What's your car journey that got you here?

[jptruck]

Man, I'm old...

1. 1985 Ford Ranger Pickup, otherwise known as the deathtrap. Used. Grandfather donation. Brakes went out on my twice in one year. Always wanted a truck. Got one and hated it. Sold it.
2. 1988 Ford Probe, otherwise known as the butt plug. Donor from an uncle after the Ranger tired to kill me. Sold it.
3. 1996 Honda Accord - Lovely car. Stick 4cyl. Leased. No nickname given to this one.
4. 1998 Nissan Pathfinder - OK. Wish I still had this one. Truck frame, V6, functional 4WD, always worked. Sadly, leased and gave it back.
5. 2001 Infinity QX4 - Stepping up the Pathfinder to leather seats. She was a beaut, but the styling was always off for me. Another lease that got sent back
6. 2005 Land Rover LR3 - "Lumpy" This was a bad vehicle. If I owned it long enough, I would have replaced every part on this thing. Blown head gaskets, brake failures (locking up at 80mph), suspension failures, brakes replaced every 10K, on and on. This thing was a turd, but it was also the very first model year of LR3s and still had bad Ford engineering.
7. 2009 Land Rover LR4 - Last of the V8 Land Rovers, I believe. Should have kept this one. Reliable, good driver, no issues for 70,000 miles. Somewhat shocking. Got a great deal on it because the dealership knew me by name at the service counter. Swore it would be a good one, and it was. Traded in...
8. 2012 LR Discovery (5) - V6, but more car like than the LR. Still have it. 60,000 miles and the kid now gets it because I can only trade it in for about $20,000.
9. 2024 Toyota Land Cruiser - Tank, as she's known. TBD.

This list does not include the Toyota Tundra and Ford Lighting that I own for work and don't personally drive. Don't knock the Lightning. It's the perfect construction truck. Tundra has 250,000 miles on it with very few issues (2019 V6). Bought for $35K. Imagine a time when you could buy a base Tundra for $35K.

 

[nDroid3]

1996 Honda Civic (black)
1999 Audi A4 (silver)
2005 Nissan Frontier (black)
2008 Nissan Altima Coupe (white)
2010 Mitsubishi Outlander Sport (white)
2013 Nissan Altima (silver)
2014 Toyota Prius (Siliver)
2018 Nissan Rogue (black)
2021 Jeep Gladiator (Stingray)
2025 Toyota Land Cruiser (Ice Cap)

 

[McCloud_Rainbow]

1970 Mercedes 220D
1984? Subaru Wagon (with pop up center headlight)
1989 Saab 9000 Turbo
1996 Subaru Outback
1999 Lexus RX300
2005 Lexus RX400h
2011 Mercedes GL 450
2012 Audi A6
2017 Mercedes GLS 450
2022 Audi A6
2024 LC FE
2024 BMW M340ix

 

[Feral]

I had a few xc90s and abused them. Decided to get my first ever new car before we are all forced to have electric cars. So far it's not gone super well she's looking very second hand already but in for a penny and in for several thousand pounds

 

[bluebullet]

Had a few cars and lots of dirtbikes/ATVs:
1964 Rambler (field mobile-$600 in 1969 plus $2K engine rebuild/transmission replacement on teacher's salary) |...+....1....+....2....+....3....+....4....+....5....+....6....+....7.]..+....8....+....9....+...10....+...11....+...12....+..
1967 VW Bug (last pre EPA VW-traded for 1973 Volvo-Swedish Brick)
1967 Austin Healy MK 3000 (Black-money pit)
1970 Triumph TR6 (blue-great car)
1973 Volvo 245 (Many EFI problems)
1976 Volvo 245 (no troubles tho A/C was puny)
1978 VW Westfalia Camper (Puff the tragic wagon)
1980 Volvo 245 (Leather seats/alloy wheels-our last Swedish Brick)
1981 Honda Accord (2nd and last black car) 5 sp manual-no good in snow
1985 GMC Van (6.2L diesel with 4 sp manual in floor-Tan diesel van)
1994 Dodge 360 1/2 pickup (1st and last Dodge)
1996 GMC 3 door 1/2 ton Pickup (3rd door always had an air leak throttle body stayed stuck)
1984 4Runner
1999 4Runner SR5 (5 sp manual-still our snow car)
2002 Chevy 2500HD Durmax Diesel (great truck)

 

[OverlandMethod]

The first car I ever drove was a green 1980s Range Rover. It was already a good 10 years old at the time and I was no more than 12 but tall enough to sneak around cars and cause trouble for my parents.

Anyways, the Range Rover...we were at some ranch so it was safe and after going well for a couple of minutes I almost drove it in a creek.

I loved loved that car. Nothing made an impression like that on me except for a 3 series red BMW a couple of years later but even that didn't come close. That BMW had a tiny TV in it. Kind of like the car screens we have now but you'd have to turn the channels to watch actual TV.

