The “Water Cooler” is a feature on Claycord.com where we ask you a question or provide a topic, and you talk about it.
The “Water Cooler” will be up Monday-Friday at noon.
Today’s question:
What is the best vehicle you’ve ever owned, and why did you love it so much?
Talk about it….
1965 Buick Skylark. Grandfather purchased it brand new and passed it down to my Father then on to me.
“Brünhilda”, of COURSE !!!
She is a 2000 Lincoln “Navigator” 2×2.
She received all warranty checks and now gets only the routine maintenance servicing.
She stands on her nose if a human being runs out in front of her on Clayton Road (across from 7-11) … and also when dingbat little yappy dogs run from their owners right out in front of her.
She carries a lot of cargo, seats 4 adults (plus 2 children in the “backidy-back” seat, and she speaks to me with a German accent!
I know exactly where and what you’re referring to.
It’s like a buffalo jump
I’ve had several that I really liked, but the first one to come to mind was my 1962 Chevy C-10 pick up that I bought from a friend in the mid 70’s. That truck was indestructible. I drove it all over the back roads of the Sierra Mountains, the Nevada desert, Utah desert, Mojave Desert, and Death Valley. Across shallow streams, over rough rocky trails, and into places where there is absolutely nobody around for miles. It never failed me, and never broke down.
I love old Chevy and Ford trucks made before 1972, when they were made of all steel and no added plastic. They got 12 miles per gallon, but who cares? Gas was 37 cents a gallon and I was having fun.
In the 1950s I had a 1940 olds. It was already worn out when I got it. Had a real smooth ride and an automatic transmission. It took well over a mile to get up to 60MPHs. That was the worst car I ever had. It only cost twenty dollars from a neighbor though. My chevy truck is the best.
My current ride. 2005 Corvette 6-speed convertible C6. Looks good, drives better, top comes down. Nothing better. Latest in a 50-year love affair with roadsters.
In 1968 and for 2 years I had a boyfriend that owned a Corvette, I think it was a 1963 or 64 not sure, but I sure loved riding in that car with the top down, by the beach in Westport Ct. I also had a friend that would let me drive his Mustang it was a 1967 or 1968, also a nice car, lots of power I would zip around Westport in it whenever I visited from New York in 69 and 1970.
Hanne glad you mentioned back east. I had a 56 corvette back in those years but in Los Angeles.
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2008 Ferrari F430 Spider… Corsa Red with a manual transmission
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It’s a Ferrari. Period.
1974 Chevy Impala, had a 400 small block HD. I raced everything I pulled up next to, and those that raced, but for a Porsche and some guy’s built to the nuts Cutlass (who walked away from me like I was standing still), wiped them off the line. Some day I hope to replace this as my favorite with a mid’50s Chevy or anything from the 40’s or earlier…but for now…
My first car. ‘67 Camaro 350 SS. I had been saving since kindergarten and when I turned 16, I started looking for a used car to buy. When I came home with it, my parents were none too happy. Nothing better than the old muscle cars!
1976 Ford E150 van with the straight six engine. I think it had 300000 miles on it!
The stories it could tell!
Loved my ’65 GTO
Was it green, like the color of my extreme envy?
It was silver/blue, black interior, mags. I have a replica of it on my mantle.
1982 BMW 528e. My ex husband and I picked it up at the BMW factory in Munich, and then drove around Europe for a few weeks, ending up in my native Denmark visiting my family. At that time when you bought a car overseas you saved quite a bit of money, and if you put a certain amount of miles on it before shipping it back to the US, it is considered a used car, thus you save on taxes. We had plans to tour Europe and visit my family anyway so it made sense. When I got divorced 2 years later I got the car as part of the settlement, I liked the car, because it was dependable, performed well and good looking (same qualities I might look for in a man). I had the car for until 1993, then I bought a Honda Civic, big difference, nice car, but not much power, I have had 2 Honda Civic’s, now I have a Toyota Camry and much prefer that to the Civic. It is not a BMW, but it is a nice car and does not give me a lot of trouble.
’59 Bug Eye Sprite – split fold-down windshield, no top (not even rag), fire engine red. Fast little buggy.
Our 1992 Jeep Laredo 4×4 5-speed, SUV.
Named her Beast, got her brand new, and still have her.
Just the perfect size, room, and body style for me.
The absolute most dependable is my current car a 2016 Chevy Cruze. Nothing ever goes wrong. Nothing!
Most memorable was a 70’s Cadillac which was so smooth, quiet, comfortable and spacious. Fantastic stereo too. Drove like magic carpet!
