Author Topic: What do you drive? What do like (or not like) about it?  (Read 3625 times)

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Offline Jim_S

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What do you drive? What do like (or not like) about it?
« on: March 12, 2022, 01:06:10 AM »
I want this to be a fun thread where we talk about our own experience, not to attack or argue that other people's choices are wrong.

To get things started when I bought my first car (circa 1968) my only requirement was a stick shift, 4 on the floor, as we said back then. Fifty years later nothing's changed. The only automatics I've owned, I've inherited, and they were never my daily driver. My current car is a 2011 Subaru Outback, 6-speeds, 3 pedals, (that we had to special order). Apparently Subaru stopped selling Outbacks with manual transmissions in 2014 but I didn't hear about it until 2016 or I might have upgraded. It kind of makes me sad but at 72 I'm hoping this will be my last car.

So...what do you drive? What do you like (or not)? What are you thinking of getting in the future?


Offline davidmc36

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Re: What do you drive? What do like (or not like) about it?
« Reply #1 on: March 12, 2022, 04:12:10 AM »
My first was a 79 Monza. Had big ideas of installing a 350.

I bought a couple Camaros over the years.

Now I find a vehicle not something i want to be this or that or shiny......it's just an annoyance that costs money. I don't even get fenders fixed if in small fender bender. Wife got sides wiped in parking lot. Nothing major, scrape and small crease I  door and fender. Drive the sucker.

My 94 Toyota pickup is just a hobby because I had an 89 back many years ago and wanted another. It is 5 Speed. No automatic belongs in a truck as far as I'm concerned. Automatic is for the AWD SUV.

Offline chief-david

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Re: What do you drive? What do like (or not like) about it?
« Reply #2 on: March 12, 2022, 07:53:30 AM »
I have a 2015 Ram 1500.
It sets up high. I can carry and pull anything I need. Gas mileage is pretty good. 21 hwy. Which is better than my 2005 Dakota that I had before.
Very roomy. I am bigger than I used to be. Hell of a lot easier to get in and out of than my wifes Beetle.

I can barely get in a car. it is a long way down.



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Offline PaulMy

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Re: What do you drive? What do like (or not like) about it?
« Reply #3 on: March 12, 2022, 10:01:15 AM »
For my own first, a white 1966 Ford Mustang GT350*Coupe originally owned by Scott Wilson of Time Machine fame   https://cdrhf.com/Inductees/scott-wilson/
who drove a new vehicle for only 6 months (my brother was an apprentice mechanic at the Ford dealership were Scott did all his vehicle buying and trading that helped me get this car).  I added Thrush Mufflers, and it purred.  I liked the attention it got [tup]


Traded it in 2 years later for a 1968 Ford Mustang Red Fastback which I drove for nearly 10 years, and then sold it in pretty bad rust condition.  In a strange coincidence, about 10 years ago I was at a voting polling station where the election clerk asked my name for confirmation and when I replied, the person in front of me turned around and asked "did you have a 1968 Mustang" and I said yes, a red fastback".  He responded to say he had just appraised it and now is 'blue'!  When I sold it I had all the original documentation and gave that to the buyer and seems like that then stayed with the car for another 35 years.


Oh, by the way, after many years fixing cars my brother started a new job... being the Pilot of the Budweiser Blimp, and which I was fortunate enough to get into the gondola at St. Louis Downtown airport July 4, 1995.


Now a 2021 Ford Escape Hybrid... and the gas prices don't bother me at all anymore :D


* in name and stripes.

Enjoy,
Paul
« Last Edit: March 13, 2022, 12:26:05 AM by PaulMy »

Offline broadstairs

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Re: What do you drive? What do like (or not like) about it?
« Reply #4 on: March 12, 2022, 11:21:29 AM »
Since I live in the UK I thought I'd list my cars which may give rise to some fun/surprise if you search for them  ;) Starting with my first car around 1967

Austin A30 Van
Ford 105E Anglia
Austin Mini Van (to which I added side windows!)
Austin Mini Countryman (miniature woody!)
Hilman Imp (rear engine rear wheel drive)
Skoda Estelle ( now in the 1980s)
Rover 200 1.6ltr (company car)
Vauxhall Cavalier 2ltr Auto (company car)
Vauxhall Vectra 2ltr Turbo Diesel (last company car)
Fiat Punto 1.9ltr Turbo Diesel (first car after retiring in 2002)
Fiat Punto 1.6ltr petrol (my wife hated driving round in the Fiat Diesel - she said it sounded like a bus!)
Fiat Panda 1.2ltr petrol
Ford Fiesta 1.6ltr Auto
Fiat 500 1.2ltr petrol 2018 (current car)

The Fiat 500 is something my wife hankered after for a while but I always thought it would be too small, however I finally gave in and tried one and I'm a big chap and fit in easily with plenty of room for me. It also has the bonus of being very easy to park and gets through small gaps where big SUVs can't go and returns 50mpg on long journeys!. BTW we call big SUVs 'Chelsea Tractors' over here!