Long story short, overlanding, mountain biking, and BMWs became an obsession of sorts from early on and several bikes, 4x4s, and dogs later and this LC is the closest thing to that green Range Rover I've experienced.

These aren't my photos but basically the exact two cars that started it all.

 

[Shackman]

1965 Ford Mustang
1985 Chevy S-10 Blazer
1999 VW Passat
2008 Volvo XC90 (wife)
2009 Toyota Highlander
2013 Toyota 4-Runner Trail
2019 Subaru Ascent (wife)
2024 Toyota LC FE

 

[Phillyfisher]

1980 Toyota Celica GT Liftback
1989 Honda Civic Si Hatchback 5spd
1996 Ford Explorer
2002 Nissan Maxima 6 spd
2013 Honda Pilot
2025 Toyota Landcruiser LC

Wife-

1989 Acura LS 5 spd
2003 Toyota Highlander
2010 Acura TSX 6 spd
2018 Audi A5 Coupe.

The 96 Explorer was a turd. Had loose suspension bolts from day 1, and never got much better. Transmission went at 50k miles limped along with a rebuild and got rid of it for the Maxima- which was ok. Had high expectations of that 3.5L V6, but must have got a dud, as it pinged all the time on premium and burned oil. Still have the TSX and the A5. Great cars for us. Loved the Civic and the Acura LS too.

 

[Glimmertwin]

1978 Ford Granada
1990 Chevy Cavalier
1986 Toyota 4Runner (was my dream car, bought used and traded with 199k miles when my boys got too big for it)
1996 Chevy Cavalier (they were cheap when we were young and poor)
1997 Jeep Grand Cherokee Laredo
2002 Chevy Trailblazer
2004 Toyota 4Runner
2007 Toyota Tundra Crewmax (three growing boys had lots of room)
2009 Dodge Challenger R/T Classic (I’m still traumatized by what I went through with Dodge with this beautiful piece of ****)
2008 Toyota 4Runner (Traded that Dodge for a fourth gen they had on the lot, I was not in love with the fifth gen at the time)
2015 Toyota 4Runner Trail ( My husband totaled it )
2018 Toyota 4Runner SR5 (Traded for my LC)
2022 Toyota 4Runner ORP (He still drives it)
2024 Toyota Land Cruiser 1958

My husband was driving a 1979 full sized Ford Ranger when I met him and at one point we had an old Ford Tempo back in the early 90’s that we junked after two months.

I wish we could have kept that 1986 4Runner, after my husband overhauled the engine it drove like it was new, all 100 or so horsepower!

 

[unclebeejo]

Got my license in 2000

1998 Volkswagen gti vr6
2002 ford focus
1996 Chevy s10
2005 Scion xb
1993 Honda civic hatchback
2000 Nissan frontier
2003 mini cooper s
2006 Infiniti m45
1990 ford Taurus
1962 Vw bug
2006 Toyota Camry
2006 Toyota Tacoma
2016 Toyota Tacoma
2007 Toyota tacoma
2016 Toyota Tundra
1956 Vw bug
1970 Vw karmann ghia
1993 Toyota pickup
2012 Toyota Highlander (still have)
1962 Chevy Impala (still have)
2025 Toyota LC

 

[mrCharlie]

Started driving 1995 or so:
1981 BMW 528i 3AT - leaned the importance of looking for rust, and why automatics are awful
1986 BMW 325es 5MT -, fun and decent MPG
1989 BMW 525i 5MT - a fully fixed up, 200k+ mile project from my trusted mechanic
1999 Subaru Legacy GT 5MT sedan - learned about curbstoners, lots of issues
2005 Subaru WRX 5MT Wagon - fun and pretty reliable, though not super comfortable
2014 Ford Fiesta SFE 5MT Hatch - first new - fun handling, 1.0 turbo 3, 40 mpg, too small for baby
2017 Ford Focus ST3 6MT Hatch - amazing leather Recaro seats, ultimately also too small for kid
2021 Toyota Venza Limited eCVT - 37 mpg, electrochromic roof, but not much space for the size
2025 Toyota Land Cruiser 1958 - Loved it - see The Unexpected Risk of an Early Break-In Oil Change
2025 Toyota Land Cruiser Premium - I've had it a day, but definitely love it

 

[misfits9095]

I am 39 years old and have had 13 cars over the last 23 years of driving. That doesn’t count motorcycles and cars I have bought my wife (2 additional cars and 3 motorcycles). I’m a bit of a gear head and I love cars from the 90’s and early 2000’s. I bought my Land Cruiser because it reminded me of SUVs of the era.

