I'm bored, sick and feeling down. Tell me your favorite car memory

"Derpwagon" (Derpwagon) 09/06/2018 at 21:50 • Filed to: None

1

44

Road trip, track day, marriage proposal, I want to hear them.

Thanks. Supra for your time.

My X-type is too a real Jaguar > Derpwagon 09/06/2018 at 22:00

4

Riding home from the dealership with my father in his brand new 1979 International Scout, I was 4 or 5. (I can’t remember if he bought it in fall 78 or spring 79 it was cold but there was no snow in Maine could be either)

Any way it was the first brand new car I could remember it smelled of fresh paint and new rubber, I rode in the front seat, we never used the seat belts. It still had the transfer case instructions tag on the stick. 

Nibby > Derpwagon 09/06/2018 at 22:03

2

it is okay to feel down, just understand it is temporary and let it pass. try not to get too caught up in it and don’t let it drag you too down. get well soon!

JeepJeremy > My X-type is too a real Jaguar 09/06/2018 at 22:03

0

that’s a good story!

ttyymmnn > Derpwagon 09/06/2018 at 22:04

3

A couple of years ago, we were looking for a DD for my wife. We were thinking Civic, but I wanted to look at a FoST. The local Ford dealer had one from the previous model year, so I took my three boys down to the dealership for a test drive.

But this was no ordinary test drive. He took us out to the twisty, hilly roads not far from the dealership. And I absolutely flogged the shit out of that car. What a blast. I only wish I could have cut the corners, but of course, we had to worry about oncoming traffic. I remember getting some air over one rise, and looked back to see my three boys in the back seat and they had the biggest shit- eating grins on their faces. The salesman commented that he had never been on a test drive where the customer actually drove the car.

In the end, we didn’t buy it. It would have been my wife’s car, and I knew she wasn’t in the market for a 5 speed. Plus, the back seat was tiny, and we might have to put three teenagers back there. But that car sure was a blast to drive.

I imagine I can think of some others, but that’s the one that sticks out right now.

Akio Ohtori - RIP Oppo > Derpwagon 09/06/2018 at 22:08

3

West Coast cheap car challenge. Three of us flew to San Diego, bought cheap cars, and then drove Highway 1 and 101 to Seattle.

It was... amazing.

We didn’t expect it to be life changing , but holy crap.... it was. I can’t describe why, but it was the greatest adventure any of us have ever done. Every mile was an adventure. We really had no idea if we’d make it, if the cars would make it, or we’d be having the cars towed to a junk yard and fly out of LA in shame.

It all worked out and we fell so incredibly in love with the trip and the cars.

https://oppositelock.kinja.com/that-time-we-did-top-gear-part-1-1791947044

Alfalfa > Derpwagon 09/06/2018 at 22:09

3

I’m like 90% sure my son was conceived in my mn12 Thunderbird. So there's that.

Mr. FiSTer of Team FiST Fetish > Derpwagon 09/06/2018 at 22:10

1

Gotta be road tripping to Rome in my ST.

1220+ kilometers with my friend. We went with almost no planning and minimal knowledge of Italy in general. It was the best road trip I’ve ever done, we hit the Ferrari and the Lamborghini museums, fucked around Rome, and ate lots of pasta and drank approximately all of the wine.

Track days have been a blast as well but, I think the second thing on my list would be the Half-Massed Oppo Rally did with the same friend as the Italy road trip 2 years after.

E90M3 > Derpwagon 09/06/2018 at 22:11

3

Thanksgiving 2003. My family went to go visit my dad’s parents up in n orth Georgia. Well, my uncle showed up with his 2002 M3. We went somewhere for dinner, and afterwards my dad asked my uncle to give me a ride back to my grandparents in the M3. I don’t remember what happened on the ride, but after that, I needed an M3. That car made me into a car person. 

Under_Score > Derpwagon 09/06/2018 at 22:11

7

A lot of good memories in my life involve cars, but this is a pretty good one, as well as one of the most recent events.

Back in April, I visited the Nissan dealership down the road from my school. It’s a local, family-owned dealership with only 100 new cars per sale at a time. They move a lot of inventory, as I see many Nissans around with their big dealer badge. They had a pretty, pale green 2018 Leaf facing the road, so I popped in to take a look at it.