Honda Insight 2001 Hybrid. Bought on January 2nd 2001. Silver, 2 door, manual 6 speed transmission. Best commute car ever. Car pool lane access and fantastic MPG. When I sold it the mileage was 48 MPG after 7 years. It was not slow either, got a speeding ticket on the Dumbarton Bridge. I regret to this day that I didn’t greet the cop with. “I bet you didn’t think it would go this fast, did you?” LOL.
I’ve had a lot of favorite cars, so I’ll just go with my first one, a 1964 MG Midget. It was so small, that instead of getting in, you put it on.
It had a lot of endearing and unusual features including a 1200cc engine, an electrical system with positive ground, true knock-off hubcaps, a pull-out starter knob, zippered tonneau cover, removable side-windows, and no outside door handles. I could drive all week on $2.50 of high-test gasoline. I could hit 100 MPH, but the car was so light, it went airborne every time I hit a bump.
I couldn’t put my seabag anywhere inside the car, so after boot camp, I traded it to my brother for a 1970 Barracuda, another favorite car of mine.
You likely know this, but the MG Midget was the successor to (a re-badged version of) the Kauai Mikes ’59 (Austin-Healey) Bugeye Sprite.
Aside: My FIRST car was a 1959 AH 100-6, the big brother to the Bugeye. That’s what started me down roadster road.
Bought a ’71 MG Midget back in 1973. Sure was fun driving up and down Diablo. I ran the bejeezus out of that car. One day as I was going 70mph through the 580/680 crossroads in Dublin the left front wheel bearing froze and broke the wheel off in a roostertail of sparks. Next morning my pop drove me down to retrieve it and it had been ticketed for abandonment. I told the judge there was no intent to abandon and he let me walk. Good times.
CalOldBlue, I did not know that. I Googled the Sprite, and I definitely see the family resemblance to the Midget. Like Kauai Mike’s car, mine came without any kind of top, except for the tonneau cover. During winter, I unzipped it and kept the passenger side covered, which helped keep my feet warm. I eventually got a top, but it was still awfully breezy.
My current 2006 Corolla 5 speed with 250K miles. It runs great. I’ve had it for the last 80K miles. All I do is change the oil. I stumbled into this car, it’s not even the car I want, but it will not die. I cannot justify buying the car I really want as long as I have one that is paid for, runs like a champ, and is insanely reliable. It will probably outlive me.
’88 Accord.
Sold in 2008 and I miss it to this day.
my 07 Toyota Tundra Crew MAX. Absolutely solid. I have hauled everything from concert stages to stuffed polar bears in that thing…best vehicle ever.
I loved driving my 1970 Mercury Cougar convertible…my brother restored it for me to purchase from him and 6 years later sold it for only $300 less than purchase price….best investment ever! I only wish I had kept it as it would be worth much more nowadays!
1952 Hudson Wasp – smooth, fast and very roadable.
1996 Impala SS, first year they got it right and last year they made it.
LT1 Corvette engine. First month was going to work, though I was doing 50 looked down at speedometer . . . 105. Learned real quick when on freeway and no using speed control to look at spedo often.
What they call an impala these days is an insult to the name.
Car would like to have owned Lotus Europa.
Little something to consider about newer cars,
‘Spy firm can monitor YOUR car in real-time and is offering to sell the data it gets to other companies and the US military’
dailymail https://tinyurl.com/bpakyfhu
Grace, my 1st car, Honda hatchback Civic. It was also a great small size truck.
I bought a 2006 Toyota Matrix in December 2005. It accommodated 5 people relatively comfortably (6 the time I travelled in the back when one too many friends got stranded. Held an amazing amount of crap. Used it like a truck, carried hay, grain and quite a few critters. Perhaps you saw her around town. Her entire back end, and up the sides were covered in ferret bumper stickers. Usually had a carrier in the back in classes of wandering ferrets. She was known far and wide as The Weasel Mobile.
My current car, and probably the last, 2015 Ford Edge SEL. Bought it used almost 3 years ago with only 17000 miles on it. 4 cylinder turbo. I can’t believe how much power it has!
My next favorite was a 1960 Ford station wagon I bought for $100. 00 in 1973.
Loaned it to this crazy lady who TOTALED it for me.
Also had a 1965 GTO back in 1976 bought for $60. It had a broken windshield, top drivers door hinge was broken that kind of fell down when opened, and numerous dent from the previous owner. Whenever it broke down he would WAIL on it!!
