SECOND CAR: August 1996 - April 1999. 1985 Toyota Celica. White. Had air conditioning when I got it. Ran out of air, I guess. AM/FM stereo. Blown speaker in the back. Bought a stereo with a tape player June 1997 and replaced speakers with new cheap ones. Never took the face off. Got stolen. Went back to old stereo. Why don't I have it anymore? - Had an oil leak. Kept forgetting to check oil. Ran out. You know what that does.

THIRD CAR: July 1998 - October 1998. 1980 Ford F-150 Extended Cab Pickup with a camper. Brownish & Blue (if I remember correctly). AM/FM Stereo with casette player. Two gas tanks. Why Don't I have it anymore? - Fell asleep at the wheel and flipped it...three times. Landed on wheels, got out with my elbow scratched and withing two minutes the truck was in flames. There was, however, the Hooverphonic CD found laying face down on the road with indentions all over it. Still plays to this day. Also salvaged was a rubber snake I found cleaning up ANACONDA opening weekend that hangs above my current rearview mirror as well as in the Toyota and the Ford.

FOURTH CAR: SEE SECOND CAR.

FIFTH CAR: September 1999 to present. 1998 Oldsmobile Cutlas Ciera. Maroon. Air Conditioning works (pretty much) butheater doesnt really work much. Headliner falling out. Hope to get something else soon. Don't know what though.
 

J/K

Acually Honda Prelude.

Aside from the fact that there were probably only 100 black men in Vermont that year, and even a white face or shirt might have tipped me off that there was something in my path, I was suddenly made aware just how stupid driving a black or dark colored car is. Now that I live in the sunbelt, driving a black car would be not just stupid, but hot and stupid.

I've driven a Nova straight six, a Nova Spirit of America edition tricked out with Holley 4bbl & Eidelbrock & enough other junk to bring the mpg down to a respectably abysmal number, a Datsun B-210, a Toyota station wagon, an F-250 pickup with camper, a Honda Accord, a Ford Galaxy, a Camry, an Astro Van, and a Ford Falcon. If your friend can make sense out of that mix, I'd like to hear it.

Past autos have included a 1967 Ford Falcon, 1969 Chevy Nova, 1976 Chevy Malibu, 1977 Olds Omega, 1986 Olds Cutlass Ciera, and 1987 Dodge Shadow.

------------------
John P. Pytlak, Senior Technical Specialist
Worldwide Technical Services, Entertainment Imaging
Eastman Kodak Company
Research Labs, Building 69, Room 7419
Rochester, New York, 14650-1922 USA
Tel: 716-477-5325 Cell: 716-781-4036 Fax: 716-722-7243
E-Mail: john.pytlak@kodak.com
Web site: http://www.kodak.com/go/motion

First Car in 1983: 1972 Dodge Van w/ a 318 V8 - but only 7 cylinders worked. It got about 7 miles a gallon. Couldn't get any dates in High School driving a van though.

Secong Car in 1985: 1985 Nissan Truck - no radio, no air, no cigarette lighter, vinyl floors and seats... plain ol' truck. Bought it brand new from the showroom and wrecked it two weeks later in the ice and snow.

Third Car in 1987: 1987 Old's Calias - black metallic w/ grey leather interior. Great car, but I sold it for.....

Fourth Car: 1989 Chevrolet Beretta GT - the car that keeps on ticking. It's sitting out in the parking lot now with 241,000 miles on the odometer. Wrecked it in Oct. of '97 and split the welds on the unibody frame. Still drivable but because the fenders were bent down on the front wheels, I had to figure out a way to drive home only making LEFT turns!! I went to a junk yard and bought the front HALF (from the dashboard to the front bumper)of another Beretta for $500.00 and had it welded to the front of mine. The body of the car was blue, but the front end was metallic gray. Wrecked it again in the ice and snow in Jan. of 1999, and went back to the same junk yard and bought more fenders, headlights, bumpers, and another hood for $200.00. Made the repairs myself in the basement. The car then had a blue body with one black fender, one maroon fender, a black hood and a white truck lid. Painted the maroon fender black with Krylon, the headliner is falling out (it's like riding in a circus tent), the radio has a broken-off toothpick holding the power button in place, and the windshield wipers come on every time you hit a bump in the road. Other than that... it's a great car and gets about 28 miles a gallon.

Fifth Car: 1996 Ford F150 Truck - it sits in the basement during the week and only comes out on weekends. It's 5 years old now and just turned over 28,000 miles. This one should last a while.

------------------
Barry Floyd
Floyd Entertainment Group
Nashville, Tennessee
(Drive-In Theatre - Start-Up)

Second: 1991 Buick Skylark 3.3L V6, White, bought new in summer 1991, now has nearly 170000 miles on it.

Third: 1987 Buick Somerset 3.0L V6, White, parents bought new in Fall 1986 and sold to me for $600. Has nearly 180000 miles on it.

I'm currently driving the second and thrid cars alternating between the two. Both are in excellent running condition and the A/C works on both. I'll drive them as long as I can.

Many people cannot distinguish easily between the two cars, since they have almost identical body styles. When people come to my house, they ask, "You have two of the same car?"

------------------
Evans A Criswell
Huntsville-Decatur Movie Theatre Info Site

2nd car: 1973 Toyots Corolla. Drove down through the south east and to Key west in 73 in this for 69.00 total in gas! But then it was only .35 a gallon too.

3rd car: 1975 Toyota Pickup, was great for dive trips to Florida.

4th car 1978 Toyota Celica Great Car...Got many speeding tickets in it.....

4.5th car When the 78 Celica got wrecked(not by me) I got temporarily got 1969 Buick Skylark 350 with 4 brl and turbo 350 tranny, no polution crap on this one. Left most stuff in the dust including the dust. Was a great car.

5th car 1980 Toyota Celica Vroooooom.....

6th Car 1987 Dodge Caravan....Biggest piece of junk I ever owned two transaxles and three trannys later I finally sent it to the crusher.

7th Car: Can't remember this one. I was so pissed at the Dodge Caravan that my mind obviously went blank after that. I'll come back and fill this in when It pops back in.

8th car 1990 Ford Aerostar stretch Van: One of the best vehicles I ever owned. Tabbed up 210,000 miles of service calls before I traded it in on a Dodge V-10 Pickup

8.5th car 1955 Chevy with straight 6. Someone before me had dropped a 262 truck 6 banger in it and a turbo 30 tranny. Ran like a bat out of hell. Left it behind when I moved to SLC. Figured I could get another in better more rust free shape.

8.51th car 1986 Honda CRX This thing was lotsa fun to drive. Eventually it sucked in its head gasket like most of them eventually do.