When I arrived, a salesman came to talk to me. I told him about my interest in the new Leaf, as well as the fact that I wanted to make a video of it for my smaller YouTube channel. Without hesitation, he offered to drive me around town in the new Leaf. He wanted to drive it, since it had only been at the dealership for a couple days, and he wanted me to see how nice the new Leaf was as a passenger. It was a short loop, but he took back roads around town I’d never taken. While driving, he tried features such as the e-pedal, which is the one-pedal driving of the new Leaf.

After the test drive, we went inside the dealership so the salesman could introduce me to the namesake of the dealer. He’s in his late 80's, and he was just casually sitting there in his office. Please keep in mind that Nissan isn’t his only dealership and these dealerships are big in the local community, so this man has amassed some serious clout over the years. He told me about how great the new Leaf is and that he was actually buying another one out there for himself. Even after owning luxury brands, he was still amazed by the new Leaf. He thanked me for being interested in the Leaf and for swinging by his dealership. After my experience, I understood why there were a ton of Nissans around town, specifically from that dealership.

I have my salesman’s card still, but I’ll definitely need to swing by again; I pass that dealership all the time now. Spring 2018 was also a time I was extremely introverted in the school community; I went home every weekend, I always did dinner alone, and I barely left my room after classes. The trip to the Nissan dealer is one of my most memorable moments of my second semester of freshman year. April 19, 2018.

lone_liberal > Derpwagon 09/06/2018 at 22:11

6

A girlfriend that I really had it bad for broke up with me and I was completely wrecked so Saturday morning I woke up and decided to go for a drive to clear my head. I jumped in my Mustang and just started driving. I somehow ended up on the North Cascades Highway and the combination of the mountain scenery and the fun of driving actually had me laughing out loud. I came out at Anacortes, put my feet in the water, drove down and got on Hwy 2 and took Stevens pass back over the mountains and drove all the way home. It was at least 10 hours of driving but I felt so much better it was unreal.

I’ve been married to that girlfriend for ten years now.

Spaceball-Two > Derpwagon 09/06/2018 at 22:18

2

The day I was to propose to my wife we went on a hike and toured some wineries. I’m nervous as hell, constantly checking to make sure the ring is in my pocket. We finish up tasting at a winery and are about to hop into my Audi and some chuckle fuck comes and asks me for a jump on his dead Honda Pilot. I oblige and it takes FOREVER to get him going. Meanwhile my soon to be is doing the pee pee dance and just wants to go home. We get on our way and all she can talk about is that she has to pee. I’m sweating bullets because this shit did not go as planned. Stupid Pilot guy threw me off. We get home  to flowers and candles and she’s shocked! But has to pee sooooo bad. That I had to wait until she got out of the bathroom. I fucking hate Honda Pilots.

Derpwagon > My X-type is too a real Jaguar 09/06/2018 at 22:19

0

Awesome.

Derpwagon > ttyymmnn 09/06/2018 at 22:20

0

Nice. 

Derpwagon > Under_Score 09/06/2018 at 22:22

1

Good story, thanks!

ttyymmnn > Derpwagon 09/06/2018 at 22:22

1

The boys still talk about that drive.

Derpwagon > Akio Ohtori - RIP Oppo 09/06/2018 at 22:23

1

I'm actually familiar with your work already, I've read this one and your off-road one too. Looking forward to your Alaska adventure! Thank you for sharing!

Derpwagon > Mr. FiSTer of Team FiST Fetish 09/06/2018 at 22:24

1

Awesome. One day I'll road trip to another country, even if I've already taken road trips that would span Europe in distance within the US.

Derpwagon > lone_liberal 09/06/2018 at 22:25

1

That feeling is the best when you just laugh at the pure experience of it.

Glad all’s well that ended well!

CarsofFortLangley - Oppo Forever > Derpwagon 09/06/2018 at 22:25

3

Derpwagon > Nibby 09/06/2018 at 22:26

0

Oh don't worry I know it's temporary, just having an off night. These things happen. Thanks tho!

Derpwagon > E90M3 09/06/2018 at 22:27

1

Nice!

Derpwagon > Alfalfa 09/06/2018 at 22:27

0

I lol’d.

Mr. FiSTer of Team FiST Fetish > Derpwagon 09/06/2018 at 22:27

1

I got lucky and moved to Euroland in 2012 and didn't have to leave until 2016. I had some fun little trips over there. I need to get on the US road trips though, furthest I've driven myself is 6 hours up to Vermont. 

Derpwagon > ttyymmnn 09/06/2018 at 22:29

1

I bet! Hopefully I get to share memories like that with my daughter. :)

Derpwagon > CarsofFortLangley - Oppo Forever 09/06/2018 at 22:30

1

I've read the article you shared! Awesome story and I'm glad to see you still have the truck. You can't buy sentimental value like that.

