Cars everyone should own

Jstas

I'm sitting here in a bar in San Francisco being propositioned by prostitutes and wishing I was home at my local haunt with a Yuengling in hand and my beautiful girl sharing a better time than I'm having right now.

I was talking to a guy who was obviously quite lonely and bored cause he talked my ear off about everything from Obama to his Alfa Romeo.

That got me thinking. Everyone has their dream car but there are some cars out there that everyone should own.

So I got two that I think are must haves.

Number one is a Mustang. Everyone should, at one point in their lives, own a Mustang. Doesn't matter what year although I would shy away with extreme prejudice from the late 70's Mustang II. This Mustang can be any kind but if its going to be a 6 or 4 cylinder, it should be a convertible to make up for it. If you can get your hands on a V8 convertible, awesome sauce!

Why a Mustang? Its the ultimate symbol of American automotive freedom and the open road. Plus, as basic and simple as it is, it still has that class that only American muscle can bring. The perfect mix of style and macho bravado. Yeah, a Mustang is a must own.

The other can is an Alfa Romeo. Why? Well its an Alfa with all that Italian style and grace but with the "character" of a British sports car! But still, an Alfa, especially a convertible, is a fairly inexpensive way to experience the unique interpretation of what Italians think a car should be. So what's so great about that? Italians think a car has a soul and that is evident in everything from an Alfa or a Fiat to a Lamborghini or a Ferrari. The beauty of an Alfa is that it doesn't cost a fortune to own but its as big of a pain in the **** as any of the Italian marques. But it just oozes cool and is a driving experience all its own!


Me, I've already owned a Mustang and still gotta get my Alfa. One day I'll get one though.

So what do you think is a must own car?

ben62670

A mustang is on my list, but really I have out grown the I want a silly sick underrated high performance beater. I am not detracting from the stangs at all, but I have just matured a little bit. I am now thinking more like a T-Bird, or an LTD:) Kids will do that too you I guess:)
Ben

SBrown712

I have always and always will want a 1972 Ferrari Dino.

cmy330go

1) Just about any BMW. Stigma aside....They are great automobiles. Even the big-**** 7 series sedans drive better that most American coupes.

2) For an every day unique ride... VW Jetta (or Golf) TDI. They are neat little cars that are far more fun than the numbers would suggest. Plus there is an odd sense of satisfaction when getting around 50mpg in a fun to drive car.

3) Honda S2000. Not an easy fit for most of us chubby Americans. But a cool car that women love, and men can drive without their sexuality being questioned. First few minutes behind the wheel you might wonder what all the hype is about. But the first time you wind up that little engine past 6k rpm it will all become clear.

4) '93-'96 Camaro Z28 or SS. Not by any means a world class performer, but one of the most beautiful sounds ever.

5) Lexus LS. So quiet and smooth it's like driving a bank vault.

6) A hopped up 2nd or 3rd Gen Mazda RX-7. With 14+ lbs of boost that little rotary becomes downright scary.

That's all for now.

TNRabbit

--Toyota Land Cruiser TurboDiesel w/5 speed manual. We had one of these when I was stationed in Turkey and it was one helluva vehicle.

--Honda S2000 w/Supercharger upgrade.

--Corvette Z06.

george daniel

63 vette split rear window coupe.

Grimster74

A 1969 Camaro, SS is my dream car.

shawn474

george hit the nail on the head. That has been my dream car since I was a kid and my father-in-law has been searching for one to restore after he retires.

tonyb

Thats a loaded question as there are plenty of cars you would sell your left nut for.Ok,I'll keep my nuts and go out on a limb and say an old Cobra roadster with the monster 428 in it,Porche 911 twin turbo,Just about any Italian sports car,damn things are a piece of art more than car.American car's haven't had very good body styles since the 60's.The GTO,Camero and Chevelle SS....convertable,Challengers,man,I could go on but you get the idea.Foreign cars have more style,dependability,than american cars,for the most part,they have their dogs too.

Fireman32

I would say that I always wanted a 69 Plymoth Roadrunner Superbird with the 440 sixpack.