88 Volvo wagon. Handled nice and very reliable. I had to sell it to a friend because it was that good.
Worst 2000 Audi A8, drove great but constantly needed repairs. $800- new alternator plus labor.
1963 Porsche 356B Coupe. Silver, Black int. Strong, light, superb craftsmanship, durable, economical to own. Fun to drive, they don’t break.
The best and favorite are two different things with me.
Best was/is my 1989 Toyota 4×4 pickup I bought new in 89. I still have it with over 770,000 miles. I plan to restore it (though it still runs great) to near new condition. Everything about the truck was reliable, the battery didn’t go bad until 2006! Weather strips and hoses are all still good. A Camry bought in 2008 was no where near as reliable.
Best: 2006 Mazda 3 2.3L with a 5 speed manual. Quick enough, handles great (especially with high performance summer tires and Konis), reliable, and comfortable. Have done several road trips in it, including over 4,000 miles in 11 days, when we got as far as Mt. Rushmore. 176,000 miles and still going strong; still has the original brake pads and clutch.
Close second: 1967 Barracuda Formula S fastback with a 4 speed manual.
Worst, but I loved it – I just hated owning it: 1960 850 Mini. 37.5 HP and a hoot to drive. 80 MPH flat out, but on a tight twisty road, helping it rotate with the handbrake was soooo much fun. However, it was down for repairs about 25% of the 14 months that I owned it.
I also really liked our ’91 Mazda Protege (5 speed manual) that we donated with just over 250,000 miles on it.
I wish I could fit comfortably in a Miata, but I don’t.
Zoom Zoom!
Fellow Mazda fan here. Was looking for a family car that didn’t scream “minivan”, that could carry my two tall sons in the second row. Unfortunately, Bentley is the roomiest, followed by a different model Bentley, and then very large trucks/Expeditions etc. Stumbled upon the CX-9 in 2014, and bought it for a song (0% financing!). Best part is it is fast, reliable and holds my 6’3″ and 6’7″ sons in the second row very comfortably!
I know what you mean about needing legroom. It was time to replace our ’93 VW Eurovan, as it got towed 5 times between 160,000 and 172,000 miles. A key requirement was that it not be a VW and that our 6’4″ son (at 15 years old) had to be able to sit behind my 6′ tall wife (his mom). It came down to a Honda Odyssey or a Toyota Sienna. I drove them back to back and the Odyssey handled better, so we bought it. I doubt many people buy a minivan based on how it handles. We turned 197,000 on it yesterday and it has been a great car. Our son ended up 6’7″ as did his younger brother.
Lol…a miata?
Seriously?
Yes on the Miata. 0-60 in 6 seconds and a blast on twisty roads. If you need a fun sports car, the best answer is always the Miata. I can drive one, but only for about an hour. If you want to spend 2-3 times as much, the answer is Porsche Boxster or Cayman. If you want to set fast lap times on a track day, there are faster cars, but none more fun than a Miata. If Miata isn’t the answer, you must be a NASCAR fan.
I have had many cars over the years. My favorite was 1966 Corvair Corsa Turbo. Followed by the 1985, 1986 and 1987 Buick Grand Nationals that I owned. I really like the looks of the Corvair and raw performance of the GN.
So if I ever get the opportunity, I would build a mid-engine Corvair with the Buick GN motor.
1967 Buick GS400 It was a fast car for it’s size.
1974 Ford Maverick, white, excellent condition. Every time I got gas someone would offer to buy it. I finally sold it under those conditions. Handsome car, fun to drive. I wish I still had it
It depends on what you mean by “best”.
My 1970 AMC AMX 360 4 speed was my favorite for driving fast and handling windy roads
I kept it for 12 years & sold it when we had a baby on the way.
I had a new job and long commute…. so I bought a 1991 Toyota pickup truck with the 22RE 4cyl. engine.
Those trucks will last forever if you just maintain them normally. Got great mileage too. “Best” practical vehicle ever!
After I put my baby thru college I got another AMX… still have it… my weekend car.
My late Peugeot 10 Speed. It was agile and responsive. Alas! it did not survive the collision with a tree.
My 124 Fiat Spider convertible. I could not afford the maintenance. A man bought it for an investment. It was beautiful. I now drive a Honda Accord touring hybrid. It is black and shiny. It averages 38 MPG!
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I had a 1978 that I kept until 1992; never had any major mechanical issues (other than normal wear and tear).
