What makes this your car?
I drive a 2009 Honda Civic Hybrid because it was cheap and my city is too car centric to get away with no car. I walk more than I drive at least though
Got a few but winter time is my P2 Volvo XC90. Why? V8 go brrr
2017 Subaru Outback 3.6r
It’s reliable and convenient and has every feature I need or want.
It’s got pretty good adaptive cruise control, good cargo capacity, including seats folding flat so that my large dogs can fit comfortably. It’s got AWD and additional traction and hill features. It can tow my boat. It’s got a pretty good sound system. Heated seats and steering wheel (a necessity for those of us with Raynaud’s ). Two buttons for memorizing seat settings. Backup camera. High clearance. All kinds of pros and the only con is mediocre gas mileage.
I expect it to last for a very long time. It’s just practical all around. And I don’t need to drive it terribly much, so the gas mileage isn’t a big deal for me.
How do you like the 3.6r overall? I have a 2018 with the 2.5 and I love it, but I sure do wish I had more power sometimes. I get great gas mileage though (if I drive right)
I love it. I’m glad I got the 3.6r. It’s got plenty of power for accelerating at a reasonable rate (though I wouldn’t call it speedy like my old Mini was) and I don’t have to worry about hauling cargo or my boat.
Interestingly, when I last took it on a road trip out to Glacier National Park, some guy saw me getting into it and was so excited because he used to have one that was a couple of years younger and he missed it that he felt compelled to talk cars (I’m a woman–this is not a thing that happens to us). He went on and on about how much he loved and misses the 3.6r engine and how they’re just not the same anymore.
But I do use it for things like hauling boats and the occasional UHaul trailer or similar. If you’re just using it as a commuter car, the better gas mileage would make more sense.
I did test drive a 2018 before buying the 2017 and the 2018 had a nicer sound system.
Yeah the 2018 got the face lift with a bunch of new features, most important to me was carplay.
The 2020 Outback with the same engine and a slightly revised transmission design is rated for the same 3500 pound tow rating as the 3.6, and in Europe it’s rated for 3500 pounds. So if I ever get adventurous I might try finding a super light weight trailer and tow my Miata around. The car itself is right at the 2700 pound limit so I need to find a SUPER light trailer and probably go really slow. I have hauled around a few trailers and it did alright.
But the 4 cylinder just can’t compete with the flat 6 being perfectly balanced. I’ve joked before that if you put in Outback in reverse it’s now a Porsche.
Interesting. I didn’t know that about the more recent builds. It’s good to hear that there are still some options.
I bought my car at the beginning of 2020, and I wasn’t looking for new car prices, so I didn’t look at anything more recent than the 2018.
2019 Subaru Crosstrek.
When I was buying a new car I wanted three things:
- Manual transmission
- Hatchback
- All-wherl drive
Turns out there were only three cars that checked those boxes in the US for manufacturing year 2019: a Ford Focus RS (too expensive), a Mini Cooper Countryman (too Mini Cooper), and a Subaru Crosstrek. So I got the Crosstrek.
Great car. Mine is a 2021. Do lots of adventure things and need vaguely off-road capable vehicle, grew up driving stick and have only ever driven standard, it was basically the only option. Sad they don’t offer out on manual anymore.
2007 Toyota 4runner
I have a lot of outdoorsy hobbies and am an avid DIYer, so I need something with room for gear/lumber/etc. a roof rack to strap on my kayak or other bulky gear, a trailer hitch to tow small trailers or put a bike rack or basket on to carry a cooler and such when there’s no more room in my trunk, and some space for friends and/or my dog. Some ground clearance is nice for when I find myself on shitty deeply rutted dirt roads, and 4wd for when I drive onto the beach to go fishing. I’m also an essential worker (911 dispatch) who has to be able to get to work in the snow, and I work a weird shift that sometimes has me commuting before plows have been through.
I don’t really go “off roading,” I’m not going out looking for mud and Rocks to go driving over for it’s own sake, but I do sometimes, in the course of whatever else I’m doing, have to drive off the road.
I also sometimes camp in my car, and it’s nice to be able to fit an air mattress in the back, it’s a bit tight but it works.
