How many cars do/have you owned? Whats your favorite?

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How many auto-mobiles do you, or have you, owned? Even if you don't own a car, whats your favorite? or what would you like to own?

Feel free to say whatever you want about your vehicles, post pictures, whatever.

I own three atm, and have never sold or scrapped one (I still own my first vehicle).
a 1996 Dodge Caravan. First, and no I never wanted to own a Mini-van growing up, but the thing is dead useful! 3.3L V-6, and Ive towed the Volvo over 10 miles with it on a tow cable. 284K miles on it atm, engine still purrs. Runs strong. Transmission is the weakest part of the design (Its on its third one, but I only paid $1500 to put a 2004 Rebuilt Transmission in it, and the last wouldn't have died if I'd known more about its history and gotten it a transmission service). Roomy Enough to haul most pieces of furniture, comfortable enough to make long trips in without having to stop to stretch every hundred miles, and still pretty gutsy with that V-6 in it (As long as its just me in it, lol). Its been a trip keeping the thing running, but a learning experience as I do almost all my own maintenance.

a 1991 Volvo 240. Probably my favorite Sedan of all time. Nice square lines with none of the outrageous pretentiousness of the American Muscle Cars, though I think some of the Mid Range Lincolns from the 60s-80s could compete in this area. Im very slowly trying to restore it to stock. Original B230F engine in it, Sunroof, Power everything (Most of which needs to have the connections cleaned, so isn't working, but did the power windows already and they work fine, so I think Im going to find the same issue elsewhere).

and a 2001 Honda Civic EX. Daily Driver atm, Lots of guts for its weight with a 117 HP 1.7L Vtec engine, all Stock 5 speed. Ive beat Dodge Chargers/Challengers, late model Lincolns and Mustangs off the line, though Im sure they'd over take me in a straight race over any amount of distance. I think the reason for this tends to be that most of the late model muscle cars come with automatic transmissions that just dont seem to be able to keep up with a Manual for shifting speed, I can be in second Gear as low as 5 MPH and that will get me up to 60 if I push it, discovered this when comparing against a co-workers 02 Lincoln LS.

I've owned one car in my life. I'm actually surprised to this day that I've owned one and was able to drive. I'm happy I didn't run over anyone. heh. I used to fix it myself. I really used to be into cars. I Thought I would be an automotive tech one day. Didn't work out.

My favorite car is the Trans-Am. More stylish IMO than a Camaro and cheaper than a Corvette. Can't go wrong. Unfortunately, GM stopped producing them in '02.

My parents currently let me use a 1991 toyota 4 runner. I have had some alternator issues with it but just don't drive it that much.

@Twolf
I can understand where you're coming from. Ironically enough I was NEVER interested in cars growing up, they were like the ONE major mode of transportation I was never interested in. It wasn't until i started driving that I learned more about them, and I started from the inside out. I definitely DON'T want to be an automotive tech. Ive looked into it, and I think I could do it, but it seems too much of a hassle dealing with people to fix their cars..... I can just see it "What seems to be the problem?" "Oh, it wont run.", "Symptoms?" "It wont run...." etc etc ad nauseum.....

I agree about the older Trans-am vs the older Camero's. Have you looked at the newer Cameros (Think Transformer Movies if you haven't).

@ianorlin
Ive heard alot of good things about 4runners. Used to know a guy that would say "Why do they call it a 4runner? Because it was made, FOR RUNNING!"..... lol? bad joke, but w/e.

Alternators tend to be an easy fix if thats whats going on, but before you replace it try getting the battery tested (Alot of places will do this for free) because a bad battery cell can cause similar symptoms to a bad alternator in *most* vehicles (And battery cells are more likely to go out then alternators, not that alternators can't or don't go out, but its cheaper and easier to get a battery tested, or replaced then to go straight for the alternator and discover it was the battery all along). Wal-mart is a good place to ask for a Battery Test, and any place that sells new batteries. You can also try places like Midas, Meineke, Jiffy Lube, Costco, etc etc. Just ask to see if the test is free, and get it done, if you're not sure about the people or what they tell you get a second test somewhere else.

After that, Alternators rarely cost more then $200 new (Usually closer to $100 with a core exchange, which means bringing back the old one), and installing it yourself is generally pretty easy as long as you have some tools. Usually all you gotta do is slip the Fan belt off the alternator pulley, undo the 2-4 Mounting bolts, disconnect 2-3 wire connections and you're done, reverse order to install the new one, depending on make or model it can be done in as little as 30 minutes, and cost 1/2-1/4 of what some shops will charge.

Finally, if it is in fact the alternator, and its coming and going, I could suggest asking around for an auto-electric shop in your area, and see if they're willing to refurbish old alternators. something like 80% of failing alternators only need a couple little copper pieces (Called bushings? IIRC) replaced to work good as new. Theres a place near me that will refurbish alternators for as little as $30 depending on the size and complexity of it. Good Luck!

Thanks for responding both of you, and to everyone thats voted so far!
Aldran

lots, at least 20 over the decades. my fave of 'em all was a 2004 toyota avalon xl, this was the japanese taxi version with the split bench front seat and column shifter. rode like a buick but handled like a mercedes. roomy and very quiet inside, only thing which gave away it's camry origins was some road noise over coarse surfaces. wish i coulda kept it but i needed the money to move into a new place in a hurry so i had to sell to raise fundage. i also am fond of mid-80s caddy sedan devilles, they had the compact body but were full-sized roomy inside, just like the avalon, and they were quiet and smooth-riding over the rough stuff as well.

