Cars you wished you bought back in the day, and ones you're glad you didn't

[Raza]

I still kind of want a Saab 9-5 Aero wagon

I am having trouble convincing wifey we need more cars though. 4 cars (my Z, turbo'd; a cheap stickshift commuter for me and a Volt for wifey, and a euro midsize wagon for road trips/ garage sales/ hauling friends & family etc) would be perfect.

Whoa, whoa, whoa.

You want to turbo your Z? You, Mr. Turbos Are Only Okay On Camrys?

[12,000 RPM]

Yep, if for no other reason than to troll

[Lebowski]

I think I made a mistake getting the GTI. It was a nice enough car, but I knew when I bought it that it was a bit of an "experiment." After a few months I was already looking for another new car, but I was able to hold off a good # years before I took the plunge.

Other cars I was looking at, at the time, were a 330i and a Saab 9-3 Aero. I kind of wish I had bought the Saab, just so I would have known what it was like to own a Saab before they went out of business.

That's funny, I always thought the GTI was a great choice.

[AutobahnSHO]

Oh, you definitely do not need four cars!

whatevah!!!   

People who only own one don't understand the joy of choice. When I had my Miata still and the ex had her van and didn't want to drive either one of "mine" it was bliss to pick which one to drive to work every day....

[AutobahnSHO]

Wish I hadn't sold my Miata last year, and I shouldn't have bought a 1983 Honda CRX (ugly version) in 2005, it was a piece of junk. (Sold it a year later at a loss, but the sale financed my amp/sub I still have in my car..)

[SJ_GTI]

That's funny, I always thought the GTI was a great choice.

It wasn't a bad car at all. I sold it to my brother and still liked driving it once in a while. Only reason I think it may have been a mistake is because after a few months I already had the urge to get a different car. With my current car, I still have no urge to replace it (in fact I want to drive it another ~10 years) so I know I got the "right one" this time.

BTW, good call on the GTO Raza. I did test drive one when I was shopping and eventually got the GTI. it was a fun car, and drove "smaller" than I expected. I didn't take the plunge on that one either, which now that you mention it I also regret. 

Wonder how much a used ~400 HP GTO would cost nowadays. 

[12,000 RPM]

GTO is so ugly though. Impractical as well. Barring price, I can't see why anyone would get one over a Corvette, considering its back seat is FR-S level useless. I would go as far as to say it's the worst RWD LSx equipped car... CTS-V, G8, Corvette all strike better balances IMO.

[MrH]

I almost bought one of the very last remaining RX-8 R3 (in blue, just like Onslaught's).  Sold out from under me right before completing a deal.  I wish I had just paid they extra grand or so and bought it.  I still love those.

[Cookie Monster]

I still wish I could have bought the 86 Suzuki Samurai. Long story short it was sold out from under me, and I ended up with the Volvo.

[CALL_911]

I almost bought one of the very last remaining RX-8 R3 (in blue, just like Onslaught's).  Sold out from under me right before completing a deal.  I wish I had just paid they extra grand or so and bought it.  I still love those.

Hahah join the club

[MX793]

Hahah join the club

Yeah.  It wasn't an R3, but I was seriously considering an RX before buying the Mustang.

[Lebowski]

I test drove an RX8 before buying the C6, at Raza's insistence, but didn't really seriously consider it.

[Raza]

It wasn't a bad car at all. I sold it to my brother and still liked driving it once in a while. Only reason I think it may have been a mistake is because after a few months I already had the urge to get a different car. With my current car, I still have no urge to replace it (in fact I want to drive it another ~10 years) so I know I got the "right one" this time.

BTW, good call on the GTO Raza. I did test drive one when I was shopping and eventually got the GTI. it was a fun car, and drove "smaller" than I expected. I didn't take the plunge on that one either, which now that you mention it I also regret. 

Wonder how much a used ~400 HP GTO would cost nowadays. 

They're cheap. My friend got a mint one for like $18k

[Raza]

GTO is so ugly though. Impractical as well. Barring price, I can't see why anyone would get one over a Corvette, considering its back seat is FR-S level useless. I would go as far as to say it's the worst RWD LSx equipped car... CTS-V, G8, Corvette all strike better balances IMO.