9th Car 1997 Dodge V-10 Pickup. Since the Dailies buisness was booming around this time I got this truck as the entire booth would fit into the truck. You didn't know it was in the back though. Really great truck zero problems except for gas consumption. When I switched it over to synthetic oil the mileage went up an average of 2MPG! Sold it after I got to SLC for that gas reason.

My Present car is company provided, 19 whatever Mazda Protowhatever. Its free so I drive it. Pretty comfortable car. At present I am looking for a 4wd thingy to drive up in the mountains. Not sure what I'll buy yet.
Mark @ GTS
 

Cost me 200 Pounds stirling ($328.00 US)

It was custard yellow, but after a year I had to change the doors & hood.The only ones I could find were Red. So for 6 Mounths I
drove round in a Jam rollypolly with Custard.

FORD (FIX OR REPAIR DAILY)

Current car, 2000 Chrysler 300M. Bought it new with 27 miles on it. It currently has about 7,500 miles. I love this car, it has everything the Gimpo lacked and is very cool. License plate VT 300 - Virginia Tech 300.

------------------
Colin Wiseley
Lyric Theatre
Blacksburg, VA
www.thelyric.com

2nd Vehicle - 84 Buick Regal (known in College as the Illegal Regal), 3rd - 91 Dodge Shadow (most dependable I've owned), 4th - 97 Dodge Avenger (piece of crap) - Current 2000 Dodge Durango (love everything about it except the gas mileage, thankfully it's only 2 miles to work)

Greg Borr
Ready Theatre Systems

 

Second Car: 1984 Mercury Cougar (1992-1998)

Third Car: 1990 Chevy Lumina Euro (1998-Present)

Other vehicles: 1983 Ford F-150 (1999-Present)

 

From that point on, sprinkle in a couple of Ford Gran Torinos, and Mercury Montegos, a few more General Motors, and a Chrysler. Then, add in a 1977 Lincoln Continental V in 1987, and a Caddy Sedan Deville. I had a Shovvy Pick-up once - and deposited it into the wrecking yard.

For the next several years, mostly Honda Civics.

Seventh: 1991 Ford Taurus POS (still have, nobody wanted it. When it dies, it meets a forklift at the local wrecking yard!)
Eighth: 1986 Ford F-250 XLT Lariat Diesel (still have)
Ninth: 1993 Mercury Topaz. (Just acquired three weeks ago)

I had many more as project cars I bought out of the junk yards, rebuilt, drove, sold, or given way. Some are still on the road today.

Best car: the 1956 Ford.
Very worst car: 1974 Chevrolet Caprice.
Best truck: Any one of my Ford F-series.
Worst truck: A Chevrolet.
The VERY VERY WORSE pile of crap I ever owned other than that Chevrolet Caprice - The 1991 Taurus!

If I owned it today I would donate to my friend Gary Bussey who works as a projectionist outside Denver. Whereever that is....................
 

First car (1983-86) 1960 Ford Pickup, POS with 223 six cylinder and 3-on-the-tree. Paid $600, Traded for a motorcycle and stereo equipment

2nd: (1986-87) 1972 Plymouth Satellite 318, air Paid $100, Sold for $500

3rd: (1988-91) 1988 Pontiac Sunbird my first new car, had Washington personalized plates that read -XENON- Ended up giving it to my mom and dad after it got too expensive to insure- They still drive it to this day

4th: (1991-1997) 1973 VW Bus 1.7L dual carbs The first car i got for free. Sold for $400

5th (1991-1997) 1981 VW Scirocco- the go-fast good mileage car Paid $200, Ended up donating it to charity.

6th: (1997-present) 1985 Ford Ranger- has fuel injection problems so its sitting out in the middle of a field gathering dust and spiders Second car i got for free.

7th: (1996-present) 1984 Mistubishi 4x4 pickup Its currently sitting in the driveway with a blown head gasket 235K miles on it. Paid $400...

8th: 1986 Isuzu Trooper II, third car I got for free, dropped $2K on a transmission rebuild after it quit on me shortly after I got it, It is what i drive now (share with the g/f actually as we currently have only one running car) Leaks oil like a sieve from the front main seal and gets bad gas mileage but it runs and has air conditioning... Personalized plates 'Z NON' (transferred from the Scirocco) Well over 250K miles on it.

I think I need a new car...

Aaron

(1981-82) 1974 AMC Gremlin, yellow, bad rear main seal, went through clutches, $900

(1985-88) 1981 Honda Civic, Silver, $2,100

(1988-Present) Specialized Rock Hopper, Yellow, $600, been all the way to Tunisia and Back.

(1991-2000) 1992 Plymouth Colt Vista, Teal, $12,000 only new car. Had an unfortunate end. My best car, I managed to get it to 85,000 miles

(2000-Present) Bought in desperation for $5,400, it has 111,000 miles on it.

NORGE

"I don't so much test drive cars, as I try them on for size."

2nd car 1995-Present: A metallic gray '85 Mazda 626 coupe that has also remained in the family (cousin -> grandfather -> me). All stock--just an AM/FM/cassette used to listen to traffic reports, jazz, classical, and anime scores (?!). 53,000 to 185,000 miles--runs good but it's getting tired.

3rd car later this year: Probably a '98+ Honda Civic or Accord. At age 46 this will be the first car I've ever had to make payments on. Am I cheap or what?

 

Personally, I never buy a car on credit anymore. Making car payments bogs down the finances too much, and when the last payment is due, well, that's about what the car is worth. A new car is one of the worst possible investments anyone could make.

A truly observant person who has been reading the forums for the last few months would know what kind of car I drive.

It's 7 years old. It has 100,000 miles on it and it's still going strong. I have only gone through two sets of tires and one set of brakes all around. The engine needs a bit of work. (It's starting to burn a little oil) I need a new exhaust pipe, but that's all. I still get 35+ MPG out of it. In these days, with as much driving as I do (1,000 miles per week.) this could be an absoulte life saver!

My OTHER car is a Corvette. It's up on blocks.

(Oh, Bruce is disqualified from guessing. He already knows. )

When I'm not hauling anything, I'm on a purple '73 Harley FLH. Trips to the film depot are done in an '88 Dodge mini van, blue with 162k. Still going strong.
 

Ok.. here goes..

age 16- 1st car- '73 Ford Maverick 4dr. had been wrecked and it was piss yellow.. really. Had a 302, so I didn't care. The funny stares from others at school dissipated when they saw the clouds of white smoke creeping from the tires..

age 16- Bought first street bike - '85 Yamaha maxim.

It's too difficult to remember the ages, but her goes for the rest of the vehicles in chronological order...