I'm a car nut, and I've honestly lost count, but it's around 100 that I've owned in 30 years. Right now, I have 11 cars and trucks, and several motorcycles. All but two of the cars and trucks, and all but one of the motorcycles, are insured and licensed as classics for part-time use, so they're not expensive to have.

I can't really say I have any particular favorite. Each one has a favorite purpose or feature... As far as being reliable and effortless to drive as transportation, my 2012 Toyota Tacoma is probably #1, and for fun, my '96 Toyota Diesel Hilux 4x4 rock crawler. It has no doors, so it's only fun in good weather, but it can go ANYWHERE and never get stuck in the mud, and I built the whole thing, so when something goes wrong with it, I can fix it easily since I know how it's built... and I don't care if somebody bangs a shopping cart into it, as it's already dented all over, and is in black primer.

Charles

Technically, "I" have only ever owned two vehicles. All the rest have been owned by my husband's company. But all the cars I've driven (more than just once, here and there):
Chevy Cavalier wagon - disliked
Dodge Ram 2500 (standard/diesel) - LOVED, has over 500,000kms on it and it's still running
Dodge Ram Van 3500 - LOVED, 15 passenger, was dark green and AWESOME, horrible fuel consumption
Dodge Ram 2500 (auto/hemi) - Meh, nice power, but such a gas guzzler
Buick Rendezvous - Meh, they make these pretty cheap
Ford Crown Victoria - Meh, smooth ride, a little high on the fuel consumption, too low to the ground for my tastes
Mercedes Smart - FUN, but as a two seater, highly unsuitable
Nissan Cube (MY first car) - FUN, roomy, good mileage, terrible for winter
Ford F350 - disliked
Ford F550 (standard) - disliked, was too hard to hear the RPMs for shifting, often stalled
Chevy Uplander (MY current vehicle) - LOVE it. Wish I had the extended version, but I've put over 50,000kms on it this year alone and it is AWESOME.

@Ianorlin
Unfortunately the world of Car Diagnosis tends to be a process of elimination, lol. I only suggested what I did based on what you told me ^^;. Regardless, Im very glad to hear the issue has been resolved. XD

@twolf
Part of me really likes "the look" of the new muscle cars. Camero, Charger, Challenger, etc etc. Even some of the new mid-size sedans (Which alot seem to be taking their cues from these muscle cars style wise), have an appealing look..... But then the practical side of me kicks in, and whilst soundly beating me upon the frontal lobes screams "OMG WHAT A WASTE OF MATERIALS FOR NOTHING BUT A "BULKY" LOOK!" lol. So I swing back and forth.

Further, since alot of them are automatics or "CVT"? (Something Variable Transmission, new technology where you can "Kinda" treat your automatic like a manual, "kinda"), they dont seem to have much Low end Torque or power, which is really disappointing. Im not kidding when I say my little 5 Spd Manual civic EX beats the pants off most of these V-8s on street conditions in the lower Speed/RPM Range (Im sure I would get a sound Dirt Eating at higher Speeds though). I only bring ~110 HP to the table, but I have a Vtec with a manual transmission (Except for the low weight of the car, I honestly feel I could tow a Camper up a hill with this Car, it has that much torque, though Id worry about blowing/overheating the transmission doing it even if its capable of it power/torque wise), and I can go from 5-60+MPH in second, 3rd gets me to 80-90 no problem, meanwhile I can tell these newer beasties have all the power they need, their transmissions just aren't keeping up with my abilities with a manual......

So, yes, cars kinda grew on me. In alot of respects I think Trains, Ships, and Aircraft (My primary interests through most of my youth) tend to be alot more simple at face value, while offering a complexity lent from their more specialized purpose. Its not hard to understand or even demonstrate the principles of Steam Technology, Rails, Buoyancy, or even Aerodynamic Lift, where as all cars have are Wheels and internal combustion engines.... However, having grown up, and thoroughly disassembled and reassembled a few engines and a car or two, I have learned to appreciate the mechanical realities of an auto-mobile.

@ nobody in particular
I got my van running for the first time in like 2 months last week, really jazzed about that. Airtex Fuel pumps piss me off now though let me tell you (last one only lasted about a year and a half, then when I replaced it with another airtex, it died after about 2 weeks <.<. Hopefully Carter (sp) from Napa will last longer, we'll see....)..... This weeks itinerary? Get the Volvo running. Broken Valve Spring *groan*, but I have a second head Im going to clean up and throw on it XD.

@everybody
Thanks much for the Replies everyone! Keep em coming! Im honestly curious to see a cross section of car ownership/experiences (Accurate/Reliable or not, certainly not empirical) on WP.

Aldran

I've only owned one--a 2004 kia rio. I bought it used in 2008.

I've owned at least a dozen cars since I got my license in '91. My first car was a 1980 AMC Concord, chocolate brown and ugly as f*ck. My dad had bought it used for my mom, and she didn't need it anymore. I got rid of it a year later for a 1975 Plymouth Valiant with a worn out 318 V8. That was a nightmare of a jalopy that I wanted to trick out but never did, no money. Sold it to a Mexican who DID spiff it up. Most of the rest of my cars either died after a few months or were in wrecks that were my fault. (I have ADHD.) My favorite was probably a 93 Geo Metro which my mom bought for me despite the fact she couldn't afford the payments after she went on a tear about "you and your junky worthless cars!" It was 1996 and she'd just poured $3k into a 1980 VW Rabbit that I thought was a steal at $975, only to have it die after two months. I wrecked the Geo after 7 months. It got 35 mpg with an automatic and 3 cyl engine. Great car. They're collector's items now, people actually restore them. I currently drive a 2008 Corolla that my mom bought with an inheritance. She had to take my dad's car keys away, and she drives his van.

i thought amc concords were cushy