1992 Chevrolet Lumina Eurosport Coupe (my sister gave this to me and I

2003 Nissan Sentra SE-R (thought I was hot shit, worked two jobs in HS to get the down payment)

1994 Lincoln Town car (ditched the car payments until my senior year of college)

2007 Toyota Yaris (first exposure to Toyota, got me through my first few years of professional work, sold it when gas prices were high for more than I bought it in 2010 and only spent money on oil changes and gas)

1968 Mercury cyclone fast back (owned this from my senior year of college until this past July. I ended up unknowingly selling it to a major criminal. I found out by googling his name and address)

2003 intrepid R/T (my cousin sold it to me for 2 grand and I loved this car until it was rear ended by a drunk driver)

2001 ford mustang GT (totaled in an accident on the highway)

2012 Honda Insight (awesome car that got me through my mid to late 20’s, sold it to my friends little brother and it saved his life in an accident)

1999 Oldsmobile for a week

2015 Nissan Versa (bought it to go on a date with my girlfriend and now wife)

2022 Jeep Wrangler Ecodiesel (my first 4x4. I loved it but it had tons of engine and fuel system issues)

2003 ford mustang GT(It’s my Time Machine takes me back to my high school years every time I drive its. I still own this car and bought it from my employee’s family)

2025 Toyota Land Cruiser 1958 edition (I panicked and bought this when I first heard of the tariff stuff and I don’t regret the purchase one bit)

 

[brian254]

I got my driver's license in 1982, and I hadn't thought of many of these cars until I compiled this list. I THINK it's complete (my wife just shook her head and walked away when I showed it to her). I don't see the issue - 23 cars in 42 years doesn't sound so bad to me.

1970 Chevrolet Chevelle SS 396 (Used)
1980 Chevrolet Camaro Z28 (Used)
1984 Chevrolet Monte Carlo SS (Used)
1982 BMW 320i Base (Used)
1988 Ford Escort GT (New) - Got married, bought a house, and got broke - lol
1990 Ford Ranger XLT (New)
1992 Honda Accord LX (New)
1990 Chevrolet S-10 Blazer 4x4 Tahoe (Used)
1995 Dodge Caravan (New)
1993 Mazda 626 LX (Used)
1995 Pontiac Grand Prix SE (Used)
2001 Honda Accord Coupe EX (New)
2003 Jeep Grand Cherokee Laredo 4x4 (New)
2007 Toyota 4Runner SR5 2WD (New)
2011 Infiniti M37 Touring Technology (CPO)
2006 Nissan 350Z Roadster Grand Touring (Used) - Just a 3rd car for fun
2016 Toyota 4Runner Limited AWD (New)
2017 Range Rover Sport Dynamic SC V8 (CPO) - Never again
2022 Lexus GX460 Premium (New)
2021 Volvo XC60 T6 Inscription (CPO)
2021 Honda Accord EX-L (CPO)
2021 Honda Accord Touring Hybrid (CPO) - Still own (wife's car)
2025 Toyota Land Cruiser 1958 Edition (New) - Bought 5/7/25

 

[BILL]

1965 Mustang 289
1966 Corvair long body
1969 Porsche 911E
1970 BMW 2002
1973 BMW 530i
1975 Mercede 240D
1976 Toyota FJ55
1978 Merceds 300D
1978 Blazer
1982 Mercedes 4Matic
1982 Mercedes 320E
1989 Chevy Silverado P/Up 3/4 ton
1998 Suburban
2001 Jeep Wrangler
2005 Landcruiser
2011 Toyota Tundra
2021 Landruiser
2025 1958 Landcruiser (the least off roady of them all)
2025 Porsche Cayenne


Cars up to 1973 personal
Cars up through 1982 were in NY
Cars after personal plus wife and spare car
Cars afer 1982NY and ranch vehicles in Colorado
2025 Porsche in New York

 

[YWG_YYZ]

Fun thread to see people's preferences, from Toyota or truck diehards to really, quite open minded individuals who enjoy a bit of everything.
I have noticed my preferences have shifted greatly since I started to cars.
At the beginning, when I was a student, it was more about how much value that I can get with a set budget.
It then transitioned to wanting to experience luxury/Euro on a budget.
Then budget became less of an issue, but I was also trying to get a car that seems to be perfect, or can do a lot of things on paper.
Now, I am happy to own cars that are unique/special to me, and have some unique characters, that are often different from each other, but may not be a good recommendation for someone who is not interested in cars.

