What is the best car you've ever owned?

"ImmoralMinority" (araimondo) 08/07/2016 at 11:34 • Filed to: None

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I’m not talking about your favorite, I’m talking about the best. It’s not the same thing. For me, it was the gold 1987 Integra LS 4 door I got my sophmore year in college, and drove for over 7 years.

I drove it all over the Southwest. I drove all over California and LA. I drove from California to Vermont and back. Winter and summer, desert and montains, dirt roads and city streets, I drove the shit out of that car and it never let me down. It drove as well the day I got rid of it as the day I got it, but power windows were failing, a/c dead, and the last time I visited my parents in it, their neighbors asked that I not park it on the street because it was an eyesore. (I had a crazy girlfriend who kicked the shit out of it, but that is a different story.)

I wouldn’t go out of my way to find one, because it doesn’t inspire the same emotional reaction as the Sunchaser. But it was a great fucking car that survived many adventures and much abuse. Good work, Acura.

http://www.automobile-catalog.com/auta_details1.…

Chasaboo > ImmoralMinority 08/07/2016 at 11:38

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citizennick > ImmoralMinority 08/07/2016 at 11:39

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My best car was my least favorite car. And the only one I kept longer than 2 years. My 2008 Lancer. Had it for 7 years and never had an issue with it.

TheJWT > ImmoralMinority 08/07/2016 at 11:44

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When you’ve only owned 2 cars and one is garbage

interstate366, now In The Industry > ImmoralMinority 08/07/2016 at 11:47

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My 1993 Prelude S that I never talk about. It’s slow and ugly, but it will never die. I pretty much only use it in bad weather or when I take my dog places.

Matthew Phillips > ImmoralMinority 08/07/2016 at 11:47

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Probably my Subaru or Crown Vic.

BunkyTheMelon > ImmoralMinority 08/07/2016 at 11:50

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Hands down, my 2nd generation Honda Fit. I’ve had tons of cars (Evo X, newish Mercedes, trucks, wagons, jacked up XJ, etc..), but none have simply just been an all around good car that could haul tons of crap while getting 30+mpg with ease. I never had a single problem in any of the 160,000 miles I beat out of that car. It was a manual, so I drove it hard. It was a fun little car to drive.

Trevor Gibbs > ImmoralMinority 08/07/2016 at 11:54

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1996 BMW 328is. I bought it with 160,000 miles and it still felt tight as a drum. The interior looked brand new and the black paint was in amazing condition. The steering was just brilliant. The 190 hp engine sounded great too. Wasn’t my favorite car because I never regret selling it.

Drakkon- Most Glorious and Upright Person of Genius > ImmoralMinority 08/07/2016 at 11:55

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I have two.

First was a short term love that was taken away too soon by a rain storm and Median wall. 1987 conquest widebody. Loved that car inside and out. How it sounded, how it moved.

Second was a 2005 Forester XT. STi suspension, Cobb exhaust, usual bolt ons and a tune. That car did everything I ever asked from racing, attacking exit ramps, clawing itself out of snow banks, hauling building material, transporting my babies, inspiring my growing boys to love fast exciting cars

Bonus: The FXT was invisible to cops

duurtlang > ImmoralMinority 08/07/2016 at 11:56

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My best car is my current daily driver. I’ve owned it for 4 years now, and other than wear items nothing broke. It being good to drive and look at helps.

Or with an inevitable Prisma filter

Nothing > ImmoralMinority 08/07/2016 at 11:58

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The first vehicle I bought new, a 2002 Tundra TRD 4x4 Access Cab. Loved that truck. I got laid off from work 2 years after buying it, so I sold it and started a cycle of beater cars that would last for about 6 years so so.

Logansteno: Bought a VW? > ImmoralMinority 08/07/2016 at 11:59

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Well I’ve only owned three, a 94 GMC Safari, 98 M3, and 2002 S10. And I can’t decide which one was/is the best.

The M3 would probably be the best if it wasn’t such a rusty, parts hungry German.

I’m gonna say the S10 because it has the Safari’s reliability and is honestly entertaining as hell to drive. Plus legitimate hauling ability.

My citroen won't start > ImmoralMinority 08/07/2016 at 12:09

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I still maintain my best car was my first car, a Citroen ZX Dakar 16v that I drove through law school. I’ve never had that much fun since.

165 hp on something that light and small, oh the joy.

Urambo Tauro > ImmoralMinority 08/07/2016 at 12:11

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Tough question.

For reliability, I might have to say my 1984 Delta 88. I had it less than a year, and the previous owner maintained it well. It didn’t give me much trouble during the short time that I owned it.

For adventures, probably my 1992 LeSabre. It was the last car that I owned during my “non-car-guy” days, but there was one journey that I took across state with some friends when the alternator died an hour from my destination. I replaced it in the Napa parking lot, which impressed my friends, and helped show me that maybe I don’t have to keep taking cars to shops for repair.

But my 1995 Mustang has a good reason for being my favorite. I’ve done a lot of work on it, but I’ve never needed to tow it because I keep up on preventative maintenance. I’ve only had two roadside breakdowns: one where I had to throw the spare on, and one where the shifter bolts came loose. Each time, I was back on the road within minutes.

