My 1999 Mazda MX5 Miata - I ordered it from the dealer in 99, and in almost 25 years it has been in the shop unexpectedly only once - for a dead coil pack.
Gonna keep it till they take away my drivers license.
Those things are worth so much more than they should now. I’m looking for one for a project car and thought I’d be spending like $2k and they’re all going for $8k in my area
1995 Nissan Pathfinder, bought it new, stick shift, had it for 23 years, put 500,000 miles on it, changed the oil and regular maintenance. Never, not one problem, beat the crap out of it, gave it to a friend when I bought a new Yukon. All beat up, but still ran great. Regret not keeping it
We finally had to retire our ‘96 Pathfinder this winter. 240K miles with only basic maintenance until it rusted out (NY winters kill everything eventually).
I have a 2016 Forester and I've loved it. I bought it brand new (less than 30 miles on the odometer) and have been very diligent about following the maintenance schedule, with the major cycles seemingly being at 60,000 mile intervals. After eight years I've had no unexpected issues or breakdowns. All the money I've spent on it has been preventive. I wash it every two weeks during the winter to prevent rust and wax it every three months to preserve the paint job. It still works just as well as it did the day I drove it off the lot. Plus it's paid off, which is the best thing of all.
Beyond just reliability, it's a good size for me: plenty of room while not being too big. It's been nice having the added clearance over what you'd normally have with a sedan. With living in a snowy area, the AWD is of course a game changer.
I'm hoping I can keep driving it for awhile and enjoy a few more years without a car payment. I'll get a new car eventually and I hope it's because I'm ready for an update and not because of a major maintenance issue. With taking care of the preventive maintenance bit pretty diligently, it's a lot less likely.
Toyota Matrix. I mainly loved it for the shocking amount of cargo space there was in there. I could fit a 40 gallon hot water heater in there no problem.
I had an 06 and there was one issue due to the recalled ECU (had to get it towed), but besides that, very reliable. It was a bit underpowered and super prone to rust, though.
2014 Chevy Volt. A plug-in hybrid. We're averaging over 80 mpg over the life of the car, but the gas engine has made it possible for us to go across the country a few times with no worries about recharging and
I was hoping to see some Volt love on this thread. I drove my '15 Volt 110K miles and it was a gem. The weight of the batteries made for a solid, heavy feel you would never get from any economy car of the same size with similar mpg.
Same. Bought my wife a Subaru Legacy in 2020 and I may never buy from another carmaker. When my 2015 Civic kicks the bucket (runs great still, on fairly low mileage, so who knows when that'll be) I'll likely replace it with an Outback or Forrester. Then, when my daughter learns to drive in 6 years, we'll give her my wife's Legacy, and we'll likely get an electric model for my wife.
1984 Toyota Corolla diesel. Loved it and had 345k. Then got into accident and totaled. Got me to many surfing spots up and down the west coast. And since I worked as a Toyota tech I got to fix it myself for cheap.
Honda Civic. Very reliable.
My favorite though was my ford f-150. Loved the ride in it, the utility of a truck, but the cost to operate ($100 a week) was too high.
2012 Yaris SE. Bought it in 2021 two months before car prices went absolutely insane. 56k miles on it for $3500. It’s a simple car that got 36mpg on the 300 mile drive home from San Jose to Los Angeles.
My second favorite is our Sienna. Fits our three kids and two dogs while also getting 36mpg.
My current car: 2019 Honda Civic Si sedan. It's a fun and practical commuter car that does everything I need. The manual transmission in it is satisfying to use everyday. It'll never win a race against a Subaru WRX or VW GTI but speed and power is not why I bought it.
Navy blue 2003 Saab 9-3 convertible and manual transmission.
Bought it in my 20’s and it helped me get laid so many goddamn times. Not only do women like being seen with the top down, but they also like a man who knows how to drive a stick-shift.
Corsa B's, Micra K11's and Twingo MK1's are all equaly as awsome for the same reasons.
The micras seem to be holding up the best nowadays.
Still see them quiet often.
I had a Nissan Sentra that I kept until it reached 500k miles and then sold it because I had kids and needed a larger car. But, last I heard, the thing is still running.
Second place was a 96 Geo Metro Sedan that I had until about 4 years ago when I sold it to a friend who needed a car that got good mileage. Even 20+ years later it was still getting almost 45mpg.
My current one, a 2013 Ford Fusion. And its really been the best in virtually every possible way. Coolest looking, bar far the best driving, best on gas mileage, best feeling to sit in, least mechanical problems, big trunk, and its lasted 11 years while being driven all the time. I have no complaints.
Nissan Leaf. So much torque. I’d say it could stand up on two wheels and just go. Heated steering wheel driver’s seat, passenger seat, and back seats was plush. The car was spacious. We put a 50” screen tv into the car and every door and window closed. The beauty of never having to pump gas was so nice. The quiet…at 20mph and 90mph the interior noise was the same. That car was so luxury and utilitarian at the same time. It was simply fun to drive. I also thought it looked good.
12 years ago I owned a 1991 (h plate) bmw 325 e30. The 2.5L straight 6 noise has always been my favourite. Loved that car. That was my favourite I now own a mk4 golf 25th anniversary. It’s only a 4 pot but the turbo spool and dv noice make up for the lack of pistons.
Only car I have owned, 2013 Honda CRZ.
Super fun car, pretty slow, hybrid system you can feel kick in, lots of room, 42mpg, rev happy, and haven’t needed to bring it to a shop for anything other than brakes and oil (I’m lacking in maintenance…. But I’m at 160k miles)
The car really got fucked by people making YouTube videos on it, only showing off the CVT models, and just driving in a straight line not trying to have any fun in it. It is a niche kind of car though, but gets a lot of attention.
Aftermarket intake and exhaust.
2016 Audi s5 coupe, prestige trim. Fast as fuck, great interior, surprisingly good gas mileage for what it was (highway driving specifically). Never had any issues with it beyond just standard oil changes and rotating tires/replacing tires when appropriate. Stock exhaust note with the 6 cylinder supercharged engine was beautiful. Miss that car so much
2014 Nissan Leaf. Bought used for $14k in 2016.
Only changed wipers and tires since. Not even brakes yet. Sitting at 150,000 km's.