It’s also the used car I could afford when my previous one got totaled on me.
My previous cars have been roughly the same sort of midsized SUVs- 2000 Isuzu Trooper (I really loved that car) and 2006 Chevy Trailblazer (it did everything I needed to but I was less of a fan, nothing in that car was quite where I thought it should be) so I’ve kind of dialed in that that’s the right size vehicle for me.
Ideally I’d like to have a small EV for most of my daily commuting and errands, and then a (small) 4x4 pickup truck for when I need it. Something like the old ford rangers (the new ones are bigger than I need) with an extended cab (not a full crew cab, just some back jump seats) and a 6 or 7ft bed. The maverick shows some promise, I’m hoping they add a midgate when they refresh it in a couple years.
But I don’t have the parking space or budget for 2 cars, so the midsize suv is kind of the compromise I’m stuck with.
My family has always had good luck with Toyotas, and I like my 4runner well enough, if I had the budget to be picky and needed a car, there’s a good chance I’d be looking at 4runners, though unless my financial and parking situations get better my next car will probably be whatever 10+ year old midsized SUV comes my way when this one goes (still going strong though, slowly inching up on 200k miles and still no major issues)
Mercedes E350 2008.
I wanted an old school Mercedes, but the old 90s S Class would have been too expensive to run so after a bit of research, I came across the W210 and then I realised than a W211 was within reach.
So I bought it. Been a bit of drama with it. 2 fender benders, parts and maintenance. I DIY a good bit and I am happy with my decision. Gone cross country three times with it and daily drive it on my job which involved driving around 200 miles a day. It’s comfortable, fast, and quite reliable.
I am happy with my decision till a light comes on the dash. Still, cheaper than car payments.
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I do not have a driver’s license :)
I’m not sure. I’m about to buy a car for Uber, but I’m not sure what I want to get.
I used a rented 2020 Toyota Corolla for Uber a couple years back, and that was pretty good. I’m tempted to get some kind of hybrid, so I might go for a hybrid Corolla or Camry (the Camry would qualify me for Uber Comfort rides, but that’s not that much more money).
I’m open to suggestions.
Daily: 2018 2.5 Outback. It’s nice, comfy, reliable, and overall an amazing daily driver.
Fun car: 1994 Mazda Miata. It’s a Miata.
Jealous. I have a 2011 prht and it’s amazing and a much better car in a lot of respects, but NA Miatas are just the best.
1994 Miata
I wrecked my car recently and this might be the new one if I can’t fix it. Did you get a 94 for the reasons I think you got a 94?
94-97 have the bigger 1.8 motor which I wanted. Coincidentally the 94 was the first year to switch to the new freon for the AC system so if I need to get it recharged (which I do) I don’t have to pay an arm and a leg for ancient AC that won’t even work well.
The guy I bought it from had 4 Miatas and actually prefers the 1.6 since you have to work harder for the speed, but the car is slow enough as is. It doesn’t need to be any slower.
If I’m not mistaken, the 94 is also the only year to have the 1.8 but still using OBD rather than OBDII, which supposedly makes it easier to slap a turbo in.
Preferring the slower version is wild, haha. I’ll be moving from a VQ platform so losing ~200HP is going to be an adjustment.
Just wanted to pop in and say I have a 95 with the 1.8; It’s OBD1.
Interesting! Any idea if it’s uncommon or anything? From what I’d read (which is admittedly not a lot), 95 is when they’d switched to OBDII, but maybe they made the change in the middle of the production cycle?
You know, I’m not certain on that. Now I’m gonna have to do some reading! I was just happy it had that combo when I bought it.
I think 96 was the first model year that had it. But the OBD2 mandate took effect in 1995 (for the 96 model year).
That said I’m not turboing the car and it currently has a check engine light so obd2 would be really nice right now.
It’s a Miata.
Let’s go!
It’s a Miata
'Nuff said (I’m only slightly jealous). A car that’s undetappreciated by too many gear heads. It’s a modern version of a 1960’s Lotus. Love it
2008 BMW 328i. I bought it used back in 2011 and it still cost almost as much as I made in a year at that time, but I really wanted it and otherwise I lived very modestly.
