Hooniverse Asks: What’s a type of vehicle you want to try but haven’t yet done so?

Jeff Glucker

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I’ve never driven a lowrider. At some point in my life, I hope that changes. I’m a big fan of the work that goes into a proper lowrider, the bouncing and hopping is a bonus of that low life. There’s something quite wonderful about seeing an old Impala cruise past. It’s six taillights blazing off into the night. I’d really like to have some seat time in a well-sorted example.

Driving an old Cadillac is also on my list of vehicular things to try. Be it jamming to Vegas in the middle of the night or cruising to a diner in Palm Springs for breakfast, a nice old Caddie is a vehicle that will never go out of style.

There are many other types of vehicles that I’d like a crack at, but these two sit near the top of my list at the moment. What’s on your list? Let us know in the comments.

About

Jeff Glucker

Jeff Glucker

Jeff Glucker is the co-founder and Executive Editor of Hooniverse.com. He’s often seen getting passed as he hustles a 1991 Mitsubishi Montero up the 405 Freeway. IG: @HooniverseJeff

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39 responses to “Hooniverse Asks: What’s a type of vehicle you want to try but haven’t yet done so?”

  1. danleym Avatar
    danleym

    For a long time, I’ve wanted a big, 60s wagon with a big, hopped up V8. Preferably an AMC Rebel, but I would consider others. Something that is faster than it looks in a straight line and incapable of cornering. I don’t know if the want will ever be enough for me to actually make it happen.

    Reply
  2. Smaglik Avatar
    Smaglik

    Current generation land cruiser, albeit one of the older ones as far away as possible from the list price for new. I guess this means I want to try a luxury truck based SUV….

    Reply
  3. neight428 Avatar
    neight428

    Top trim level fully optioned minivan. I’ve road tripped across America with my kids in big SUV’s, and I suspect this configuration would be better.

    If I could get one of the tricked out Asian versions, I might drive it every day.

    Reply
    1. neight428 Avatar
      neight428

      Like so…

      https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/3b1d1d1d34a1595378e9ac6556220ca3941656acba58065101d793cb7df52821.png

      Reply
      1. Troggy Avatar
        Troggy

        Toyota Granvia is the answer – Just quietly, I want to try one too and I’m not entirely sure why.

        https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/d65193471c1aa2b85d592bbdeabd0ed9ebf0eeb70074dd5d92372be3ad647270.jpg

        Reply
  4. Zentropy Avatar
    Zentropy

    Forward-control Jeep or first-gen Econoline. Obviously the handling sucks, but I would imagine these would be interesting nonetheless.

    Similarly, in the realm of unusual handling, I’ve surprisingly never driven a Chevrolet Corvair. I think the second-generation hardtop is one of GM’s prettiest designs of the 60s, but I’ve never been behind the wheel. I’d be curious to feel how it compares to an old 911 or Beetle.

    Reply
  5. GTXcellent Avatar
    GTXcellent

    I’d really like to try and pilot a ship. I’ve spent a lot of time on the water, but I think the biggest boat I’ve ever been at the controls of is a 25ft SportCraft.

    Reply
    1. 0A5599 Avatar
      0A5599

      I took the helm of a Tall Ship in the Caymans: the Valhalla.

      Really, though, while sailing with other tourists on a dinner cruise, I asked if I could pose for a picture holding the wheel. I’m happy to report no major incidents occurred on my watch, though a fish attempted suicide by jumping out of the water and landing on the deck (another passenger tossed it back).

      Reply
  6. onrails Avatar
    onrails

    Lots of time on tractors big and small, but I’d love to try out a ginormous combine during harvest. It looks like a huge amount of fun. https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/770a389414c049e899c695f3738794095098b7876a73e72eca4fa4ab77b68be2.jpg

    Reply
    1. outback_ute Avatar
      outback_ute

      Usually on autosteer these days!

      Reply
      1. onrails Avatar
        onrails

        I haven’t been in the cab of one of these since I was a little kid, but I thought the out of balance fan aimed at the drivers head and a place off the side for me to stand was pretty cool. I’ve heard crazy things about the new stuff – HVAC, XM radio, air ride seats, GPS tech and self driving to mention just a few. And $500k+… I know time is money when it’s harvest season but yikes!

        Reply
        1. outback_ute Avatar
          outback_ute

          Some of the ‘extras’ make sense when you are spending 12+ hours in there, others to improve efficiency, and make up a relatively small portion of the price.

          Nearly 20 years ago a friend worked for an Ag tech company that installed systems that varied seed and fertilizer distribution within a paddock based on measured soil tests or historical yield data and gps position – ‘good’ spots got less fertilizer for example.