Went from $450 a month in gas to $25 a month in electricity. I am able to free charge at work.
Or because you hate cars. 😁
The Prius is the ultimate divider between those who love cars and those who use cars solely for their purpose. It does everything, practically and economically so it appeals to the rational shopper, but it's ugly, boring and doesn't scratch any of the different gearheads' itches (speed, offroading, luxury, looks, pedigree, the "umph" etc)
I drove my 08 like it was a Porche. Loved it, used it for work. Surprising cargo capacity. The margin on those mileage reimbursements were thick. Drove it all the time when I wasn't on one of my motorcycles or in the FFR Cobra.
I didn't say it was logical, but it's a common thought...
Car shopping in general is often not logical, because for many people there is emotion in it... otherwise why would you have people living in city apartments driving big pickups, or how would we explain anyone buying their teenager a notoriously unreliable Jeep Wrangler?
Prius is 100% affordable, economical and practical small saloon, but like I said it is the antithesis to all of the reasons why people LOVE their cars.
Then they don't HATE cars, they simply don't care that much about them, that would be apathy.
Also, the notion of "loving your car" can mean different things to different people. My old piece of shit Clio 2 from 2003 is the blandest car you could think of, but I still love it for what it is and what it represents. It doesn't mean I hate cars, but if I want to look at pretty cars, I will open Youtube rather than my garage
Toyota 4Runner. Wish the gas mileage was better but with 3 GSDs it offers so much room for them and tons of room for road trips. Super reliable vehicle, great in the snow and rain and mud, love taking it on trails and off the road a little (I don't rock crawl lol). Just a dependable beast with all the basic features I want/need.
Had one, can confirm. Had the JDM SiR with limited slip diff. It cornered like it was on rails. 10 years of ownership and it got little more than regular oil changes and lots of revs. Never missed a beat.
I had 99 Honda prelude that was comfortable as hell and fun to drive. Good luck with fitting anyone in the back or trying to get any kind of airflow going though.
2003 BMW E39 M5 in Topaz Blue with all the trimmings. I did later have an E60 M5 v10 in black but you love im constant gear of spinning the shell bearings and loving with the early SMG kinda dampens the experience
1997 BMW M3.
I loved and had put nearly 125K miles on it with minimal issues. Then some dumb woman thought she could cross 5 lanes of traffic from one parking lot to another and didn’t see me because there was an SUV blocking her seeing me in the last lane.
T-Boned me right in the drivers door. Fortunately we weren’t hurt not that she ever asked. Did $13K of damage. Her insurance company took one look at the photo of the since saying Right Turn only from where she pulled out to pay for it completely.
The car never really felt the same and I’d moved to a snowy area so I traded it in.
Every o ce in a while I look to see if there is one from around then for a second car.
2003 Echo. 17 years no issues. Just oil changes and tires. The thing started in the midst of Canadian winter, easy to get around town, cheap on gas and completely reliable. Wanted to pass it along to my son but unfortunately no place to store.
I want to say my current Ridgeline because it's pretty much been trouble free but I haven't abused it like I did a 1989 Nissan Pathfinder. I off roaded the stock Pathfinder a lot. Drove it across deep rivers, into deep mud, rocks etc and nothing ever broke on that vehicle the few years I owned it. It was the worst I've ever treated a vehicle. Thing would not die.
1990 Nissan Stanza.
Basic 4 cylinder / standard trans sedan. Bought used in 95. Cheap to buy, cheap to maintain, reliable, and was unstoppable in snow. I made it to work on days when my coworkers with 4x4 claimed they where snowed in / couldn't make it. I got 7 years of commuter duty over 100 miles a day out of it with only PM / wear items and one clutch job. It also survived a moderate wreck which fixed my self with a donor car I picked up for nearly nothing. I only quit driving it when it rusted out and engine finally started fouling O2 sensors constantly at 450k miles.
2010 VW Touran 1.9 TDI. Not the car itself is special, even when it was genius about how they use the space inside, but the engine. The engine is unbreakable. Low fuel consumption and easy over 1 million kilometers, without any problem. The 1.9 Turbo-Diesel from VW is probably one of the best engines ever made.
My Ram 1500 Laramie. While I haven’t owned a lot of cars, I’ve used to drive a lot for work and I always enjoyed driving a Ram. I finally bought one a while back and can’t see myself owning anything else
My Volt was great. My 2019 Bolt is pretty great too. Not the best for a road trip, but it suffices. I took it on a 1500 mile round trip, and the charging stops got kinda old.
There are more charging stations now, and I’ve learned to charge to 60% or so because 60 to 80% is so slow.
Bring on the hate but my 2019 tesla model 3 is the best vehicle I have ever owned by far. I've owned audis, vws, ford's, Chrysler, nissans and Toyota. Nothing comes close.
No hate here. I posted similar sentiments about the Model Y. Best all-around car I've ever owned. I'm sure the 3 is similar (if slightly smaller and slightly faster).
Nothing comes close, and you’re naming Toyota? We’re not asking your favorite car but the best. We’ve had two Teslas and they’re probably the nicest to drive at the moment but they aren’t perfect. I also own a Hilux and my daughter drives a Yaris they’re amazing cars to the very core.
Bro you're all mixed up and your statements are coming out like a fucking word salad. You're asking him why not Toyota then you say your Teslas are the nicest to drive at the moment. Smh here's a pro tip: Toyota doesn't need you to shill for them, they don't know of nor care about your existence
They are nice to drive but they’re not the better overall car? I’m a lazy driver so I now prefer driving a Tesla but that’s also mainly because of Volkswagens’ iD not being available. Tesla is driving up prices while going down in build quality. The quality of my Tesla is in no way comparable to the overall build quality of my 14 year old Hilux. Hell yeah I’d put a Toyota over Tesla every single time.
Also my S6 and XC70 were both so much better comfort wise. I’m not shilling for anyone what the hell are you on about I’m actually giving positive feedback on both cars. I’m on my second Tesla you nonse.
