OT: Talking Cars Tuesday - Mulligan
Everyone's got one. The one that got away. For whatever reason, life got in the way. Maybe it was a coupe and you had your first child. Maybe your brother never gave you that Camaro as a hand-me-down. Maybe a wheel fell off on an off ramp and you had to sell it to get whatever was next (My boss and his 1968 Mustang). Maybe your dog got sick, you had a "real" car, so it was time to sell the toy (see avatar).
What car DID you (or your family) own that you wish you could have today? It'd be dropped off magically, immaculate, and cheap/easy/free to repair/maintain/own. You don't have to give up anything except garage or driveway space. What car from your past would you have magically dropped off today? (And, if it's a good story, why'd you lose her?)
January 19th, 2016 at 9:21 AM ^
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January 19th, 2016 at 9:25 AM ^
I instantly thought of my grandpas brown Wagoneer he had back in the 80's.
January 19th, 2016 at 9:31 AM ^
Really, LOL? I find those hideous, mate.
January 19th, 2016 at 9:24 AM ^
Olive green Pontiac Firebird with a vinyl top. (Those tops were popular then and looked pretty cool)
January 19th, 2016 at 9:29 AM ^
It was operable, only cosmetic issues (oxidized paint, etc.), and well under $1000. 1959 (+/-) hard top, with a pink and white two-tone paint job. Sitting at a local used car lot, in a town where such things were not valued.
I went to get the money (i.e., ALL my money) and it was sold that afternoon. The car had sat there for over a month as I scraped up the cash to buy it and ... gone. Like a cool breeze.
January 19th, 2016 at 9:29 AM ^
My first car....................67 Olds Cutlass Supreme. 400 cubic inch, 4 barrel. Metallic blue with air and cruise control. Oh......can't forget.......Pioneer stereo WITH 8track player!
January 19th, 2016 at 9:30 AM ^
But my 1998 Jeep Wrangler was sold to cover my dog's medical bills (Evans syndrome, 3 days in a pet ER, blood transfusions, the works! She's totally healthy 3+ years later). 32" tires, lots of hours invested in upgrading it, and I'd love to have it back. (Pictured, Dog in Jeep just before selling Jeep) 
January 19th, 2016 at 9:40 AM ^
As you know I'm already a Dodge/Chrysler/Jeep slappy and I love me a good Wrangler. I've never owned one but driven many, most notably my buddies '86 CJ 7. This was many years ago and he's hence sold it but we cruised in that puppy for an entire summer and it was the best. (Edit, no pun intended (Puppy!!!))
January 19th, 2016 at 9:49 AM ^
Loved my TJ. Same frame/tub/size as the CJ-7. Jeep had to just be printing money by the end of the TJ's run (not that they aren't still today) because all that tooling was so old.
As a 2X Wrangler owner (1991 prior to the 98) I will say it makes a MUCH better 2nd car/ weekend toy than a daily driver. Can't speak to the newer ones, but that was true of both TJs and YJs.
January 19th, 2016 at 8:24 PM ^
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January 19th, 2016 at 9:30 AM ^
had a 1955 Plymouth Belvedere convertible. The tail fins are awesome. Sadly, he did not keep it after he had a family.
January 19th, 2016 at 9:51 AM ^
What a car.
January 19th, 2016 at 9:31 AM ^
95 Eagle Talon TSi AWD Turbo. I put about 6-7k in "go fast" mods to it. Bigger turbo, bunch of gauges on the inside.. looked like a cockpit of a jet in there. Ran a 14.0 on a hot summer day so never ended up getting a 13 second run out of her but on the cold nights, man she would just fly.
Long story short I was a dummy (22 years old at the time, no excuse but.. hey, I was young) and had a few too many and crashed it. Completly totalled it. Broke my heart. Luckily nobody was hurt. , I still have dreams about it 1-2 times a year. Was my first really fun car and my Dad and I spent a lot of time together working on it so I have some good memories there, too. Hardly see them on the road anymore but when I do see them it always makes me grin, thinking back to an easier, more care-free time of my life where I'd just "cruise" for no reason.
