What is the best car you have ever owned?

My Land Cruiser 79. It’s a 2013 4,0 V6 petrol. Easy to service myself, great hunting rig, wonderful holiday car for myself and the wife, being kitted out well enough for camping trips and nice and high for game viewing in the reserves. My dog has grown quite attached to her as well…

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I used to be kind of a "car guy" trading more frequently than most folks just to try out different models, so it's hard to pick a "best" ---but I currently have a 2016 Corvette Z06 Convertible that is the best two seat sports car I have ever had. It's super fast and fun to drive. My daily driver is a 2018 GMC Yukon Denali and it's probably the best SUV I have owned in terms of size, comfort, trouble free, etc.,

I do have SUV envy for Kevin Peacocke's Land Rover, however.
 
Nissan Leaf, Geo Metro, Prius!! :oops: I assume you gents own Creedmoors as well? ;):A Outta:
 
My old Toyota Hilux 3.0 KZTE double cab. It’s a bit dinged and a bit rusty, but it goes really well and with long range tanks I can drive for ages. I’ve bolted a lockable metal box to the back that keeps all manor of tools and gear (tyre repair + compressor, jerry can, jump cables, tow ropes etc), and roof racks for the canoe. It’s really good off road and I want to add a snorkel sometime soon.
 
1985 Lincoln Town Car - Navy blue with tan leather upholstery and wire wheel hub caps. It was my company car and lasted 10 years with zero maintenance other than tires and lube jobs. Carried 6 adults in comfort. A deluxe highway cruiser - made my brothers Mercedes diesel lead sled sedan look very dated. When I traded it in for a new Lincoln Continental, the only wear was the muffler resonators needed replacement! That car always drew a top parking spot at Dallas restaurants and clubs - maybe the parking folk thought it was a limo?
BTW, I also had an IH Scout II hunting truck and Sunbeam Alpine roadster , but they always needed some maintenance. Still have the Alpine and it still needs maintenance!
 
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My old Toyota Hilux 3.0 KZTE double cab. It’s a bit dinged and a bit rusty, but it goes really well and with long range tanks I can drive for ages. I’ve bolted a lockable metal box to the back that keeps all manor of tools and gear (tyre repair + compressor, jerry can, jump cables, tow ropes etc), and roof racks for the canoe. It’s really good off road and I want to add a snorkel sometime soon.

The last of the solid Hiluxes, both the 3.0 KZTE and the 2,7 petrol were great workhorses
 
My 2002 Toyota Tundra. 235k miles and still drives like the day it was new. Last trip from
Boise to Pocatello I got 19.5 MPG. My daughter drives it now and I have added a 2021 Tundra TRD for the next 20 years.

I buy for the long haul, hate spending the money, but hate unreliable vehicles even more. I find no pleasure whatever in going in and out of cars or trucks.

I just wish we could get the proper land cruisers here in the states. I am fully jealous of my overseas brethren such as @Dewald above and his fantastic 79.
 
My favorite will always be my first. A 2000 F350 with a 7.3 diesel 4x4. It had a flatbed with toolboxes and an ag transfer fuel tank on the bed. When I quit driving it it had 375000 miles on it. For a truck that weighed 9000 pounds it got around pretty well. I enjoyed every mile I drove that truck, and everyone at high school liked it.
My best return on investment would be my 1991 F250 4x4 with a 460 V8. I gave $900 for the truck in 2017, with no tires or wheels, I had 4 brand new Firestones and a set of wheels I bought at a farm auction for $20. It has had a hard life the first owner use it for a feed truck for 20 years, and it’s my firewood truck now. There is not a straight body panel on the truck anywhere. I drove it without power steering for 3 years. By most people’s definition, it is a “junk” truck, but it was my daily driver from 2017 to March of this year.
I always said that I have rifles that cost more than my truck.
I’ve still got my 1999 F250 crewcab 7.4L diesel flatbed and use it as my beater truck now. I can put two Honda ATVS on it sideways and/or pull a horse trailer. That truck has hauled a lot of dead critters off the mountains and plains! I’ve replaced about every part on it once.
 
Best car? 1972 Chevy Chevelle SS with 396CID sprint car racing motor, dark blue with white rally stripes with pearl finish and cowl induction hood. Jacked up with N50 rear tires, full roll cage, black interior with crushed velvet racing seats/belts. In a 25 mph kick down, the passenger had a hard time reaching forward to touch the dash and the steering got a bit light due to the front end almost leaving the ground!
 