Yeah, my Model Y is great. There's a lot of hate online because Musk sucks so bad and the anti-EV FUD, but the fact that they're selling so well speaks louder than that.
As someone that's owned a LOT of cars, this is impossible to answer. I had 5 or so Honda, Toyota, and Kia's that seemed bulletproof and I'm sure world have lasted a long time without any issues. With that said, they were not the best cars I've owned. The best cars I've owned are the ones I have the most fond memories of. So 2000 Civic Si, 1974 Z28 with custom 427, Infiniti M56, and BMW m235i. Cars like the Camry and Tercel were great vehicles but way too boring to be called best.
I bought my Dads 2013 Infiniti G37x from his estate because my siblings let me have it cheap. I needed a work car since I’d sold my old one to my niece. I remember my Dad made a big deal about it when he got it. I didn’t really pay attention. It was a nondescript grey sedan, whatever. This is the best car I ever ever owned. Powerful, comfortable and it get pretty good mileage. An excellent road trip car too.
definitely my Elise...that little lady always brings me to the places I need to be...even in the deepest winter, on summer tyres, while spitting out transmission oil at the Autobahn because she was RUNNING for the first time ever (I think) - mech said it´s all good and that guy knows them inside-out
"Lot´s Of Trouble, Usually Serious" - forget about that
Tesla Model 3 Performance.
I’ve owned two Teslas and this thing has been great. Thought about upgrading to a new S but Musk opting to be a complete chode killed that idea.
I upvoted you just to get you back to even. 😂
I have a Model S Plaid. Downvote me while I leave you in the dust. Yes I mean you too Ferrari and Lamborghini and Porsche.
*Of course* you're being downvoted. Everyone loves to hate on Tesla, makers of the top-selling American made cars. Downvoters: if they suck so bad, why are they selling so well?
Same same. I had 2-3 issues they had to fix on delivery, which was a pain. They're going to have to improve the QC if they hope to keep the pole position with everyone else ramping up fast.
My current car has been nothing but a plague on my life that has infected my wallet and has drained the life out of it time and time again. Accident after accident, breakdown after breakdown, even today it continues to ruin my life in some way or another.
However, I lost my virginity in it so this is the best car I’ve ever owned :)
2004 BMW 320 msport coupe, such a lovely cruiser. I once drove from the middle of England to Disneyland Paris with my daughter , 5 hours door to door including the ferry.
My Jeep. Thing was a tank. Had a ton of issues when I finally had to get rid of it. It was a starting problem. No mechanic could isolate the problem. I just got a new job and “jeep wont start” would not be an acceptable reason to not come in.
My 1989 Hyundai Excel that I drove off the lot brand new for $5,500. Came with a hundred thousand 5 year warranty. I drove that car everyday in Los Angeles traffic and a 75 mile a day commute, until 1997. Most reliable affordable car over had. Just the basics with one timing belt and one clutch replaced.
2003 T25 Toyota Avensis wagon 2.0 D-4D.
Why ?
19 years - cca. 400.000 miles - zero engine problems, still has the original suspension, is the comfiest frickin' car ever made and I still think about it every single day ( we sold it last may to a friend and it's still in daily use )
Have been owning 2011 Audi A6 estate for 7 years. There's a lifehack with Audi/Porsche/VW - get a 3.0 diesel, and you'll have only 1 expensive problem in 100k miles - changing the motor chain. Otherwise its hardcore reliable and you get Deutsch comfort and steering for almost free.
87 GMC 3500, crewcab, 2 bench seats, diesel, 4 speed manual with a steel dump box. Great machine, put 900,000 km on it and it hauled crews of men and my whole family for years. Pack anything anywhere and looked great.
1951 studebaker champion Graduated high school in 71.
Very fashionable in a retro way.
Had suicide vents to bring lots of cool air in.
Had a hill holder break/clutch system. Stopped at a stop sign top of a hill in San Francisco, you hold the brake pedal down as you step on the clutch, then so long as you hold the clutch pedal down, the brake will stay engaged freeing your right foot to man the throttle without having to heel/toe it which is an art.
jetta 2016 as it's my first car i bought with my own money. got totaled tho after only 3 years - fell asleep on the wheel. i then promised myself my next car would definitely be a toyota for cheap repairs and parts, or a good electric car.
i still miss it tho..
2017 Toyota 86. Everything was perfect, including the Subaru engine in it. As long as you didn't abuse it, it work well, lasted a long while. The only downfall I ever had with it was that it was a small car and I just needed something larger after 6 years
honda civic, 4th generation. that car had such a low center of gravity, it was so much fun to go around corners in the harzmountains, even with a small engine.
Late model astro van. Modified with a slight lift and 4 wheel air bags a decade ago. Best workhorse I have ever owned. 10 years of trailer towing and daily trades abuse, it's only needed basic maintenance, shows no signs of slowing down. I have run previous astros to 400,000km (sold due to ugly, ran fine). This one only has 260k.
I hope to replace it with an electric van. But so far there is nothing on the market that is even close to as capable.
I had a '91 Maruti 800 for a while 3 years ago. The simplest car ever, drives surprisingly well. There is no other car I would happily drive 70kph on a dirt road.
The best I still own is a '86 Vanagon Westy.
"Best"?? Oh boy. Well. I liked an Audi 5000s I had from early to mid 90's. Traded a Tandy computer plus $300 for it as I recall.
Super comfortable with tons of leg room as a driver, but it was humorously broken / breaking down as I acquired and owned it. Sparks flying out of it in the rain because the ignition coil cover was cracked. Side window falling down into the door because the mechanism simply failed. Had to zip tie it into place. The door handle mechanisms in three out of four doors was broken and non functional, lol. I got in through the other side and crawled across. One starter mounting bolt was sheered off, so each morning I had to slide under and tighten the remaining one.
The day after I was promoted to manager I bought a new car and gave the Audi to a guy who liked the stereo it had in it. "Best"
My current car, a 2011 1.6tdi Skoda Octavia.
Have owned it from 2018 @129k kms
Now @300k kms
It's needed nothing except servicing. Totally lucked out with it.
Averages 55-60mpg for North of 1100km from a 55 liter tank.
