What vehicle did you hate growing up...

"POD" (podimus) 10/22/2013 at 15:44 • Filed to: Toyota Previa, Tufu Van

2

24

...but now respect?

Growing up my parents had a 1991 AWD Garnett Red Toyota Previa. I HATED it. I’m talking, unbridled, primitive brain, bottom of my soul, hate.

Not because it was a bad vehicle. It really wasn’t, even as a 15 year old I knew intellectually that the car was cool. I mean come on; the engine was under the driver’s seat. It looked like a shuttle pod from Star Trek (if you had a white one), and It also had very clever fold up seats (I’d appreciate those fold up seats and all that flat space in the back later on in high school and in college).

No, I hated the not so affectionately nick-named “Jelly Bean”, because it was slow, and it was an automatic. Two things I didn’t want in my potential first car. Up to getting my learners I had been spoiled on some really fun off road modes of conveyance. I grew up riding quads, a little YZ-125 2-stroke, snow-mobiles, and farm equipment (tractors, hay trucks, etc.).

At 15, the prospect of getting the “slug-bug van” successor as a hand me down first car was not a plesant one.

Then Fast and Furious came out and I jumped on the “mod scene”. My buddy and I drew up some really ridicules plans on how to turn the ol’ Jelly Bean into a ricer camper. Take some seats out, bed in the back, portable shower, full body kit, loud exhaust, lights, sound system… You know, what every impressionable 16 year old wanted when FF first came out.

Now that I’m older, I’m really happy I didn’t do that. I’m also moderately pleased with myself that I gave this van a second chance. It really is quite excellent, and looking at things through the veil of a 30-something “adult” I think I kinda want one; but only if I could get it in the RWD V8 variety.

So I ask you, what vehicle did you hate growing up, that you now have come to respect/lust after?

MIATAAAA > POD 10/22/2013 at 15:54

1

My first car:

1992 Toyota Previa.

Fred (FreddsterExprs) > POD 10/22/2013 at 15:55

1

I grew up with a W201 Mercedes 190 E, and as strange as it sounds, I hated it. It was a "old" car for me back then (~2000), and I always wanted my dad to buy a new one. As soon as I was into cars a bit more I discovered how great it actually way. Fun, RWD, tuning parts, and the EVO 2 was based on it.

Now I regrett that my dad sold it of for 300€.

POD > MIATAAAA 10/22/2013 at 15:56

0

Funny how looking back at the Previa, you gain a lot of respect for it.

POD > Fred (FreddsterExprs) 10/22/2013 at 15:57

0

It's amazing how much our percetion of what's fun and well built changes as we learn more eh?

XJDano > POD 10/22/2013 at 15:58

2

My first, a 1987 stanza. Although I don't have any photos of it, It was like this in a goldish.

It as well was a hand me down, that I didn't want. I drove it like a typical late teen with no cares about its future.

I now drive a humble 3CYL metro and achieve 40mpg consistently by driving at or just under the hwy speed limit. It was available to me when I had to get rid of my el cherokee I sawzalled the top in fall and the heater couldn't keep up with the winter temps and snow in the back seat.

I often think of how long I could have had that car alive if I had taken better care of it. In the end my bad driving habits killed the compression in 1/4 of the cylinders and I stripped the interior and had my parents donate it to a charity for a tax write off for them.

MIATAAAA > POD 10/22/2013 at 15:59

1

SO much respect for it. Wish we had one of the unicorn stick shift models.

EL_ULY > POD 10/22/2013 at 16:00

3

Wagons unfortunately. What was worse is that i wanted a convertible as a little kid. Cruise it down Miami Friday night, with a cool hairstyle and assorted muscles throughout. *facepalm*

complete OPPOsite nowadays :]

Meatcoma > POD 10/22/2013 at 16:02

1

My Dad's 1989 Ford Bronco that he never would let me remove the cover off the back of and that I took out when he was vacationing in Vegas.

POD > EL_ULY 10/22/2013 at 16:04

0

I'm with you on that one. Hatchbacks and wagons were very low on my list. Now I own a hothatch and I'm loving it!