Stuart
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Offline vreihen

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Re: What do you drive? What do like (or not like) about it?
« Reply #5 on: March 12, 2022, 11:24:10 AM »
I have never owned an automatic transmission, and never will!

My current collection is...

Audi weekend car, 5-speed manual:



Road trips and weekend hauler, Dodge Ram 2500 diesel, 6-speed manual and manual 4x4 transfer case:



Daily driver, BMW i3 battery EV, direct drive (one speed):



Not shown, wife's Kia Niro battery EV, direct drive (one speed).

Our home electricity comes from a small local hydroelectric generator coop, and is unaffected by the fossil fuel pricing turmoil that the non-renewable energy generators are having to raise their prices to cover their increased costs.  Our driving costs have not changed one penny with the two EV's.....
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Offline Garth Bock

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Re: What do you drive? What do like (or not like) about it?
« Reply #6 on: March 12, 2022, 11:35:04 AM »
62 Chevy II (197 with 3 on the tree school car) to a 75 Ford Elite to a series of Dodge mini Vans (hauling my DJ gear) until recently. Bought a 2007 Ford F150 4X4 (Supercab) that helped me move to Missouri. It had a lot of Illinois salt corrosion and developed engine problems. Now I have a 2017 F150 (Supercab) 4X2 (bought in 2019 and I was for the first time within 3 years of the current year!). In the future I will probably look at a GM truck.

Oh don't want to forget my ever faithful Harley 2000 Sportster Sport (only 500 made and maybe a handful still intact) with a 4 plug Blockhead engine. Looking at going to a Heritage Softail Classic or a TriGlide.

Offline 92merc

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Re: What do you drive? What do like (or not like) about it?
« Reply #7 on: March 12, 2022, 11:51:59 AM »
My first car was an Adobe Gold 1980 Ford LTD.  I put 150k miles on that car through college and my first job.  My first "nice" car I bought after getting a good job was a silver 1992 Mercury Grand Marquis.  Hence my name, 92Merc.

Today I have a 2013 Ford Escape, 2003 F150.  Also a 2015 BMW R1200RT, and wife's 2017 BMW R1200RT motorcycles.  I'm not one to swap vehicles or motorcycles often.
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Offline chief-david

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Re: What do you drive? What do like (or not like) about it?
« Reply #8 on: March 12, 2022, 12:02:39 PM »
Quote
My first car was an Adobe Gold 1980 Ford LTD.  I put 150k miles on that car through college and my first job.
lucky. Mom and dad had a 1979 LTD.  Biggest piece we ever owned. New cam at 25K miles and it was not under any kind of warranty. Carb issues.


I have had an olds, buick, pontiac, saturn, mercury, plymouth.  Anyone see a pattern here?
Loved my 76 Cutlass. Never had the money to restore it. I think it is still alive.

It is harder and harder to find manual transmissions. Dad loved them on his trucks.  I thought ford quit selling them in the US.
« Last Edit: March 12, 2022, 12:04:10 PM by chief-david »



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Offline Garth Bock

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Re: What do you drive? What do like (or not like) about it?
« Reply #9 on: March 12, 2022, 12:30:45 PM »
Quote
It is harder and harder to find manual transmissions. Dad loved them on his trucks.  I thought ford quit selling them in the US.
That's one way to stop carjackings..... own a car with a manual transmission.. 😄
Now for a cellphone with a rotary dial to prevent cellphone thefts... 😄😄😄

Offline davidmc36

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Re: What do you drive? What do like (or not like) about it?
« Reply #10 on: March 12, 2022, 02:44:39 PM »
Mmmmmm, Thrush Mufflers. Had a pair on my 78 Nova.