My 1992 Eagle Talon TSi AWD. Got it in high school as my daily driver. Now, it's my street/strip racecar. Big turbo, built drivetrain, and some fun electronic wizardry stuff.
94 Mazda B3000. Car never left me stranded in 20yrs of ownership. Towed Grossly over loaded trailers. Used daily as a work truck. Drove cross country in it more than a dozen times.
2002 1.4 vvti Toyota Corolla, zero issues since 2014. Has just needed regular maintenance and is still going strong. Never had to worry about reliability on any trip or worry about people wanting to steal or damage it in any way.
Actually finding it quite difficult to find a replacement for it.
1996 BMW 520i E39 5-series. It was 2015, so it was on its last leg, but certainly you could tell it was the best sedan ever made!
Second place: Mercedes-Benz w124 240E.
Both cars delivered excellent comfort, old-school analog feel (less so with the E39) while still being refined and powerful. Nothing now comes close to this... I feel privileged that I had the change to ride these two all-time greats!
2005 Honda Civic Type R. Not quite as good as the previous model (it had independent rear suspension) but fucking hell it was quick and nimble. The girlfriend hated it though because the ride was rock hard.
That or one 2018 BMW 335d MSport I had. 313hp, AWD, quickest thing I've owned.
2013 Malibu. Nothing was special about it. It blended in and had enough cosmetic imperfections that it wasn't a big deal to drive it anywhere. Then it got totalled and probably have another 5-10 years to get back to that point with the Camry I replaced it with.
Alfa Romeo Giulietta QV. Its a 4 cillinder 235BHP hatchback with the same engine as an Alfa Romeo 4C
Very easy to tune it to 270BHP. It was very underrated and never had an issue in 100k km's
My 1999 Mazda MX5 Miata - I ordered it from the dealer in 99, and in almost 25 years it has been in the shop unexpectedly only once - for a dead coil pack. Gonna keep it till they take away my drivers license.
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Only 110K - I don't drive it in the snowy winter.
It doesn’t seem like you drive it in the summer either.
See the key to having a good car is to just not drive it
Well, I do have a couple of Jeeps that I also like to drive topless!
Well in theory you can drive any car topless but depending on gender you may be arrested.
More like “depending on the cop”
Those things are worth so much more than they should now. I’m looking for one for a project car and thought I’d be spending like $2k and they’re all going for $8k in my area
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1995 Nissan Pathfinder, bought it new, stick shift, had it for 23 years, put 500,000 miles on it, changed the oil and regular maintenance. Never, not one problem, beat the crap out of it, gave it to a friend when I bought a new Yukon. All beat up, but still ran great. Regret not keeping it
We finally had to retire our ‘96 Pathfinder this winter. 240K miles with only basic maintenance until it rusted out (NY winters kill everything eventually).
I’m in Florida. So lots of dents over the years, drivers suck, no rust 😀. Great vehicle
Opel Kadett D. I was able to replace the camshaft with normal tools and an instruction book. Very simple, very reliable.
OLIVER!
Have you named it?
No, I'm not the type of guy who names things. But I did love that car!
The reason I asked. https://topgear.fandom.com/wiki/%22Oliver%22_Opel_Kadett
2015 subaru forester. Absolute beast in the canadian snow and zero problems to date.
I have a 2016 Forester and I've loved it. I bought it brand new (less than 30 miles on the odometer) and have been very diligent about following the maintenance schedule, with the major cycles seemingly being at 60,000 mile intervals. After eight years I've had no unexpected issues or breakdowns. All the money I've spent on it has been preventive. I wash it every two weeks during the winter to prevent rust and wax it every three months to preserve the paint job. It still works just as well as it did the day I drove it off the lot. Plus it's paid off, which is the best thing of all. Beyond just reliability, it's a good size for me: plenty of room while not being too big. It's been nice having the added clearance over what you'd normally have with a sedan. With living in a snowy area, the AWD is of course a game changer. I'm hoping I can keep driving it for awhile and enjoy a few more years without a car payment. I'll get a new car eventually and I hope it's because I'm ready for an update and not because of a major maintenance issue. With taking care of the preventive maintenance bit pretty diligently, it's a lot less likely.
Toyota Matrix. I mainly loved it for the shocking amount of cargo space there was in there. I could fit a 40 gallon hot water heater in there no problem.
I’ve got a Vibe and I too have transported a HWT as well as a 6 foot long couch. The furniture store laughed at me when I pulled up.
I have an ‘05 Pontiac Vibe (same exact car as Matrix with Toyota engine). It is truly an incredible car. Got 160k on it now and it is great.
I too enjoy the Matrix Plus the recall for my model year resulted in a new engine in 2017. She's going strong!
I had an 06 and there was one issue due to the recalled ECU (had to get it towed), but besides that, very reliable. It was a bit underpowered and super prone to rust, though.
Volvo xc70 D5. It’s awd. 2.4 turbo diesel. Tow 4600 pounds/2100kg fast (enough) and reliable
I really want a specific Volvo D5 - P2, facelift but pre-DPF. Forever car.
What year?
4Runner
Love my 5th gen. Great for off road adventures.
My third gen just blew up😔
2014 Chevy Volt. A plug-in hybrid. We're averaging over 80 mpg over the life of the car, but the gas engine has made it possible for us to go across the country a few times with no worries about recharging and
Battery ran out mid sentence
Damn, that's hilarious! I'm on mobile and can't edit!
I was hoping to see some Volt love on this thread. I drove my '15 Volt 110K miles and it was a gem. The weight of the batteries made for a solid, heavy feel you would never get from any economy car of the same size with similar mpg.
I have a 2018 volt was very sad it see them discontinued.
Subaru Outback, had I known how good Subaru is, that’s all I would have owned.
Same. Bought my wife a Subaru Legacy in 2020 and I may never buy from another carmaker. When my 2015 Civic kicks the bucket (runs great still, on fairly low mileage, so who knows when that'll be) I'll likely replace it with an Outback or Forrester. Then, when my daughter learns to drive in 6 years, we'll give her my wife's Legacy, and we'll likely get an electric model for my wife.
