First car

[cto]

Was it a Coronet?

No, it was much bigger than that. It had four doors. It was a TANK

 

[RoysRunts]

the first REAL muscle car-
1962 dodge polara 500-

also had a pushbutton

Had a Plymouth valiant(61?) Mothers Car,Pushbutton on Dash, Would go anywhere, a little tank-- Body rusted out though

 

[bevosu]

This is a funny thread and a great diversion.

But...I've got to say, that with few exceptions, there are a lot of really sad but memorable automobiles in this list. I guess young and poor does that.

 

[jccuse]

1966 Ford Galaxy 500 with a 289 engine.. Maroon with black interior..loved that car

 

[DNABB5]

First, great thread albany, I feel bad being so late to the party.

The first car I drove was a 1980 Subaru Wagon. First Car I bought was a 1976 Malibu Classic. Favorite car I owned was a 1969 Buick Riviera. Biggest POS I owned was a 1979 Toyota Fleet Pickup (from Nelson's Lamplighters) that had 406K on it when I paid $75 for it. Affectionately dubbed the "hell truck"

 

[Digable5]

My first car (from my parents) was a white Chrysler Lebaron Turbo. If you take out the fact that it was hideous looking and a Chrysler, it was a two door coupe with a turbo engine and lights that popped up. Hitting 100 on the 90 was my best memory and I'll never do that again.

The first car that I bought was almost a 1988 BMW 325i in red that was stored in a storage facility and only had 30,000 miles and never saw a winter. This was my dream car (believe it or not), but I was a surprisingly responsible 19 year old and knew I would have to get a winter vehicle. As I looked for money to buy both it was gone. I ended up, for the same money, with a 1988 Ford Bronco II. It had rust circles as if aliens had gotten bored with crops and decided to put them on my truck instead and a chronic oil leak that forced me to have half of Valvoline's inventory in my trunk at all times. All that being said, I LOVED that truck. The bench style seating in the front and back was very beneficial, wink wink.

I don't know about any of you, but when I have the space and disposable income, I plan to buy both the BMW and Bronco II (again) and fix them up.

 

[OrangeHeel]

1972 Ford Maverick. Easily worst car ever made. Battery went in Chapel Hill in 1978. Garage guy told me to buy the cheaper battery saying "I don't think y'all will be needing the lifetime guarantee" for the more expensive battery.

He was right. Broke down in the hood in Philly were I was visiting a buddy who was in the Jesuit Volunteer Corp. The "repair" made at the garage with boarded up windows in the hood lasted until the engine blew as I pulled into my parents' driveway in Syracuse. That car was replaced by a Ford Pinto which led me to have a life long fear of being rear ended. [INSERT JOKE HERE]

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[SkanSU]

1950 Ford ... only black. Damn picture didn't come out ... but then a 1962 Triumph

 

[otisco]

Great diversion topic.

1985 Nissan Sentra. Blue, 4-door, manual. 100K+ miles. Rocking AM/FM cassette radio. Bought it from a neighbor for $750.

 

[albanycuse]

Hey, Tom. Did you skip the post about my '51 Dodge? Which you probably saw on campus more than once "back then?"

 

[rrlbees]

Volkswagon Beetle. Don't even remember the year.

 

[ImperialOrange]

This is a funny thread and a great diversion.

But...I've got to say, that with few exceptions, there are a lot of really sad but memorable automobiles in this list. I guess young and poor does that.

When you're young, a car was freedom and thats all you needed. Ahhh the simpler times.

 

[SaintTristan]

Land Rover 109 Safari Wagon ('64 vintage).

Nicknamed The General George S. Patton.

 

[NovaOrange]

1988 grand marquis I had to pour water over the engine every 40 miles it was awesome

 

[swish7]

Fun thread. Inspired to add to it.

HS years
1980 silver and blue AMC Eagle. From the field of pipe dreams, my brother had a car dealer's license at the time. He never made a living with it, but we bought quite a few cars for cheap at auction in North Syracuse. This was one of the first. This car was so cool on of the adults in my wife assumed control of it.

