Time to come clean / spill the beans

[Don_Rush]

OK, we all have our online identities here that show us owning these legendary pony cars that are the envy of all who see us cruising down the street. Some of us have other cool cars listed in our signature like late model Mustangs and GM products from the day. Here is the question, what car do you own today that you actively sought out (not that Dodge Omni your renter left in the driveway when he skipped town) that you have never mentioned here. I have three that my staff and others chide me for and yes I purposely sought them out and proudly own them.

1. 2006 F350 Crew Cab converted to a 12 Valve Cummins with twin Turbos and all the cool stuff. Yes, I admit it. I choose to have a Dodge Motor in place of a Gas V10 or Powerstroke and paid a hefty premium to do so. Both the Ford and Dodge crowd often look at me with disdain.
   
2. 2013 Chevrolet Volt. I am a believer… Bullet fast, handles like an older BMW, 150 MPG and almost free. I got this car last year at swapalease.com for $189 per month and it saves me $200 per month in operating costs considering almost no oil changes (once every few years) no repairs, very little fuel, (about $1 per day to charge it) and no depreciation. Because of cheap fuel and huge tax incentives to buy new models, these older models are dirt cheap.
   
   
3. 2003 Pontiac Aztek. My Mother is on a fixed income so I provide her with transportation. Years ago after she had both hips replaced she decided her 1984 Audi GT Coupe (I have a picture somewhere of me taking it to the prom) was too hard to get in and out of. She sheepishly requested I help her attain an Aztek with the tent attachment option. I said I was all in as the drive-train is a proven winner, parts are cheap and nobody will ever steal it! It works perfect for her somewhat active outdoor lifestyle (she lives in Hood River). Jay Leno says he thinks it will be a future collectible just as the Gremlin is today. I would actually consider buying one for myself if I could find a pristine Camo edition. Possibly the most hideous looking car ever made?
   

[R.B.Phillips]

It’s in my tiny pic, but I don’t think I’ve said this is my 12-second V6, delivered late winter 2011, and used year-round. Note this is a (ahem) different picture than in my signature (see front plate).

All-time best was 12.74 with just drag tires/suspension, 12.34 with a 50 shot of N2O. I run in the local 12.50 Index series (“outlaw True Street”) surrounded by trailered V8s. Change four tires and change them back at end of day. Great little winter car, too! Lacks toggle switches, I need a '67 or '68 XR-7 badly.

[sfhess]

2016 Fusion SE 2.5 4-door sedan. Guard (green) with a Dune (Tan) interior. This was a difficult color combination to find as it seems over 90% of in-stock Fusions have black interiors and are black/silver/gray/white on the outside. I was looking for a Bronze one but went for the green when I saw it on the dealer’s lot.

Nice to see a picture of the Fummins.

Remember that the Aztek must be appreciated by BMW designers. Their new “Fastback” crossovers (X4, x6?) have the same basic shape. An Aztek looks pretty good parked next to a Nissan juke…

[1969XR7Vert]

My daily driver since early 2007:

$12,780 sticker, just over $14K out the door. 31-32 MPG on a regular basis, pretty nice OEM stereo, PS, PW, PB, 5 speed. Added rims, rear hatch spoiler, middle arm rest, floor mats, OEM alarm.

[Trixie]

Jay Leno says he thinks it will be a future collectible just as the Gremlin is today.

Wow, AMC Gremlin’s are now collector cars? Back in the day I owned a 1973 AMC Gremlin. Best dam little beater car I have ever owned. Ran it into the ground more than once and she still kept on going. Hauled numerous parts (engine/transmission/rear axle)in the back and she never gave up.

[badcatt]

[3. 2003 Pontiac Aztek. My Mother is on a fixed income so I provide her with transportation. Years ago after she had both hips replaced she decided her 1984 Audi GT Coupe (I have a picture somewhere of me taking it to the prom) was too hard to get in and out of. She sheepishly requested I help her attain an Aztek with the tent attachment option. I said I was all in as the drive-train is a proven winner, parts are cheap and nobody will ever steal it! It works perfect for her somewhat active outdoor lifestyle (she lives in Hood River). Jay Leno says he thinks it will be a future collectible just as the Gremlin is today. I would actually consider buying one for myself if I could find a pristine Camo edition. Possibly the most hideous looking car ever made?

aztek3.jpg]

Pontiac Aztek was Walter White’s car of chose(Braking Bad). (I remember the Audi GT your mom had).