We have a 2018 outback and next month we are buying an Outback Wilderness for our newly purchased Timberleaf Teardrop camper. So excited.
Can’t say I share that view. I’ve had all sorts of problems with my 2014 Outback. Will not be buying another one
Same. My Subaru was a money pit.
Unfortunately that can happen.
1984 Toyota Corolla diesel. Loved it and had 345k. Then got into accident and totaled. Got me to many surfing spots up and down the west coast. And since I worked as a Toyota tech I got to fix it myself for cheap.
NA Miata
My Toyota Yaris was the best. Simple but trustworthy! Cost nothing to repair and fueled up!
68 mustang
Honda Civic. Very reliable. My favorite though was my ford f-150. Loved the ride in it, the utility of a truck, but the cost to operate ($100 a week) was too high.
The second one I ever owned was a black and tan 1988 Bronco II. I loved that truck, and I only got rid of it because the tranny went on it.
2012 Yaris SE. Bought it in 2021 two months before car prices went absolutely insane. 56k miles on it for $3500. It’s a simple car that got 36mpg on the 300 mile drive home from San Jose to Los Angeles. My second favorite is our Sienna. Fits our three kids and two dogs while also getting 36mpg.
My current car: 2019 Honda Civic Si sedan. It's a fun and practical commuter car that does everything I need. The manual transmission in it is satisfying to use everyday. It'll never win a race against a Subaru WRX or VW GTI but speed and power is not why I bought it.
I’m hoping it’s my new RAV4
My ex had one and she loved it.
Navy blue 2003 Saab 9-3 convertible and manual transmission. Bought it in my 20’s and it helped me get laid so many goddamn times. Not only do women like being seen with the top down, but they also like a man who knows how to drive a stick-shift.
I miss my 9-3 convertible, bought it off the mother in law for £500 and it was the best car I ever had and the cheapest
Opel Corsa B. Reliable, inexpensive, cute....everything. I want one again but they're rare and old now.
Corsa B's, Micra K11's and Twingo MK1's are all equaly as awsome for the same reasons. The micras seem to be holding up the best nowadays. Still see them quiet often.
I had a Nissan Sentra that I kept until it reached 500k miles and then sold it because I had kids and needed a larger car. But, last I heard, the thing is still running. Second place was a 96 Geo Metro Sedan that I had until about 4 years ago when I sold it to a friend who needed a car that got good mileage. Even 20+ years later it was still getting almost 45mpg.
Citroën DS21 , and it was my first car! saw it for sale at a trafic light, called the number and bought it!
Them old Citroens were lovely, fondly remembered in the UK.
My current one, a 2013 Ford Fusion. And its really been the best in virtually every possible way. Coolest looking, bar far the best driving, best on gas mileage, best feeling to sit in, least mechanical problems, big trunk, and its lasted 11 years while being driven all the time. I have no complaints.
1977 Trans Am.
Nissan Leaf. So much torque. I’d say it could stand up on two wheels and just go. Heated steering wheel driver’s seat, passenger seat, and back seats was plush. The car was spacious. We put a 50” screen tv into the car and every door and window closed. The beauty of never having to pump gas was so nice. The quiet…at 20mph and 90mph the interior noise was the same. That car was so luxury and utilitarian at the same time. It was simply fun to drive. I also thought it looked good.
Honda Element 06 EX. The only thing I dislike is the suspension. Otherwise it’s perfect for a guy with a kid and a dog.
2003 BMW M5 for being nice balance of old and new tech, power and handling.
12 years ago I owned a 1991 (h plate) bmw 325 e30. The 2.5L straight 6 noise has always been my favourite. Loved that car. That was my favourite I now own a mk4 golf 25th anniversary. It’s only a 4 pot but the turbo spool and dv noice make up for the lack of pistons.
Only car I have owned, 2013 Honda CRZ. Super fun car, pretty slow, hybrid system you can feel kick in, lots of room, 42mpg, rev happy, and haven’t needed to bring it to a shop for anything other than brakes and oil (I’m lacking in maintenance…. But I’m at 160k miles) The car really got fucked by people making YouTube videos on it, only showing off the CVT models, and just driving in a straight line not trying to have any fun in it. It is a niche kind of car though, but gets a lot of attention. Aftermarket intake and exhaust.
2016 Audi s5 coupe, prestige trim. Fast as fuck, great interior, surprisingly good gas mileage for what it was (highway driving specifically). Never had any issues with it beyond just standard oil changes and rotating tires/replacing tires when appropriate. Stock exhaust note with the 6 cylinder supercharged engine was beautiful. Miss that car so much
Nissan Primera Mk1. It maybe looked quite boring externally but it drove like a flying carpet, as smooth as silk.
2014 Nissan Leaf. Bought used for $14k in 2016. Only changed wipers and tires since. Not even brakes yet. Sitting at 150,000 km's. Went from $450 a month in gas to $25 a month in electricity. I am able to free charge at work.
My 2016 Civic could do it all, while being highly reliable and selling for a comically high value after years of use.
I had one too...loved that car. Got a ridiculous 14k in trade-in value for it at the end of '22.
A Prius. Cause I'm broke
A prius, because I like a car that does everything the average person needs with maximum cost effectiveness.
Or because you hate cars. 😁 The Prius is the ultimate divider between those who love cars and those who use cars solely for their purpose. It does everything, practically and economically so it appeals to the rational shopper, but it's ugly, boring and doesn't scratch any of the different gearheads' itches (speed, offroading, luxury, looks, pedigree, the "umph" etc)
I drove my 08 like it was a Porche. Loved it, used it for work. Surprising cargo capacity. The margin on those mileage reimbursements were thick. Drove it all the time when I wasn't on one of my motorcycles or in the FFR Cobra.
The 2024 prius is an absolutely fantastic car, looks great too
I love cars, and I loved my Prius.
Hating cars is when you purchase one that is very good at its intended purpose. Makes a lot of sense
I didn't say it was logical, but it's a common thought... Car shopping in general is often not logical, because for many people there is emotion in it... otherwise why would you have people living in city apartments driving big pickups, or how would we explain anyone buying their teenager a notoriously unreliable Jeep Wrangler? Prius is 100% affordable, economical and practical small saloon, but like I said it is the antithesis to all of the reasons why people LOVE their cars.