Offline vreihen

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Re: What do you drive? What do like (or not like) about it?
« Reply #11 on: March 12, 2022, 04:40:01 PM »
That's one way to stop carjackings..... own a car with a manual transmission.. 😄






.
WU Gold Stars for everyone! :lol:

Offline Bashy

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Re: What do you drive? What do like (or not like) about it?
« Reply #12 on: March 12, 2022, 11:42:00 PM »
UK. not including parthners cars that i bought and insured etc...
Quoted speeds are more than just book speeds ;)

1st bike Honda XL125
1st car Vauxhall Chevette
Audi 80
Escort XR3
Escort XR3i
Montego 2.0
Rover 827 Vitesse 167bhp (G reg 1989) (standard 0-60 8.1secs - 140mph top end) Auto :p

Rover 827 (M reg) ex police not as quick as the above older car...
Rover 218
Supra 2.8
Renault Laguna (1) 1.8
Volvo S70 T5 (auto)
C70 T5 240bhp (auto) (155mph)


Vauxhall Astra 1.8 SXIBike stage --
Thunderace (1000)

New 2004 GSXR 1000 (189mph)

-- end of bike stage lol
Rover 820 Turbo (auction impulse buy, sold on for profit a week later lol


Volvo S80 T6 2.8 twin turbo (auto)
Reault Laguna II Initiale 1.9DCI

Renault Laguna III 2.0 DCI Best fuel eco
Renault Laguna II 1.9 DCI
Volvo V70 2.4 D5 185 bhp latest jalopy Maybe the worst ive had for fuel, great room with the back seats down, the dogs have the run of the whole back



I am sure there are a couple of sheds that i have blocked from memory
Off road bikes not included

Ideally i would like a newer XC70
« Last Edit: March 14, 2022, 02:41:09 AM by Bashy »
Kind regards
Bashy

Offline worachj

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Re: What do you drive? What do like (or not like) about it?
« Reply #13 on: March 13, 2022, 12:45:31 PM »
My first car was a used 1968 red Ford Mustang Coupe with a 289 engine and what I believed was a rare 4-speed manual transmission. Most Mustangs were only manual 3-speed. Wish I still owned it



My wish list for my next car would be a Ford Mustang Mach-E, an all-electric vehicle. Just started looking at them. But so far, I'm quite impressed with them.



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Offline ValentineWeather

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Re: What do you drive? What do like (or not like) about it?
« Reply #14 on: March 13, 2022, 04:16:43 PM »
2013 F150 V-6 with the EcoBoost (dual superchargers). The V-6 doesn't do horribly on gas mileage around 14 in town and 20 on the highway.  I've had several cars but since retirement decided to downsize mainly to save on insurance with multiple vehicles. The reason for keeping the truck vs a better fuel milage car is towing a travel trailer and ATV hauler. Plus it's tough offroading and hunting out of a car.  :-)   
Randy

Offline ocala

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Re: What do you drive? What do like (or not like) about it?
« Reply #15 on: March 13, 2022, 05:15:37 PM »
A 2010 Chevy Silverado 4x4. This is my first truck I bought brand new. Still chugging along fine so far. Started out about 17mpg now it's down to high 15's. Gotta have a truck for towing the boat, getting rolls of hay for the wife's horse, and general maintenance around the property.
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Offline Aardvark

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Re: What do you drive? What do like (or not like) about it?
« Reply #17 on: March 14, 2022, 09:46:57 AM »
2017 Mazda CX5.  I used to have a 2001 Grand Cherokee Larado.  I like that better. BUT the wife said it was getting too frequent in need of engine repairs.  Considering the cost of the Mazda and the probably repairs, I should have stuck with the Jeep.  Body was good.   I tracked the engine number and one week after they sold it used, some dork totaled it.  Morons.

The Mazda is nice enough. No frills, I can use blue tooth to listen to my music, the gps is fine, great gas mileage.   I have filled the tank only 3 times in the past 2 years.  It sits in the driveway as I go no where since grandkid graduated .   

We take trips in wife's Volvo xc60.  She is leasing it.  Down side is  the engine needs to be started every 3 days or it goes into standby as the extras use up the battery. It also burns premium. Oh joy.

Offline BigOkie

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Re: What do you drive? What do like (or not like) about it?
« Reply #18 on: March 14, 2022, 10:27:19 AM »
My first vehicle was a 1969 Pontiac GTO Judge that had been modded for a 455 ci engine (pretty sure the 69 Judges didn't come with the 455).  Yes, it had the shaker hood.  My 18 year old dumb self wrecked it showing off.

After that I had a 1975 Pontiac Ventura with a long block Buick 350 in it (which I understand was a common engine option in that).  I did some more mods to that (mainly exhaust; I moved the exhaust exits in front of the rear wheels and added glass packs).  Loved that car.