My daily driver is a 2015 Ford Focus SE, Loaded with a lot of creature comforts.

It is not as inexpensive as Don’s Volt, but at over 40 MPG on the open road it is not bad. (Picture taken in my yard).

I do have a cool license plate trim ring…(picture taken in Nevada).
I also have a 2006 Ford Ranger XLT 4X4.

It has been a great little parts haler.

[Don_Rush]

My mother still has the Audi, went to find a random pic on Google and found her actual car!!! It is listed at a site called “Old Parked Cars”.

[fordnutz]

Judging by the amount of dirt under the car, I would say it has been parked for a long time.

[xr7g428]

I am flying to LA tomorrow to pick this one up. It is a 26,000 mile 2001 Lincoln Continental with the 32 valve V8 used in the Mustang Cobra (slightly detuned to 275 HP. It is one owner grandpa car. Not too bad for $4K.

[johnboy]

apart from my Honda Element 2008 daily driver, I also have a 1994 YJ

dressed for summer

dressed for winter

[Cougars_R_Grr8]

The last one I actively sought out and bought? The Cougar. Every other car was because I had to for the commute.

[MercuryDon]

My latest purchase which will be delivered Thursday. 2006 SRT10 with 11K miles. Spent the last month shopping before deciding on this one. Other is a 04 Cobra with 18k miles.

[1969XR7Vert]

@xr7g428

I am flying to LA tomorrow to pick this one up. It is a 26,000 mile 2001 Lincoln Continental with the 32 valve V8 used in the Mustang Cobra (slightly detuned to 275 HP. It is one owner grandpa car. Not too bad for $4K.

06212016 002.JPG

Not bad for $4K indeed! I like it!

[Local_Hero]

Every car I buy is after a LOT of thought and searching. I currently have a few that I’ll note.

My 88 T-Bird.

I wanted one terribly when they first changed the nose and tail in 1987. With the redesign in 1989 I hated them. I wanted to buy an 87 or 88 in 1989 but couldn’t afford it. I bought an 86 Pontiac Grand Prix instead. When that got totaled in 1991 after I got t-boned by a carload of drunk teens, I searched high and low for a Bird again. I found this one-owner 88 in Twilight Blue locally. I drove it daily for the first year until I changed jobs and started working downtown. After seeing the craziness that is a downtown commute, I bought a beater just for work. Little by little, the T-Bird got used less and less. Now it has 93,000 miles and is still nicer than when I bought it. The only change I made was adding the 16" Turbo Coupe wheels in place of the 14" alloys that came on it and painting the grill the body color. Jr. is 13 now and has laid claim to it when he gets is license. I’ll probably give it a once over, tune it up, new exhaust, tires and battery and then let him have at it.

My wife’s 75 Olds Delta 88 Vert.

When I met my wife she still had her first car, a 73 Olds Vert. It was really rough and I started working on it a little bit. But we decided that it was too far gone to save. I began searching for a better one to start with. As luck would have it, my brother’s buddy picked up a 75 Olds Vert from Alabama that his neighbor inherited from HIS grandfather, the original owner. I had to hound Ted (brother’s buddy) for several years to sell it to me since, although it was two years newer that my wife’s, it was the same color combination. Ted eventually lost his job and needed cash fast. I was able to get the 75, spent two winters restoring it, and then gave it to my wife for her 40th birthday present. I parted out the 73 and several parts made their way onto this one as well as I now have an attic of spare parts should i need something down the road.

I was looking for a cheap daily driver that was “interesting.” At one time I had a 77 Monte Carlo beater that ran like a champ and was a piece of cake to work on when it did need something. I also liked the fact that it was pre “check engine” light. I wanted to find something else mid-70s mid-sized GM. It could have been another Monte, Grand Prix, Cutlass or Regal. I found this 77 Grand Prix for $2500 locally that had been brought up from North Carolina. I went through it mechanically, touched it up a bit on the paint department, added dual exhaust, and threw a set of wheels on it that I had laying around (castoffs from the Hero). It had 140K on it when I got it and I still have it. I’ve had it 13 years. It’s about to roll 280K. I still use it as a winter beater, taking the Terrors to baseball and football practices, and anywhere our Golden Retriever needs to go. This is how it looked when I first cleaned it up. You don’t want to see what it looks like now.