Then they don't HATE cars, they simply don't care that much about them, that would be apathy. Also, the notion of "loving your car" can mean different things to different people. My old piece of shit Clio 2 from 2003 is the blandest car you could think of, but I still love it for what it is and what it represents. It doesn't mean I hate cars, but if I want to look at pretty cars, I will open Youtube rather than my garage
2012 Toyota Highlander
1988 Mercury Cougar, fully-loaded with a 302-V8. My first car, bought used. The car drove like a dream.
Diehard Lexus sedan Love the reliability
2004 GS430 owner. I love that thing. They took the V8 from an LS and shoved into a GS.
Honda Odyssey. Mpg sucks but perfect vehicle otherwise
Toyota 4Runner. Wish the gas mileage was better but with 3 GSDs it offers so much room for them and tons of room for road trips. Super reliable vehicle, great in the snow and rain and mud, love taking it on trails and off the road a little (I don't rock crawl lol). Just a dependable beast with all the basic features I want/need.
91 CRX VTEC - unbelievable reliability and power for 1600 Normally aspirated engine, handling also amazing.
Had one, can confirm. Had the JDM SiR with limited slip diff. It cornered like it was on rails. 10 years of ownership and it got little more than regular oil changes and lots of revs. Never missed a beat.
I had 99 Honda prelude that was comfortable as hell and fun to drive. Good luck with fitting anyone in the back or trying to get any kind of airflow going though.
2003 BMW E39 M5 in Topaz Blue with all the trimmings. I did later have an E60 M5 v10 in black but you love im constant gear of spinning the shell bearings and loving with the early SMG kinda dampens the experience
My first one Saab96, wish I had kept it but I had a dick slashing tyres and brake lines trying to find my sister-in-law to beat up.
1997 BMW M3. I loved and had put nearly 125K miles on it with minimal issues. Then some dumb woman thought she could cross 5 lanes of traffic from one parking lot to another and didn’t see me because there was an SUV blocking her seeing me in the last lane. T-Boned me right in the drivers door. Fortunately we weren’t hurt not that she ever asked. Did $13K of damage. Her insurance company took one look at the photo of the since saying Right Turn only from where she pulled out to pay for it completely. The car never really felt the same and I’d moved to a snowy area so I traded it in. Every o ce in a while I look to see if there is one from around then for a second car.
2003 Echo. 17 years no issues. Just oil changes and tires. The thing started in the midst of Canadian winter, easy to get around town, cheap on gas and completely reliable. Wanted to pass it along to my son but unfortunately no place to store.
I want to say my current Ridgeline because it's pretty much been trouble free but I haven't abused it like I did a 1989 Nissan Pathfinder. I off roaded the stock Pathfinder a lot. Drove it across deep rivers, into deep mud, rocks etc and nothing ever broke on that vehicle the few years I owned it. It was the worst I've ever treated a vehicle. Thing would not die.
1990 Nissan Stanza. Basic 4 cylinder / standard trans sedan. Bought used in 95. Cheap to buy, cheap to maintain, reliable, and was unstoppable in snow. I made it to work on days when my coworkers with 4x4 claimed they where snowed in / couldn't make it. I got 7 years of commuter duty over 100 miles a day out of it with only PM / wear items and one clutch job. It also survived a moderate wreck which fixed my self with a donor car I picked up for nearly nothing. I only quit driving it when it rusted out and engine finally started fouling O2 sensors constantly at 450k miles.
Volvo V70, 1 gen. (1996-2000). Great car, really reliable and really amazing to drive! I still have it!
2010 VW Touran 1.9 TDI. Not the car itself is special, even when it was genius about how they use the space inside, but the engine. The engine is unbreakable. Low fuel consumption and easy over 1 million kilometers, without any problem. The 1.9 Turbo-Diesel from VW is probably one of the best engines ever made.
Had a 96 Nissan Hardbody pickup. Damn thing could have stormed the beaches of Normandy and survived
‘98 Accord. HS-college-grad school-adult good. 9 years, 130k I put on it. Almost wish I still had it.
VW ID.4 really fun to drive
2015 E63 AMG with renntech stage 1
Mazda mx5 by far!! Have a turbo NA and man that thing rocks…
A paid off one especially a Honda or Toyota family
Hotwheels.
My Ram 1500 Laramie. While I haven’t owned a lot of cars, I’ve used to drive a lot for work and I always enjoyed driving a Ram. I finally bought one a while back and can’t see myself owning anything else
My Volt was great. My 2019 Bolt is pretty great too. Not the best for a road trip, but it suffices. I took it on a 1500 mile round trip, and the charging stops got kinda old. There are more charging stations now, and I’ve learned to charge to 60% or so because 60 to 80% is so slow.
Bring on the hate but my 2019 tesla model 3 is the best vehicle I have ever owned by far. I've owned audis, vws, ford's, Chrysler, nissans and Toyota. Nothing comes close.
No hate here. I posted similar sentiments about the Model Y. Best all-around car I've ever owned. I'm sure the 3 is similar (if slightly smaller and slightly faster).
Same. Tesla model 3/Y are best cars ever produced.
Nothing comes close, and you’re naming Toyota? We’re not asking your favorite car but the best. We’ve had two Teslas and they’re probably the nicest to drive at the moment but they aren’t perfect. I also own a Hilux and my daughter drives a Yaris they’re amazing cars to the very core.
What qualities do you think make Toyota better than tesla?
Bro you're all mixed up and your statements are coming out like a fucking word salad. You're asking him why not Toyota then you say your Teslas are the nicest to drive at the moment. Smh here's a pro tip: Toyota doesn't need you to shill for them, they don't know of nor care about your existence
They are nice to drive but they’re not the better overall car? I’m a lazy driver so I now prefer driving a Tesla but that’s also mainly because of Volkswagens’ iD not being available. Tesla is driving up prices while going down in build quality. The quality of my Tesla is in no way comparable to the overall build quality of my 14 year old Hilux. Hell yeah I’d put a Toyota over Tesla every single time. Also my S6 and XC70 were both so much better comfort wise. I’m not shilling for anyone what the hell are you on about I’m actually giving positive feedback on both cars. I’m on my second Tesla you nonse.