NotaSuv

Would be happy with a true 1969 Yenko sYc Camaro by the man himself..equipped as double COPO 9561, high performance package including a L72 427/425hp balls to the wall engine...and no this fine machine would not be a trailer queen

had the pleasure to sit behind the wheel and start one up.........owner wouldnt let me take it once round the block....

shadowofnight

I got my musclecar jones out many years ago by building all of my buddies engines for them for their array of musclecars....no brand loyalties...everything from chevy...ford...dodge...etc. From mild to wild...got to drive them all as well, but there was one car from my youth that I said I would own before I kicked the bucket...and that is a Shelby Cobra ( Well , kit for me )

A neighbor that lived a few houses from my parents had an original Cobra , and 2 kit Cobras....I had the pleasure as a teenager to help him build his 2nd Cobra kit from the ground up. Although I couldnt drive the original monster, when we finished the kit car we built he let me drive it a lot....even though it only had the small block v8 in it , it was a monster to me

Already 6'5" at 17, I felt like I was driving a gocart on the street...and it was the coolest feeling ever in a car for me. When I sell my quad trailer and get it out of the left side of the garage ( Other side of the garage is for the pool table and dart thowing area ) ....I will one day put me a Cobra kit together ....that for me is a car I have to own.

heiney9

SBrown712 wrote: »

I have always and always will want a 1972 Ferrari Dino.

That is my dream car. The lines on that car are pure sex. What a beautiful automobile. With all the "super" Ferrari's available I'd still choose a mint Dino. I realize it's taken many years to classify the Dino as a "true" Ferrari. But it's a Ferrari through and through.

Prices have gone thru the roof in the past 5 years for Dino's. 5 years ago you could pick one up for about $60K now anywhere from $100-150K.

What a gorgeous automobile!!!!! :cool:

ben62670

I didn't realize this was a dream car thread. Cobra with the overhead cammed big block:) A beater I had was a built RX7. Dellorto side draft carb, fully ported, full exhaust, and a centerforce II clutch. It did 175mph going down a long straight mountain road in VT. It took a beating too. I used to go out with my buddy, and just drive around looking for big hills. We would get to the top, throw it in reaverse, go as fast as we could, jam it in gear, rev it to 8500, and dump the clutch. Lots of smoke, and you could see the tire marks in front of you while going backwards still. Donuts were like being in the tea cup ride at Diseny world:) No more of that stuff any more. If I had the beans to get my 68 Bronco going I would be loving it. Top off, windsheild down, staring at the stars with bugs in my teeth from the perpetual smile thing goin on. To me that is better than riding a bike:) Well back to reality. I am going to go kick my car now:D

shadowofnight

ben62670 wrote: »

I didn't realize this was a dream car thread.

Actually, he said must own car....and mentioned his 2 that were actually obtainable ( One he had owned already...and one he still plans to own )....so I took that as one you would actually be able to purchase within your budgetary means at some point in your life.

He also said " That got me thinking. Everyone has their dream car but there are some cars out there that everyone should own. "

Thats why I picked the kit Cobra as my must own car....I actually plan to purchase it and build it one day ( Actually sooner more then later )

disneyjoe7

A wide body old 60's Pontiac would do me just fine.

A custom Convertible 64 Grand Prix with a 421 / 4 speed would be dream of mine.

MKZ

Skyline GTR

May be a used one in 2 or 3 years later.

sucks2beme

I had the Mustang, and a 69 Camaro. Son #1 had two Trans ams and a Camaro. Son #2 had a red Mustang. Done. Now We do practical!

Sami

cmy330go wrote: »

1) Just about any BMW. Stigma aside....They are great automobiles. Even the big-**** 7 series sedans drive better that most American coupes.

Yep, the 7-series drives quite well for the car of its size and of course it rides better than any other BMW series. A BMW 325/330 or Infiniti G35 is your entry level vehicle into decent drives/rides.

There really isn't a car that everyone should own. I like the different variety and flavor we get. I know that's not that point but I think a better question would be what car should everyone at least drive at one point. The above two are financially realistic and everyone should give them a test drive.