'7x yamaha GT-80 {grey}
'?? Honda Trail 70 {gold}
'83 (I think) Yamaha Enduro 100 {white}
'78 Accord hatchback (CVCC 4 cyc auto) {red}
'85 Accord LX hatchback (4cyl auto) {red}
'8x yamaha YZ250 {yellow}
'84 Jeep CJ-7 (258 inline 6, 5 speed) {tan}
'90 Yamaha FZR 600 (bike) {black/red/grey}
'93 Yamaha Pro-VXR (waverunner) {white}
'90 Honda CRX Si (5spd 4cyl) {Rio Red}
'85 Jeep Cherokee (2.8l V6, 5speed- 4wd){blue}
'93 Honda CBR 900RR {red/white/blue}
'93 Honda CR250 {red/white}
'95 Camaro Z28 (loaded-5.7l-6Speed, etc..) {white}
'90 GMC Jimmy (K-5 4wd - The Beast) {white}
'98 GMC Yukon (4wd - loaded). {white}

I think that's all. Oh, and I still own the 900RR, the '98 CR250, the Yukon and just sold the Z28 last week. Buying a ski boat to replace it.

Have I had enough? Nope. Will I? Nope. Does my insurance company love me.. Hell yes..

------------------
The early bird may get the worm, but the second mouse gets the cheese!

methinks you have wayyy too much time on your hands..

------------------
The early bird may get the worm, but the second mouse gets the cheese!
 

(Ask Rachel I race her little red ford all the time )

------------------
--Sean McKinnon
Asst. Manager/Projectionist
Gloucester Cinema 1-2-3

1. 1982 Renault LeCar standard 4 spd(lasted 4k till the block cracked)
2. 1985 Dodge Omni GLH turbo standard 5 spd(Fastest car I have ever had until my latest. Could blow the doors off of a late 80's Mustang) sold for $1400 hundred. Still on the road - I still see it and regret ever selling it.
3. 1984 Mercury Capri believe it was a 4spd. 302 and the worst piece of crap I have ever ever had. Gave that one away.
4. 1986 Dodge Omni 5 spd.(was a great car until I was hit from behind by a tractor trailer)
5. 1984 Honda Civic 4 spd.(probably would still be driving it if my ex girlfriend did not bury it into a four foot ditch)
6. 1990 Plymouth Sundance. First automatic!!Probably the cleanest car that I owned until it was T-boned
7. 1987 Mazda RX-7 turbo 5 spd.(sold it for $2500 waaay to tickets)
8. 1989 Isuzu Trooper II 5 spd.(Just like Aaron - leaked about a quart every week from the rear main seal.) Blew the clutch. (junked once again)
9. 1986 ex-police package. Dodge Diplomat. Automatic. 360 with a 727 tranny. K frame rusted right off. Junkyard anyone?
10. 1971 Chevy Suburban. 3onTree. I believe it was a 300 i-6. Had the old ambulance swing out doors and all. And once again ex-girlfriend wreked.
10. 1972(3?) Dodge Dart Swinger automatic. with the engine tranny combination from above. Carb fire. Junked once again
11. 1991 Chevy Caviler(sp?) auto. Got 25 thousand out of this car in a year. Still have it up on cinder blocks
12. 1989 Saab 900 turbo. 5 Spd. Lost the tie rod against a curb. Too much money to fix. But what a great car. Noo compaints what soo ever.
13. 1993 Dodge 5 spd!!!(see a commen theme almost?) Spirit twin turbo. Not an RT version of the same but a heavily modified wonderfully fast car that has a horrible tranny leak. I think this one I think will be it for another 40k. As long as I can keep up with the payments.

Of course one day I will buy new. But why bother? LOL

Yes, I have seen your car. HOWEVER, I have not heard your car. You sneaked into the parking lot while I was not looking, and left after I left in my Toronado. For all I know, your car was teleported in and out of the Waffle House. Of course, you never saw my car running either, so for all you know, my car is a permanant part of the lot!

____________

Other uses for the name FORD:

Fix Or Repair Daily (Thanks Jonathan!)

Found On Road Dead (My personal favorite! )

Full Of Rotton Defects

++And this one is from a Ford Lover. He's a nut:

First On Race Day

And heres another:

GMC---Got-a Mechanic Comin'...
 

Second Car - 1973 VW Bug auto-stick. Damn i loved that car, but it was not good for running field service calls. Sold it for $50 more than I paid for it.

Third car - 1991 Saturn SL-2 5 speed. That car kicked ass.. a lot of people have mixed opinions of saturns.. but i loved mine. I ended up selling it to my friend's wife to give to their 16 year old daughter a couple months ago. It had 185,000 miles on it and is doing great!

Fourth Car - 1969 VW Bug convertible.
Currently undergoing restoration. I have all the parts.. I just need to put it together and have my killer paint job applied to it!

Fourth Car - 1988 Plymouth Voyager. This was my parent's van. They wanted to trade it in on mom's new 2000 Saturn.. but it needed brakes and they weren't going to get but chump change for it.. so I bought it for $500 and I love it.. runs great.. 150,000 miles - original transmission, 3.0L V6 and working A/C (that i converted to R134 freon)

car wishlist -
1994 Plymouth Sundance/Duster 5 speed 3.0L V6! i test drove one once, and i LOVED it!.. hopefully i can have one some day. The 1994 was the last year of the sundance/duster. it was replaced by the neon

-sean

Car Acronyms
* Does Contain Profanity *
GMC
Got Mechanic Coming
Generally Mediocre Cars
Garbage Man's Companion
Garage Man's Companion
Get More Chicks
Got More Crap
BUICK
Built Under the Influence of Captain Kangaroo
Big Ugly Indestructible Car Killer
CADILLAC
Can't Always Drive In Lanes Like Average Cars
CHEVROLET
Cheap Heap, Every Valve Rusts, Oil Leaks Every Time
Car Has Extensive Valve Rattle On Long Extended Trips
Cheap, Hardly Efficient, Virtually Runs On Luck Each Time
Constantly Having Every Vehicle Recalled Over Lousy Engineering Techniques
Crappy Hot-Running Engines, Very Rusted Out, Lose Every Time
CAMARO
Cobras And Mustangs Are Really Optimal
Can't America Make A Real One?
Cool American Made Automobile, Runs Outstanding
IROC
Italian Retard Out Cruising
I'd Rather Own a Corvette
OLDSMOBILE
Overpriced, Leisurely Driven Sedan Made Of Buick's Irregular Leftover Equipment
Oh Look Dammit, Some Massive Oil Burning Idiot's Leaking Everything
Old Loose Dented Sheet Metal Outdated By Infamies Like Edsel
Old Ladies Driving Slowly Make Others Behind Infuriatingly Late Everyday
Old Ladies Driving Slowly Mostly Offa Bridges Into Lake Erie
PONTIAC
Poor Old Nitwit Thinks It's A Cadillac
GTO
Gas, Tires, & Oil
SATURN
Supposedly American Technology, Unfortunately Really Nissan
CHRYSLER
Cheap Huckstering to Rowdy Youth Save Lee's Early Retirement
Car Having Really Yucky Stupid Lazy Engine Runs
Could Have Remained Your Sickly Lame Elderly Relative's
PLYMOUTH
Please Let Your Mother Out from Under The Hood
Please Leave Your Money Out Under The Hood
DODGE
Drips Oil, Drops Grease Everywhere
JEEP
Junky Electrical & Emissions Parts
Jump Excitedly in Every Pothole
AMC
Afro Motor Company
MOPAR
Most Often Passed At Races
Mostly Old Parts And Rust
Mostly Old Paint And Rust
Move Over Power Approaching Rapidly
FORD
First On Race Day
Found On Road Dead
Fucked Over Rebuilt Dodge
Fix Or Repair Daily
Fraternal Order of Restored DeSotos
Fucking Owner Real Dumb!
MUSTANG
Mostly Used Summers To Attract Naked Girls
PINTO
Put In New Transmission Often
Please Insert Nickel To Operate
COUGAR
Crafted Of Upholstery, Garbage, And Rust
DeLOREAN
Don't Ever Let One Rich European Acquire Narcotics

