I had an interesting conversation this morning with one Mr. Justin Berkowitz. Among other topics we discussed: the fact that most people are happy with their cars. As car scribes, we have the luxury of ripping apart $44k BMW convertibles because, well, we didn't buy 'em. As RF often points out, an automobile is the average person's second most expensivepurchase. Or, if you live in New York (like Justin) or Los Angeles (like me), a car is by far the most expensive good you can afford (though I did see a lovely two bedroom, one bathroom for the reduced price of only $640k the other weekend…). Years ago a friend of mine bought a 2001 Ford Escort. Horrid, nasty little thing. Ugly, slow, worst build quality imaginable and awful to drive. I told her, "Don't buy that." But, she did. Even after multiple "issues," she still claims she loved it. She even shed a tear when it was totaled. Me, I love my car. It's my second WRX wagon (a 2006). And the more press cars I drive, the deeper I fall head over heals in love with my own car. I can't believe anyone drives anything else. Now, am I that much smarter than my fellow man, or just blinded by love? And what about you and your car?
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I love my 2006 V70R, but I love it for what it is, not what I’d like it to be. Would I love an Audi RS6 Avant more? Probably. But all the same, a 300HP AWD wagon with a row-it-yourself 6 speed? What’s not to love?
I love my cars until they break. And when they’re fixed, I’ll love them again.
I have a 2001 Focus ZTS that I loved when I bought it new, but now am hoping something will happen to it so I can get a new car. I have fallen out of love with it. I haven’t washed it in probably a year. It’s been fairly reliable, but has some issues now. If I could get rid of it tomorrow and get something else, I would. Only a lack of $$$ is keeping it in the family right now.
I only love some of my cars. I do like them all (or else I wouldn’t have bought them). The ones I love are the ones that have been beat on for 20 years and 200,000 miles and are now irreplaceable because of all of their “character”.
I like my Saturn SW2 well enough for what I paid for it. The ride’s a little bumpier than I’d prefer, it’s kind of loud at freeway speeds, and even at low speeds there are too many rattles and squeaks, but it handles well, it gets good gas mileage, and it’s reasonably peppy. I don’t know that I’ll truly love any car I own until I can afford something a little nicer.
It depends on the driver.
For the enthusiast, the person who enjoys the act of driving, love is without a doubt bound to happen. You love your car. You bought it, you know its flaws, its foibles, its tragedies, and its triumphs. I don’t think it’s a blind love in this case. I have a car I absolutely love but I know it’s a far cry from perfect. Ownership counts for a lot; you love it because it is yours.
For the non-enthusiast, the person who straps his/herself into a car to get from point A to point B, love is questionable. I mean you said it, JL, in your anecdote above – the car was totaled and not a single tear shed. That’s as cold as ice, Rick James. This isn’t love, it’s the kind of love you tell yourself you’re in it for the kids. Here’s where the blind love exists, blind, unaware, mute, deaf, sure – the whole bit.
I love my ’99 Accord 5-speed stick. Its’ peppy, economical, reliable, and I can toss it hard into corners. The shifter snics nicely.
I’ve even come to like the way it looks, although objectively speaking, it’s a pretty boring-looking car. Of course, I’ve tweaked it mildly in ways that add a little personality. I made cruiserline ventiports from magnetic vinyl-like material. I added a leather steering wheel cover. And I keep a rubber snake on the dash with a cigarette in its mouth. (No, I don’t smoke.)
I can drive much hotter cars without feeling disappointed when I get back into my chariot. The most important thing is that it feels good to drive.
Yes, but I’d love a 911 more – does that make me shallow!?
1998 Impreza L, 194,XXX miles. Love it the same way I love a good pair of boots.
It hasn’t been washed in a year, it’s got dents all over it and it’s beginning to rust…none of which I intend to repair or clean. But if it were a pair of boots, the soles would still be stitched to the uppers tightly, the waterproofing would still work and they’d be nice and warm.
I love and appreciate it when the utilitarian items in my life show obvious signs of age and hard use, yet function as intended.
The only car I can say I had true affection for was my 1981 Volvo 240 DL wagon. Sold it for $500 with 256,000 miles on it, and regretted it. It should’ve become a project car.
-Matt
mlbrown:
or a LeMons car!
“it was totaled while parked by a drunk” Well, that’s what you have to expect when drunks park cars.
Consumer Reports used to warn car shoppers who get infatuated with a shiny new car, “You may love your car, but it won’t love you back.” And I have to confess, I’ve been jilted by more than one perfidious machine.
I have loved most of my cars. I love my 93 Tercel, even though the cheap ass (Maaco? Before I got it, anyway) clearcoat has mostly peeled off and it has broad “Competition Pink” patches on the roof, trunk and hood. But I’ve driven that car across a good stretch of the US and it has never stranded me. Plus, it really is fun to drive a slow car fast and, since it is the basest of base models (4 speed manual, no passenger side mirror or airbag) I’ve been able to park it in truly horrible neighborhoods and nothing has ever happened to it. It just rolled over to 190k last night.
