Why do you love your car?

"ImmoralMinority" (araimondo) 01/22/2018 at 10:45 • Filed to: None

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My car is not fast, but I don’t care about fast. It is light, manual transmission, and RWD. The 22R is torquey enough that you can scoot around town, and the car cruises well at highway speeds. I love it’s low-tech, feel, and it is fun to sit in and drive. As a rare car, it grabs a lot of attention, and one of the fun things about an open air car is that people readily engage and talk to you at traffic lights and parking lots. It makes me smile, and it seems to make other people smile too. I think the car is accessible in the way a supercar is not. People do not see it and tread lightly to approach the rich guy in the expensive car; I am just some dude in an old Toyota. I drive it even on days where it is chilly.

I am having a rough Monday morning, as I had a difficult weekend. As I type this, I am drinking coffee, warming up the Sunchaser, and procrastinating while considering taking Toby to the office with me for moral support. I hope your Monday is starting better than mine.

random001 > ImmoralMinority 01/22/2018 at 11:06

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It’s a Fiat 500 Abarth Convertible. What’s not to love? I mean, it’s loud, it’s ridiculous, nearly invisible, loud, tiny, I look ridiculous in it, fun, loud. And it has red pull straps for the seats.

deprecated account > ImmoralMinority 01/22/2018 at 11:10

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My 2003 GX470 is in that perfect spot in the mid-2000s between having modern conveniences and not having too many useless gizmos. It’s capable, built to last, has a manual transfer case, a locking diff, and it’s just a good-looking truck.

deprecated account > ImmoralMinority 01/22/2018 at 11:10

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My 2003 GX470 is in that perfect spot in the mid-2000s between having modern conveniences and not having too many useless gizmos. It’s capable, built to last, has a manual transfer case, a locking diff, and it’s just a good-looking truck.

Akio Ohtori - RIP Oppo > ImmoralMinority 01/22/2018 at 11:10

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As a rare car, it grabs a lot of attention, and one of the fun things about an open air car is that people readily engage and talk to you at traffic lights and parking lots.

Funny, this is one of the things I don’t like about open-top, odd cars. Both the Buggy (Manx style) and the Alfa draw a lot of attention/ interaction and I am not the sort of person who likes it.

That said, to answer your question, I like old cars because they’re just... better. They have more personality, both in looks and driving feel, and when you get to the end of a journey you get to be proud of them for making it, regardless of how well maintained they might be. They’re all good cars.

fintail > ImmoralMinority 01/22/2018 at 11:11

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It’s Monday, that much closer to Friday.

I’ve had my old dear for over 20 years, sentimental value can be a lot. The car is quite reliable, always fun to drive, relaxing to drive, always gets some smiles and positive reception,and is quite unusual well into the 20th century. I’d rather have the fintail than many much more expensive machines:

CalzoneGolem > ImmoralMinority 01/22/2018 at 11:12

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Once a car becomes “my car” it becomes much more lovable.

If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent > ImmoralMinority 01/22/2018 at 11:14

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It’s the perfect blend of normal and sporty. It’ll meet any DD requirements you may have while still being able to satisfy any need for a fun drive.

Nothing > ImmoralMinority 01/22/2018 at 11:22

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When I drive the Cougar, it’s not that I’m nostalgic for a bygone era, it’s just that I get in it, and I’m not running an errand, even if I am. I’m not just going from point A to point B. I’m getting in and enjoying the ride with all of my senses. In short, to rip off Rush, with the Cougar, the point of the journey is not to arrive.

The Taco, however, does nothing for me. It’s an appliance. There’s nothing wrong with having the reliable appliance, though. Right?

Nibbles > ImmoralMinority 01/22/2018 at 11:24

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I love my car because it makes a beautiful noise. The seats are just a few inches away from the pavement and that’s where I’m comfortable (my wife is still not too keen on it though). I love it because it can go from tame to WHOOOOOPS.jpg in a fraction of a second.

It’s cheap, it’s (partially) plastic, everything creaks , and now I have to rebuild the top end, but I don’t care. I have a Z/28 and it makes me feel good

Stapleface > ImmoralMinority 01/22/2018 at 11:27

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Um, let me think.

It’s highly reliable? (as it should be with 47k on the clock)

That’s about all I got (2015 Civic w/ CVT)

promoted by the color red > ImmoralMinority 01/22/2018 at 11:31

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The same reason people bought the original Miata: All the sports car thrills without the sports car drama. It looks the part and, with my tax refund, will sound the part once I order the Goodwin Racing exhaust.

Plus it makes me happy when I drive it. That’s the biggest reason why I love it.

Sovande > ImmoralMinority 01/22/2018 at 11:33

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Depends on which we are talking about.

Volvo C30 is fun, fast, loud, and a nearly perfect commuter. Comfortable enough for a long ride, but quick enough to drive like an asshole. Plus it’s safe.

1987 El Camino is a conversation starter and a full time thumbs up generator. I get offers on it a lot, I get people telling me it’s “awesome” a lot. I also love the way it drives and sounds and smells. And stomping on it and creating a lot of smoke and noise never gets old.