Svend > Derpwagon 09/06/2018 at 22:33

1

I worked with a lass who was wanting me to go with her to a local car auction straight after a nightshift. We were both tired but went round to where the auction was supposed to be, as it was still early in the morning we hung around, then some more and some more, with no signs of life anywhere we found a business nearby and was told they weren’t on this weekend but next weekend.

We were about to get in the car to go home when she remembered a R enault Clio for a low price on Autotrader she has seen which was over in Gateshead, Northumberland (the other side of the country, granted it’s only 60 miles, but we were tired and about to do a trip to a dealership we only had an idea where it was.

First we had to go borrow a sat nav in an area of the city that is like a rabbit warren. So getting the sat nav was a venture in itself, long story short we found each other and put the dealership address into the sat nav.

Not much fun was had as the sat nav didn’t recognise the address, but we set off for Gateshead anyway.

We had tunes blaring and were in both our tone deaf ways, singing along.

The sat nav kept saying ‘bear left’so we joked about not being able to see any bears, then it would say ‘bear right’ and we’d in a panicked tone shout, “the bear, it’s crossed the road, I didn’t see any bear. It’s following us”. Then ‘bear left’ again and we’d be like “it’s after us, it’s going to kill us, aaaaaargh’. Then we’d go back to singing, before more bear business from the sat nav. Lol.

We eventually made it across to Gateshead then had to phone the dealership for directions in. Car bought and signed for, we left (in the car we went in, the just bought car getting picked up once temporary car insurance cover could be arranged).

The way back was just the same as on the way there but only more fatigued and we were flagging, so had to keep each other going (luckily for her she had that night off but I had another night shift to do).

It wasn’t some massive adventure, but it was an experie nce we enjoyed. Two tired colleagues on an unexpected road trip across country to buy a car. 

Akio Ohtori - RIP Oppo > Derpwagon 09/06/2018 at 22:33

1

Blush. Uhh ok something fresh then...

Okay, okay, so back when I was 16 or so we used to well... Not have much to do. At the time one of my favorite pastimes was taking my Saab 900 out to an abandoned military base, camp Claiborne, and just sort of drive around. Lots of fun, weird, random stories from that time but looking back the most surprising part of all of it was 100% trusting a 200000 mile Swedish, for lack of a better term, exotic to take in an un experienced driver everywhere in perfect reliability. And it did! One of my larger regrets is abandoning that poor car when my parents bought me a newer car when I went to college. In hindsight it really shaped my love of cars going forward. At least now the poor thing is back on the road and in my possession, but I can’t help but think it would be so much better if it actually been driven in the intervening years.

Chan - Mid-engine with cabin fever > Derpwagon 09/06/2018 at 22:33

1

The one that I’m allowed to share is I rented a 360 Spider on the day of my planned proposal. I had left my car in a public carpark and picked the 360 up after our dinner at the Grand Hyatt , so she had no idea until I pulled up at the door of the hotel .

Wife-t hen-GF was surprised, but I’m sure I enjoyed it more than she did. Got me back into sports cars, something I had written off since leaving college as a “ someday” dream.

Bonus: I had forgotten the rental invoice in the car, and after a few unanswered follow-ups to the company, I was never charged for the rental.

Derpwagon > Spaceball-Two 09/06/2018 at 22:34

0

Nice. Surprising that the German car was the reliable one o ver the Honda though! :P

Ba sed on your saying “my wife” it sounds like it worked out despite the bladders!

(I had an Audi that had the ECU commit suicide among more and more other issues, and now have two Hondas after a handful of other Japanese cars. No P ilot though!)

wafflesnfalafel > Derpwagon 09/06/2018 at 22:34

0

T urn that frown up-side-down! (Or not.. I’ve actually been in kind of a crappy mood this week too - stars must be out of alignment or something...) Anyways, kinda happy story - so my wife joined the triple digit club on route 66, just outside of Winslow, AZ, in an Impala, (while I was singing the national anthem and waiving an American flag - or maybe not that last part .)

Derpwagon > Mr. FiSTer of Team FiST Fetish 09/06/2018 at 22:39

0

Oh man, there’s so much country to see. I’ve been from MN through every state west of the Mississippi River and south of a line from Illinois through Ohio, Indiana, Kentucky to West Virginia to Virginia to DC. haven’t made it to Michigan, Pennsylvania or New England. Hit the Atlantic and the Gulf in one trip, been down to nearly San Diego and as far north as Seattle, I love road trips.