I loved my 95 Neon coupe before it, although having to replace the entire engine (not to mention replacing the head gasket on the replacement engine) truly tried my love. I was very upset when the nice woman in a hurry to work pulled out in front of me and I was unable to stop in time – the drawback to buying cheap cars is that insurance companies do not love cars, and are unwilling to pay based on love.
2004 TL 6-speed. Head over heals in love.
Comfortable yet sporty, not sloppy. Cockpit-like enough when its just me…and roomy enough for us and another couple. Smooth on the commute, sharp while hooning. And makes a beautiful note when pushed.
Can I break the rear-end loose on demand? No, because of FWD. Sigh. But that’s her only fault IMHO.
Oh well…I’m not perfect, either.
I would say that the more of a stretch someone makes to buy a car, the more they cannot abide anyone calling their baby ugly.
If you really want to see this effect on steroids, lurk on some of the plane forums.
I most certainly love my Rubicon. It’s more fun than any other car or truck I’ve had and it is a great performance vehicle. I never have to pay track fees (National Forest or BLM access is free) and it is the exact model, package, and color with each option I had speced out on the internet countless times. It was expensive and its mileage isn’t fantastic, but I love that Jeep.
Jonny,
I imagine it would’ve been the perfect LeMons car. It had the four speed with the push-button “5th gear.”
I bought that car about nine years ago for $300. Whenever I think of how little it costs to put a Ford 5.0 in a 240 relative to buying a newer car, I think, “shit. I should have just parked it.”
Also, putting a B230ti from a late model 940 is pretty straightforward, too.
Oh well. I still scan the classifieds on Ipd looking for suitable replacement. Those cars may not be fast, but they just feel right on the road.
-Matt
I think love is the only way to explain my 1977 Omega. Personally I think those cars are peerless as far as the variety of potential, which ranges from fire-breathing drag-strip racer to 4-cylinder 4-door economy car. I probably love my 2001 S10 ZR2 but just don’t know it yet. The new stereo made her a lot better for sure. Driving any new car sends me sprinting back to the waiting doors of these faithful beasts.
No. I spent 5 figures on a soulless commuter when what I really wanted was to spend 3 figures on a beaten-near-to-death hooning platform.
I love one of my cars (2006 Chevy TrailBlazer SS). I don’t love my Lexus or my Honda. They are much better cars than the SS, but they don’t inspire love…respect, but not love. The lightly modified SS has insane amounts of go, stop, and cornering ability (especially for a 4700 lb SUV). It also finds its way on the back of tow trucks far too often, headed to a dealer who I’d like to torch.
Everyone should have a car that’s faster than snot and one that never lets them down. Maybe one day I’ll find a car that does both? But until then, I’ll continue the pattern of not trying to have one car be all things.
I love my wife’s Protege5, especially with the aftermarket struts, springs, big-ass rear sway bar (ro-tation!), short shifter, header and intake! It gets good mileage, handles flat, seats four or five and carries a lot of stuff in the hatch. Great car!
Love the family MPV?
When I’m hauling a big, bulky load: Yes.
When I flip the third row out of the floor and have room for 3 more: Yes.
When I’m driving it somewhere with just me and the 2-year-old in it, getting less than 20mpg because my wife’s got the P5 that day: Not so much.
I loved my Miata.
I loved my RX-7.
…Shouldn’t have let those two go!
Yes, I absolutely love our 01 Saab 9-5, although it has not been the most reliable car available. Fortunately, a good warranty and an excellent nearby dealer have made things acceptable. Back in 01, it was the only car out there that offered all these in one car: comfort, safety, performance and yet good MPG and practicality. I am not sure you can find that even today, at the same price as the venerable but improved 08 9-5. I basically count out all Japanese cars because they cheat to get good MPG by siting you low in the car, which breaks your back on long hauls because of the shitty driving position with your spine taking all the beating.
Saab has always offered terrific turbo-charged four bangers. Probably the best thing GM got from Saab because they don’t know what the hell they are doing with the brand. Oh ! I only wish Honda had bought Saab. But Honda doesn’t go around buying other brands do they. No, they concentrate on developing their own stuff and it has served them very well thank you.
I love my car, but I still want a new car every day. Thats why I have a “car of the day”.
http://www.caroftheday.org
Why did your friend let a drunk park her car?
I loved my 96′ Olds Ciera. The thing was decently solid until 280,000 miles came and everything started going to hell completely. Slow, check. Boaty, check.
It’s only proof that if a car works no matter how slow,rusty,nasty,ugly (fill in the blank negative) it is and you drive it long enough, anyone will love it.
My new Civic is no sports car but it’s SO much better than that Olds ever was.
SherbornSean:
I guess I phrased that poorly.
Her car was parked.
A drunk crashed into it.
She pretended like she was upset.
I’ve got an on-again, off-again love for my car. It’s a 2005 Mazda3i. My parents leased it from new for me, and the lease is about to end. I’m planning on buying it from Mazda for $9000. Sounds like a screaming deal to me.
The car is just awesome, absolutely no mechanical problems. I drive it on my short commute and still get 25mpg while driving like a maniac. The car just gobbles up off ramps and asks for more. Just amazing. I’ve driven cars that cost 4x as much that I enjoy less.