I have never owned a car... only trucks. I am very much function over fashion. Living in Alaska my criteria are simple: 4 WD and the heat works. My truck needs to easily get the boat in and out of the lake (there is no concrete launch; just a gravel slope with a varying water level) and keep me warm in the winter. The truck currently doing that is a 2005 Ford F-150.

My favorite I still own. It's a 1976 Dodge D100. I have had it since HS. Memories made with it dictate that I'll never part with it.
 
A car or truck is a necessity, but it can also be so rewarding. Perhaps this is because of it's capability that never ceases to amaze you, maybe the sheer quality of what you are driving. Or maybe just because it brings a smile to your face every time you get behind the wheel. So which is it for you and why?
I'll start this one off - it is easy - my little Land Rover Series 1! It is so capable, so adequate for it's intended task, so functional and practical. It is tiny, but it seats seven, and then takes them up a mountain. It exudes charm, neither pretty nor shiny, just beautiful. It has character by the ton, always pleases and has been doing so for 70 years, and will continue to do so for many decades more. Once we put a zebra, two impala and five adults in it, no problem. I will never sell this little car, just too much fun.
View attachment 432649
Porsche 940 Turbo BBS honey comb wheels candy apple red when I was single…chic magnet. Second my Ford F-150 pick up truck
 
Well @Kevin Peacocke glad you started this thread as I would never have got around to firing it up.... :E Big Grin: :P Driver:...not sure where to start...and hope not looking like being flash, but my father was into cars big time till his later years...nearly got killed in his jaguar XK120 on the moors in North East England when a driver coming the other way didn't realise how fast he was going and turned across the road in front of him....theXK was literally left in pieces...one of the steel spokes went though his chest ...he pulled it out and went to help the other driver...they weren't married then but my mum to be went with him to the doctor who was a friend of his...the doc said how the fk you are alive I don't know...I couldn't have pushed a scalpel through where that spoke went without cutting an artery...just bit of background to most likely where my love of fast exotic cars came from...assisted by him of course....I think on another thread I said a lot of money was spent on cars..guns..partying and girls....and I believe a lot of fun was had....some was a bit of a blur... :A Banana: :E Big Grin:...my dad liked alfas...so first 2 cars were alfasuds that had great fun in...start of learning how cars handled....started writing but it got bit long...so will just list them...with bit of info after some...but had great fun with all of them...some I wish I still had as now worth a fortune...after the 2 alfasuds

2.0 litre lancia beta coupe ...first time done for speeding..police said they had to chase me at speeds of up to 90mph (speed limit 40mph)for over 2 miles...I didn't know they were chasing me till I slowed down and saw blue lights coming up behind...pulled over as thought they must be going to an emergency..not chasing me :X3::E Big Grin:..
Then lancia beta montecarlo..2 seat mid engine sports car...used to scare the crap out of you if you forgot the front brakes locked up at the drop of a hat
Ferrari Dino 246 as my dad always fancied one...ended up my drive as was bit cramped and uncivilised for him...:E Big Grin:.. was 18 years old...great dad...brilliant and beautiful car...sounded fantastic and taught me the art of driving an Italian exotic...the starting procedure...allowing to warm up before moving and avoiding 2nd gear in it until oil was warm..

Started racing in UK so 246 wasn't really practical, so got a Ford escort RS2000 droop snoot as they were called....had serious fun on circuit with it as was an instructor for the racing school who also ran the racing cars...so we hammered around the circuit going to corners to observe the pupils...brilliant handling...and if got lost never did 3 point turn...just handbrake turn :E Big Grin:

Then things went bit staid as was given my mums merc 280ce...this was when my dad kind of cooled on cars .

Then We moved houses and he said if I get this price you can go get something exotic...must have been feeling sorry for me as mates were in ferrari..lotus and porsche amongst other things...so house sold and went over to London to test couple of cars...Lamborghini jalpa and De Tomaso pantera GT5...but even at the not so old age of 25 I decided the resonance in the pantera cabin a town speeds was not liveable with...preferred the jalpa as had targa roof...and had sports exhaust fitted...so the v8 sounded great...had some good trips in UK and Europe with it...was last thing my dad bought for me before he passed away.....so had it from 1985 to about 6 years ago when sold it to a friend ..so still get to see it ..