Current fleet:
2024 Land Cruiser 1958 - refreshingly basic
2024 Volkswagen Golf R DSG - small all around daily, fantastic fun in the winter with the new rear diff
2023 Porsche 911 Carrera T MT - garage queen, occasional driver, autocross and track events

History:
2023 Subaru Solterra - Good intro to EV, learned alot, great car, not a great EV.
2022 Toyota Sienna - Exceptional gas mileage, wife still prefer this over the LC, great family hauler for younger kids
2023 Subaru WRX Base 6MT - good for what it is, not my favourite. High fuel consumption, busy suspension, not particularly quiet, but also not particularly good at limit handling
2020 Jeep Gladiator Sahara - Fun off-roader, a lot more off-road capability that what I would use, great ownership experience for having a convertible that you can take the doors off. But too much on road drivability for my use
2017 BMW 740Le PHEV - Great PHEV. Lots of toys, and bells and whistle. Incredibly refined. Not the most reliable. Even though warranty took care of everything, it gets old to need to go to dealer once every couple months. (great to try out various loaners though)
2016 Mercedes Benz E63s Wagon - What an engine! What a questionable clutch based automatic. In theory, perfect car. In practice, a regular E class wagon is probably a better choice if I have to get another one.
2020 Volkswagen Golf R 6MT - liked the car, but did not love it. Manual was a let down as it there was a lot of compromise with the engine/trans combination. Overall good car, hence I have the updated one.
2015 BMW X3 2L - Great day to day car, had its own reliability issues
2015 BMW 435i 6MT - one of the biggest let downs. Great engine. Too refined for a sporty looking car. Completely different from E46/E90. It's a great looking car, but the driving is becoming blurred with other Germans. It lost its distinctive BMWness associated with prior gens.
2012 Mazda MX5 6MT - One of the regrets for selling. One of the best driving experiences at any price. Small, nimble, happy to rev engine, great gearshift. Would easily own another one.
2012 Honda Ridgeline - 1st pickup. Did its job especially when I was moving around quite a bit at the time
2012 Audi A4 6MT - Great car for me at the time. Back when Audi and its LED was distinctive and special. Sport suspension was harsh though.
1997 Subaru Impreza 4AT - Average
1994 Volkswagen Polo 5MT - Interesting car. Owned it when I was in the Caribbeans, great for small roads with lots of change in elevation and tunrs
2000 Daihatsu Charade - Good enough. Owned for a few months, and upgraded to a Polo
2000 BMW 540i 5AT - 1st V8. Last of the great BMWs. Questionable reliability and fun when it worked
2004 Lexus RX330 - Great crossover, reliable, also forgetable
2002 BMW 325xi 5AT - 1st German car, still think it is one of the best cars I have owned. Classic BMW design. Classic BMW driving feel.
2000 Nissan Maxima SE 4AT - Family owned Nissans, liked the VQ30 engine, it was the most fun car that I could afford at the time.
1994 Mazda MX-6 5MT - 1st car, 1st manual, will always be special as it was the first one, but objectively not so much.

 

[Browndirtcowboy]

Ok I'll join but this brings me back to memories as to why my wallet stays thin.
1971 Chevy El Camino used
1987 Ford Mustang GT new
1990 Ford Mustang Saleen #52 new
1995 Ford F-150 new
1998 Ford F-150 4x4 used this is the last used car I bought
2006 Jetta GLI Manual new
2008 Audi A3 new
2009 VW Tiguan
2010 Honda CRV
2013 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon
2016 Toyota Tacoma 4x4
2017 Toyota Corolla XSE
2017 Toyota Tacoma 2wd
2018 WRX STI
2018 Toyota 4runner ORP
2019 Lexus IS 250
2019 Toyota Tundra 4x4 SR5
2020 Honda Civic SI
2020 Honda Accord Touring
2020 WRX Limited
2022 Subaru crosstrek sport
2024 TRD PRO terra color
2025 Toyota Land Cruiser premium
So many vehicles I'm sure I've forgotten a few
I gotta stop this is a sickness!!!
Now for some picks...

 

[alkioth]

First car was a 1980 Datsun 510 (circa 2004). My wife made me sell it 7 years ago because she sold her ‘76 Nova and said it was way cooler than my Datsun

In 2007, I bought a red ‘96 Nissan Frontier. Was lifted with stump jumper tires. I loved that pickup. Buuut I was stupid in a no stupid zone and broke the suspension, had it repaired, then lost my 4WD, and traded it in for a 2006 Dodge Ram single cab with extended bed. (It blew a PCV valve randomly, later it threw a rod but fortunately didn’t do any internal damage).

Probably around 2015 or so I traded that in for a 2012 Dodge Ram, extended cab for my kids, with the Hemi. I loved it, but around 70,000 miles I got the Hemi tick and had to have my head gasket replaced.

In 2020, since we were upgrading to a fifth wheel we upgraded the truck. Fell into a one-owner, super low miles 2020 GMC Sierra 3500HD AT4… fully loaded. It was so new and sick people kept stopping me to ask about it. People would give me thumbs up around town. It was weird. But that truck was powerful. It could tow anything.

Well, with kids getting older and using the fifth wheel less and less… we sold it, then we traded the truck in for my new beauty. First ever new new car for me.