Most of us - me included - seem to have acquired a motley collection of vehicles (aka 'projects' or 'those heaps over there'). With my move to the US I'm having to cull my car collection and (at least initially) I'll have to make do with one car (and the wife's Cherokee). Fortunately the presence of the Cherokee will absolve me from having to get practical car, but still.
Could you survive with a single car? And out of curiosity, what would it be?
I couldn't survive only because I'm constantly shopping for something I can buy and sell for a profit.
I've had at least two cars since I was 14 years old.
IF I could only have one it would be an E36 M3 4-door sedan.
I could absolutely survive with a single car.
MR2 Turbo
Celica AllTrac
KLZE swapped 4-door Tracer LTS
E36 M3
My MX6.
Any of the above.
I currently have one car and a motorcycle, the car is a 1998 Olds Intrigue, and no I'm not recommending this thing. The nice thing is that I can throw enough stuff and clothes to move somewhere [furnished] and be fine with just what will fit in the thing.
The Tempo thread got me thinking about building a LSx powered Volvo 240 wagon. Once the swap was performed, tested, and proven, I think that would be an even better vehicle for single car situations. This is my latest pipe dream.
'96 probe GT has been my workhorse daily driver since April 2004. i've gotten babies in and out of their front-facing and rear-facing seats strapped into the back seats (not for the tall, obese, or inflexible), i've carried eight 225/50-16 tires with the hatch closed, and it routinely knocks out 24 - 27 mpg in mixed driving over the last 5.5 years and 75k miles. it'll also hold a 16' extension ladder between the passenger front footwell and the drivers side taillight with the hatch closed.
it was also my $2006 challenge car, 16th in the autocross with only a set of hoosier A6's and went 15.12 at the drags.
so my vote would be 2nd-gen probe gt, followed by pretty much any hatch with folding seats and a manual transmission.
fornetti14 wrote: I couldn't survive only because I'm constantly shopping for something I can buy and sell for a profit.
Ah yes, I know that feeling. Unfortunately it seems that it's mostly other people who are making the profit in my case.
fornetti14 wrote: IF I could only have one it would be an E36 M3 4-door sedan.
Oddly enough, one of them is on my want list as well.
The last time I had one car was in 1988 and it was 1983 VW Rabbit. I guess I did spend about 6 months with just a '87 Sentra 4 door in 1990.
If buying now, I like the idea of a '00+ Toyota Celica GTS.
The reliability of a Corolla with a bit more "looks" and a fun engine along with the functionality of a hatchback.
That or a new Mini Clubman
Since you already have a "practical car" (and parts hauler!) there can be only one answer. Shame on the rest of you for not mentioning it sooner.
Miata 
I had single car when I was young. Back then I would drive any car that would let me take them for a spin. But now I’m older and more responsible so I only have married cars. My Miata is married to a Ford Five Hundred. Together they have a Ford F350. I think the Miata gets a tax break and the other cars get health insurance for being married.
Honestly I can’t get my head around the idea on having fewer cars….I am still scamming.....I mean discussing with my wife how to add one more car.
93celicaGT2 wrote: I could absolutely survive with a single car. MR2 Turbo Celica AllTrac KLZE swapped 4-door Tracer LTS E36 M3 My MX6. Any of the above.
I notice a Tempo isn't on that list. 
Junkyard_Dog wrote: Since you already have a "practical car" (and parts hauler!) there can be only one answer. Shame on the rest of you for not mentioning it sooner. Miata
I'm 6'5". I keep forgetting to mention a car I'm told I won't physically fit into. My bad.
sachilles wrote:93celicaGT2 wrote: I could absolutely survive with a single car. MR2 Turbo Celica AllTrac KLZE swapped 4-door Tracer LTS E36 M3 My MX6. Any of the above.I notice a Tempo isn't on that list.
No. Definitely not. I would rock one as a hilarious stupid project for lulz and nothing else.
Porsche Boxster S.
I've nearly always had a single car. I tend to have to sell one car to get another.
My list of recent singular cars (not counting the wife's) e30 325 Various Volvo 740 Turbos Fiat X1/9 Merkur XR4ti Alfa Romeo Milano
If I was forced down to one car, it would be either a foxbody GT hatchback or a 2nd-gen Bronco, depending on if I lived in snow country or not. I might also look at a WRX wagon.
AngryCorvair wrote: so my vote would be 2nd-gen probe gt, followed by pretty much any hatch with folding seats and a manual transmission.