IMPORTS:

AUDI
Accelerates Under Demonic Influence
Another Uninformed Driver Insulted
Another Useless Device Installed
Always Unsafe Designs Implemented
BMW
Babbling Mechanical Wench
Bavarian Manure Wagon
Bayerisher Mist Wagen (Bavarian shit-car, in german)
Beastly Monstrous Wonder
Big Money Waste
Blasphemous Motorized Wreck
Born Moderately Wealthy
Break My Windows
Bumbling Mechanical Wretch
Bowel Movement Wagon
FERRARI
For Every Really Rich American Racing Idiot
FIAT
Fucking Idiot Assembled This!
Fucking Italian Attempt (at) Transportation.
Failure in Automotive Technology
Feeble Italian Attempt at Transportation
Fix It Again Tony?
Fix It All the Time
Fucking Italians Ain't Trustworthy
HONDA
Helping Out Nips Destroying America
How Odd-No Damn Acceleration
Hold Overs Not Doing Anything
Hell Of a Nice Damn Automobile
Hand Over Dollars to Asians
Historically, Orientals Never Drove Automobiles
ACURA
Automobile Causes Universal Road Accidents
All Cars Usually Require Adjustment
Awful,Crappy,Unreliable, Rusty Automobile
Asian Car, Uses Rice Activation
JAGUAR
Jews And Germans Usually Argue Retail
HYUNDAI
How Young Urban Nitwits Drive Automotive Imports
Hope You Understand Nothing's Driveable And Inexpensive
LOTUS
Lots Of Trouble - Usually Serious
MAZDA
Major Asshole Zooming Down Alleyways
MERCEDES
Men Expressing Real Cocky Egos Driving Expensive Sedans
MITSUBISHI
Maybe I'll Trick Some Unsuspecting Babe Into Some Heavy Intercourse
NISSAN
No Intelligent Service Station Accepts Nissans
PORSCHE
Pretentious, Obnoxious Rich Shits Can't Have Everything
Puts Out Really Smokey Carbonate Hazardous Emissions
Pulled Over Regularly So Cops Have Enough
RENAULT
Retarded Engine No Acceleration Ugly Lump of Trash
SAAB
Still Ain't A Beamer
Swedish Automobiles Always Break
SUBARU
Send Undercover Boat And Radioactive Uranium
TOYOTA
Take Out Your Own Trash Akamoto
Too Often Yankees Overprice This Auto
LEXUS
Lousy Engine, Xplodes Under Stress
TRIUMPH
The Risk Involving Useless Machinery Pays Heavily
VOLKSWAGEN
Very Old Lady Kills Someone, Waves Adios, Gets On Ninety-five
VOLVO
Very Odd Looking Vehicular Object
YUGO
Young Ugly Guys Own'em

First car, 1978 MustangII, given to me by my grandpa, would not run, dad rebuilt the 2.3 liter four banger. Got great gas mileage, could easily sqauk the tires (four speed manual) and ran a 18 second quarter mile (down a small hill). Still own this car, its tarped up and dad is building a 351W for it this summer (fingers crossed) may opt for a beefy 302 instead.

Second Car was a 1982 Monte Carlo, V6, limo black windows all the way around, rust all around too. Had a sunroof though! Only 400bucks, drove it for 6months and sold it for 350 bucks, good deal I think. Got my first speeding ticket in it too.

Third car, this began my facination with small cars, 1986 Ford Escort. Bright red. Great gas mileage and CHEAP to insure.

Fourth car, 1991 Escort GT. This thing was sweat, four wheel disc breaks, same engine Ford Cart race cars use, tinted windows. Had this car for a year, insurance was a lot for a college student also got myself a second speeding ticket. 55 in a 25, but the officer only wrote the ticket for 5 over. HE RULES! Sold the car to my parents, who bought it for me for the same price they paid for it once before. They love me.

Current Car: 1988 Chevy Sprint (Import) this is a Suzuki motorcycle with a car body put on it. I cannot get parts for it's three cylinder power house that cranks out 45 base horsepower. It actually uses a motorcycle carb that pushes gas like a mofo in the city. I get 20mpg in the city and 45MPG on the highway. I will drive this car until I win the lotto or it dies. If I win the lotto I am using the motor to build a gocart!
A damn fast one that!

My dream car is a Diablo GT. I would really love a Ford Focus with the Ford Racing package. It has lots of personality and is fast as hell.

 

It's not a normal car. I can't give a lot of details but I can tell you that I have to keep it under 88 miles per hour.
 

You forgot Izuzu!
 

'90 Poniac Grand Prix (5 Speed)

Now I have:

'94 Plymouth Accliam (Auto)
-and-
'91 Ford Escort (5 Speed)
 

1st: 1978 Honda Civic.
2nd: 1979 Volkswagon Rabbit (Good Car)
3rd: 1982 Oldmobile Cutlas Cruiser Station Wagon. (Diesel) (BPOS)
4th and Current: 1996 Ford Ranger Pickup (I love this vehichle. Have 120,000 miles on it, and outside regular maintenace ie. Oil changes, brakes, tires and a clutch job at 117,000 miels. I have had absolutely no problems with this vehicle.
 

2nd Car: 1970 Ford Capri 1600GT Red with two white racing stripes on bonnet and roof. I love this car, nowadays my fiance drives it.

3rd Car: FIAT X-19 This was a real classic, had to get rid of it as was too impractical with only 2 seats.