January 19th, 2016 at 9:39 AM ^
But almost impossible to fuck in it, even when you're 19 and in great shape.
January 19th, 2016 at 10:19 AM ^
This is a wrangler back seat. It is approximately 36" across
January 19th, 2016 at 9:32 AM ^
January 19th, 2016 at 9:32 AM ^
January 19th, 2016 at 9:38 AM ^
He can get another for $50K http://classiccars.com/listings/find/1970/chevrolet/camaro-z28
January 19th, 2016 at 9:32 AM ^
January 19th, 2016 at 9:38 AM ^
My first car was a 1970 Olds Cutlass. Lime green, bench seats, AM Radio, dark green vinyl top, and a 350 Rocket V8. I loved that car. I should have kept her.
When I was really little my parent's had a Lincoln Mark IV. It was a silvery blue/green color with a white leather interior and a 460 V8. My mother hated the car and sold it when my dad died (and gas prices were really high in the early 80's). I'm still vaguely pissed that she didn't keep it.
January 19th, 2016 at 11:16 AM ^
I had a 72, I would have sold the Lincoln too.
January 19th, 2016 at 11:30 AM ^
My nostalgia for it is related entirely to the fact that one of the very few vague memories I have left of my dad involved the car.
And it really was beautiful inside with the white leather, but probably impossible to keep clean, especially with a 4 year old boy crawling all over it.
January 19th, 2016 at 1:35 PM ^
My Dad had one. Baby blue in and out. Opera windows. 454 (I'm told). Came with a CB.
Beautiful.
January 19th, 2016 at 2:22 PM ^
The 454 was a Chevy motor. Beautiful car though. If gas would stay under $2 per gallon forever I would totally have a 60's - 70's luxury car as my daily driver.
January 19th, 2016 at 2:23 PM ^
you're right. I know better.
January 19th, 2016 at 9:38 AM ^
January 19th, 2016 at 9:41 AM ^
I wasn't planning on this becoming a thread to pump up the used car market... but here
http://www.autoblog.com/used-detail--1819226270171294967-Toyota-MR2-1991
January 19th, 2016 at 10:01 AM ^
January 19th, 2016 at 10:37 AM ^
Was it blue? There were two that used to cruise around Ann Arbor... IIRC both had vanity plates. One was "Han Solo" and the other I think was something like "Mister 2" or "MR 2" variant.
January 19th, 2016 at 9:39 AM ^
1988 Suburban. That thing was a tank. Drove it throughout high school until my dad sold it to get better towing milage.
Kinda OT question for the car people here: I suddenly have the need to buy a car for my commute to work. The only stipulation is that is has 4WD/AWD because I live in Boston. It will be my everyday driver. So what say you mgocarpeople?
January 19th, 2016 at 9:42 AM ^
January 19th, 2016 at 9:55 AM ^
Budget is very flexible. Commute is about 35 miles and takes around an hour. I'd prefer a sedan to anything else. Speed and tight handling are a plus, but milage is even better.
January 19th, 2016 at 10:12 AM ^
4WD sedans are tougher to come by, but doable. The Subaru Legacy is an option or the Impreza Sedan (probably the cheapest new car I'm listing, and the best on gas), as are high-end Ford Fusions. If budget really doesn't matter, the Audi A3 Quattro would work (or the A4 for that matter). On the faster end, there's a Subaru WRX.
January 19th, 2016 at 11:24 AM ^
on how you use 4wd... I don't know that Subaru, though it has an awesome system, would qualify for me... I think of it as reactive AWD (though their sticks seem to have a different system).
As to AWD sedans: Ford Taurus; Fusion... Dodge you can get a Charger with AWD...