Spaceball-Two > Derpwagon 09/06/2018 at 22:40

0

Oh that A4 drained my savings on more than one occasion. It was love hate with that car. As for the Mrs. it’s been about 10 years and 1.5 kids. We’re a good mix and she's straightened me out to be a good upstanding citizen.

Spanfeller is a twat > lone_liberal 09/06/2018 at 22:41

0

Wow, something similar happened to me.

Not the wedding part, the breaking up and driving... I drove for 5 hours, on my jeep... listening to the engine suffer. 

Derpwagon > Akio Ohtori - RIP Oppo 09/06/2018 at 22:42

1

I still miss my first car. 1996 Pontiac Grand Am SE. 4 door, four cylinder automatic. But man, to young me... Freedom. 2nd car was an Audi (2000 A4 1.8t manual), then a 01 Maxima (manual!), then a 2005 legacy gt wagon that I miss dearly, then another one, and now a '12 Civic  SI. Along the way I picked up a 95 probe gt and an 87 Supra turbo.

Derpwagon > Spaceball-Two 09/06/2018 at 22:43

0

There's a reason they're called our better halves, no?

Spaceball-Two > Derpwagon 09/06/2018 at 22:45

1

For sure. Hope you feel better.

lone_liberal > Spanfeller is a twat 09/06/2018 at 22:46

0

Driving is a great way to clear your head. It both gives you time to think and makes you think about something else, if that makes any sense. 

Derpwagon > Spaceball-Two 09/06/2018 at 22:47

0

Thankya

Spanfeller is a twat > lone_liberal 09/06/2018 at 22:50

1

It was a sunday morning right after a graduation party (I know, cliche) I just drove up and down the main roads, knowing these would be empty.

Ironically, I’m good friends with the person, she’s the only person to have driven my Kia apart from my parents and my sister. 

Under_Score > Derpwagon 09/06/2018 at 22:58

1

More of their inventory is used than new. They only have 50 or so new cars for sale; I’m not even kidding. One of their used vehicles is a red Titan XD Platinum Reserve diesel with 27,000 miles for $32,000. I’ll need a history report from them for that, but if it checks out and I was an actual adult with a full-time job for 20+ years, that would be mighty tempting.

interstate366, now In The Industry > E90M3 09/06/2018 at 23:01

1

I have a similar story with an S2000, if that tells you how the H badge became a big part of my life.

glemon > Derpwagon 09/07/2018 at 01:29

1

In 1999 I acquired an Austin Healey 100, you could get them reasonably cheap back then, and this was an amatuer referb with lots of warts, but complete, running, and pretty rust free.

I think I bought it in July, I remember it was hot, as soon as I acquired it I started working on the various issues it had, including the laycock electronic overdrive that didn’t work. It must have been about 2 in the morning, I was working with the two stall garage open (because still hot) and some young kids slowed down as they drove  by in a Civic Si or something and slowed down, given the time I was slightly worried, but it was a simple call out-”nice car dude”.

I was chasing electrics with the overdrive (usually a good bet on an old British car) but it turned out to be simpler than that. The overdrive shares the oil with the transmission, and I had a big leak, and little to no oil, which was needed for the hydraulic pump that makes the O/D work.

So, transmission tunnel still off, I topped it up with oil and went for a test drive at 3 a.m., most of the heat from the day gone, and watched the u joint spinning down by my hip as I heard the overdrive engage with a little “thunk” as I cruised down the trafficless four lane at the edge of town in a car very similar to the one that came in 12th at LeMans in 1953. Doesn’t get any better than that.

pip bip - choose Corrour > Derpwagon 09/07/2018 at 07:58

1

long drives alone to melbourne and back home

LastFirstMI is my name > Derpwagon 09/07/2018 at 10:12

2

My best teenage memories are all centered around my 1977 Ford pickup. Rebuilt 460, over 400hp on the dyno, with a stupid teenage me driving it. The highlights include:

Getting pulled over (at 130mph) and the deputy not asking for my license, but who my dad is. That’s when you know you live in a small town.

Getting pulled over in another town, because the deputies already knew me, my pickup and who my dad was. Evidently they remembered him from his teenage years too .

Replacing the tailgate on my pickup with a steel mesh one so that my amazingly loyal dog could jump in without scratching the paint. Probably the high point of my life to be honest :)