The off-again aspect of my relationship is basically because it has an automatic transmission. It needed to be my sister’s transportation while I was at college, so it had to be an auto. Thank god it has great manumatic operation.
Though I guess I don’t completely love my car, since I’m looking to replace it with an E36 M3 sedan.
To those who say driving a Camry or Prius is only for those who don’t like driving, my response is “Bah!” I’ve driven cars from every model year from 1961-2007 (and a 1958 on a “closed course”), some when they were new or nearly so, a couple when they were 23 years old. I like driving anything, but some cars are obviously more fun than others. (A manual transmission helps!)
As for my current whips, 2 Camrys and a 10-year-old Frontier, I love them, yes.
Love is the only way to explain why the constant TLC needed for my 14 yr old German wagon (’95 E320) doesn’t bother me. Despite it’s age, it hasn’t stranded me yet, (knock on teeth), it gets the same fuel economy as all the current cars in it’s size range, and it can haul full-size refrigerators with the doors still on and the hatch completely closed.
My wife has a Rav4 which has been faultless. But it’s also somehow soulless.
Out of the cars that I have owned the one car I can’t seem to part with is my E39 M5 – and believe me, I’ve tried.
Every time it has been in the shop I absolutely hate it and want to sell it. Then I get it back and I forget about how much it cost me to repair it.
I also had a Miata, but I never became attached to it. I think it didn’t have that edge that the M5 has when I drive it. Could be the horsepower, the handling, the interior, or (more likely) that “Oh my God” feeling the M5 has when you drive it hard.
I love my car because it is long paid for and still runs.
John
I love my ‘03 Subaru WRX sedan. I think its the ultimate car. Its faster than most, it has four doors to haul my two boys around without climbing over seats, and has never given me any problems.
The AWD is nice in the winter, and the power is nice for me when I need to go around a Grand prix or a G6. I guess the thing I Love about it most is the car is able to be the same car in all weather conditions.
Jonny,
My wife just “loves” her MDX and won’t let me sell it. Please forward the address of where your friend parked so a drunk can total my wife’s “SUV” and I can buy a Boxster or S2000.
“Heels,” Jonny, “heels.”
Of course I love my car. I made the very best choice based upon my knowledge, experience, needs, and available budget.
Current-generation Camry SE V6.
I love the rush from my 89 SHO when the second set of runners kick in!
I love my car (Mazdaspeed6 GT). It gets the lookback every time I walk away from it. Honestly, for what I paid for my car 2 years ago, I cannot think of anything I would rather have including models that have gone into production since then.
Generally speaking, I think most people will praise their cars. No one wants to admit they spent X amount of dollars on what turned out to be crap. Your car is a matter of personal pride, defending it is to defend your sense of style, taste, savvy consumerism, etc. So in a sense, I dont think current owners of a particular model are really the best resourse when researching vehicles. The best test as to whether someone really likes their car though would be repeat purchasers (something I cannot do unfortunately), or at least sticking with the same brand.
Something else will come along though and sway my cheating heart, then, particularly if my new love interest is in my price range, the relationship with my current ride will sour. Til then, I am a happy camper.
Yes, I love my little Yaris. She’s reliable, never let me down and doesn’t ask much in return. I’d rather drive her than a Ford GT and I’m not joking.
Now if only could find a partner like that…..
Non-enthusiasts can certainly love their cars for a variety of reasons, such as long trips taken with the kids in the vehicle. I had a funny experience once about that. I’d recently moved into the house where I’d grown up, after living in another city for many years. One of the neighbors had had a ’60 Plymouth wagon when I was a kid. I had a shot of an identical ’60 ply wagon I’d taken a few years earlier at a car show. So I sent them a photo of the car, with my old return address, and “The Car Finders,” with a letter on official-looking stationary stating that “we have found your car after all of these years, in Virginia. Would you like us to drive it up for you, or would you like to get it yourselves.”
A few days later I spotted the parents of that family walking around the neighborhood, and asked them, “Have they found your car yet?” The woman looks at me, and says, “HOw did YOU know?” and I confessed to having sent them the photo. They proceeded to tell me about all the wonderful reminiscences they’d had with their kids after receiving the photo about trips taken in the Plymouth. We chatted about this for about five minutes, and then, as we were getting ready to go our separate ways, Fred turns to me and he says, “You know, that car was really a lemon.”
driving course :
Yes, but I’d love a 911 more – does that make me shallow!?
I think this comment was directed at me, and my love for my Accord. My answer: absolutely not. I’d love a 911 more, too. A Cayman even more.
I love my car. It’s a 1992 Ford Thunderbird that I’ve owned for ten years, which probably explains much of the attachment. It has the base 3.8 motor and an indeterminate number of miles (the odometer quit working at 129,000 and change); it’s got two doors and RWD, it’s not especially fast but it is torquey as all get out and it handles well enough to make me smile while being remarkably sure-footed in nasty weather, and it’ll probably get 30 mpg again as soon as I finish a couple of repairs that should see it running smoothly for at least another couple years. It’s all the car I need, it’s paid for, and we’ve been a lot of places together. Yup, I love my car.