That's what I did for 10 years, and it worked great. I'm now contemplating going back to that, with either a Yaris, or Accent 2dr hatch. Surprisingly, I can get a Yaris 20-25% cheaper than the Accent.
As inconceivable as only having one car is to me, if I had to make do under those circumstances, I'd probably go with a Mazda3 five-door hatch.
E36 M3 built to the specifications of the new Spec Series detailed towards the front of the latest issue. I was flabbergasted to see that the series rules had been intended to let people get wheel-to-wheel in a still genuinely streetable car.
pres589 wrote:Junkyard_Dog wrote: Since you already have a "practical car" (and parts hauler!) there can be only one answer. Shame on the rest of you for not mentioning it sooner. MiataI'm 6'5". I keep forgetting to mention a car I'm told I won't physically fit into. My bad.
Im convinced everyone can fit in a miata, comforably even. Bolt a stock seat to the floor (remove the hump first) if i did this in my miata i would have trouble seeing out of the darn thing.
One car? I have a family of four. SO this is what I would look at.
Sedan - Used First Choice - E39 540i sport. Close Second - E38 740i Distant third - 2005+ P71
If I was getting a New Sedan (MPG not a concern) 2010 SHO Hyundai Genesis Sedan Cadillac CTS
SUVs are a separate list all together. I am a ford fan so this would be biased.
Then there are trucks A Ford Lightning could be fun. I have seen them on the track and they can scoot as well as handle. Probably useless in winter snow.
In reply to CarKid1989:
I think I'd rather work up an FC RX-7 convertible instead. More space to move the seats back (I don't consider the back seat in these cars useful for real people over the age of 8 or so) and more space in general. Populate the underhood area with an FE3 or LSx and restore what else has not aged well, call it a day. In theory. Since I've never done such a thing it's a lot easier to write without knowing how much fun that would be...
I'm pretty happy with my WRX wagon. Fairly competitive in just about all disciplines. Enough room for the baby and all his gear. Comfortable, reliable and fun to drive. Handles the foul weather of Vermont quite well.
When I had only one car it was... drum roll... an E36 M3.
All you need are e extra sets of wheels with decent snow tires and r comps. Its everything you need to hit the track, the city, the mall or country club. It is fantastic in snow up to about 8" at stock ride height too.
If I was limited again - I might be wooed by a 911. I manage to get most of what I need into my 964 C2 including overnite bags, a wife & 2 kids. For commuting its awesome too but - the M3 did just about everything better except for the intangible "feel" of the car. Oh, and I'd need a utility trailer to bring tires to the track.
This is something I've been thinking about lately also. When younger always only had one car as that's all I could afford. Then my Korean wife learned to drive so a second car for her. Then I got an antique sports car. Then I added a Miata to the list. Four cars and three are mine (one a truck). Learned about autocross after I got the Miata. But the truck needs work and been I've been neglecting it till I need it. It's mainly used to haul stuff that won't fit in the cars. Friend has a WRX Wagon he's thinking of getting rid of (downsizing his collection also). I've thought about getting the WRX Wagon and a utility trailer and selling the truck and Miata. I could dd and autocross the WRX plus it's big enough to handle most of the hauling I do, especially if I add a small utility trailer. 
Anything that won't fit, just pay a little extra and have it delivered or borrow a truck from one of my many freinds with trucks. They give me a hard time for not driving a truck anyway, they think "real men" only drive trucks. I tell them I have a truck I keep at home, my little 2-seater is a lot better on gas and a lot more fun to drive. They won't ride in my miata with me, claim they won't fit which is fine by me.
Probably won't do it but am thinking about the feasablility of it all.
AngryCorvair wrote: '96 probe GT has been my workhorse daily driver since April 2004. i've gotten babies in and out of their front-facing and rear-facing seats strapped into the back seats (not for the tall, obese, or inflexible), i've carried eight 225/50-16 tires with the hatch closed, and it routinely knocks out 24 - 27 mpg in mixed driving over the last 5.5 years and 75k miles. it'll also hold a 16' extension ladder between the passenger front footwell and the drivers side taillight with the hatch closed. it was also my $2006 challenge car, 16th in the autocross with only a set of hoosier A6's and went 15.12 at the drags. so my vote would be 2nd-gen probe gt, followed by pretty much any hatch with folding seats and a manual transmission.
+1
I did the extension ladder thing as well with my 95 PGT. I hauled one of those plastic race car bed frames home in it too.
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