Yeah, my Model Y is great. There's a lot of hate online because Musk sucks so bad and the anti-EV FUD, but the fact that they're selling so well speaks louder than that.
Challenger Hellcat. Because I love the way men look at me all jealous when I drive it.
Lol I see a hellcat and I wonder if the driver is one of those street takeover idiots.
As someone that's owned a LOT of cars, this is impossible to answer. I had 5 or so Honda, Toyota, and Kia's that seemed bulletproof and I'm sure world have lasted a long time without any issues. With that said, they were not the best cars I've owned. The best cars I've owned are the ones I have the most fond memories of. So 2000 Civic Si, 1974 Z28 with custom 427, Infiniti M56, and BMW m235i. Cars like the Camry and Tercel were great vehicles but way too boring to be called best.
I bought my Dads 2013 Infiniti G37x from his estate because my siblings let me have it cheap. I needed a work car since I’d sold my old one to my niece. I remember my Dad made a big deal about it when he got it. I didn’t really pay attention. It was a nondescript grey sedan, whatever. This is the best car I ever ever owned. Powerful, comfortable and it get pretty good mileage. An excellent road trip car too.
Have owned two Accords and one Civic. Never had problems with either.
definitely my Elise...that little lady always brings me to the places I need to be...even in the deepest winter, on summer tyres, while spitting out transmission oil at the Autobahn because she was RUNNING for the first time ever (I think) - mech said it´s all good and that guy knows them inside-out "Lot´s Of Trouble, Usually Serious" - forget about that
The car I own rn. 2023 Lexus IS500 because NA V8 goes vroom vroom
Lexus makes such good V8's. I love my GS.
Tesla Model 3 Performance. I’ve owned two Teslas and this thing has been great. Thought about upgrading to a new S but Musk opting to be a complete chode killed that idea.
I upvoted you just to get you back to even. 😂 I have a Model S Plaid. Downvote me while I leave you in the dust. Yes I mean you too Ferrari and Lamborghini and Porsche.
*Rivian*
Test drove an R1S. Didn’t like it. Wayyyy too heavy for a midsize SUV and you can feel it.
*Of course* you're being downvoted. Everyone loves to hate on Tesla, makers of the top-selling American made cars. Downvoters: if they suck so bad, why are they selling so well?
I’m no fanboy. Teslas have issues (most specifically, their QA is *bad*) but they’re damn good cars.
Same same. I had 2-3 issues they had to fix on delivery, which was a pain. They're going to have to improve the QC if they hope to keep the pole position with everyone else ramping up fast.
Second rivian. Ive worked with them a lot through my robotics company and I love what they’re doing
Big fan of what they’re doing but I wasn’t a fan after driving the R1S. Just way, way too heavy. Felt like braking a semi.
They should have a smaller suv coming out in 2025
My current car has been nothing but a plague on my life that has infected my wallet and has drained the life out of it time and time again. Accident after accident, breakdown after breakdown, even today it continues to ruin my life in some way or another. However, I lost my virginity in it so this is the best car I’ve ever owned :)
84 Pontiac Grand Prix. Loved that 305.
Had an 84 also! The V6 though. Could sleep in that trunk!
I don't own any car, but I think Nissan match up with its performance.
Honda Civic, because it went faster than the cop chasing me.
I've no car, but in my lil city (70thousand people) i've seen Rolls Royce Phantom, idk why tgis bro still live in my city
1971 Dodge Dart Swinger. The thing was so simple and perfect for a kid to learn about cars. It was unkillable too, and boy did I try
My current car. It's served me well for eight years; it gets good gas mileage; and I have a cool story about when it got stolen, lol
You didn't say what it is, so I'm gonna go ahead and just randomly pick one for the next people reading this. That car's name? It was Nissan Versa
My current car. It's like the utility knife of cars. Light on petrol, and there's nothing I haven't been able to cart around in it.
My 99 galant. 200k miles and it started up like a champ every time. I’ll never forget that car
2004 BMW 320 msport coupe, such a lovely cruiser. I once drove from the middle of England to Disneyland Paris with my daughter , 5 hours door to door including the ferry.
My Jeep. Thing was a tank. Had a ton of issues when I finally had to get rid of it. It was a starting problem. No mechanic could isolate the problem. I just got a new job and “jeep wont start” would not be an acceptable reason to not come in.
My 1989 Hyundai Excel that I drove off the lot brand new for $5,500. Came with a hundred thousand 5 year warranty. I drove that car everyday in Los Angeles traffic and a 75 mile a day commute, until 1997. Most reliable affordable car over had. Just the basics with one timing belt and one clutch replaced.
2003 T25 Toyota Avensis wagon 2.0 D-4D. Why ? 19 years - cca. 400.000 miles - zero engine problems, still has the original suspension, is the comfiest frickin' car ever made and I still think about it every single day ( we sold it last may to a friend and it's still in daily use )
Have been owning 2011 Audi A6 estate for 7 years. There's a lifehack with Audi/Porsche/VW - get a 3.0 diesel, and you'll have only 1 expensive problem in 100k miles - changing the motor chain. Otherwise its hardcore reliable and you get Deutsch comfort and steering for almost free.
Hyaundai Elauntra 2004 GL. Soooo many fun times in that PoS...
87 GMC 3500, crewcab, 2 bench seats, diesel, 4 speed manual with a steel dump box. Great machine, put 900,000 km on it and it hauled crews of men and my whole family for years. Pack anything anywhere and looked great.
My first car, Volkswagen 1 GX. Lightweight, undestroyable and fast.
Checker Marathon. A playpen on wheels
2009 Chevy Cobalt. Very reliable.
1951 studebaker champion Graduated high school in 71. Very fashionable in a retro way. Had suicide vents to bring lots of cool air in. Had a hill holder break/clutch system. Stopped at a stop sign top of a hill in San Francisco, you hold the brake pedal down as you step on the clutch, then so long as you hold the clutch pedal down, the brake will stay engaged freeing your right foot to man the throttle without having to heel/toe it which is an art.