When the GP was getting pretty shabby, I was actually looking for another to replace it so that I could part mine out. Everything I was finding was either no better than what I had, or it was a fully restored show car that was too nice to drive daily. So I was again back to looking for a mid 70s A body Monte, GP, Cutlass or Regal. But this time I opened up the search a little bit to include Impalas, Delta 88s and 98s, Buicks and the like. Prior to the 77 GP, I had an 84 Delta 88 (that I also sought out since my brother had one at the time.) I knew it was a good car that ran forever and was also easy to work on. Surfing Craigslist one night I stumbled upon this 78 Delta 88 Coupe. It was a one owner, 66K mile creampuff with new radiator, master cylinder, belts and hoses, alternator, custom dual exhaust and Cutlass wheels. The 2 door in triple black (not red interior) just spoke to me and I HAD TO have it. I’ve since fixed the droopy headliner, added 15" Olds Rally wheels, new timing chain and fuel pump, and a rear sway bar that I had laying around. I drive it daily but park it for the winter.

[Local_Hero]

Here’s the 78 Olds.

I’m now on the hunt for an early 70s to mid 80s GM station wagon to use to replace the GP. I need more room for taking the kids to their sports practices along with their Buddies who often need rides and the dog can have the whole cargo area. LOL!

[Don_Rush]

Seeing clean sleds like that in OH as drivers has got to be a rare occurrence, good share!

[mo2872]

@Don Rush

Seeing clean sleds like that in OH as drivers has got to be a rare occurrence, good share!

The yellow GP is NOT that clean anymore! Hence his “you do not want to see what it looks like now” statement. Trust him on this…



A’ight, I’ll fess up…I’ve been actively hunting lately as well…but it’s still a Cougar.

1988 XR7:

[Local_Hero]

@Don Rush

Seeing clean sleds like that in OH as drivers has got to be a rare occurrence, good share!

Yep, they’re rare. Everybody knows it’s me on the road. I joke that I could never cheat on my wife because I’m easily found.

[Blitz]

I’ll play!

I have a little soft spot for old Volvos. Maybe because my family had a couple of them when I was going up, and it’s mainly what I rode in to and from school. They’re just such dependable, simple tanks. I find their plain brick-like appearance strangely endearing.

When this 1979 245 wagon popped up on the local Craigslist, advertised as a possible parts car for cheap, I had to check it out. It turned out to be a complete, running car with original paint and very little body damage, and just a handful of minor issues to address. 4-speed manual with overdrive, original radio still there, sitting on brand new lowering springs, etc. For $350, I couldn’t say no.

I’ve since cleaned it up a bit, done some work to the interior, added period-correct hubcaps, etc. Am still battling a little with K-Jet fuel system gremlins, but it’s a quirky car that gets a surprising number of positive comments from people. Have also used it to haul guitars and amps to band practice. (below - roof rack temporarily removed to clean / polish roof)

[Blitz]

Next up is a car that not everyone thinks is cool or manly, but I love: the first-generation (NA) Mazda Miata. It started in high school when a buddy had one, and he actually let me drive it / learn how to drive stick with it. I always thought it was one of the most fun cars I’d ever been in, so I finally got my own a couple years ago. It was a 1990 white salvage title pile that I bought for $790. I spent about a year trying to get it in decent shape, but at the end of the day it was still a pile. But it was a fun pile, and I knew I was sold on the concept of a NA Miata, so I sold the white one for a profit, kept some of the good parts I had replaced, and got a much better car: this 1991 model in Classic Red. I think it’s a great looking body style:

It’s light, nimble, and fun. Not the fastest car in the world, but zippy enough. And sure, it’s a little small for a 6’4" dude, but it’s still pretty comfortable. The 1.6L gets about 27 mpg regularly, even when I flog it. 5-speed is mandatory. Has speakers in the headrests for top-down tunes, and I’m currently upgrading exterior and interior lighting to LED.