I really love my Hyundai Sante Fe. It’s got gobs of get up and go. She’s far more comfortable than the ratty ol’ Chev we traded away to get her…
But I did a terrible nasty thing…
I took out a Mazda RX8…
It was only a date, really…
Yes, we did some dickering…
Yes, she held me spell bound and romanced me…
Yes, I romanced her back…
Now, the Sante Fe is loved but not so much…
I’ve lost my heart to the RX8…
I feel like such a shit
I don’t love my car, the car is FAR too new for that kind of commitment! LOL! I doubt it will ever be love. Too few mass produced cars have real character, IMHO, due to fear of alienating too many potential buyers. When I think in terms of love, I think of cars with real individuality, cars you either love or hate, but are never indifferent to. Examples of cars that evoke that kind of response would be anything made by Lotus. A more common, but still quirky car is the RX-7/RX-8. You either love them for what they are or hate them for the very same reasons.
Of course I have loved every car I’ve owned (and I’ve only owned two, having spent a good portion of my adult life not needing one). But what amazes me is that my girlfriend has loved them despite never driving either one. In fact, she loved my old Prelude so much – a car I assumed only a driver could love, given the uncomfortable front seats, unusable back seats, harsh ride and lack of sound insulation – that she cried when we said goodbye to it. And even though she cringed when I said I was buying a station wagon (she wouldn’t believe that the S4 is actually a muscle car in disguise) now she loves that one too, horrible gas mileage and all. Go figure.
justjim,
I love your analogy. I’d really like to get some stick time in an RX-8, but feel that it would probably lead to financially irresponsibility, of which I can afford little more.
Sure I do. 2 year old Mazda 3 GT wagon with 41k miles. Been a superb vehicle for all the types of driving I do and has really met my needs for what I want out of a vehicle. It handles well for a compact FWD wagon, looks great, has several nice features at it’s price level, excellent interior fit and finish but with typical lower-end Japanese plastics. Hauls quite a bit too. And it’s paid off.
I’m definitely falling for the gal’s 82 240, and ever since I read about Paul Newman swapping a V8 in his RWD Volvo…I’ve wanted a Volvo to do that with. Maybe I’ll have a chance now…cheaper than buying her that Escape she wants/needs.
brownie: Of course I have loved every car I’ve owned (and I’ve only owned two, having spent a good portion of my adult life not needing one). But what amazes me is that my girlfriend has loved them despite never driving either one.
Keep that woman close! I was lucky enough to marry one like that. She is the best thing that ever happened to me.
As someone who trades in pretty frequently, I have loved many of my cars. Also hated a couple. No matter the car, at least a fraction of the affection must be earned. Only the day to day can test this.
My Legacy LTD (no turbo) has stood up to 25K miles of hail, blizzard, glare ice, muddy field roads, MN pot holes, WI fuel prices, thirty bags of cedar mulch, two rain soaked dogs, and three parking lot bumps from idiots. It looks, runs, and drives perfectly, just as when I drove it off the showfloor (incredibly true). Driving home from the dealership was when I fell for it on day one. Since then, the rest of my affection has been earned.
I didn’t understand subaru loyalty…I do now. When I look back from parking it, I know it will take me home…no matter what.
N85523 :
May 16th, 2008 at 4:51 pm
justjim,
I love your analogy. I’d really like to get some stick time in an RX-8, but feel that it would probably lead to financially irresponsibility, of which I can afford little more.
thanks much, but I just can’t get that little heart breaker out of my mind.
The 6 standard… oh my, and the power, and how she responded to all my demands…
How she ate up the road twisting and turning making me feel so much more than just any driver…. but her driver
yes, I’m still a shit
I have to have for my own!
Aside from wanting 50 more hp, 10 more mpg and 25 years of wear and tear removed, I don’t think I’d change anything about my car (’83 Mercedes-Benz 300 SD).
No, I can’t afford my car (I have no job and I’m getting unemployment) and I’m wasting what little money I have paying for it.
OK.
Hate my cavalier. It creeks worse than an old wooden boat.
The trailblazer is a work horse, but sways like a star on Dancing With Stars…stay off the MO mountain roads!
My dodge cavalier was wonderful…except for the engine replacement and the transmission repairs…other than that it was/is a sweet running-do everything vehicle.
But the car I LOVE…my little Mazda3 hatch.
Talk about a poor mans BMW!
Other than it sucks in snow, man, oh man…I find reasons to go out to the store.
I love the cornering…the buttery engine.
In fact, every Mazda I drive seems to give this.
I wish Mazdas did offer better MPG…
I fell in love with my last car, an ’05 MINI Cooper S. The first 6 months were amazing, then the flaws started showing through. First a failed supercharger, then the “SES” light that wouldn’t stay off. Then various other things, coupled with her demands that she go back to the dealer every 2 weeks. We finally called it off after a year and a half, and I was devastated by our breakup, but determined never to date her same type again. As well, I do look back at all the good times we had in our short tumultuous affair. Like most significant others, she was fun to go out with, but living with her was awful.
My current relationship, uh…car, an ’08 GTI has been solid so far. We’ve only been together 3 1/2 months, but we’ll see how things go…
I LOVED my first car, 63 Impala convert w/283. Stolen.
I HATED my 73 Vega, three-speed stick (on the floor). The A pillars rotted away in a couple years leaving the windshield attached by duct tape.