          Also these machines have long lives and are highly maintainable and even upgradable. I don’t think there are too many farmers that like to spend money for no reason.

          I remember my uncle buying a harvester back in the early 80s, and ran it for 20+ years. Even back then I think it was $200-250k. The engine was the same as a semi truck but rated somewhere like half the horsepower, which multiplied it’s lifespan for example.

          Reply
          1. onrails Avatar
            onrails

            I still have a cousin in farming and he/the family/company (they do 3000+ acres/year plus livestock so they grow/shrink in personnel a bit depending on the season) generally will get equipment a few years old after the big farms are looking for something new. Next big jump my guess is to go diesel-electric like a locomotive. Big onboard generator running at peak efficiency and powering a lot of smaller electrics. Behind all the paneling today is still a maze of pulleys/belts and hydraulics. It’d be a perfect opportunity for PWM control but does make it different (not difficult, but some education is required) to work on for sure.

            The soil test/distribution thing is wild. I’m sure there’s more out there to read about. And super-efficient ways to hurt yourself if you’re not careful. Not a whole lot of OSHA presence on farms… and just looking at some of this stuff (especially forage harvesters) is terrifying at the business end of things.

  7. Victor~~ Avatar
    Victor~~

    Drifting looks like it could be fun with the right track and car .

    Reply
  8. 0A5599 Avatar
    0A5599

    I’ve landed a single engine airplane and taken the controls of a blimp, but I have never been in the cockpit of a jet airplane while it was in flight. I would like to try that sometime.

    Reply
    1. danleym Avatar
      danleym

      I’ve soloed in a glider. Always wanted to fly something with an engine, too.

      Reply
      1. Peter Tanshanomi Avatar
        Peter Tanshanomi

        I’ve got about 40 hours in Cessnas, and would really like to experience a sailplane.

        Reply
    2. Peter Tanshanomi Avatar
      Peter Tanshanomi

      How the heck did you get to fly in a blimp? Bucket list item for me for 40 years.

      Reply
  9. danleym Avatar
    danleym

    For a long time, I’ve wanted a big, 60s wagon with a big, hopped up V8. Preferably an AMC Rebel, but I would consider others. Something that is faster than it looks in a straight line and incapable of cornering. I don’t know if the want will ever be enough for me to actually make it happen.

    Reply
  10. mdharrell Avatar
    mdharrell

    Competition Coupe.

    https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/1e7ba7c884537a75e87854df84ef2016b76edcbfb34805b381783d045292df97.jpg

    Reply
  11. nanoop Avatar
    nanoop

    Any kind of land yacht from the malaise era. Those are really alien and exotic to me, a strange fascination against my knowledge.
    https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/73/1974_Lincoln_Continental_Town_Coupe_%2826724768174%29.jpg/800px-1974_Lincoln_Continental_Town_Coupe_%2826724768174%29.jpg

    Reply
    1. crank_case Avatar
      crank_case

      Yes! I have a strange hankering for one even though
      1. I don’t really have enough room to park one on the driveway of my non-American (but perfectly adequate) sized terraced house, I certainly won’t be getting round the side to the back of the house as you can barely squeeze a regular European/Japanese car through there.
      2. I’d have difficulty getting it out of my European sized street where lots of people restrict room further by street parking their cars..badly.
      3. The spaces in work probably aren’t big enough
      4. After the novelty wears off, I’d probably never drive it.

      I kinda think the way to go for one is probably shared ownership of one and renting a big shed somewhere.

      Reply
      1. nanoop Avatar
        nanoop

        All the points you’re listing, but I’d opt for just being passenger during the parking in a European city ceremony. Shared ownership might be good, make sure not to share with old friends though.

        Reply
        1. crank_case Avatar
          crank_case

          I don’t think you park one of these so much as abandon ship.

          Reply
    2. Peter Tanshanomi Avatar
      Peter Tanshanomi

      I drove my mom’s ’73 Bonneville 4-door hardtop all through high school. Best prom car.

      https://live.staticflickr.com/4107/4847098225_40a9ed8774_b.jpg

      Reply
  12. Batshitbox Avatar
    Batshitbox

    Lunar Rover

    https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/76aa5068dc4579e762ff6d9b8245c0793bb51a405fa4b4ad735a72c428a80789.jpg

    Reply
  13. Manxman Avatar
    Manxman

    I’ve never driven a first gen A-H Sprite or similar ultra small car.