I put a 6 footer in the back of a GTO and he had no complaints. 

[MX793]

GTO is so ugly though. Impractical as well. Barring price, I can't see why anyone would get one over a Corvette, considering its back seat is FR-S level useless. I would go as far as to say it's the worst RWD LSx equipped car... CTS-V, G8, Corvette all strike better balances IMO.

Is there any 2-door car that you don't think has a useless back seat?

And the rear seat in the GTO is vastly bigger than the FR-S.  5 inches more hip room, 7 inches more leg room, 2 inches more head room.  It's well bigger than an E9x 3-series coupe as well.

[2o6]

That EP3 I almost took the plunge on last year

[Rupert]

whatevah!!!   

People who only own one don't understand the joy of choice. When I had my Miata still and the ex had her van and didn't want to drive either one of "mine" it was bliss to pick which one to drive to work every day....

Keep in mind who you're talking to. :P I haven't needed 80% of the cars I've owned.

[FoMoJo]

Wish I had bought the '56 Buick, Robins egg blue with white interior and white convertible top.  Bought a '57 Studebaker Silver Hawk instead.  It was okay, but I still think about the Buick.

Wish I had bought the '70 Boss 302 that I test drove instead of the Mach I 351 Cleveland.  The Mach I was okay but it was a let down after driving the Boss.  I sold the Mach I after a couple of years but I think I would still have the Boss 302 if I had got it instead.

[12,000 RPM]

I put a 6 footer in the back of a GTO and he had no complaints. 

Was he dead

[ifcar]

I've fit alive into the rear of a GTO with fewer complaints than in many other cars. Those are real chairs back there:



Compared to FR-S/BR-Z:

[MrH]

I've fit alive into the rear of a GTO with fewer complaints than in many other cars. Those are real chairs back there:



Compared to FR-S/BR-Z:

Brz back seats actually look roomy in that picture compared to what they're like in person.

[280Z Turbo]

I don't consider the BRZ to be a legitimate 2+2

[GoCougs]

Wish I had bought the '56 Buick, Robins egg blue with white interior and white convertible top.  Bought a '57 Studebaker Silver Hawk instead.  It was okay, but I still think about the Buick.

Wish I had bought the '70 Boss 302 that I test drove instead of the Mach I 351 Cleveland.  The Mach I was okay but it was a let down after driving the Boss.  I sold the Mach I after a couple of years but I think I would still have the Boss 302 if I had got it instead.

The '57 SB Hawk is a classic though - exterior design ahead of its time.

[CALL_911]

I test drove one with my mother (I know, I know), who is 5'0". She couldn't even fit in the rear seat

[FoMoJo]

The '57 SB Hawk is a classic though - exterior design ahead of its time.

It was a nice design, even had machine turned finish on the dash.  Quite attractive.  The exterior style was very nice for the most part and an evolution of the Loewy coupe.  The underpinnings were a bit dated though, kingpins instead of ball joint.  Nice 289 V8 engine with a Borg Warner T-85(?) automatic.  It was great until it popped a frost plug in the middle of a dark foggy night and I didn't notice all the steam trailing behind...until I stopped at a stop sign and the engine seized.  Never was the same after that.

[Onslaught]

I almost bought one of the very last remaining RX-8 R3 (in blue, just like Onslaught's).  Sold out from under me right before completing a deal.  I wish I had just paid they extra grand or so and bought it.  I still love those.

The only complaint I have about the R3 is the seats. I love how they fell and how you don't move at all from side to side in them. But you can't adjust the seats side bolsters and the R3's seats are known for having the leather wear out and look like shit. My seat is doing this and it bugs the hell out of me. And new seat covers cost $5K a seat from Mazda because the air bags come on the damn cover. I'm going to take it to a good upholstery shop one day and have both front seats redone with higher quality stuff.

[12,000 RPM]

Semi regret.... not jumping on an S54 swapped 330i a few months back. Dude wanted 7K for it, that's the price of the engine alone.

[Raza]

Was he dead

No, but he was unconscious.