A mustang, yeah, it it is from the 60's or maybe early 70's. '69 Camaro is a beautiful car. Not cars that everyone should own as not everyone could afford them.

bobman1235

It's funny that every true "car guy" says that everyone should own an Alfa once in their lives. I'd like to at least DRIVE one after all this talk... I don't think I have the patience to OWN one (they're notoriously finnicky and unreliable).

Mike682

As for cars from the muscle car era, I always wanted an original '68 Hemi Dart

Sami

Depends on what Alfa. If you get the 164, it's just another Saab 9000 / Lancia Thema model. 9000 was a very decent car of its time though.

AsSiMiLaTeD

1959 Corvette is my favorite car of all time, followed closely by the complete different Calloway C12. I don't know about performance and all that, but those are my two favorite looking cars of all time.

Sami

Looks, Lambo Miura is another classic but not really a car everyone should own.

Fatbrando

Grimster was close. It's a '68 though...

FB

Kex

This will seem like an unusual, or even ridiculous suggestion to some, but any common rail direct injection Mercedes-Benz or BMW diesel will be a revelation to anyone that has not driven one. Diesel prices in the U.S. are probably too high for them to make any sense here, but having driven a diesel S Class accross Europe at 90-100mph most of the time, I was astonished by the performance and comfort levels. It even feels better than the gasoline equivalent, probably because of the huge torque at low revs. The C or E Class six cylinder versions, or VW Passat four cylinder equivalent are all great driving cars. They're not really what you could call something everyone should own, but they will probably change most people's minds about diesel cars.

Systems

Grimster74 wrote: »

A 1969 Camaro, SS is my dream car.

Had an RS for awhile, wasn't mine but was fixing it up for a friend of mine. Went through the engine, tranny, and front suspension on it. Wishing I had it again sometime, had an awesome throttle response to it....

Have you seen one painted cherry black?

cmy330go

Kex wrote: »

This will seem like an unusual, or even ridiculous suggestion to some, but any common rail direct injection Mercedes-Benz or BMW diesel will be a revelation to anyone that has not driven one. Diesel prices in the U.S. are probably too high for them to make any sense here, but having driven a diesel S Class accross Europe at 90-100mph most of the time, I was astonished by the performance and comfort levels. It even feels better than the gasoline equivalent, probably because of the huge torque at low revs. The C or E Class six cylinder versions, or VW Passat four cylinder equivalent are all great driving cars. They're not really what you could call something everyone should own, but they will probably change most people's minds about diesel cars.

100% agree. I've spent a lot of time behind the wheel of my fathers '05 Mercedes E320 CDI. That car is nothing short of amazing. I also personally own a new Jetta TDI. I've found that if you can drive easy the greater fuel economy more than offsets the higher price of diesel.

sucks2beme

Cars and stereo gear. We look at the stuff we wanted when we were young,
and pay too much for it now. That's the driving force of much of EBAY.
There are any number of newer cars that would stomp a 69 Camaro.
My son's 02 heavily modded TA could of whipped almost anything
of the muscle era, and out handled all of them. It stopped quick, too.
Same with classic stereo gear. Over a grand for a silver face Pioneer
receiver?
Sigh. I'll never own another sports car. Or a BMW. But that's ok.
I owned a 69 Camaro and a 71 Mach One Mustang when I was young
enough to enjoy it. If I bought one now, it would just sit covered in the
garage most of the time. That's the price of getting old is to learn that
there are few things you can buy to bring you happiness.
The Klum remake thread makes me happy, though!

simm

Had a 1995 Z-28 w/ 6 speed. It was a blast- had to sell it to get a mini van when when my youngest daughter was born.

Want: 1970 SS Chevelle

mantis

1989 Pontiac Trans am Pacecar. 3.8 sfi turbo. My dream car when I was younger and still today I would love to own one.

1987 Buick GNX. What a car , comes in any color you want as long as it's black.

1982 Pontiac Trans am with a full K I T T mod. With a 3.8 SFI Grand National engine. Boost baby Boost.

1970 GTO enough said

1968 Camaro

1972 Pontiac Trans am.