Am I ever going to find a car that I want to keep?

I'm 22 years old and have owned 10 cars and a handful of motorcycles.

1. 94 Grand Cherokee 5 Speed
2. 91 Nissan NX2000 (windblown hair)
3. 74 Saab 99 EMS
4. 92 4 door sentra body with NX2000 everything else + sr20ve and goodies. (anecdotally faster than stock STis from a roll. I still dont believe it myself)
5. 93 240sx SE hatch
6. 89 Si with konis/gcs (momentum street bomber)
7. 89 Si bone stock
8. 92 Civic CX with Integra GSR everything (everything) making 170 whp with well sorted suspension and tires. (this car was downright frightening)
9. 96 Subaru Impreza wagon 5 speed (had more fun in this than most of my cars due to their semi-offroad nature)
10. Just purchased a 91 cabriolet with assorted goodies. Still getting it road worthy but will be there in a week or so.

...and I still don't feel like I have owned a car that I would never want to give up.

I am on the quest for the car that speaks to me on the lowest, most primal levels... but 10 cars later and I'm still not there.

Is this a disease that I must learn to live with? Does one eventually find "that car?" Am I going to have a series of failed marriages? Why are 240zs so hard to find for a reasonable price? What is the meaning of life?

i'm 30 something and it hasn't happend yet... granted your finished projects list is much better than mine but still... there are so many options... always something new and shiny... and always something that could be better in the current car

I have lost count of how many cars I have owned.I( am guessing over 100 at least.) On a side note I have had most of the cars on your list at some point in my life. (I am on my 5th B13 SE-R). Why own one just one car there are so many out there to enjoy...

You asked this question...on this board...without ever owning a miata or a BMW...silly boy

I'm just trying to find a car that isn't rusting.

dogbreath wrote: I'm just trying to find a car that isn't rusting.

Mostly this. I'm 24, and I've owned:

77 Ram = Death by rust

76 Dodge Van = turned into a flatbed to stop death by rust

56 Dodge Lancer = Trannies for a 315 V8 are hard to find

67 Newport = Sold because it scared the E36 M3 out of me

95 Mirage = Killed by a pine tree along with my garage. 95 Ram 2500 = Death by high gas prices

Currently have a 93 Ram, don't know if I'll get rid of it.

Taiden wrote: I am on the quest for the car that speaks to me on the lowest, most primal levels... but 10 cars later and I'm still not there.

Eh, so what? I've missed out on a lot of stuff I'd like to have because I'm one of those morons that get sentimental about cars. I get attached to them, and won't let one go to try a new one, no matter how much I'd like to try it.

Taiden wrote: Is this a disease that I must learn to live with? Does one eventually find "that car?"

Some do, some don't. I'm actually kinda jealous of the folks that don't. Y'know how married folks sometimes wish they'd been single for a lil bit longer?

Taiden wrote: Am I going to have a series of failed marriages?

Well, if ya do..so will your exes. Just make sure you keep lil Taiden wrapped, so's ya don't end up in one by accident (don't ask me how I know, I'm tired of talking about it.. )

Taiden wrote: Why are 240zs so hard to find for a reasonable price?

Because they're 40 stinking years old! For all of their wonderful engineering, for all of their beauty, and for all of their remarkably breathtaking advancement of the art..they were built during a time when a nation struggling to recover from a lost war was trying to get back on its feet. They were made of recycled scrap, in a gauge thin enough to save money, and in an age before chemists figured out there's better ways than a "Rusty Jones" style sludge treatment to protect sheetmetal.

Yeah, I want one too. Only reason I said what I did is because I passed on a couple of em 25yrs ago. Remember what I said about being jealous of the "singles"?

Taiden wrote: What is the meaning of life?

A flat right foot, and an undivided attention.

We must be opposite people entirely. I'm 22, and I never plan on getting rid of either of my cars. Ever. My Fiancee and I (For only 9 more days!!) have plans to restore my old van (not that it's broken, but she wants to do it as a couple) and use it for road trips long into the future... As for my Mazda, i'm never getting rid of it- unless the building collapses on it. Then i'll keep whatever parts of it i can use as decoration...