Must have gotten lucky (or I had pre-paid my karmic dues during my 8 years of owning an Austin-Healey and a Jensen-Healey). Something over 200,000 miles (the odometer broke towards the end so I never knew exactly how many miles I put on it.
In 1970 I bought a 1964 1/2 Ford Mustang from my boy friend. Red on Red shift on floor hardtop. Didn’t even have a license when I bought it and my Mom got to drive it until I did. Best car I ever had. I learned how to do work on the engine to cut down on repair costs. Lots of great cars since then but that was my favorite one.
2017 Chevy SS, it will pass anything except for a gas station. 9mpg
My pop’s first new car was a powder blue ’61 Comet wagon. I’ll bet it’s still running…somewhere.
I had a 1973 Ford F250 stolen from me when I parked it at the Concord BART station. BART police is worthless as they told me that they provide a BOLO but they do not pursue investigation/tracking.
My first love and I wish I had not given her up was a 1968 Metallic Blue Barracuda w/the 340-ci engine and 4-spd. Boy, was she a screamer!!
I once owned a 1960s station wagon with fake wood paneling. That was fun. It did however have a severe exhaust issue and I was always breathing in exhaust. Tried to keep the windows down so I could breathe. I wonder how many brain cells that killed off. Maybe without that car I could have won a Nobel prize or worked at Google or something.
Was that the Ford “Country Squire”? If so, we had one as well…. color white (with the wood paneling), and we called her “White Lightning”. That car took us and our three children on many a shopping trip, to soccer and baseball league games, and on many a fine vacation.
(Ours didn’t have an exhaust problem, though.)
YES!!! That’s it. I had forgotten the name. It had rows of seat cushions in the back that could be pulled up from the flat bed to face each other. Wow. Its been a long time. I even had to Google it to remember whether the seats pulled up or came down.
1973 Ford Galaxy 500. That was the ultimate cruising car. It was my first car and I remember taking both my gang of friends (you could comfortably fit 6 teens in that car and many high school dates. Those were the days my friends I thought they’d never end.
My 1965 Pontiac LeMans with the 326 V-8 and 2 speed automatic trans.
Later down the road was my 1995 Toyota T-100 4×4 with the 3.4 V-6 with a 5 speed manual trans. Still have it with about 300,000 miles on it and runs great still….one complaint though…..the cassette player on the radio just croaked.
1998 Acura Integra Type R. OMG what a car. Now rheohuge money. Has to sell due to life circumstances years ago. I miss it every day.
1970 Chevy Caprice. Was my parents car and it sat in my mom’s garage for 27 years after my dad passed away before I shipped it to California and restored it. San Francisco Chronicle featured it in their My Rides section a few years ago. I took my drivers license test in that car.
My best so far has been my current 2009 Audi Q7 that I bought as a lease return. Built like a tank, great ride and handling, and the maintenance hasn’t been too bad. Does eat front brakes though with a curb weight of nearly 3 tons. Like I said, built like a tank. (color is close to a Panzer also…)
Favorite car was my previous Audi, a 2001 A4 wagon. Ran like a scalded cat and handled like it was glued to the road. Really fun and “tossable” on windy roads.
The things that both these cars shared was great ergonomics, everything you needed to manipulate is easy to reach and logical. Could get into either one, drive for eight hours, get out of the car and not be fatigued. Can’t say the same about any of the Fords, Toyotas or other cars I’ve owned.
Back in the early 80’s when AMF owned Harley Davidson, we used to insure motorcycles at our agency, mostly referrals from Bill Chaney in Pleasant Hill. The new owners would pull up in front of the office, drop the kickstand and lean their bikes over. Brand new bikes, right off the showroom, just started leaking oil right there in the parking lot. Good times.
280 Z – great car
Y’all with your 1960s – 1970s muscle cars make me sentimental for the “good old days”. My favorite car is hubby’s current BMW 6 series convertible, very comfortable and can beat almost any car (if I’m driving). Funny, the prior car (Porsche Boxter) was also fast, and we could never get to a stoplight without some kid revving their engine at him at the stoplight. Testosterone at its finest! While I don’t enjoy untangling the knots in my hair, it’s a great crusing-up-and-through-Napa on a sunny day kind of car. Why don’t more Californians buy convertibles?
I don’t know if I can really call it the “best” but my favorite vehicle, and by far the one that brings back the most fond memories, was my 1974 Chevy K5 Blazer. It had a full convertible top, lots of power, and went anywhere I wanted to go.
An investment vehicle I funded for a few years. I put about $ 2,000 into it and left a few years later with $12,000.