Dave the car guy , still here > ImmoralMinority 08/07/2016 at 12:14

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My 1998 Audi A4 was superb. I never had anything fail that I couldn’t fix myself. Even did the timing belt jobs myself. I was second owner and put 100k on it. With the bigger rear sway and other suspension changes it cornered so well, Escort G-meter confirmed with bigger stocky G-force tires at .92g . Only car I have ever hockey stopped with sans e-brake. Was starting down a hilly tree shadowed hill in summer doing about 40 mph. It was a super sunny day, had sunglasses on and my eyes just adjusted in time to see the road blocked with a 4 ft tall barricade. I slammed on brakes and whipped the wheel sideways as the car got under 20 . Car skidded sideway to a halt and the rh corner of my bumper touched the weighted barricade just enough to scratch the paint. The road was closed due to being washed out and I had avoided blasting through the sign that roadworkers place over a hill and in shadows. This car handled so well I could run back roads with my friends stock B5 S4 and hang with him on all corners. He would leave me on straight sections but on each corner I filled his rear view mirror. I loved that car but two years ago it seemed like it was time. Picture is from second year I owned it.

The Crazy Kanuck; RIP Oppositelock > ImmoralMinority 08/07/2016 at 12:14

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My 2003 AWD Pontiac Vibe, it had 3 great features: The rear glass could lift separately from the hatch, the hard plastic rear cargo area, and the front passenger seat could fold flat. Apart from regular maintenance it was problem free. I had it for 1 1/2 year before the rust killed it. It was very slow, the 4spd autobox was awful, and it was a very dull car but it was a tank and I want one again.

Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo > ImmoralMinority 08/07/2016 at 12:15

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Bought it with over 270k miles, ran and ran and ran for another 4 years only needing a set of tires and some brake pads. Still on the road up north.

sm70- why not Duesenberg? > ImmoralMinority 08/07/2016 at 12:36

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My Audi, by default. Technically I’ve owned two cars now, but I have yet to drive the second one. It’s been in the shop for over a month now.

Dave the car guy , still here > TheJWT 08/07/2016 at 12:37

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Love that setting , great road for a car picture. Cuyahoga Valley or Metroparks ?

TheJWT > Dave the car guy , still here 08/07/2016 at 12:39

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North Chagrin River Metroparks!

Scott > ImmoralMinority 08/07/2016 at 12:41

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My Chevy Berretta, I think it was a 90. Only repair I had to make was the drivers side front turn indicator/ parking light. the salesman told me every bulb was easily accessible and required no tools to be replaced... he lied... all except the front drivers side turn indicator which required complete disassembly of the front end. I traded it in for my only new car, a 95 Chrysler Sebring. The reason I traded it in was an idiot in front of me at an intersection decided to back up without looking behind him. Smashed my hood in. Unfortunately I did not insist we call the police, it was below zero, I was cold the hood was the only damage and he gave me his insurance card. Only problem was it was a forged insurance card, and he showed me a fake ID. So the hood got a cheap DIY repair instead of getting repaired properly, but I wanted something that had not been wrecked. I wish I had spent the money on a new hood instead.

JEM > ImmoralMinority 08/07/2016 at 12:51

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It’s hard to not say my current ride which is a 96 Cherokee because it’s an absolute dead reliable beast that has no concept of high mileage.

But I’ll say this: My 2005 Hyundai Tiburon.

I did numerous roadtrips in that car, I slept in/out of it for days, I did the Tail of the Dragon in it, plowed through epic Northeast winters, etc... I was always comfortable driving stupid amount of distance in it for days on end. And the only thing I ever had to replace was the battery and radiator. After about 180,000 miles it still had the original exhaust, clutch, etc... I’ve owned better cars, more fun cars, but I’ve never had one that just did everything with so little fuss.

CaptainSlower > ImmoralMinority 08/07/2016 at 12:54

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Just based on longevity, my 99 Buick Century, who I bought in 02. Ex-rental car, not exactly fast, but comfy like an old pair of slippers, and she could cruise all day on the highway, and never left me stranded, despite fourteen years of ‘I’ll fix that when I get some money’ deferred maintenance. (spoilers: the money almost never showed up)

Sadly, all things must come to an end, and the last time I took her to the shop this April they started making the ‘your dog needs a kidney transplant’ face. The amount of things that had finally, simultaneously, gone wrong were not only more than I could afford, but really, more than I could justify spending on an old Buick with 200K+ on the clock, no AC, ruined paint, and a busted grill from where that deer jumped in front of me.

So, after saving for a couple of months, I spent about what the repair would have cost on an old Prelude with 200K+ on the clock, no AC and questionable paint...

X37.9XXS > ImmoralMinority 08/07/2016 at 12:57

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My first one

in 1964

I don’t think you need to ask why

Nerd-Vol > ImmoralMinority 08/07/2016 at 13:02

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I suppose my s2000 is the best I’ve owned. It’s very well built and engineered.

My Mazdaspeed 3 or Miata was probably my favorite. The torque and noise of the MS3 was so much fun. It also was very raw and visceral. The Miata was wife because it felt like a classic car.

Hopefully I will warm up to the S2000 more. I know it’s a great car but something about it leaves me underwhelmed. I’ll give it time.

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > ImmoralMinority 08/07/2016 at 14:37

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+1 for late 80s Acuras

If I didn’t currently own an E90 M3, the answer to your question would be an ‘88 Acura Legend manual sedan.

I also really enjoyed my ‘05 Mazda 3s manual hatch.

Mr. FiSTer of Team FiST Fetish > ImmoralMinority 08/07/2016 at 16:27

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As the name implies, my Fiesta has travelled Euroland and treated me well. I’ve only owned 2 other cars but this thing is the best.