I see the problem.. Your list shows just one RWD car and it had a marginal engine.

Try a fun engine in a RWD platform, ie 1st gen RX7, Miata, E30 etc

My problem is I want to keep all of them.

But of the 24 I own, 3 are AWD and just one is FWD and that is my economy work car

Try a C5 with a 6 speed. You may never go back

P71 is not on your list. (I think it is a phase everyone goes through)

Miata as others have said

Then there is Porsche.

The fun is in trying a lot of cars. I have been lucky to have had many many cars and have been able to drive many more from all different eras and types. The fun is looking for and obtaining the next one.

I am in my mid 40's and probably have had 40-50 cars tat I have owned. Some were just good deals others I wanted. Others were because I was broke and had no choice. I should make a list some time.

Meh, I'm pushing 40 and still swap cars constantly. I don't know how many exactly, but it's more than 50. I'm not sure if it's more the fact that I don't like the cars that I have so much as it is the thrill of the hunt for the next one.

Im 40, well over 100 cars to my name. Loved many of them enjoyed alot of them. Still there's so many more out there to try.

There will never be a perfect car for me. Heck just for my regular operations it takes at least 3. There isnt a one size fits all car that does everything I want and need.

Embrace it, learn to manage it so it doesnt make you go broke and welcome to the club!

28 a lil over 30 cars owned. and oddly enough my current car i cant see getting rid of (its quick but not scary fast, handles good but its fwd so bu it looks fantastic and everytime i drive her i have to smile) ive owned everything from miatas to mustangs to 200sx(first gen 2 of them one and 85 with a rb in it the other an 88 3.0) escorts( oh what fun an egt is) even a couple 3 series. and a few really nice sport trucks.... and yet i fall inlove with a fwd sport sedan with weak motor mounts. yep never getting rid of it.... ive had her for 5 years. and have only owned 2 other cars since ive had her... my f-150 and a 99 accent that was because i had a beta engine sitting in my shop and got a chance to buy a car for 100 dollars.... wish i had known about the challenge then. could have run a turbo betaswapped accent.

I suspect automotive ADD. And list what you didn't like about each car. Maybe there's a common denominator.

Also just the opposite; I seem to hold on to cars for a long time. In 28 years of autocrossing, I've had just 4 autocross cars:

1983-85 - 77 Rabbit

1985-91 - 85 GLH Turbo

1991-2003 - 91 Escort GT

2003-present - 03 Sentra SE-R

I think I've had 6 cars in the last 18months.

Parted S52 E30 last spring Sold 318 slicktop E30 April last year Traded in my '98 MOnte carlo Z34 (it was roached with 180k miles) on the 350Z Purchased 350Z April 1, traded-in late-June on 2010 Speed 3 And I have my third E30, this time a 'vert, in the garage now.

What I didn't like:

1. 94 Grand Cherokee 5 Speed gas

2. 91 Nissan NX2000 (windblown hair) looks like a frog

3. 74 Saab 99 EMS no real complaints
4. 92 4 door sentra body with NX2000 everything else + sr20ve and goodies. was just approaching my personal limits for FWD power. The reason for the S13 below
5. 93 240sx SE hatch honestly felt a bit portly, but wasn't well sorted
6. 89 Si with konis/gcs (momentum street bomber) hilarious corner carver but highly anemic
7. 89 Si bone stock interestingly, one of my favorite cars ever
8. 92 Civic CX with Integra GSR everything (everything) making 170 whp with well sorted suspension and tires. way too buzzy on the highway for daily use. tyvm b16 transmission
9. 96 Subaru Impreza wagon 5 speed portly and slow. This was offset by absolute hilarity in winter
10. Just purchased a 91 cabriolet with assorted goodies. Still getting it road worthy but will be there in a week or so. sloooooooooooow. no good budget motor options. getting nickel and dimed no matter where I decide to go to get more than 170 whp

I'm finding myself drawn to the likes of Fiat 124s, Datsun 510/240z, etc... but seems to be awfully hard to find these for my budget (read: CHEAPPP) around here.