Then when was in London was in lamborghini show room as the salesman was a mate by now, and took the countach QV out for drive..ordered one and picked it up from the factory in Sept 1987...also sports exhaust..which had very small pancake looking silencers...didn't take long to blow the baffles out..so was more or less straight through...now that sounded awesome....I read tests on the countach now with the tester saying its no good and better to look at...bullshit...its a car you had to learn to drive..and when you did you could open the throttle 100 rpm at a time...and whole car was precise....handling was fine...took mine around castle coombe race circuit on a track day one time...only thing that was faster was an F40...my friend had a QV at same time and we had unbelievable fun in them...uk road trips...and in Europe... and we pushed them to their limits...also kept it for along time..

Next ..had at same time as QV..the 25th anniversary countach...but didn't like it as much as the QV so sold it after couple of years

Took it easy for a while..BMW 325 sport for every day...the jalpa and QV when first had I used daily...so still had them when had the BMW ..so wasn't deprived..;)..

Then got a Lister Le Man's...which was basically a totally rebuild jaguar xjs..engine to 7 litres..body work totally changed..manual gearbox...its nickname was the batmobile as it was black...it was interesting but needed a bit more development...which was disappointing as was not cheap...broke the diff on it ..and the centre of one of the alloy wheels sheared when I went around a corner...luckily it was a slow one..it got sold

Then changed BMW for porsche carrera 2 with the tiptronic gearbox...was OK for daily use but that box not great for when you wanted to go for it..

Then Aston Martin Db7 volante...was the 6 cylinder version and looked great but not that fast

Then porsche 996 turbo with tiptronic box as well..but had been Improved a lot...that was fast and great daily driver..used it on couple of track days in France...but the 4 wheel drive system wasn't really suited..but it still was fun...

Next had ordered an Aston Martin DB9 volante when they were announced...the turbo 996 was such a good daily drive I was a bit dubious about the Aston...when it arrived I said to the salesman I need to have another drive just to check in my mind if its going to be OK...he said if you don't take it no problem as there were long waiting list at the time...well was a sunny day and put roof down and with the v12 howling ...I was like OK this will f---ing do :A Thumbs Up:....had some great trips in it and a beautiful car...sounded fantastic...but it went when we tried the divorce scenario first time...

Then during those proceedings and good friend passed away from a stroke 6 weeks after his 40th bday...the day he was taken to hospital his new car arrived in the showroom...a mutual friend who looked after his cars was taking about it...I said let me go look..I said if its OK with his family I will buy it if I like it...they were yeah no probs...this was 2008...it was a mercedes AMG CLK Black Series...I had only gone up the Road from the showroom and knew it was a car that had been made for me...sounded unbelievable..handled amazingly...can go sideways at 5mph...50mph or 150mph...balance is perfect...I have done track days with it in France at the 2 different le mans permanent circuits a few times and always big grin....so now as far as I am concerned I have the perfect pairing...an amg clk black series ...and here my landcruiser double cab with the great 4.2 litre straight 6 diesel...both great at doing what they are designed and built to do....apologies for a long rambling one...:D Beers:
 
Well @Kevin Peacocke glad you started this thread as I would never have got around to firing it up.... :E Big Grin: :P Driver:...not sure where to start...and hope not looking like being flash, but my father was into cars big time till his later years...nearly got killed in his jaguar XK120 on the moors in North East England when a driver coming the other way didn't realise how fast he was going and turned across the road in front of him....theXK was literally left in pieces...one of the steel spokes went though his chest ...he pulled it out and went to help the other driver...they weren't married then but my mum to be went with him to the doctor who was a friend of his...the doc said how the fk you are alive I don't know...I couldn't have pushed a scalpel through where that spoke went without cutting an artery...just bit of background to most likely where my love of fast exotic cars came from...assisted by him of course....I think on another thread I said a lot of money was spent on cars..guns..partying and girls....and I believe a lot of fun was had....some was a bit of a blur... :A Banana: :E Big Grin:...my dad liked alfas...so first 2 cars were alfasuds that had great fun in...start of learning how cars handled....started writing but it got bit long...so will just list them...with bit of info after some...but had great fun with all of them...some I wish I still had as now worth a fortune...after the 2 alfasuds

2.0 litre lancia beta coupe ...first time done for speeding..police said they had to chase me at speeds of up to 90mph (speed limit 40mph)for over 2 miles...I didn't know they were chasing me till I slowed down and saw blue lights coming up behind...pulled over as thought they must be going to an emergency..not chasing me :X3::E Big Grin:..
Then lancia beta montecarlo..2 seat mid engine sports car...used to scare the crap out of you if you forgot the front brakes locked up at the drop of a hat
Ferrari Dino 246 as my dad always fancied one...ended up my drive as was bit cramped and uncivilised for him...:E Big Grin:.. was 18 years old...great dad...brilliant and beautiful car...sounded fantastic and taught me the art of driving an Italian exotic...the starting procedure...allowing to warm up before moving and avoiding 2nd gear in it until oil was warm..