January 19th, 2016 at 9:44 AM ^
and priorities? Space, gas mileage, speed?
I have a G37X and I love it. Roomy enough for a family car, stupid fast, and great in the snow. It doesn't get very good gas mileage though. About 20mpg in combined city/highway.
January 19th, 2016 at 9:45 AM ^
If AWD is a must, your best best with good mileage will probably be a Subaru Impreza. Otherwise, you're probably looking at smaller SUVs. Check the Mazda CX-5 (Best driver, best mileage), or a Ford Escape, as they're cranking out tons of them. In general, I like Car & Driver's buyers guide, you can put in that 4WD is a must and go from there.
January 19th, 2016 at 9:52 AM ^
Shamelessly biased plug here:
I have an AWD one of these. Got it just before the record-setting snow season we had a couple years ago. It does brilliantly in the snow. It's a C-platform car, good for the city, easy to park in a tight spot.
AWD does kill the gas mileage somewhat. Frankly, it doesn't get the advertised gas mileage, even as specified for the engine and drivetrain I have. But it's not like it's a 12-mpg pig, either.
January 19th, 2016 at 10:01 AM ^
I'd say an AWD Volvo (wagon or newer S60) or Suburu if you're looking for a car, not an SUV. Just watch out for used Suburu's with high miles.
I wouldn't want to park an SUV in Boston, either.
January 19th, 2016 at 11:19 AM ^
I love my 2012 Jeep Grand Cherokee, Oberlin package. Lot of depends how big a car you want. I personally don't like little cars.
January 19th, 2016 at 11:29 AM ^
Once front wheel drive came out, cars became pretty damn good in the snow. I am sure for my uses a front wheel drive would be just fine, I have two 4x4s.
January 19th, 2016 at 12:52 PM ^
I have no problem driving in any conditions with front or rear alone. it's just that my girlfriend, put the AWD requirement on my purchase, and I want to keep for around a bit longer.
January 19th, 2016 at 9:39 AM ^
I had a 2007 Mustang GT that I spent a lot of time and money modifying. Tubular front suspension, lowered on Eibach springs, long tube headers, flowmasters with an H-pipe, 20' Shelby CS69 rims on Nitto NT555's, cold air intake, custom dyno tuned, aluminum driveshaft, etc, etc, etc. Then I had a daughter and it was hard to get her in and out of the back seat. Then I had my son and it was time to sell the Mustang. I really miss this car!
January 19th, 2016 at 9:47 AM ^
Hopefully, like my boss, you cut a deal with your wife and a future Mustang is in the cards for you. (When he sold his '68 he got a promise that he could get another, so he's got a 2005 GT now).
Also, this tale of children is why my 2015 GTI has 4 doors :-)
January 19th, 2016 at 10:03 AM ^
I bought a 2011 shelby GT500 when my wife got pregnant. Kids absolutely love it. Don't even need to distract them with movies or an ipad to go anywhere. Best family car ever.
My mom had an 89 Lx when I was young and kept it until I turned 15...
January 19th, 2016 at 9:39 AM ^
January 19th, 2016 at 9:40 AM ^
Not necessarily from my past, but my mom (whom I assume I got my love of cars from) actually had a series of great cars before she married my dad, who is not at all a car guy - seriously, he has only owned four different Cavaliers since I was born. A few Firebirds, a Corvette, Triumph TR-7, Plymouth Fury, and some I'm probably forgetting. The way she always talks about the first Firebird, a '69 with the rear end lifted, makes me wish that somehow she was able to keep that.
For me specifically, I had to recently part ways with my '05 WRX because it was getting too expensive to clear PA inspection every year. I wanted to hold onto it and eventually start modding it, but between trying to save money and potentially moving in the near future, it just didn't make sense to keep around.
January 19th, 2016 at 9:42 AM ^
I'm sad that I have nothing to contribute to this thread.
January 19th, 2016 at 9:54 AM ^