I RESPECT my 05 G35x, but do not love it; it was a nice fling but won’t miss it when the lease is up. It’s trouble-free, but is not dirtball enough for me.
I LOVE my 03 Altima 3.5. Plenty roomy (before they shrunk them down last year), folding rear seat, gets up to 31 mpg on the road, plus the lovely 3.5 6- who could ask for more?
Let put some meat on my comments. I drive a Mazda6 HB. I like the car, but the car reminds me of what it COULD have been had Mazda’s engineer been allowed to (or if Mazda was not affected by the failure of the MazdaSpeed6). It should have the power of the MazdaSpeed6 (and the next gen Mazda6 does have that power), the suspension could be a little more firm without being at all unuseable for everyday driving. In short, the Mazda6 could have been more of an unapologetic sports car. Adding a 6 speed auto and 18″ tires, just highlights what the car could have been. It is those constant reminders which will probably keep me thinking of the it as “good car for the money” and not “I love this car.”
Contrast this with the RX-8 (which I do not own). The car is available as an auto, but anyone ordering this car in anything other than a stick should be brought up on charges. The rotary engine is unbashedly rev-happy and the ONLY way to drive with car is revving the living sh_t out of it. It is what it is, take it or leave it.
True, the RX-8 is a niche player, but I will tell you that there is nothing quite like it. This car will have a niche following of people who love it for what it is. To a lesser extent, the MazdaSpeed6 has that potential as well. For my love and a following, the Mazda6 should have been the MazdaSpeed6 without the AWD, but with a 6-speed auto. Oh yeah, and also available as a hatch. That would be a car that knew EXACTLY what it is, take it or leave. That would be a prescription for true love.
We love our CR-V.
I don’t really love my Ranger, though it’s been pretty good.
Yes, I love my car.
It’s nothing really special; a 2000 Pontiac Grand AM GT that’s rapidly coming up on 100,000 miles. It’s not exceptionally powerful or fast and has typical GM build “quality.” It’s suffering from from 8 years of Florida and Kansas sun; the clearcoat is peeling off the hood and the mirrors are faded and the dashboard cover is peeling off around the edges. It’s got hail dents from when I got too close to a tornado one time and I use two gallons of gas each day on my 55 mile round-trip commute.
So why do I like it so? While it doesn’t handle like a BMW, it goes where I point it; moreso after I replaced the OEM Goodyears with a set of W-rated Kuhmo’s. It may understeer, but it’s consistent and easy to drive around. It’s not the fastest car on the road but it has enough get-up-and-go to keep me happy and my license intact. The interior may be coming unglued in places, but the seats are comfortable, the stereo is adequate for my abused eardrums. It has all the electric toys and gadgets I need. If it only was a 5-speed instead of auto, it would be perfect.
Sometimes I get the idea to try something else. I’ve test driven Imprezza’s and used BMW’s and Mazda 3’s but nothing really appeals enough to get me to open my wallet. Maybe it’s the familiarity of 75,000 miles together, but nothing else im my price range really screams out “take me home.” The GA needs new brakes and the dampers are getting worn and the A/C needs a recharge, but none of that detracts from my ownership of this car. I guess it’s like a well worn pair of shoes. Extremely comfortable, if a bit tatty around the edges.
I LOVE my motorcycle. My wife’s car, a 2002 Lexus ES300, is a car I like so long as it doesn’t start stealing money out of my wallet with repair bills. So far, I like it a lot.
I briefly drove a friend’s WRX wagon once. It was “awright”. It had good power, felt stable–almost too stable because the thing didn’t want to turn.
I hate understeer. I got spoiled in the steering department by my Porsche 951 and my friend’s Miata.
of course I love my car, i didn’t spend countless money, time and effort making it the way I wanted it to be if I didn’t love it…..
My latest 88 BMW 528e and I haven’t bonded yet. Though it has a third of the miles on it as its predecessor and is virtually the same car. It just lacks something the ol’ Borman6 had. Maybe I will like it better after its next road trip to a meet in NC over Memorial Day weekend
Wife just got a new Mini. She surely loves it. If she cleans the wheels again I’m going to wonder if she loves it more than me.
Of all the cars I’ve owned, I’ve only loved one of them. Sadly, it is not the car I own now. I used to own a ’74 Chevy Nova. It was the hatchback model, with the low-spec 350 V8 and the three-speed auto. The car was very green, with a green vinyl top and a completely green interior. It chugged gas, handled terribly, had useless drum brakes on all four wheels, and when I eventually sold it for five times the price I paid I spent two days crying about it. I sold that Nova – no, MY Nova – for mere money! How could I have done such a horrible thing?
In all rational metrics, the Nova’s replacement is an improvement; it handles better, the exterior is stunning, the gas mileage is much better, the transmission is a proper 5-speed stick, and the rev-happy little engine coupled with the light weight of the thing probably makes it just as fast. I don’t love it, though.
Of course I love my car(s). I absolutely love driving my MINI Cooper S. It’s a wee bit expensive to maintain, but I love it. I also have a Buick Century, where there are a few things I absolutely hate about it including reading and listening to people tell me how awful a car I own and how old I must be. But there are some good reasons why I like the car and to put up with all the problems, I must love it.
