1) tastefully modified '90 VW Corrado, 181Kmi 2) '05+ Audi S4 wagon, '07+ Saab 9.3 Aero wagon, '07+ VW GTI, Volvo V50 or V70R wagon, BMW 335, something as sporty and spacious (hatch) as the Corrado really doesn't exist anymore :-( 3) '04-'06 BMW M3 as a second car (not a hatch or wagon) and/or various recent Porsche 911 variants 4) Most of my mileage is put on 2 wheels not 4...
1: I don't have a car. So I can afford more audio gear. 2: I do not have a license to drive anything. Because I work 400 meter away from where I live, and I live 200 meters from the center of town. 3: I'd get a license and buy a Toyota pickup so I can go pick-up more audio gear personally and not get cheated by dubious eBay sellers..
Buick Regal because it is quiet and smooth. I buy them new and run them until they die, usually at 300k. I have had three over the last 15 years and will probably get another. I don't fit the demographic, only 40 years old. Phil Brady.
Walk; and, when the legs can't take it, I take the wife's 35th Anniversary Mustang GT, one of only 5000 made -- Customized cpu software, Flow Master w/ H-Pipe, and K&N Cold Air Intake. I'd rather walk though or take a moped: Saved gas money = investment in bleeding-edge audio precision.
I live in NYC and do not want to deal with a nice car, as cars do nothing for me. My stereo costs more than my car for a reason: one makes me very happy and the other merely performs a menial function. Even if money were no object (which it is) I would still drive my banged up junky looking Toyota.
Right on Chashmal. I'm with you. I drive a 1998 Camry with 125,000 miles on it and still going strong. However, mine is'nt junkie looking (so far). I live in suburban Hartford, CT.
1. 2008 Nissan Pathfinder 2. 2008 Nissan Pathfinder 3. My own custom designed vehicle with tuned for audio performance first, vehical performance second :)
2007 Supercharged (Whipple HO, twin screw) Mustang GT Convt, very highly modified. Long tube headers, guages, Borla Exhaust, Wilwood 6 Piston 14" brakes, lots of stereo gear. Just like audio gear, I like stuff that can be tweaked. Very fun, and not too much money.
I drive a lot of very expensive cables, so on the road it is nothing but a humble old Fiat, but it is a convertible so you get a nice suntan and feel good, if you discount the melanoma and it does 0-100km/h in less that 15 minutes. Top speed in reverse is at about 60kph. That is important to avoid speedtraps and carrying audiogear across borders. Cost of all cables,were they bought new, is in excess of 100k. You can't have it all. Besides, my electricity bill is so high, that I can hardly afford gas these days and the little car doesn't guzzle the least bit, especially if the engine has broken down. Repair costs however would be high, IF you could still find the necessary parts. Thankfully there aren't any, so I use my bicycle and lose weight in the process, which I will gleefully regain, drinking a good bottle of Bordeaux when listing to my rig. so what my FIAT doesn't guzzle, I can AND I can afford to buy more cables.
I drive a 2000 Mercedes Benz S430 with 40000 miles on it. I took delivery of my Brilliant Silver ride on August 8,1999. The mileage is very low because I am retired,and have been since July 1990.
1) Dodge Ram 2500 Quad Cab, SWB, 4X4, 6.7l Cummins Turbo Diesel with the 7 spkr Infinity Car Audio system. 2) The same truck with a 4 inch lift kit, larger tires, front and rear Fab4 bumper replacements, nerf bars, a spray in Bed-liner and perhaps a few other aftermarket mods! Gawd I love this truck. 3) Ford GT, the new Dodge Challenger
My -64 Ford Fairlane dayly driver did get a new set of Hooker-headers (tube exh. manifoils)last week, and after some tweaking and some new cables (spark-plug) it runs like a scared dog. Watch out plastic cars!
I drive English automobiles. My favorite is my [presently not very competitive] 1961 Sunbeam Alpine race car. But hey, a race car is a work in progress, just like an audio system. The Alpine has more driving character than virtually all [affordable] contemporary cars. And it has something only the very exotic cars have today, namely style. For my taste, if it's not attractive, don't take it off the trailer. Were someone to give me a BMW Z convertible, I would trade it for something whose lines I like. And they drive very neutrally, which I do not enjoy. If I could afford it, I would have a Bentley --not a 'Blower Bentley'-- but one of the enclosed four seaters from the early 20s, or an Alvis Special!
I drive 'appliance' cars. Honda Element for me and a Camry for the wife. Both have inputs for the I-Pod for longer drives. Sold my S-2000 'toy'. You couldn't turn it up loud enough to hear it over the engine when driving it properly.