4th and current car: Ford Laser TX3 4WD Turbo, is probably known in the US as a Mazda 323. This is the rally version and it certainly is a little rocket.

I have to go now and burn a little rubber.

Paul
 

For fun: Volvo 164 '73 B30 3litres 130 Hp
Back-seat removed and replaced with wooden floor - othervise doggie falls down...

/ p.
 

1st car I drove on a regular basis: '79 Volvo of some sort, mustard yellow with brown interior. Automatic. Handled more beautifully than anything else I've driven.
Wish I still had it, but my parents kept it when I moved out, then gave it to my younger brother as a graduation gift.

1st car I owned: 89 VW Golf, dark blue. Fun little car to drive, decent on gas. Seems to be plagued by gremlins. Throttle sticks when its cold (SCARY to drive in winter here!). Would rather drive it than current vehicle.

2nd car I can call my own: 85 Chrystler 5th Avenue, white. This thing is a freaking land-yacht! Its also a gas-hog, and has issues with highway driving. But hey, it was given to me. Plus, I drive less than 8 miles from home to work and back…

What would I want for a car? Err, something that doesn't look like a boat, something that isn't a cop-magnet, something that gets decent gas mileage… But hey, I work at a cinema, I don't get paid enough to be able to afford to go out and buy what I want for a car!

~GLB

------------------
In some cultures, what I do is considered normal.
 

Many "second" cars, theoretically for hauling crap around, or when the GT6 has its carburettors in the kitchen:

1971 Chrysler Newport midnight blue 4 door - beautiful floating interstate starship with air conditioning that would keep Walt Disney solid-froze with all the windows down on a Gulf Coast summer. I had a VERY life-changing experience in that car: was late once (forgot about losing an hour going across a time zone change) & realized that the only way to be on time involved: 60 mph = a mile a minute, thus -- 120 mph = TWO miles per minute. Buried the speedo on an interstate past 120 into invisibility...then set the cruise control. As it cushily, confidently, & silently loafed like that through the whizzing landscape, I was transfixed, thinking about & SUDDENLY UNDERSTANDING ALL ABOUT EINSTEINS THEORY OF RELATIVITY, previously it had been just rote memorization. Speed = distance/time, BUT THE EQUATION CAN BE WRITTEN ALSO as TIME = DISTANCE/SPEED, the equation we were given in elementary school; THEY ARE THE SAME THING, not discrete. The epiphany is that Time is not a constant. Suddenly, everything else starts lining up.

1964 Dodge 440 Station wagon - wonderful for hauling anything. Cool, Raymond Loewy-looking aero rear end, lovely blue the color of the sky on a hot summer day (it was invisible in parking lots on such days). Pushbutton transmission, massively fast when already rolling & would out-accelerate & top end foolish 80's & later products, of course. Required three days' written notice for stops from speeds above 90 mph. Spontaneously one night while driving at 90 when the radar detector went off, I reached down & turned off the headlights. The cop when he came around the bend, must have thought it was an invisible UFO. The Dodge Wagon & Chrysler Newport were terminated (while stationary!) by family members while on extended loan.

A Yugo! Actually, a very good car, but like Mini Coopers, they suffered from being cheaper to replace than repair, & most folks didn't even go to the expense of changing oil or cam belts. The transmission lever felt like stirring sewage with an oar, though. The Yugo was the last carburetted auto sold in the U.S. ! How long has it been since you heard a backfire? I may hear an old truck backfire somewhere maybe once or twice a year now, & it is a nostalgic sound.

1957 Jaguar XK 140 Drophead coupe - everybody wants to succumb to the need for a convertible at some time. The XK 140 seemed like it would be the perfect cross between the enjoyment I have for both small sports cars & big Chrysler products: weighed a ton, steel I-beam ladder frame, steering wheel like you'd find in a bus, monstrous 16" wheels. Front bumper miles away from steering wheel, turning computations were like gunnery computations. Incredibly powerful, was fun for pulling pickups out of the sand at the beach. Too beautiful though: you couldn't park it anywhere. Too many times I'd get gas, go inside to pay for it, come out, & someone, male or female, woulld be *sitting in my car*, touching the burled walnut dash, fingering the gauges, etc. I'd get to the driver's door, look at them, they'd look up sort of dreamily & say "is this your car?" Do you know how hard it is to repress the need to yell "GET THE F*** OUT OF MY CAR!" As a second car, it was unworkable, because you couldn't take it or park it anywhere. Also, after the restoration, I was just too intimately familiar with every nut & bolt, but did not have an emotional attachment commensurate with the over-familiarity. Knew it so well I was tired of it; you know how that goes.

I tend to drive lots of different cars, & find GM's, BMW's, & Mercedes boring, appliance-like vehicles. Like driving refrigerators.

I need another Dodge Wagon or Chrysler Newport (sniff, sniff). Or maybe a Jeep, if AC is acceptable in the things. Maybe an Amphicar, they're homely enough to park anywhere:
http://www.amphicar.com/previous.htm

quote:

---

It's not a normal car. I can't give a lot of details but I can tell you that I have to keep it under 88 miles per hour.

---

It's a Vega! (Or Monza.)

Maybe an Isetta. 'Way under 88 mph.
http://www.rose-hulman.edu/~carrlr/isetta.html

Randy is way too cool to endure a VW Bug or homicidal VW van.

No, the reason I can't go over 88 MPH is because when I do strange things start happening. Maybe I ought to disconnect the flux capacitor.
 

Not a Delorian. If so you would be the first person I have ever known with one!! (Well besides that crazy old inventor down the street... He could never get that or anything to work right.

But honestly if so - did you build the kit yourself or was a pre-conversion one?
 

There's a catch. That link won't be active for another 20 to 30 years yet!

It's funny, I seem to remember those friends of mine back in Georgia who warned if I didn't buy a Honda Accord, any other car I purchased wouldn't last 5 years.

As profanely high as car prices have risen (not to mention gas prices), I often joke how my next "car" will be a bicycle.

I have only one car on my ownership "list." But if you want to talk about computers or electric guitars, I could provide an actual list there.
 

Mine is a 1964 Buick Special 4D sedan, V-6, automatic. By way of explanation, "if you don't drink, and you don't smoke, and you drive a car that's 38 years old like I do, you would be AMAZED at what you can afford just out of the savings in petty cash!"

But I'm really flying on cloud-9 now. After years of looking, I've finally found a CLOCK for my car! [from another '64 in junkyard.] And soon, I'll have it running and installed.

 

quote:

---

No, the reason I can't go over 88 MPH is because when I do strange things start happening. Maybe I ought to disconnect the flux capacitor.