…but I do love my wife and family more….
I’ve had 3 used cars: A 1995 Saturn SL2, A 1989 Honda Prelude Si, and a 1989 Mazda Miata. All three manual, of course.
I did not love the Saturn. I liked it, especially as it was my first car, but it had crappy brakes and wasn’t particularly fun to drive.
The Prelude and Miata – I LOVED those cars, in different ways. Both were old and had various issues, but in terms of driving both were incredible. The Prelude handled very, very well and was practical enough for everyday things – the trunk was actually quite large, and it was comfortable on a day to day basis. The engine, though not powerful, was very smooth, willing to rev, and got great mileage.
The Miata was a car that I didn’t need to do much (I lived in an area where I could walk for most things), but it was nearly orgasmic to drive and slow enough that I didn’t kill myself. It was a bit punishing over rough roads and the engine was not smooth the way the Prelude’s was, but it was a willing car.
Both of these cars had certain qualities I have not found in driving many much newer cars – the gas and brakes (as well as steering and trasmission) did exactly what you wanted. Many cars now have brakes and throttle that either give you too much or too little. When I want 3/5ths throttle or brake, I want 3/5ths, not 4/5ths and not 1/5th.
Oh yeah, I love my car. I’ve been in the habit of impulse buying my vehicles which has left me broke and at the side of the road far too many times.
My longest term car, an ’89 stang with the 2.3L and 5 speed was starting to go… I knew it was never going to pass the Clean Air inspection — rings — so I researched and settled on a TDI. Had mostly domestics, mostly Fords and took a big chance with a Golf, but bought new and loved it!
Unfortunately ran into a guardrail, so I replaced it with a Jetta. Both cars have been superb, everything I’ve wished for and I read with amusement all the hate for VW when anyone does these posts.
Ask the man who owns one… you can’t beat it!
I love my Volvo. It’s a brick, much like myself.
In about two years, I drove a 94 Mazda MPV, ’94 Miata C-package (Torsen rear end), ’86 Corolla GTS coupe, and ’91 240SX. Out of those cars, I liked the MPV the least, though it was the most reliable. The 240SX lacked some character (and all the registration paperwork).
Now I’m driving around in a new 350Z, which I chose over an E36 M3 sedan in immaculate condition and the venerable S2000. It can idle with the AC on in 103 degree heat without overheating (MPV). It doesn’t feel like a boy racer on cut springs (240SX). you can open the drivers door and get in, instead of General Lee-ing into it (miata) and it goes forward when you hit the gas (Corolla).
I love my 2006 Jeep Wrangler. It’s just cool, and fun to drive. It’s taken me places few vehicles would go. I’ll never get rid of it…
It’s funny that you bring this topic up today. My little Alero Brougham is in need of some tires, and I decided that this time around I wanted to experience some before I committed to buy. At the Chevy dealer around the corner there is a red ’02 Alero with a new set of Goodyears on it. They looked like nice tires and I found out that they wouldn’t cost a ton like the OEM’s on my car. They let me take the car for a ride, and after driving that car that was two years older than mine, and had 2000 fewer miles than mine, I came to the conclusion that my car still very much drives like it did when I bought it, which is to say, new! I really felt blessed after that.
I wish the plastics on the door panels didn’t squeak when I touched them, and that the front suspension didn’t have something that squeaks kind of bad, but oh well. Since my leg injury back at Christmas, I’ve had a harder time getting in and out of the car. One day I was getting out and when I leaned back on the seat to get out, something in the seat popped and broke! The best part about that is that now the seat sits better than it ever did!!!
But what do I love about it? Let’s see, there’s the stylish good looks, the (newly improved) comfy interior, the amazing stereo, the fact that it has yet to leave me stranded, and the fact that I can say that I don’t merely own an automobile, I own an Oldsmobile.
Another part of the love comes from the memories of some of the places I’ve been to in it, like Florida, traveling through Tennessee and the Virginias with my dad, the trip to Gettysburg, PA with some of my friends, the trip to the Jersey shore with my cousin, and of course the trip to to the Detroit Auto show with my friends who had formed an amazing band, and composed and sang and played a live set in the car as we traveled along.
I really don’t want to ever give it up, but if gas keeps climbing, 29 mpg might no longer be acceptable…
I’m a family man, now, with two small children. Not surprisingly, I find myself gazing fondly at Mazda 5 and Honda Odyssey advertisements. Because the car I drive now is really not very good at hauling kids around. But, damn if I don’t love my three door Focus SVT.
Every time I think I’ll just bite the bullet and trade for a practical minivan or wagon, I can’t bring myself to do it. This car is so sweet- perfect, feelsome steering; slick 6 speed Getrag manual transmission; attractive 17″ alloys with some performance boots; smooth, rev-happy 4 cylinder engine; flawless Infra-Red paint with matching upholstery inserts; firm, confidence-inspiring suspension that truly loves to be driven hard. The ridiculous cost for required 91+ octane fuel doesn’t help my pocketbook, and many parts are much more expensive than normal Focus parts, but… love is blind.