After that I had a given-to-me 1975 Chevy Luv pickup truck (four on the floor) with a tiny Isuzu 4 cylinder in it.  It got me from A to B.

Next was a 1979 Chevy Camaro with a 305 small block that was totaled when a car left the roadway and crashed into my parked car in my apartment complex I was living at.  Then, a 1986 Honda CRX (which is essentially what the new CRZs look like).  That was my first five speed manual and I LOVED driving that little car and it lasted.  Until I divorced my ex-wife and she got that car and I swapped with her daily driver.  A 1986 Ford Taurus.  Hated that car.

Bought a used 1996 Chevy Lumina for next to nothing.  Glad it was next to nothing, it lasted about that long (main bearing went out on it) but I liked it when it drove.

After that in 2007 I bought my first brand new off the showroom floor car.  2007 Dodge Avenger with a 3.0l v6.  I liked it well enough.  Enough so I traded up for the 2013 version of it 2013 (except I got the tricked out R/T edition with the 3.6 Pentastar engine in it).  Pretty snappy for a front drive six.  That is my current vehicle and will likely remain so for as along as vehicle prices remain so damned high.

So far (knock wood) my current vehicle runs pretty well.  Only two issues I had with it (both corrected while still under warranty) was an alternator going bad, thusly it toasted the PCM.  So they had to replace the alternator and the PCM.  Also had a bank of rocker arms go bad.  Once again, during the warranty period so it wasn't a financial burden.
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Offline Aardvark

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Re: What do you drive? What do like (or not like) about it?
« Reply #19 on: March 14, 2022, 12:44:18 PM »
My first car was a 1960 Rambler that dad bought me for going to college my  senior high school year.   Driven by a lady who only went to Arizona once a year,  and never changed the oil. We got it in 1965.   Other than that , it worked fine for about 3 years.  During that time, it needed a new valve and ring job (from the no oil changes)  the brakes went out about 20 miles from college,  it was interesting and scary driving to the service station so they could repair that (call home and more money in checking to pay),  then the turn signal in the steering column started smoking on another drive and Ihad to use hand signals to drive it home.   Dad traded in that thing on a new car for him, giving me his Pontiac (no air or fm radio) but it did come with floor mats to cover up the hole in the floor boards that rusted.  That needed new rings as well.   Finally when I graduated they bought me a Chevy Camaro, 1971.   It could move , man could it move.     Eventually it wore out so I got a Pontiac sunbird which had front wheel drive , a pain in winter.  I traded that for an Oldsmobile and drove that for 10 years, traded that for a Grandprix. Loved that car,  but when my granddaughter was born, her parents drove a station wagon, that the doors wouldn't open and i gave them my car and got the Jeep.   and now I have the Mazda.  It works fine for in the city , zoom zoom.

Offline davidmc36

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Re: What do you drive? What do like (or not like) about it?
« Reply #20 on: March 14, 2022, 01:41:36 PM »
Funny you don't like FWD I  winter. My most fun car to drive is Elantra with hand-brake. Oooo that baby can turn!

Offline saratogaWX

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Re: What do you drive? What do like (or not like) about it?
« Reply #21 on: March 14, 2022, 04:09:58 PM »
First car was a Volkswagon Microbus '58 in 1965.  Dad gave me their car for college at UC Davis.  It could do 60mph, downhill, with a tailwind and had a hand-crank starter for emergencies.  No fuel gauge--just a knob to pull to get an extra 25miles when the engine died suddenly.  Used the hand crank multiple times when the 6volt battery was discharged.  Lasted for 6 years, then threw a rod through one piston and was toast. 
Got a VW 1500 Squareback, followed by a VW Rabbit Diesel.  Those three were all manual transmissions, and the following cars Volvo S80, Volvo V70, then a string of Toyota Prius were automatics, and we're using a 2010 Prius today.
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Offline davidmc36

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Re: What do you drive? What do like (or not like) about it?
« Reply #22 on: March 14, 2022, 04:48:56 PM »
I should have told you about my Father's first car. A used Model A. If the hill was too steep.....turn around and go up backwards......lower gear ratio!

Offline WeatherHost

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Re: What do you drive? What do like (or not like) about it?
« Reply #23 on: March 14, 2022, 04:54:05 PM »
Still running my 95 Taurus Wagon.  I can get all kinds of stuff inside including 10' lengths of pipe.

I'll drive it 'til it dies (which it's tried to do a couple of times).


 

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