POD > Meatcoma 10/22/2013 at 16:08

1

Those Bronco's were really popular in my home town growing up.

EL_ULY > POD 10/22/2013 at 16:09

1

sweeet, C5 Avant for me :]

POD > XJDano 10/22/2013 at 16:13

0

Rather impresive how much abuse that Stanza took.

Meatcoma > POD 10/22/2013 at 16:15

1

Gas was cheap, winter was much worse and you could fit 5 people plus a ton of other crap in them super comfy. I loved it. It even had the full red interior which I completely despise but would consider it in that vehicle. Damn now I want Ford to re-release it. Explorer's and Expeditions and Escapes and Edges and Flexs can all F off. Give me a Full size Bronco with an ecoboost engine.

POD > Meatcoma 10/22/2013 at 16:25

1

I would certainly test drive one if Ford ever made an ecoboost Bronco.

Fred (FreddsterExprs) > POD 10/22/2013 at 16:37

1

Exactly. Especially after I got behind the wheel of a few cars I could start to appreciate the feeling of the Merc. Just that star on the hood was great. I guess this is where my love for Daimler comes from.

RazoE > POD 10/22/2013 at 17:07

2

Not a specific car, but I'll admit it. I hated manual cars. I thought I was the shit in my automatic 240sx. I used all the "automagic" excuses, like you can drive with one hand, and you won't stall, you won't roll back into the car behind you. Honestly, it was because I was afraid to learn stick. It was my shame. Once I did (bought a manual car, and it was my only transportation), boy did I change my tune. Now I only drive manuals!

POD > RazoE 10/22/2013 at 17:18

1

Good on ya! "Automagic", love that term! I've often wished that drivers training would include learning a manual transmission. I think it's a skill that everyone should learn, even if they don't use it.

Travis B. > POD 10/22/2013 at 17:21

1

1985 Toyota Corolla. Absolute base model, 175,000 miles, manual gear box but 4th was burned out so you had to go from 3rd to 5th, which made for really impressive acceleration on the freeways in San Diego. The headliner fell down in the mid-90s and was replaced with denim (my mom's handy work), the dash had cracked in a few places and rattled. Everything rattled. No tach, clutch was on it's last legs and the speakers were all blown from my dad listening to talk radio at max volume while driving with the windows down. Faded and cracked clear coat and discolored black rubber bumpers. An absolute nightmare. I managed to have a few good times rolling the back tires on to Jack in the Box food trays and locking the e-brake and sliding around a parking lot. Looked just about like the one below.

POD > Travis B. 10/22/2013 at 17:28

0

Turned it into your own "skid-plate racer". Genius!

revrseat70 > POD 10/22/2013 at 18:44

3

Porsche's and Miatas. I now own a Miata and love porsche's.... go figure.

POD > revrseat70 10/22/2013 at 18:47

0

The Miata has been the most common one mentioned so far. I wonder if it's because of the "girls car" image? Then once someone actually drives it they can't help but love it.

revrseat70 > POD 10/22/2013 at 19:44

1

That's my story. My babysitter had and NA, then an NB for crying out loud! She was a 20 year old with a white convertible. It was ingrained in my mind that it was a girl's car. Now, I own a white miata. Come to think of it, that's the way my mind works with a lot of things. I appreciate most what I judged I wouldn't like, initially.

j250ex > POD 10/31/2013 at 22:07

2

Growing up my dad had a 1984 ford f250 4x4 diesel with the 6.9. Truck had the matching bed cap with locking hubs and a manual transmission. I hatted this truck growing up. It took forever to get warm in the morning and if you forgot to plug it in during the winter it wouldn't start in the morning. The back seat was so low you had to cross your legs. This made any trip longer than 10 minutes unbearable. He traded it a few years later for a newer dodge but now that I'm older I miss that stupid thing. It was the truck I learned to drive manual. I learned to change a water pump and an alternator. I don't have any pictures of it but this one is close minus the bed cap.

POD > j250ex 10/31/2013 at 22:17

0

There is something truly special about the vehicle you learn to drive a manual on.