I know I won’t be able to keep it for much longer. This is the sort of car that I will only sell to someone who is going to take care of it, and when that day comes it will be a very poor day indeed.
I respect my E30 325is auto. I think I love it, but I’m not my in love with it. I appreciate and love its competence. Its build quality is great, but sometimes cold, which is also ironically warm. I feel protected from trouble. I guess my car feels a little too harsh and cold. It seems the car gave its all to be a good car but not the best mate.
I drove an E34 525i and I feel in love. Which is not fair to the E30 because its a very similar car, maybe more practical overall. The E34 is more habitable though. The E30 is like a swiss army knife, it has a bit of everything. The E34 is harder to park, but I get more comfort in return. The Handling may not be as tight but its easier to progress from corner carving to touring. The E30 is the truer sports car, the E34 is the better all around car for me. Yes I do love my E30, but I love and I’m in love with the E34.
ppellico- cars can’t “suck” in snow. Only the wrong tires or bad driving can.
Yes, I love my 1991 Buick LeSabre. It’s quickly approaching 160,000 miles, has fading paint on the bumpers, faded interior, warped dash cover, huge rust holes in the left rear wheel well (that I recently patched with galvanized steel and rubber roofing cement!) and barely working front windows. So why do I love it so much? 1) It’s extremely reliable for its age and mileage, 2) I can still afford to drive it at today’s gas prices, 3) It’s comfortable enough for me, 4) It’s so old school: wire wheel covers, long linear dash with column shifter and NO space robbing center stack/console, thank you very much, and 5) Perhaps best of all, it’s been paid off for years. I used to have a 1990 LeSabre and I loved that car too; that’s why I bought this one and I’d buy yet another one in a heartbeat. Part of my love for these cars is sentimental in a way…back in 1990 when I took driver’s education in high school, the driver’s ed car was a brand new 1990 LeSabre.
I love my 1995 Chevy C1500 Silverado pickup too, but not quite as much as the Buick. It’s dependable for the most part, but not quite as trouble free as the Buick. Not surprisingly, it drinks gas like there’s no tomorrow. But there were many times before I bought it that I found myself saying, “A truck sure would be handy right now,” and it has indeed come in handy for so many things (moving, hauling building supplies, etc.).
I loved my old Honda CRX, right up until I got rid of it.
I used to love my current Honda Civic. But then it was vandalized. Even after several thousand dollars worth of repairs its never been the same and I cringe when I drive it.
It’s the wind noise that comes from the driver’s side door because it must not close properly any more. It’s all little pieces of glass keep falling out from under the dashboard or from the trunk lid, like dandruff. Even though the dashboard was taken apart and they vaccuumed inside of it, I can hear little glass pieces sliding around inside it. After they put the dashboard back together the vents in the dashboard flop around and won’t stay put in one place anymore.
And there are all the little scratches on the interior surfaces from flying glass, on the dashboard and door panels. It’s just not like new anymore.
It’s only got 40,000 miles on it and is close to being paid for. I get over 40 mpg on the highway (only 28 or so in heavy city traffic). I really can’t afford to get rid of it just yet, but the love is gone. If I had a the cash I would trade it in for something new.
I love my 05 Chevy Aveo, even though it is often trashed in the press as not being as good as the Honda Fit or other cars in its class. It is a good car at a great price. In three years, my only issue has been a gas filler door that wouldn’t stay shut. Easily and cheaply fixed. Not the best gas mileage in its class? I guess. Back seats don’t fold flat ? True. But otherwise, a good car and a great bargain.
My wife and I have two Volvos, both bought used in 2004. Mine is a ’92 960 wagon, hers a ’90 740GL sedan. Both are, to us, really good cars.
Both of us recall our first cars with fond memories: hers a 1964 Buick Skylark sedan, mine a 1962 Plymouth Valiant V200. Both of us have had really bad cars, too: hers a 1982 Olds Firenza that “ate” two valves, mine a 1989 Chevy Corsica that was an absolute nightmare, costing us over $5000 in repairs just to keep it running long enough to dump it. In general terms, the worst of the cars we had were all GM products. One of the best we had was her 1989 Mercury Topaz: reliable, comfortable, a pleasure to drive. But the absolute tops: the Volvos. Now I understand why everyone I’ve known who has owned a Volvo is so strongly favorable to the brand.
My first car was a 1992 Ford Aerostar. I put 180,000 trouble free miles on it before I crashed it. I thought I’d never love another car again… until I got my 1997 Escort wagon in 2000. That went to another 110k for 190,000 total before I crashed it.
After the Escort phase, a new period of searching entered where I came to the choice of the Civic and Focus. Our 2001 Civic has been a disaster to say the least, so I bought our 2005 Focus. I do not “love” it in the same way, despite the fact that it is better than my two previous cars and our Civic in almost every way. I like it, it does its job effectively, but alas, love has not been rekindled… I will wait. 2010 Fiesta? Maybe….
I had a 95 Mitsubishi Diamante that I absolutely loved. Bought the car used, and it only lasted a year before I sold it, but the DOHC engine and the leather interior were awesome.
The wife was the one always pushing me to get rid of it, it kept breaking down and eating away any available cash, but the car was a great daily driver. She still will not allow me to even look at a Mitsubishi!