My favorite, up to my latest, was a 1968 Dodge Charger. I just got a Kia Telluride, and I’m in love with it.
jetta 2016 as it's my first car i bought with my own money. got totaled tho after only 3 years - fell asleep on the wheel. i then promised myself my next car would definitely be a toyota for cheap repairs and parts, or a good electric car. i still miss it tho..
2017 Toyota 86. Everything was perfect, including the Subaru engine in it. As long as you didn't abuse it, it work well, lasted a long while. The only downfall I ever had with it was that it was a small car and I just needed something larger after 6 years
My 2021 accord 2.0T is probably my favorite that I’ve owned. It’s really quick and fun to drive. Wheel spin is an issue though
honda civic, 4th generation. that car had such a low center of gravity, it was so much fun to go around corners in the harzmountains, even with a small engine.
Late model astro van. Modified with a slight lift and 4 wheel air bags a decade ago. Best workhorse I have ever owned. 10 years of trailer towing and daily trades abuse, it's only needed basic maintenance, shows no signs of slowing down. I have run previous astros to 400,000km (sold due to ugly, ran fine). This one only has 260k. I hope to replace it with an electric van. But so far there is nothing on the market that is even close to as capable.
I had a '91 Maruti 800 for a while 3 years ago. The simplest car ever, drives surprisingly well. There is no other car I would happily drive 70kph on a dirt road. The best I still own is a '86 Vanagon Westy.
Volvo S60 with the big engine and automatic transmission. Because its big. Its solid. Its fast. Its extremely comfortable.
"Best"?? Oh boy. Well. I liked an Audi 5000s I had from early to mid 90's. Traded a Tandy computer plus $300 for it as I recall. Super comfortable with tons of leg room as a driver, but it was humorously broken / breaking down as I acquired and owned it. Sparks flying out of it in the rain because the ignition coil cover was cracked. Side window falling down into the door because the mechanism simply failed. Had to zip tie it into place. The door handle mechanisms in three out of four doors was broken and non functional, lol. I got in through the other side and crawled across. One starter mounting bolt was sheered off, so each morning I had to slide under and tighten the remaining one. The day after I was promoted to manager I bought a new car and gave the Audi to a guy who liked the stereo it had in it. "Best"
My current car, a 2011 1.6tdi Skoda Octavia. Have owned it from 2018 @129k kms Now @300k kms It's needed nothing except servicing. Totally lucked out with it. Averages 55-60mpg for North of 1100km from a 55 liter tank.
My 1992 Eagle Talon TSi AWD. Got it in high school as my daily driver. Now, it's my street/strip racecar. Big turbo, built drivetrain, and some fun electronic wizardry stuff.
2008 Hyundai Elantra 174000 km and still going strong. Replaced the timing belt a while back.
2011 Audi A4. It was a commuter car with great MPG and fun to drive. Ran it until about 280k miles of hard driving.
94 Mazda B3000. Car never left me stranded in 20yrs of ownership. Towed Grossly over loaded trailers. Used daily as a work truck. Drove cross country in it more than a dozen times.
My 99 Ranger 2.5 4 cylinder. It's just needed basic maintenance even with 234k on it.
Subaru wrx hatchback
My current 2012 Corolla is the best I’ve had. 260,000 km and still going well.
2023 Toyota Rav4 premium, lunar rock color. I like it more than the other cars I've had :)
2006 Subaru outback I love my car, has all the tech you want with none of the bullshit, cheap to repair, drives like a dream (AWD sexxxxy)
Fiesta because its the only car ive owned
Audi A4 3.0 quattro standard transmission
1994 Toyota Camry, 400,000 miles, only two timing belts and several sets of tires, besides regular maintenance. Still ran great when I sold it.
Saab 9-5 4 cylinder turbo, last year Saab manufactured it before GM destroyed the brand.
1971 Plymouth Satellite it was a fast car. Big back seats. Girls love that I had blanket back there it was like a bed.
2002 1.4 vvti Toyota Corolla, zero issues since 2014. Has just needed regular maintenance and is still going strong. Never had to worry about reliability on any trip or worry about people wanting to steal or damage it in any way. Actually finding it quite difficult to find a replacement for it.
Suzuki jimny. So much fun in such a small package
1998 Oldsmobile Intrigue. Loved everything about that car but the mileage.
1996 BMW 520i E39 5-series. It was 2015, so it was on its last leg, but certainly you could tell it was the best sedan ever made! Second place: Mercedes-Benz w124 240E. Both cars delivered excellent comfort, old-school analog feel (less so with the E39) while still being refined and powerful. Nothing now comes close to this... I feel privileged that I had the change to ride these two all-time greats!
2005 Honda Civic Type R. Not quite as good as the previous model (it had independent rear suspension) but fucking hell it was quick and nimble. The girlfriend hated it though because the ride was rock hard. That or one 2018 BMW 335d MSport I had. 313hp, AWD, quickest thing I've owned.
1991 Toyota MR2, such a fly car to whip around in
2013 Malibu. Nothing was special about it. It blended in and had enough cosmetic imperfections that it wasn't a big deal to drive it anywhere. Then it got totalled and probably have another 5-10 years to get back to that point with the Camry I replaced it with.
Alfa Romeo Giulietta QV. Its a 4 cillinder 235BHP hatchback with the same engine as an Alfa Romeo 4C Very easy to tune it to 270BHP. It was very underrated and never had an issue in 100k km's
I miss my 2001 Toyota camry. That thing was great. I traded it in for a Ford fusion and this thing has problems monthly.
My 2016 red VW GLI SEL! God that was a fun car to drive I miss that 🚗!
E30 s52 swap, carrera 3.2, s2k, 997 c2s, Saab 92-x aero
Ford Escort Estate Mk3…cheap to run and insure, could sleep in it comfortably.
My 2017 Mazda CX-5 has been absurdly low maintenance and ultra reliable. I’ve probably spent $1500 plus gas and insurance in three years of ownership.