My wife drives a Buick Park Avenue which we us as a family car. We have an F-150 for pulling and hauling only. I drive an '83 Buick LeSabre to work. (nice 'eh) I have a '69 Mustang Mach 1 428CJ for play.
OK SINCE 91 1991 240ZX,1995 AND 1996 CORVETTES,1996 SS IMPALA,2000 Q45 CHRYSLER 300C AND NOW AN FX35, I LOVE MY VETTES THE Q45 WAS THE BEST CAR I'VE EVER OWNED. 1982 MIDNIGHT VIRAGO,1991 SOFTTAIL CUSTOM, CBR 1000F I THINK A 91 AND A 1996 SUZUKI INTRUDER
I dive a 1989 Porsche 928 S4. I also have a 1982 Porsche 928 in the garage that is my "project car". I love working on cars with music playing in the garage...stress reliever.
My fun car is a 1988 Porsche 911 that I only drive at the track (not street legal). My daily driver- a Ford Excursion- 10 cylinder- 10 mpg- 44 gal tank ouch! My wife drives a 200 Lexus RX300.
Just gave up my trusty Hyundai Excell and bought something a bit more luxurious: a Renault Clio in some luxury version (the Ludo). Very light car with a relatively strong engine. I see some speeding tickets coming my way ;).
2007 Supercharged (Whipple HO, twin screw) Mustang GT Convt, very highly modified. Long tube headers, guages, Borla Exhaust, Wilwood 6 Piston 14" brakes, lots of stereo gear. Just like audio gear, I like stuff that can be tweaked. Very fun, and not too much money.
I posted this previously, and didn't metion that I drive an 08 Cadillac CTS everyday, and the Mustang basically for fun. I had an 06 Porsche Carrera 4s, and for how much it was in the shop, and how much it cost, and how often some dude in a modified Mustang or a Vette blew my doors off, I sold the Porsche bought and started modifying the Mustang, and bought a CTS to drive everyday. Couldn't be happier.
Living on an island I'm not sure how applicable the term "typical" is but, Daily driver: puff '73 914-4 (26 mpg), weekender: puff mod'd '70 914-6 (3.2L 12 mpg), jacked up '99 Ranger p/u for dump runs and utility use.
I had my eye on a Honda Pilot, the best equipped model. This was to replace my GMC Yukon which was a very good vehicle (NO problems at 5 years old), but the lease was expiring.
When I discovered the Honda was more than a new GMC (about $40,000.00 for the Touring model with Navigation). I bought a used BMW X5 with four years of total warranty and service contract.
This kind of service contract is with BMW, not an independent warranty company and covers EVERYTHING, even brake pads and hoses. The BMW was about $5K less than the Honda, so I went for it.
I know it's sacrilege, but honestly I would have been happy with another GMC, a Chevy Tahoe, a Honda Pilot Touring or the BMW. Guess I'm getting old :^).
I agree on the BMW warranty, it's the only way I would have invested in this vehicle.
No doubt the Honda would have been great because they are pretty much bullet proof, but every brand of car deprecates when you drive it off the lot and Honda is no different.
I figured with $5K down the BMW was set for little or no depreciation, I think payments will keep up with lost value, meaning I could get out in three or four years and owe nothing. If I keep it perfect, I might even get some money back.
All automobiles are a depreciating investment, the best one can hope to do is get something reliable that you enjoy and hope you can operate it with as little loss as possible. As you say, with the stunning BMW warranty I know I will only make payments, no repair bills at all.
The Honda was a close second. Good warranty and even after warranty it would likely give no problems, but the $40K was a choker, I remember when Toyota and Honda were bargains. Hard to imagine they now cost more than a 1.5 year old BMW X5 with Navigation and rear seat DVD system.
Like all luxury cars, the Doctor that owned the BMW before me took the big hit, I've owned BMW's before and although I've only gotten in 4 months driving experience, it's a hell of a vehicle to be a SUV.
09-04-02: Macrojack My wife says I'm the only guy in America who paid more for his refigerator than he did for his car. I drive a 1987 Toyota Camry sedan that just turned over 200K miles and there's a Sub Zero in the kitchen. She drives a 1987 Camry wagon. Financially speaking cars are a loser so we don't allocate funds to them unnecessarily. Dream car would be free to own and operate. Macrojack (Reviews | Threads | Answers)
I still have both of these cars. I spend maybe $500/year per car for repairs and maintenance. The Camry sedan now has 275,000 miles on it and it doesn't burn any oil. I haven't made a car payment in 20 years. Of course, these cars aren't exciting, don't turn heads, and fall short on modern features, but they allow me to work part-time and buy other things that matter more to me. Still have that refrigerator too. I'm probably not typical.
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