---

A DeLorean! Yes, hooray! He drives a stainless steel bodied, Colin Chapman-Lotus-chassis derived funkyride!

How are you living with the gull wings? The first person I knew who bought one new was a doctor, who flew out (taking his garage door opener), picked one up new, drove home with a big smug happysmile, opened the garage door with the remote from inside the car as the neighbors watched enviously, drove in, opened the car door to get out - thunk, thunk, umm, Houston, we have a problem opening gullwing doors in the garage, I can't get out of this thing...

The old Mercedes gullwings were notorious for looking snazzy in pictures, & stupid in practice: the gull wing doors meant no roll down windows, & when it got hot, they were often driven with the doors open. They looked like big stupid pterodactyl-like birds going down the highway...

First car I ever bought: 1984 Ford Tempo (because my current wife wanted that one).

Second car: 1989 Pontiac Grand Am (yeah, she picked that one too. The worst part was that I got to keep it after the divorce). Disposable alternators.

First car after the divorce *grin*: 1996 Ford Mustang (I'm free!!!!)

Second car after the divorce: 2000 Ford Mustang (replaced the faulty 3.8 liter "exploding engine design").

Third car: 2001 Ford Taurus (Driven primarily by new fiancee).

Um, is anyone else starting to see a pattern here? *grin* I still have the Mustang, but once the vows are spoken.....

Trash Fords all you want, but you can't beat thier extended warranty (ESP) plans. They're not like the after-market warranty crap that some of the other makers sell.

If the kids dump a large Pepsi into the window motor at 74,999 miles (within six years), I get a new window motor installed for fifty bucks, as well as a loaner car to use while it's in the shop.

If the engine explodes (Hey! It's happened before!) I get a new one for fifty bucks.

The initial warranty is also bumper to bumper until 36,000 miles without the $50.00 deductable.

I have had very few problems with any of the Ford products that I have driven (Well, except for the exploding engine in the '96 Mustang). The Grand-Am was a nightmare and the future wife's Grand Voyager (which was offered in trade for the Taurus) was a "tinkerer's dream". The sales depertment at Ford was kind enough to send a tech to the house with a booster pack to get the darn thing started. I reciprocated the kindness by following him back to the dealership so he wouldn't be stranded if it locked up!

With the cost of driving the way it is today, a big part of a car's reliability is the cost of the tech support after the sale.

I like Ford. Call me crazy, but they don't often break down on me. When they do, I don't have to re-allocate grocery funds into car repairs.

Russ

 

Joe, I'm glad you found a clock for your car, the old heaps in allot of the junk yards out west here are still quite clean and could be restored......I even know of a junk yard just for Rolls Royces thats out west too. Of course no Rolls owner would ever admit to going there..???!

Mark @ GTS

Great little car, gets about 35 MPG, used to get 40. Needs new struts, valve cover gasket, has rusty frame. A bit underpowered, but down a hill one can achieve 106MPH(My dad was driving I swear ) no tickets yet, lose races often

When gas hits 2.00, I'll say to hell with driving and start running. I put over 1000 miles on my legs last year! You have to settle for 12 MPH though.

After all, shoes are cheaper than tires

Josh

Next car I want is a Chrysler Sebring Convertible Just like the one Bob Maar gets to drive sometimes

 

2nd and still have it - 95 Chevrolet Silverado has 110K miles, only thing I've done to it is keep the oil changed, and replaced worn tires. Had to replace the alternator twice once because of bad bearings, and the 2nd time the diode blew up, but it was covered under the warranty. The 5.7l engine is a gas hog, but damn, its reliable

3rd 99 Ford Tarus (wife's car) ~40K miles. this thing is an utter piece of crap. Engine knocks, had to have the transmission replaced, windows squeal like fingernails on a chalkboard when rolling them down.
 

2nd car: 1991 Buick Skylark V6 3.3L (I bought it new). It's got 165000 miles on it and still runs well.

3rd car: 1987 Buick Somerset V6 3.0L (parents bought it new in Fall 1986, sold it to me for $600 2 or 3 years ago). It has 172000 miles on it and still runs well.

Oh gosh, I'm getting old. I discovered that I've already posted my "car history" on the first "page" of this thread. If my condition worsens much, people are going to think I'm older than Bob Maar.
------------------
Evans A Criswell
Huntsville-Decatur Movie Theatre Info Site

#1: '73 Mustang w/351 Cleveland. Like a fool, I traded it in on:

#2: '77 Mustang Cobra (with T-roof). It was a hauler, but then I got a practical minded girlfriend and traded the car in (saving a bundle in insurance in the process) on a...

#3: '79 Mustang. Went from an 8-banger to a 4-banger. What a letdown. I had to get rid of it. Went to:

#4: '80 Mercury Zephyr. Pretty big car, but sporty looking. I had it for three weeks, then got run into by a drunk, totalling the car. So I got....

#5: Another exact copy of the same '80 Zephyr. I was in a major partying mode while driving this car, and am surprised it didn't get more worn out than it did. Looking to be more compact, I went to:

#6: '82 Ford Thunderbird. Nice car, but it had a ridiculous interest rate, so when the rates went down, I traded it for:

#7: '86 Thunderbird. Pretty much the same car, but with a bigger engine and lots more luxury gadgets. At 86,000 miles, the engine started crapping out, so I traded for:

#8: '92 Ford Ranger. Got tired of hauling film, boxes of candy, trailers, standees, etc. in my car seats and trunk, so I became a pickup guy (also hoping to score more chicks than the T-bird was getting me). That didn't work, but the pickup was about the best vehicle I've had. Learned my lesson about oil changes with the T-birds....change it religiously every 3 to 5000 miles and your engine will outlive you. Words to live by. Anyway, I drove 125,000 miles in the '92 Ranger before trading it in for:

#9: 2000 Ranger. Basically the same truck, only with 4 doors, which is really nice. Also in 2000 I got married, and in so doing acquired a '97 Pontiac Grand Am. The good thing about this (other than the obvious good stuff about being married) is, the mileage on my pickup has been cut WAY down. The thing is over a year old and only has 11,000 miles on it.

This has been fun, going down automotive memory lane.
 

My ultimate dream car...well, thats easy! Deusenberg by Al Leamy or Gordon Beuhrig, Auburn Boattail by Beuhrig/Leamy, Lincoln or Packard by Ray Dietrich!
 

What year Randy? 1981, 1982, or 1983.

------------------
Barry Floyd
Floyd Entertainment Group
Nashville, Tennessee
(Drive-In Theatre - Start-Up)
 

The Mercialago (SP) is my new dream car, and for my "I WISH" practical car, I want one of the 2003 Neon SRT's. Top speed of 148mph, 0-60mph in less than 6 seconds, and it will be Dodges second fastest car, only behind the Viper.
 