1985 Nissan 720 Pickup is like a clown car for my 6'4" self. But it will always start, it will always run and it will always make me smile. Plus my son loves it. In fact, we just put “name” stickers on the doors this weekend.

and for my son

sony1492 > ImmoralMinority 01/22/2018 at 11:38

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For me it’s that the car forces you to really focus on drving. It’s just you and the car. The motor hates waiting around town and loves to be between 2500-5500, a finicky transmission, manual steering, firm shocks, no sound deadning, no idle, light flywheel, heavy clutch, no interior, no exhaust, and the welded diff to top the experience off.

The best drives are going into the middle of nowhere with all the windows open and the sunroof down. Once your in a groove you start getting corners right and it feels perfect, the car makes you earn that. And on drives like that you can spend 3 hours not worrying about anything besides you and the car.

To me the cars special due to all the memories I have with it, and alllllllll the wrenching I’ve done. To anyone else it’s a beat up pos with no redeaming value that’s difficult to drive

interstate366, now In The Industry > ImmoralMinority 01/22/2018 at 11:46

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I like my Prelude because it looks good, it has that perfect 90s balance of safety and connectiveness, and, in the case of mine, it punches way above its weight against other cars.

I like my TSX because it’s just a really good car overal.

LOREM IPSUM > ImmoralMinority 01/22/2018 at 11:58

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Because V8 rear-wheel-bias AWD Nissan on 20's, aka the “Bionic Cheetah”

(Not my actual car, but identical)

mazda616 > ImmoralMinority 01/22/2018 at 12:10

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It is safe. Has good safety ratings. I feel comfortable driving my son around in it.

It gets great gas mileage and has a huge trunk, making it a good road trip vehicle.

It’s styled to look like a nice, clean example of what a sedan should be. Not overdesigned (new Camry) or slightly boring (Altima).

It has plenty of power for daily driving and is a ton of fun to toss around curvy backroads.

It’s reliable and hasn’t given me any trouble.

Finally, it is great in the snow even with the less-than-desirable factory Dunlop tires!

Sorry about your rough weekend. I hope things pick up soon!

benjrblant > ImmoralMinority 01/22/2018 at 12:31

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I find it fascinating that Toyota put that 22r into everything from Celicas to pickups and even the Coaster got some 22r lovin’.

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > Nothing 01/22/2018 at 12:43

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definitely not. My Milan is basically an appliance. Shockingly reliable, just a great vehicle. I’m coming up on 6 years of ownership and using it as my DD. It’s been a perfect vehicle for commuting, just enough interior space to even be comfortable on long drives with the kids in the car and a huge trunk despite it’s size.

way2blu does a rev update > ImmoralMinority 01/22/2018 at 13:28

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When I found my MR2 on Craigslist, it was, objectively, the worst-condition stock example on the market. The stock condition was literally the only thing it had going for it. But, despite all the red flags, I bought it anyway.

That was almost a year ago. Now, it actually drives like a real automobile and is bright blue too.

The car makes my face hurt from smiling, and I miss it dearly when I can’t drive it . I’m grateful that I listened to my gut and bought the car against all odds.

Daily Drives a Dragon - One Last Lap > ImmoralMinority 01/22/2018 at 13:49

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Sometimes, I don’t. And then I look at it in the right light and the way it catches the light is just incredible.

Racin'Jason001 > ImmoralMinority 01/22/2018 at 14:04

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Mine is fuel efficient, and I like the look of it ... but that’s about it.

CaptDale - is secretly British > ImmoralMinority 01/22/2018 at 16:37

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I don’t know. Some days I don’t... Most days Ido

whatisthatsound > ImmoralMinority 01/22/2018 at 17:17

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I like bright colors, I like the current one because it is orange.

shop-teacher > Nothing 01/22/2018 at 19:26

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Keep it long enough, and that appliance will grow on you. Mine sure has.

shop-teacher > ImmoralMinority 01/22/2018 at 19:58

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My truck has been my noble steed by my side for nearly 12 years and more major life changes than I can count. When I bought this truck I was a brand new teacher making chicken feed money in a rural school district. I was single, I had never even been on a real date before.

Now I’m married, have two kids, and own a house. Through it all, my truck has never let me down. It always gets us and all of our things where we need them to go. No questions asked. Best not even $22k (brand new) I’ve ever spent.

HPoz - I like Honda Fits and I cannot lie > ImmoralMinority 01/23/2018 at 01:37

1

I can carry all my stuff in my Fit and trust it to get me there. It’s comfy, practical and economical, and also super cute. Also it just has tons of character, in a way that’s very hard to define. It just feels like it’s trying its best all the time; it really makes the best of its tiny 117HP engine and 5-speed auto, and the paddle shifters help get even more out of it (and even allow you to have quite a bit of fun, though it’s not an inherently fun car really)

Nothing > shop-teacher 01/23/2018 at 10:16

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It will. I’m coming up on three years with it. I actually just got the “your warranty is expiring” notice, which reminds me I need to go in and get my door weatherstripping replaced for the kazoo noise before I can’t.

shop-teacher > Nothing 01/23/2018 at 10:16

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Haha! Yep.