Alpha,
Smart woman. Keep her.
I really like all of my recent cars, but it really take a lot of time behind the wheel to develop the attachment that comes from becoming so intimate with the workings/quirks of the car that you can predict the number of gallons that the car will take before the pump shuts off, and do so with an accuracy of 1/4 gallon!
Replacing a lost car with the same model does NOT cut it either. I still have my very first car (a 1972 Plymouth Fury) sitting in my garage. With 262,000 mile on it, it has not been registered in 12 years. I wish to restore it, but the rust repair – while not looking too bad, is always worse than it looks – will be costly. My wife found some near-exact cars in the southwest with great bodies. She suggested that I buy one, have some basic bodywork and paint, and then transfer the interior from my car into the replacement car. Saves a lot of money and you get your car back quickly. I said no, it is just not the same. She said that makes no sense. My reply was, “You just don’t understand.”
2002 Nissan Maxima SE
Yeah, I do. Wonderful (black leather) interior that’s nicer then almost anything else I’ve seen in the price range, no squeaks or rattles, more then powerful enough, and being in Canada, heated seats and steering wheel both is greatly appreciated. Why don’t more cars have heated steering wheels?
It’s been entirely reliable outside of one day it simply would not start. 30 minutes later, it just did…never found out why this happened, and this was two years ago, never happened again.
I think it looks great in a stolen-from-BMW kind of way, has great HID headlights, handles decently for a FWD, torque steer is hardly there considering it has 255 HP, a nice balance of firmness and comfort in the suspension (a friend’s Acura TL of the same year is quite comparable but extremely firm, like a shopping cart).
The outside of it shows wear and dings after six years, but the interior looks 99% showroom which is my favorite part of the car anyway. And it still feels brand new and tank-solid while I’m driving it. My previous car was a ’97 Grand Prix GTP that aged in dog years and rattled and squeaked like a child’s toy. Did I mention the transmission blew and cost me $4k…? Ugh. It was an engine looking for a car.
I love both my cars. It has taken me about 30 years of driving to finally get to that point. My MINI is great for what it does. And my 65 Falcon Squire is great at what it does. Couldnt be more different, but I love ’em both.
Now, my partners Volvo, well, I try not to let it show…
Luv my Mazdaspeed 6. Reliable, fun and I don’t feel silly driving it. Did I mention how reliable it is?
I had a 1999 Mercury Sable that I absolutely loved. It was a graphite blue sedan with a gray cloth and leather interior. It had the twin-cam engine, the high-series LS trim, and an audiophile sound system with a 6-CD changer. I leased it new, bought it at the end of the lease, and ran it past 100,000 miles with very few problems. I loved everything about it — styling, seating comfort, spaciousness, the driving feel, even the sound of the audio system.
Last August I was shopping for a used car for my oldest son and found a silver 2000 Sable LS Premium with the same engine and trans as my ’99 and about 15,000 fewer miles on the clock. It was a more deluxe car than the ’99, with a black leather interior, ABS, traction control and lots of other features. Since my son puts on fewer miles per year than I do, he urged me to do the rational thing and buy the ’00 for myself. I followed his advice and handed the ’99 over to him.
The ’00 handles better than the ’99 (due to Ford’s decision to put the rear stabilizer bar back on for 2000). It also rides more smoothly and gets one or two more MPGs in mixed driving. Funny thing is, I don’t love this car the way I loved the ’99. It’s a nice car that’s pleasant to drive and does what I need it to do, but that’s the extent of it.
I love my car for what it is…an honest-to-a-fault appliance that gets me where I need to go, is reliable and isn’t hard on my wallet when it comes to gas. I hate my car because it hates taking turns at any speed above 40 mph and dislikes hitting 80 mph on the highway. I think I’ll love my next car even more.
I hate my Z4
I like my Civic SI
I love my 944 Turbo
sometimes you have to actually live with the car for a while before you can make a final decision – this is what happened with the BMW.
I’m also on my 2nd WRX wagon – a 2006. And while I wish the gas mileage was better, I do love it for size, power, handling and cargo capacity.
But strangely, my 2002 WRX was much more adorable. The 17 inch wheels are not as lovable, as they attract curbs – and curb rash. And the funky “bugeye” styling of the first WRX just seemed cuter.
I love my 1997 Honda Passport, as it was the first new car I ever had, and since I purchased the shop manual, I’ve learned a lot about how to fix her when she breaks.
I LOVED my 1987 Nissan Sentra coupe, single-stage paint, 13″ chrome wheels, tinted windows, vinyl seats, manual windows, and all. That 5-speed 68hp monster was a lot of fun, and I’m LONGING for that 8-gallon gas tank right now.
I LOVE my 1973 Buick Riviera, 8mpg and all. It’s my Dad’s old car, and while it’s longer than a Ford Expedition and seats only 2 comfortably, the nostalgia, sound, and respect it garners on the street makes it a blast to drive. Plus, it’s my Dad’s old car!
I’m just so-so with the 335i coupe. While I can hit the go-pedal and wax poetically about its awesomeness, I’m still not all-the-way in love. It probably has something to do with that $700 car payment.