If you could locate and buy your first vehicle, would you?

[Bucko]

For me, it was a 1964 VW Beetle. My answer, heck yes! The fun times I had with it, and the principles of engine operation and repair I learned from it got me to where I am today.

I'd settle for it's clone.

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[jkeaton]

Hell yes! It was a 1969 Dodge Charger. Bought in 1980 when I was a junior in HS. Huge Dukes of Hazard fan. Bought it for $300 and sold it for $350 a few years and many burn outs later.

 

[cprcubed]

Heck yes! And for the same reasons! 1969 VW Beetle with dual carbs, big valved 1835 that I built. It would have to be a clone though as it was totaled in an accident (not my fault). Cheers!

 

[IdahoDirtFarmer]

I would, and I did. '73 Firebird Formula. Adult life hit after high school and figured I'd never have time to fix it up so I sold it. Always regretted it. A few years later I saw it for sale on Craigslist a couple towns over and bought it back.

 

[Mark S.]

How 'bout a 1979 Mercury Zephyr coupe (not mine pictured below). It was equipped with a 2.3L inline 4cyl producing a whopping 88 hp @ 4300 rpm, 118 ft-lbs of torque @ 2800 rpm, and mated to a four-on-the-floor manual transmission. I purchased the car used in 1980 because I wanted something new enough (had less than 5000 miles on the ODO) that I didn't have to worry about it breaking down. Plus, it was all I could afford. I got a loan for the $5,600 and paid around $150 out of the $530 or so I earned each month as a brand-new USAF Airman.

This was back when carburetors were the norm, which was of significance since I was stationed at Ellsworth AFB, SD. Carbureted engines don't start very well in the cold, and when it got around zero degrees in the winter I had to start it every two hours. If I didn't, it simply would not start. With 88 blazing horses under the hood, visits to the higher elevations of the Black Hills provided an excellent demonstration of power loss due to lower air density at altitude. It was fun only because I was young and it got me places where I had fun, which probably would've been just about anywhere...because I was young.

So let me reverse the question: if this had been YOUR first car, would you want another one?

 

[PaulOinMA]

1974 Pinto? I don't think so.

 

[Bucko]

...

So let me reverse the question: if this had been YOUR first car, would you want another one?

Yes. If it brought me the same type of memories as a car I owned, then yes. But I gotta say, my standards were a whole lot less when I was 16. I just wanted a running car that got me from having to ride a bus to school, and to get a date. After a year or so, then the "gotta have a cool car" kicked in.

So to toss the question back into your court, was this car cool enough to want again today? For me, yes, the Beetle was cool, and it fit my initial 16 year old goals. And I think my wife of 40 years would go out on a date with me in it today.

Just look at those color matching wheels

 

[Bill G]

In a heart beat -- 3rd or 4th owner of a '61 Corvair w/manual trans. Mine didn't leak and took me on a helluva ride from CA to New London, Ct. in '67. Drove the wheels off it and sold it for same price I paid ($350)!

 

[Bucko]

Great stories. Keep them coming.

 

[Tigger]

No. 1989 Mustang that was total crap because engine had no power. It was a slightly cooler looking Escort.

 

[Major Kong]

1964 Buick Special
2 door
white over black
3 on the column
no Corinthian leather
would

 

[Elegance]

I actually still have it. 2013 Hyundai Accent in this cute light blue color. I took every penny from all my birthdays and holidays and put it into a savings account, thanks to my mom. Walked onto the lot and wrote that dealer a check for the full amount. Mom put it in her name since I couldn't legally, but I was proud I bought it.

No engine issues and starts right up, but it's cheap in every sense of the word. Also doesn't help that it's ridden with New England rust. The suspension crunches with every minor bump. It's only got 70,000 miles on it but it rides horribly. Makes you feel like you just drove into a pit even with tiny pot holes. Always has. It has a light beige interior...awful to get the stains and scuffs off anything. I don't think I'd buy it again, but it felt pretty wonderful having a brand new first car when I'd drive it to school each day. It was good to learn on something so small and sensible.

 

[Barry S.]

In a heartbeat. 1955 Oldsmobile Super 88 convertible. In those days it was a chick magnet. At this stage of life, I'm not sure I could handle the pressure.

 

[IdahoDirtFarmer]

No. 1989 Mustang that was total crap because engine had no power. It was a slightly cooler looking Escort.

Your post brings back memories. I didn't want to drive my Firebird in the winter so I found a POS '84 Mustang LX with a blown transmission for $200. Paid $300 for a used c5 tranny and I was off and going all winter. I've driven mopeds with more power than that little 3.8 V6. Sunroof leaked like a sieve so I patched it with silicone and packing peanuts. Took a quart of tranny fluid every week. HVAC controls quit so I soldered them to full fan, full heat, and defrost to get by. There were a few other issues I'm sure I'm forgetting about now. Only redeeming quality was the room in the back. It was a hatchback so you could lay the seats down. Took it deer hunting a few times. You can stuff four mule deer bucks in the back if you try hard enough. I don't know what the max capacity was on cheerleaders but it's at least two with room for activities. That was one car I was glad to see go down the road. I truly hope it's in a scrapyard being turned into soup cans these days.

 

[Wolf256]

Yes. 1970 Mercury Cougar. I would have kept it, but some idiot came barreling out of an alley in a residential area. Rammed the passenger door so hard the bucket seat was rippling.

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