My Dream car is a 1996 RX-7 FD-3S

 

Dream car well XR6 Falcon ute (much smoother than V8) or late model jag sedan (big 6) or might even settle for Jag XK8 (sex on wheels).
 

1st car: '84 Olds Cutlass Cruiser. Dad traded a shiplight for. 168k+ miles, engine died on hills (never took on the freeway because of this), occasionally lost power while driving, light blue (paint was coming off though), and had a funky tape player installed that was WAY too big for the dash. After a couple months it up and completely died on me. My dad took it to the dump and gave me:

2cd car (still drive): '79 Buick LeSabre Limited. 84k miles (original engine. I have it up to 97k now, but an elderly woman was said to drive it before my father purchased it in '96-it had 60k then). The body BADLY needs work-different shades of blue, 4.9 liter V-8, AM/FM radio, recently had the R-12 AC charged, and one of the few cars around with a Quartz analog clock set in the front dash (my father being a watch and clock collector is proud of that). Nicknamed "Sabotage" because it resembles an old 70's cop car, like out of the Beastie Boys video (I know, I know the car in the video is a Ford Crown Vic, around the 1980's, but the name sticks with me). Been in two accidents with it (none of them my fault): Rear ended full-on by a F-150-no damage, and backed into by an El Camino-no damage. It's my lovely tank
 

2nd car - 1987 Dodge Charger - maroon - traded it in for

3rd car - 1992 Chevrolet Cavalier - gold - blew head gasket, replaced with

4th car - 1997 Chevrolet Cavalier - white
 

Later cars included (my first bought on my own) 1969 Chevelle, 350 cid/ 4 barrel carb /411 rear end. Did 1/4 mile in under 13 sec..

Late cars were Chevy Vega / GMC Jimmy / a crappy used 1971 Mustang /
Datsun and then a nice '78 Monte Carlo followed by an assortment of other crap until I now have a beautiful 2000 Ford Taurus with all the bells and whistles (pedals are even adjustable..so cool).

Most of my cars were 4 or 5 years old when I bought them, and came with the usual inherited problems. Advice..buy close to new (when you can afford it). Look for something that is 1 to 3 yrs old. Let the rich guys take the depreciation.

Happy Motoring
 

1984 Nissan Maxima. Another hand-me-down. This time, a gift from a very wealthy uncle.

1987 Chevy S-10 Pickup Truck with extended cab. Very nice. Sold it when I went to college.

1985 Audi 5000S - Was nice until started having engine trouble, and then it seemed like it was always in the shop for SOMETHING.

1997 Saturn SL-1. My first brand-new car. Saturn is a really cool company. Those commercials aren't lying! I'd buy another one if I ever lived in the States again.

1995 Honda Passport with 4WD. Very nice until I started having engine trouble. Actually, it turned out that this one had a bad gasket and coolant was getting into the head and caused a crack in the engine block...anyway...I sold it to the mechanic.

Now, I either walk to work or the theatre owner comes and gets me...depending on which location I'm going to (one is only across the street, the other is across town and two are on different islands, so I have to fly there).

------------------
And, hey! Let's be careful out there.

~Manny.
 

1 - 85 Buick Electra
2 - 76 Datsun P\U
3 - 84 Pontiac 6000 Coupe
4 - 64 Oldsmobile F-85
5 - 83 Datsun 310GX
6 - 76 Buick Skylark
7 - 81 Mazda RX-7
8 - 84 Mazda RX-7 GSL
9 - 87 Pontiac Firebird
10- 79 Honda Civic
11- 91 Pontiac Gran Prix
12- 83 Chev. Elcamino
13- 93 Pontiac Grand-Am
14- 87 Pontiac Trans-Am
15- 86 Cadillac Eldorado
16- 89 Pontiac Gran Prix
17- 86 VW Jetta
18- 91 Chev. Cavalier
19- 87 Nissan Pulsar
20- 91 Dodge Spirit R\T
21- 87 Mazda RX-7

I think it is a sickness

 

------------------
Adam Fraser
www.pinestheatre.com
 

2nd Car - Green 1996 Pontiac Sunfire - (base model... cheap... could afford.)

3rd and current - Navy Blue 2002 VW Jetta - (love it-love it-love it)
 

-1973 Mustang (351 Cleveland...WHY did I sell it?)

-1977 Mustang Cobra (it kicked butt)

-1979 Mustang sedan (traded the Cobra in because of the high insurance cost...another mistake...this Stang had a gutless 4-cyl)

-1980 Mercury Zephyr (This car was not long for the world...3 weeks after I bought it, a drunk driver ran into me and totaled it. Luckily my 2 passengers and I escaped with minor injuries. The drunk's 1965 Ford pickup was unharmed, unfortunately.)

-1980 Mercury Zephyr (to replace the totaled one above)

-1983 Thunderbird (looked sportier than the Zephyr)

-1986 Thunderbird (bought it because the interest rates went down)

-1992 Ford Ranger pickup (got tired of hauling film in the front seat or trunk of the car)

-2000 Ford Ranger

-2002 Ford Ranger (traded in the 2000 because of the 0% interest financing)

So far out of all these Fords I have owned, the most impressive to me have been the Rangers. I had over 140,000 miles on the '92 when I traded it.
 

Lately I've been walking more. Averaging 6 to 10 miles per day trying to loose weight so I can climb the Grand Teton later this summer. Its a healthier mode than any of the above. I hope to win the Film-Tech weight loss contest next year at Showorst.

Actually though.... My personal 4WD Vehicle is a Kia Sportage. I like it cause it can fit down backroads that full size P.U.'s just can't go down! It was really cheap and is super dependable. If it goes off a cliff its no big loss, I'll just go pick up another one really cheap at one of the 100's of State Street Auto Dealers!

My work vehicle is a 4WD 1996 S-10 Chevy Blazer. Got studded tires put on this thing for the winter and it can just about climb trees. Really comfy and not fatigueing to drive on long trips.
Fun vehicle is a 1992 Harley Sportster 883 bored out to 1200 with straight pipes and S&S carb. Nothing compares for a ride through the mountains. The neighbors are quite aware when I arrive home!!
Mark @ GTS

Makes a nice storage bin for theater junk........
 

If memory serves me, (which it doesent, sometimes...)
Beaver's dad never drove a '65 Polara. The show died in '63 after they refused to let Beaver grow up...

Ward did drive Plymouths there at the end of the series, though...

I have added another vehicle to the growing stable of cars here at the dump. A 1986 Pontiac Grand AM from Canada (Speedometer reads kilometers) with tons of rust and stuff. This is the original rust-bucket. It has the 151 cu. in. OHV 4 cylinder banger, and the automatic transaxle, loaded with all the options except air conditioning.

