyl interior, white exterior, and no AC. Second one was silver with cloth interior and AC, 400 4bbl. Felt fast but probably made less than 200HP and weighed a couple tons. Got low teens MPG.
Next up was a blue 87 Fiero GT. Bought it as a college graduation gift for myself in 1991. Still have it, about 90% restored with a newer 3.4 liter V6 replacing the original 2.8. Very fun, low-slung car. Once had the 120MPH speedo pegged out...that car definitely needs more downforce at those speeds- could feel the front end getting light.
Had an 86 Jeep CJ-7 for a few years. Paid $4900 for it in 1992. By the time we sold it, around 1999, had put over $6000 into it, including a rebuilt motor. Great fun to take the top and doors off on nice days...when it was running.
There are 95 and 2005 4Runners in the mix, a 1999 Sienna, and a 2016 Outback. Fun? No. Reliable and functional? Highly.
We currently have a 2008 Saturn Sky Redline. Great lines, fun to drive, 290 HP, 340Tq with the GM tune. Red on red/black. Ordered it new in 2007. Has about 23,000 miles on it now.
And then there is wifey's 1959 Austn Healey Sprite. I took a while to warm-up to this car, but have come to really love it. It's a true driver's car: No power steering, no traction/stability control, manual clutch, etc. There is very little separating the driver from the machine and that is very, very different from all modern 'sports' cars.
Sprite
Fiero
Sky
April 12th, 2016 at 11:40 AM ^
I like you. you like fun.
It was my brother's, but he was kind enough to let me drive it for two years while he was away at school. It put proof to the statement "It's more fun to drive a slow car fast than a fast car slow".
April 12th, 2016 at 11:45 AM ^
Even the crappy ones. My Miata's were the most fun to drive. My '70 Cutlass was the best for road head and having sex in (bring back the bench seat!!). And my G37 is sweet for all weather performance.
I've had 14 cars total that I can remember, and 3 now between the wife and I. I'm not sure if that's a lot or a little for a guy in his late 30's
I'm a car $lut.
I realized this when I rented a Neon in San Francisco on a business trip and by the second day was thinking up all the positives I liked about it.
with a Chrysler 200 not long ago. And that car sucks too.
Maybe someone would give us free cars to drive as therapy...
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diesels, 4 x 4 (except one), some of them are starting to show rust, lots of miles, but they go great and i'm not worried about who wins a collision or getting door dings. amazing what yelling 'no deductible!' will do when you want to change a contested lane.
April 12th, 2016 at 11:47 PM ^
I'd love to drive a diesel stick...
but that is the lone 2wd....car. great mileage though, like 50. bought it at salvage and fixed it up. really like it, but again, not cool like your car and so many others on this thread.
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It's an appliance. The automotive equivalent of driving a dishwasher. No soul.
This is the line of thinking that leads me to buy used high-end cars that break all the time instead of something like an Accord or Camry.
April 12th, 2016 at 11:48 AM ^
I've had three total (Jeep, VW passat, and now an F150), so you are way ahead of me in my mid 30's. Got some catching up to do. Never thought I would own a pickup, then I moved to South Dakota...
/sigh
April 12th, 2016 at 11:57 AM ^
by all the beaters I ran into the ground in my youth. My turnover has decreased significantly over the past several years. The cars I have now I've had for 7, 6, and 5 years. But I've also had cars that barely lasted a year.
I usually leave them for dead on the side of the road once they've stranded me a second time. What happens to them after that, I have no idea.
April 12th, 2016 at 11:52 AM ^
Not mine, but it only takes one ride and you immediately appreciate the superior driving experience. Acceleration and quiet is like nothing that has ever existed. Progress.
April 12th, 2016 at 12:13 PM ^
Bought it for the wife back in 2003 when the original lease holder moved on to another car, but I get to drive it now and then. I specifically wanted the 2.5 in-line 6 cylinder which is the classic BMW engine. No turbo, sounds wonderful when you put your foot into it. I put some new tires on it last year with much improved grip over the old all-seasons. Car drives like a go cart and is a pleasure to drive on a sunny day with the top down. My favorite time of year to cruise top down is the fall. A bit of a nip in the air easily countered by the heated seats.
April 12th, 2016 at 12:23 PM ^
17 years old and this was my second car after the family Chevy Citation was handed down to me. The cuda had a 340 4 barrel, RT hood slap stick. It was purple and blue depending how you looked at it with a vinyl top. This was WAAAAYYYYYY too much engine for a 17 year old kid. Aside from the kid my year that had a 1988 Grand National, I had the baddest car on the lot. Lots of fun driving around at night. I was in 3 minor car accidents in 2 years and should have had many more. The great thing was I could open the hood and go to the junk yard or Murray's auto parts and change out everything! I even pulled the transmission and had a guy rebuild it. I also had to sell it to pay for college. I wish I had that today.
April 12th, 2016 at 12:30 PM ^
I've only had two cars in my life so this one is easy. Also, I've only driven rental cars while my current car has been in the shop. I drove a rentak Dodge Charger V6 once and was excited when I got it. It was just horrible. It was the V6, but there was still excitement with driving a Charger. It was not a good car.
My most fun car is definitely my current car: Civic Si Sedan. It's quick and nimble. You can weave through and around people in the city and burst past people on the highway. It does pretty much everything I want it to do and that's great for me. I should also add that my idea of fun is being able to navigate traffic and get to where I am going as quickly as possible while not abusing the speed limit. It's about not getting stuck behind slow pokes and avoiding red lights. The Civic Si definitely helps me a lot in that regard. I've saved so much time not being on the road because of it.
I have had a ton of cars... Among them: '68 MGB, 71 Datsun 240Z, 79 Trans Am, '86 Mustang SVO, '94 Jaguar XJS 12, '92 Typhoon, '98 BMW 528i, but my favorite:
1967 Shelby Cobra (not the Mustang). I did the One Lap of America in it in 1994. Although we lost the fuel pump in Goodland, KS and didn't make all of the racetracks (ever try to find a fuel pump for a 30+ year old specialty car in the middle of nowhere?) it was an astounding car to drive and race.
Now, if we're talking most fun to get lost in on a Friday night with a young lass...
...last year of BMW's iconic E39 series. BMW integrated several features from their M series into the final version of the 540i. Mine was a 6 speed with the M Sport package. Beautiful lines and a joy to drive with a remarkably efficient 22 MPG thru its 4.4 liter V8 engine.
Still critically acclaimed:
I have always wanted one of those. However, owning a 323ci dissuaded me from ever owning another BMW. That thing broke constantly and cost a fortune to fix. It's currently sitting in my garage waiting to be scrapped.
is a '98 528i with the sport package. It just turned 74,000 miles. Love it.
Hands down - it was my dad's, and the EEPROM controlling the turbo had been replaced with a tuned one drawing an extra 2-4 pounds of boost from the turbo. It was neck snapping. Driving that at 16 was crazy.
As far as my own, a 1974 Corvette, fun and good at the top end, but didn't have the crazy accelleration that the Buick had.
The GN is one of my all time favorite cars.
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