It’s such a fun car. I have the manual transmission and the sport suspension, and I love driving it. With that said, it’s not a practical car. Only I can drive it because no one else in my family knows how to drive a manual, and the sport suspension makes the car quite uncomfortable when going over any bumps. (I tell passengers “I paid extra for that” while driving through rough areas.) Oh, and forget about driving it in snow. I tried that and spun off the road several times before learning my lesson.
This car is almost 17 and while it was quite reliable for most of that time, now it’s at the point where everything is breaking all at once. I refuse to replace it because I can’t justify buying another rear-wheel-drive manual-transmission sporty car (one of the very few models still built like that) either to other people or to myself, but I still want to own that sort of car. I guess I’ll keep spending more than it’s worth on it… I just spent $340 that way today.
I drove a 328i for a few years in N. Alberta many years ago, winters and all. You just start out in 2nd instead of first and don’t do anything sudden. You get used to how much pedal to get it drifting in the snow and you could make some neat moves, especially when parallel parking.
I concede that you’re a better driver than I am because I don’t think I could reliably control the car on snow even in ideal conditions, but how did you drive for years without needing to do anything sudden?
I have this strategy where I put myself in the drivers seat of every vehicle around me, and think to myself “what is the stupidest thing I could do right now” and then I know exactly what they’ll do and have an escape plan ready.
And I’m not even being terribly sarcastic about that, it works way too well.
But seriously, have an escape route ready all the time. Riding a motorbike helps you think about how everyone else is trying to kill you at all times.
2009 Audi A3 sportback, it was my first “nice” car.
I keep it around despite the small fortune I’ve spent in maintenance because it’s fun as hell to drive.
We were until recently a one car household (my wife and I both work from home). So I drove a 2019 Toyota Camry. Why? Because that’s what my wife wanted.
My sister got a new car so I bought her old one off of her so I could have a backup on the rare times we needed two. It’s a 2012 Ford Fiesta. Why? Because it was cheap ($2k) and it gets good gas mileage. I also like the car because I’m a minimalist at heart. It’s very simple and I like that.
A bike is my preferred method of transport. Just a simple 3x7 steel hardtail mountain bike. It keeps me in shape and can go just about anywhere.
When I have to drive, a manual Subaru tends to be my ride: Capable, reliable, and fun I guess. I also use an ebike if I have to haul a lot but don’t want to drive.
If it’s going to be in city only, the old Honda Fit is hard to beat functionally: Easy to park, very maneuverable, and lots of storage.
I was looking at mountain bikes recently and found out the new norm is 1x. Been ages since I rode a 3x, but going to 1x seems attractive if only to remove the shifter.
I too bike around town, on 25mm tires, and usually with a trailer though. Such a joy to get everything done under your own power. Obviously this isn’t the post to tout such ideas, but more people should be riding around the city.
First I’d heard of that in mountain biking, unless are you thinking of the r/Xbiking subreddit? They often repurpose MTBs, sometimes with 1x, but often with other drivetrains too.
I was surprised too. Went into a local shop and every single one of their mountain bikes, be it full suspension or otherwise, was 1x.
They said most of the time a chain gets spit off a ring, it’s the front, so people have been converting over to 1x to keep the chain on, and going to 10-12 on the back to make up for the lost range.
No idea if it’s bologna or marketing but it seems to be the new trend. I’m guessing it’s beneficial moreso in competitive circumstances, but the only time I spit my road bike chain out is when I shift under too much pressure. I don’t really do much trail riding on account of not having an appropriate ride, so I’m just going off what this one person said.
They look nice though without a front derailleur. Makes me want a fixie.
Oh, you mean like 1x10 or 1x12? Yeah, that’s definitely a thing. I thought you meant literally one gear on a MTB.
Right, I should’ve been more specific. I haven’t shipped for a bike in eons so I don’t know when they became common. Last I remember using everything was 3x7 or so.
Would be funny to use a single speed on a trail though.
Our family car is a Nissan Murano. One of the few 5 seaters wide enough to fit 3 car seats. I also have a LWB Nissan titan that I love to death, but is always giving me shit, and I just don’t utilize enough to justify keeping. Once I fix what ever the hell is currently wrong with it it’s getting sold :(