With the gas prices approaching $1.45 for regular around here lately, I'm glad to have a car that gets 30 mpg to drive back and forth to work. Besides, it's the smallest car I've owned!

I got it for FREE when I sold my fathers car for him.
 

1st car- 89 Ford Tempo(WHITE); Had 70,000 miles when bought got rid of it a 110,000 miles 2 1/2 years later. (45 minute commute to school every day)

2nd car- 97 Ford Escort (RED); Had 65,000 miles on it traded in at 135,000 miles on it three years later.

3rd and current- 99 Chevy S-10 Pickup Extended cab (BLACK); 35,000 miles on it. I've added a RINO spray on bed liner, a sun roof, a decent sound system, and tinted windows. I plan on putting on oversized tires with huge treads and a leather snap-on cover for the bed. And probably other additions as I think of them.
 

Among other famous celebrity cars is Chitty Chitty Bang Bang who has her own web-site and is available for hire...
 

1962 Mercury Comet (zero to 60 in 2 minutes flat; engine would die on foggy days)
1969 Volkswagen Beetle
1972 Toyota Celica
1975 Toyota Celica
1977 Toyota HiLux Pickup
1979 Volkswagen Scirocco
1982 Toyota SR5 Longbed Pickup
1985 Toyota Supra
1986 BMW 325i
1987 Ford Bronco II
1987 Volkswagen Vanagon Camper
1988 Volkswagen Jetta 16-valve (best regular car I've owned, except for that little incident with the broken timing belt at 30K miles)
1990 Ford Ranger Pickup
1993 Nissan Pathfinder SE (my all-time favorite vehicle and the only one I wish I still had)
1996 Ford Ranger Pickup
1998 Nissan Pathfinder SE
1999 Toyota 4-Runner SR-5
2001 Nissan Pathfinder SE

The majority of these were purchased brand new. I, uh, ahem, have a tendency to change vehicles often. Though I am currently very happy with the 2001 Pathfinder. 240 horsepower. Heh heh.

I like how the Toyota Celicas look, their performance numbers are decent for that kind of car, they're built well and not too expensive. The Nissan Altima V6 is fairly impressive, but popular enough that you might actually get a Maxima and a few more ponies under the hood for less. PT Cruisers are neat looking, but that engine is way too weak and with it having a Dodge Neon chassis I wonder if the paint job is just as chip prone as Neon's only a few years old. I've heard too many complaints about newer model Camaros to want any of those, and the rest of the Chevy cars are just boring looking to me. Honda? The Accord has great build quality to it, but it just seems bland --particularly for what you have to pay to get a well equipped Accord.

Anyway, I'm trying not to spend more than $25,000 (any more than that and I'll really be stretching myself financially). If I had $10K to $15K more to spend there are a lot of other car models I would consider (such as a Chysler 300M). But I gotta be realistic.

Any opinions?
 

you might wanna take a look at the Subaru Impreza WRX. I was looking at them today and the size of it plus it's 227 ponies under the hood, you could fry the tires right off it. The price seems reasonable as well.

On another note, the new Minis are extremely overpowered and overpriced. The " Sport " model has 163 horsepower.

It's going in for a major service tomorrow and will need new tyres soon, as well as registration in June. Expensive things!
 

>>> Phil

First was an elderly Austin Allegro Vanden Plas (Blue), with wierd oval steering wheel.

After that came a Mini Cooper 'S' MkII, A 3lV6 Ford Capri, then a sensible Ford Escort. This thing was 1984 ran for 200,000 miles and finally went to scrap last year. Also a host of motorbikes, Norton, Triumph, Honda CB750. Had a '99 Ford Escort for work, that's now replaced with a 2001 Focus LX. Also blocking up the street is a '82 3.5l V8 Range Rover In Vogue Auto. That's shortly to be replaced with a '90 3.9lV8 EFi Range Rover Vogue SE. Wouldn't say no to another bike, there's room in the back garden......
 

------------------
3% Body Fat. 1% Brain Activity.
 

/p.

You drive a El Camino---ha ha ha! Get a REAL car, thats right....a RANCHERO!
 

We all know that the AMC Pacer is the real winner.

At least the physical therapy I am enduring is helping my neck some.
 

I am not too familiar w/Chevys, so I am unsure if yours is a full frame or unibody. If it is a unibody and as bad as you say, then repairs might not be worth it. If it is a full frame, repairs will be much easier and a lot of the work you can do yourself. Worse comes to worse, you can look around the junk yards natiowide for a good frame (if yours is too badly damaged) and go from there....
 

As of this writing, I am driving a Ford Focus rental car. It's fairly roomy, and the 110-horsepower base four-banger makes enough power to make the car scoot when I put my foot through the throttle body--even with a slushbox--but it ain't my big 1989 Ford F-150 SuperCab 4x4 I currently own. (I was rear-ended en route to film-festival projection work; the truck was in the shop for body work.)

I also own a 1964 F-100 [owned since 1985]...presently a four-wheeled storage unit with a dying battery.

Other cars and trucks I have owned...

1970 Mercury Cougar convertible [1985-1990]. Had a 351 Cleveland and a four-speed tranny. Was a rustbucket, but still fun when I had it.

1968 Ford Mustang coupe [1983-1985].

1960 Ford F-100 pickup [1980-1983]. Was the first vehicle I owned; my parents purchased a 1968 Mustang coupe for me to learn to drive on and use, in 1978.

All Blue Oval product, all these years (my father and I did look at a couple of Chevy Vegas back in '78 before settling with the Mustang and I'm oh-so- glad I did not end up driving one of those aluminum-engined pieces of Bow-Tie ).

Keep in mind that the Blue Book value is usually much, much less than the actual street value. That is where appraisals and historic/collector car insurance comes into play! Sorry to hear about your woes. A unibody car this new w/that much damage is a real pain to repair---alignment specs are very tight and sheetmetal is so thin that pannels are either replaced or sectioned!
 

This new truck is a Chevy Silverado LS-1500 regular cab, short bed, stepside. It has lots of extra features (power everything except for power seats). Most important, it has a 327 V-8 Vortec 5800 engine. Sticker price was $25,000 but I got about $5,000 taken off of it. Basically the Chevy dealership in Lawton gave me a lot more truck for $20,000 at a lower interest rate and better warranty package than what Ford was willing to do. Toyota Tundras are awesome, but I just couldn't stomach the prices for them. I'm pretty happy about the deal. It will make watching my Camaro getting towed away Monday a little less of a sad event.

One of the best things is my truck/insurance payment is low enough that I am under no pressure to settle my medical claim anytime real soon. Basically that translates to me getting a better settlement and making sure my health is okay.
 

It has been 386 days since the last post.