Based on the above, I would suggest: a Saab with a turbo, S13 with an SR/RB and some suspension, any Alfa, something with a Rotary, E30 325is, WRX.

I'm very happy with my current two cars, but I'd still sell both of them tomorrow for certain others.

Miata, BMW 3 series (E30 and E36), Jeep Cherokee (XJ). I've had various of those three. Love them all and I've only sold some to upgrade. Right now I can't seem to get rid of any of my cars...you should see my driveway!

I'm 31 and never owned a FWD car. I find that odd. But maybe that is why you keep selling. Get yourself a good RWD car!

It helps to know what you are missing. Your experience thus far has been a truck, 7 underpowered 80s japanese cars driving the wrong wheels, a swede and one great old jap RWD car. So... in my broad generalization you have had about 4 different vehicles and only one that ever had any serious sporting intent. Live a little.

Take a serious drive in each one of the following:
- 1st Gen MR2
- 2nd gen Miata
- S2000
- E36 M3
- old 911
- any RX-7
- Any lbc

One (maybe all) of them will grab your attention.

Giant Purple Snorklewacker wrote: It helps to know what you are missing. Your experience thus far has been a truck, 7 underpowered 80s japanese cars driving the wrong wheels, a swede and one great old jap RWD car. So... in my broad generalization you have had about 4 different vehicles and only one that ever had any serious sporting intent. Live a little. Take a serious drive in each one of the following: - 1st Gen MR2 - 2nd gen Miata - S2000 - E36 M3 - old 911 - any RX-7 - Any lbc One (maybe all) of them will grab your attention.

I completely agree with your assessment.

There was a period of about 6 months where my daily driver was my relatives NC miata or Lotus Elise. I shouldn't have to explain my feelings about the Elise. The Miata was fantastic. Although, not an NB like you suggest.

The 911s on styling alone make me happy in the pants. Never driven one. I'd like to point out that I'm 6'3" so this can cause issues when selecting cars. Although, I'm often shocked about which cars fit me. (89 si???)

The early RX7s have always gotten me going on looks. Never driven a spinning triangle though. Although, in 6th grade I did an oral report on said spinning triangle. Still couldn't figure out why my classmates were talking about their pets?

My father owned a C5 vette. The car was fast and it handled very well, but I will be completely honest. It felt boring to me. It felt boring because it was so effortless? Accelerate from 30 mph to 80 mph? Sure. Fine. Before you finished the thought it was done. And it didn't feel like you were going fast... I think that is why I love cars like the civics. A lot of fuss in the time between zero and sixty. That said... the C5 was one of the only cars I've driven that was fast and could cruise the highway with total ease. Something I have always missed in all of my cars. (Except the s13 could have managed this. RWD cars always seem to have a better time with this? The taller-than-mt-everest 6th gear was a huge help)

In reply to Taiden:

At the risk of angering the motoring gods... I completely agree with the "C5 is boring" assessment. It needs a bit of work to sharpen the steering and stiffen the responses... it can be awesome with a bit of deep-pocket bolt on goodies but those will make it too sharp for highway cruising.

If you need a highway car that dances... start with the M3.

I'm pretty sure I could fall in love with a mid-engine Ferrari. But that's the stuff of daydreams and crack pipes.

Of the 12 cars I've owned, only #11 has hit me in that mushy spot which makes me unable to let it go. I've owned five BMW's and a NA Miata -- and I've enjoyed them all -- but none of them moves me the way my turbo NB Miata does. It's a keeper.

I am really sad to see my Miata go (took it for the first drive in about 9 months today), but my S2000 is the only car I've owned that puts a smile on my face yet doesn't irritate me in some stupid way... oh wait, you're 6'3"... HAHAHAHAHA sucks to be you!