Started racing in UK so 246 wasn't really practical, so got a Ford escort RS2000 droop snoot as they were called....had serious fun on circuit with it as was an instructor for the racing school who also ran the racing cars...so we hammered around the circuit going to corners to observe the pupils...brilliant handling...and if got lost never did 3 point turn...just handbrake turn :E Big Grin:

Then things went bit staid as was given my mums merc 280ce...this was when my dad kind of cooled on cars .

Then We moved houses and he said if I get this price you can go get something exotic...must have been feeling sorry for me as mates were in ferrari..lotus and porsche amongst other things...so house sold and went over to London to test couple of cars...Lamborghini jalpa and De Tomaso pantera GT5...but even at the not so old age of 25 I decided the resonance in the pantera cabin a town speeds was not liveable with...preferred the jalpa as had targa roof...and had sports exhaust fitted...so the v8 sounded great...had some good trips in UK and Europe with it...was last thing my dad bought for me before he passed away.....so had it from 1985 to about 6 years ago when sold it to a friend ..so still get to see it ..

Then when was in London was in lamborghini show room as the salesman was a mate by now, and took the countach QV out for drive..ordered one and picked it up from the factory in Sept 1987...also sports exhaust..which had very small pancake looking silencers...didn't take long to blow the baffles out..so was more or less straight through...now that sounded awesome....I read tests on the countach now with the tester saying its no good and better to look at...bullshit...its a car you had to learn to drive..and when you did you could open the throttle 100 rpm at a time...and whole car was precise....handling was fine...took mine around castle coombe race circuit on a track day one time...only thing that was faster was an F40...my friend had a QV at same time and we had unbelievable fun in them...uk road trips...and in Europe... and we pushed them to their limits...also kept it for along time..

Next ..had at same time as QV..the 25th anniversary countach...but didn't like it as much as the QV so sold it after couple of years

Took it easy for a while..BMW 325 sport for every day...the jalpa and QV when first had I used daily...so still had them when had the BMW ..so wasn't deprived..;)..

Then got a Lister Le Man's...which was basically a totally rebuild jaguar xjs..engine to 7 litres..body work totally changed..manual gearbox...its nickname was the batmobile as it was black...it was interesting but needed a bit more development...which was disappointing as was not cheap...broke the diff on it ..and the centre of one of the alloy wheels sheared when I went around a corner...luckily it was a slow one..it got sold

Then changed BMW for porsche carrera 2 with the tiptronic gearbox...was OK for daily use but that box not great for when you wanted to go for it..

Then Aston Martin Db7 volante...was the 6 cylinder version and looked great but not that fast

Then porsche 996 turbo with tiptronic box as well..but had been Improved a lot...that was fast and great daily driver..used it on couple of track days in France...but the 4 wheel drive system wasn't really suited..but it still was fun...

Next had ordered an Aston Martin DB9 volante when they were announced...the turbo 996 was such a good daily drive I was a bit dubious about the Aston...when it arrived I said to the salesman I need to have another drive just to check in my mind if its going to be OK...he said if you don't take it no problem as there were long waiting list at the time...well was a sunny day and put roof down and with the v12 howling ...I was like OK this will f---ing do :A Thumbs Up:....had some great trips in it and a beautiful car...sounded fantastic...but it went when we tried the divorce scenario first time...

Then during those proceedings and good friend passed away from a stroke 6 weeks after his 40th bday...the day he was taken to hospital his new car arrived in the showroom...a mutual friend who looked after his cars was taking about it...I said let me go look..I said if its OK with his family I will buy it if I like it...they were yeah no probs...this was 2008...it was a mercedes AMG CLK Black Series...I had only gone up the Road from the showroom and knew it was a car that had been made for me...sounded unbelievable..handled amazingly...can go sideways at 5mph...50mph or 150mph...balance is perfect...I have done track days with it in France at the 2 different le mans permanent circuits a few times and always big grin....so now as far as I am concerned I have the perfect pairing...an amg clk black series ...and here my landcruiser double cab with the great 4.2 litre straight 6 diesel...both great at doing what they are designed and built to do....apologies for a long rambling one...:D Beers:
Yes, love those handbrake turns! Some darn great cars, Mike!
 

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