1980 gold Ford Escort EXP - This was again bought at auction. Sporty car. Sunroof. I thought I was Mark Hamill in Corvette Summer, minus the Corvette. I might have even taken a girl on a date in this car. I traded a fancy stereo system for this beauty. It smelled like caramel when driving. Turns out it was leaking antifreeze. I drove this until I cracked the head. I think it messed up my lungs.

1987 silver and blue Dodge Ram - newish pickup truck that, for some reason, my mother let me own for my junior year of HS. I learned how to parallel park and took my road test in this beast.

1983 blue Toyota Tercel. While other guys were getting action in '84 Monte Carlos and the like, this was my back to reality car. It had 4 cylinders, but only ran on 3. My friends and I used to literally have to move like we were on a swing to get it to the top of Tully hill. I ran it out of oil and cracked it's block.

College Years
1987 Pontiac 6000. This was a hand-me-down from my dad. It was my SU car. I put about 30,000 miles on it in a little over a year. I once set the Harvard St. Domino's record for most deliveries in a single day with it. The record was subsequently broke by my co-worker Stan Grobsmith. He was later arrested for dismembering one of his many girlfriends. He hung himself with an electrical cord in the Syracuse police station.

1979 Ford F100 with 3 on the tree. This was my SUNY Albany truck. Total rust bucket. I bought it for about $300 cash, off some country road near Schenectady. It had a slant 6 I believe. The whole body would twist to the right when I revved the engine. The essence of Detroit. I drove this one into the ground. I loved it though. The manliest of all my vehicles.

1982 VW Vanagon. This gem's engine had been converted from an air cooled, to a water cooled GTI engine. I moved to California with it. Got homesick and drove back. On the way, it broke down on I-70 above Georgetown, CO. This extended my stay in CO. It ultimately led to me moving to CO and meeting my future wife. We got married in Georgetown, CO.

Real Life
1995 Honda Civic EX - "EX" is appropriate because I bought it from an ex-girlfriend in 1998. She was Japanese, on student visa at SU. She was the source for my original handle on the old AOL boards. At my 5 year reunion, one of my friends asked if "she came with the car'. She didn't, but I still have this car to this day. Great car. I've never had a reason to sell it. But, alas, my kid is now almost too tall for the back seat. So, I am in the market for something new...

 

[Digable5]

Real Life
1995 Honda Civic EX - "EX" is appropriate because I bought it from an ex-girlfriend in 1998. She was Japanese, on student visa at SU. She was the source for my original handle on the old AOL boards. At my 5 year reunion, one of my friends asked if "she came with the car'. She didn't, but I still have this car to this day. Great car. I've never had a reason to sell it. But, alas, my kid is now almost too tall for the back seat. So, I am in the market for something new...

My wife's first car was a 1996 Civic (EX?). We had it until earlier this year when a Buffalo winter and street parking destroyed its underbelly. The repairs were worth more than the car. We got it to 126,000 miles. I have no doubt that if we had stayed in Virginia or had a garage to put it in it would still be going for us today (believe it or not it was sold at auction for $1100-we donated it to charity).
We bought a new 2003 Honda Element together and it runs "like new" with over 100,000 on it. Plenty of leg room for growing kids. Just don't have a family bigger than 4 total.

Just recently we bought a 2004 Honda Pilot and I absolutely love it. For an SUV that can seat 8 it doesn't feel very big. It has tremendous sight lines compared to the Element. If you have the need for hauling lots of people (especially kids) and/or stuff over long distances this has to be the best vehicle. 4 power outlets. 4! The Element has one. Between the DVD system and the need to charge cellphones, the one outlet just doesn't cut it.

 

[albanycuse]

My wife's first car was a 1996 Civic (EX?). We had it until earlier this year when a Buffalo winter and street parking destroyed its underbelly. The repairs were worth more than the car. We got it to 126,000 miles. I have no doubt that if we had stayed in Virginia or had a garage to put it in it would still be going for us today (believe it or not it was sold at auction for $1100-we donated it to charity).
We bought a new 2003 Honda Element together and it runs "like new" with over 100,000 on it. Plenty of leg room for growing kids. Just don't have a family bigger than 4 total.

Just recently we bought a 2004 Honda Pilot and I absolutely love it. For an SUV that can seat 8 it doesn't feel very big. It has tremendous sight lines compared to the Element. If you have the need for hauling lots of people (especially kids) and/or stuff over long distances this has to be the best vehicle. 4 power outlets. 4! The Element has one. Between the DVD system and the need to charge cellphones, the one outlet just doesn't cut it.

the element has got to be hondas ugliest vehicle ever made and right behind the pontiac vibe and pt cruiser as ugliest vehicles made

 

[brandokc]

Volkswagon Beetle. Don't even remember the year.

Mr. Bundy, your car is about ready. We're just getting the remaining blood stains out of the carpet.

 

[Digable5]

the element has got to be hondas ugliest vehicle ever made and right behind the pontiac vibe and pt cruiser as ugliest vehicles made

You want to talk about ugly....your...? What about the HHR?

Eh. To each one's one. I like straighter lines and more geometric shapes. There's a lot of good ideas put into the Element, but the steep angle of the windshield results in a lot of chips and cracks. There's also a lot of blindspots and you can't get too close to a traffic light or you'll have to lean forward to see it. And don't even get me started on the visors.

However, the seat covers, the lack of a carpet, stadium seating and the backseat sunroof are awesome, especially with kids. Being able to remove the seats in the back have also been great for moving things. The price, reliability, durability and versatlity of the Element has made me very happy with the purchase.

 

[swish7]

You want to talk about ugly....your...? What about the HHR?

Eh. To each one's one. I like straighter lines and more geometric shapes. There's a lot of good ideas put into the Element, but the steep angle of the windshield results in a lot of chips and cracks. There's also a lot of blindspots and you can't get too close to a traffic light or you'll have to lean forward to see it. And don't even get me started on the visors.

However, the seat covers, the lack of a carpet, stadium seating and the backseat sunroof are awesome, especially with kids. Being able to remove the seats in the back have also been great for moving things. The price, reliability, durability and versatlity of the Element has made me very happy with the purchase.

Funny. We really wanted to buy an element. I love the way it looks. It really is the perfect vehicle for outdoorsy families with dogs, etc. However, I was appalled at it's gas mileage. 12-14 per gallon! Also, I hated how it handled on the road. Felt like I was driving a skid steer.

 

[Digable5]

Funny. We really wanted to buy an element. I love the way it looks. It really is the perfect vehicle for outdoorsy families with dogs, etc. However, I was appalled at it's gas mileage. 12-14 per gallon! Also, I hated how it handled on the road. Felt like I was driving a skid steer.

Not sure where you got the MPG on the Element, but I still get above 20 MPG with a mix of City and Highway and I have the AWD version. Even my Pilot gets between 17 and 23 and it has a V6. The Element only has a V4. I'm surprised you didn't like the handling. I've never had any problems with its handling. It actually has a great turn radius. Its difficult in the wind because it isn't very aero-dynamic on either side; just a big wall. It gets pushed around pretty well, but its much better than the Chevy Trailblazer I rented one winter trip.

 

[Consigliere]

Bright orange 1970 Ford Torino - the Orange Streak

 

[albanycuse]

You want to talk about ugly....your...? What about the HHR?

isnt the pt cruiser one in the same?

 

[M2MPrinciples]

My first car was a hand-me-down from my grandmother, a white 1993 Saturn SC2 (two-door coupe).

I didn't start driving it until 2002, but since she never drove at night, the car only had about 30,000 miles on it when it was passed down to me.

 

[rosconey]

Funny. We really wanted to buy an element. I love the way it looks. It really is the perfect vehicle for outdoorsy families with dogs, etc. However, I was appalled at it's gas mileage. 12-14 per gallon! Also, I hated how it handled on the road. Felt like I was driving a skid steer.

i now have a 03 element awd- 20 city-25 hwy-like clockwork-handles just fine for a real man lol