    Reply
    1. ptschett Avatar
      ptschett

      My dad’s MkII Sprite (w/ mid-70’s conversion to a 5-speed Borg Warner T-50) was part of my training in stickshifts. There is some fun to be had there, you don’t have to go terribly fast to feel like you’re going fast when your butt’s like a foot off the ground and your eyes are about level with the headlights of an average modern CUV.

      However… when he brought his MkI Bugeye home to South Dakota after buying it during Army Guard training in California in the early ’70’s, [when it was maybe preferable to join the Guard and know one’s fate vs. risk being drafted to go to Vietnam,] he says he had to cross most of Wyoming in 3rd due to the elevations and a headwind. I don’t think I’d enjoy that.

      Reply
      1. Manxman Avatar
        Manxman

        I had a 1976 MG Midget 1500 that was not fun to drive. Ugly bumpers, high ride height, slow. The Bug-eye looks like more fun in its original purist form as it was intended.

        Reply
        1. SlowJoeCrow Avatar
          SlowJoeCrow

          horsepower helps, the two smallest cars I’ve driven were an 86 Mini-Metro and an 87 Ford Fiesta.The Metro had the “big”1275 engine and, Hydragas suspension and was a blast to drive. The Fiesta had the 957cc engine and was an appliance.

          Reply
  14. wunno sev Avatar
    wunno sev

    a few friends and I toyed with shared custody of a lowrider, and we test drove a battered old Fleetwood with three or four switches and six batteries in the trunk. fun experience, though we didn’t pull the trigger and never ended up getting one. it’s worth a test drive – they’re cheaper than you’d expect!

    I’d like to drive an E39 M5. it’s not the car I’d necessarily buy for the money, but it’s one of my hero cars. 400 hp and four doors has long been a benchmark for me because of that car, and I’d like to experience that legendary peak-BMW BMW for myself after all these years dreaming about it. but I know better than to want to own one.

    Reply
  15. needthatcar Avatar
    needthatcar

    I’d like to daily an electric. Very attainable dream these days. I think I’d go with the Soul EV from the used market, mostly because I don’t mind the styling and I love the use value. Lots of them available in the $12k range. Fairly limited range, but I only drive 10-20 miles per day anyway.

    Reply
    1. Hatchtopia Avatar
      Hatchtopia

      I’m with you on that one. My commute is of a length that’s a little bit too far to walk and too short to drive. The Vespa works in the summer months, but an electric would be perfect. No worries about driving a cold engine pretty much every trip. I’d like to pair an electric car with solar panels on the roof of the house as well, but that may be farther down the line.

      Reply
  16. Troggy Avatar
    Troggy

    I’ll try whatever you throw me the keys to. If it moves, I want to be at the controls, whether it flies, hovers, floats, rides or drives.
    The only thing I haven’t tried yet would be a hovercraft or helicopter.

    It’s not just about making things move, it’s also about absorbing and understanding some of the culture and sub-cultures that motivate the people who do it. I tend to immerse myself in whatever the latest vehicle is that fascinates me.

    Reply
  17. Sjalabais Avatar
    Sjalabais

    I guess my answer is the same to every question…cute, slow, deathtrap:

    https://i2.wp.com/bestsellingcarsblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/UAZ-452-Russia-July-2015.-Picture-courtesy-carrental.mn_.jpg

    Reply
  18. P161911 Avatar
    P161911

    Pretty much anything pre-1945.

    Reply
  19. crank_case Avatar
    crank_case

    I’ve never had a proper go in a performance oriented AWD car, e.g. Subaru, Evo, Golf R etc. I doubt they’re for me over simple RWD for accessible fun, but I’d like a go.

    I’d also love to experience some genuinely old cars, as in pre-1950, even something as simple as an Austin7 special. Oldest thing I’ve driven is a 70s Citroen GS, but even that is relatively modern. Perhaps not quite back as old as when the pedals hadn’t been standardized like a Model T, but certainly something older than your average popular classic car fodder.

    Reply
  20. SlowJoeCrow Avatar
    SlowJoeCrow

    A motorcycle with a sidecar and a tank (I’m willing to substitute the more common and cheaper APC), also a Formula Ford.

    Reply
  21. salguod Avatar
    salguod

    So many …

    Model T
    Old VW Beetle
    911 (OK, I’ve driven one as a valet, but though a parking garage doesn’t count)
    MR2 / Fiero / X1/9 / 914 Small, light mid engined
    Corvair
    Corvettes, old and new
    NSX, old and new
    Jeeps, old and new
    Ferrari (technically, I drove a Mondial for 15 or 20 feet as a valet, but…)
    RX7/8, old and new

    Basically, all the cars. And trucks.

    Reply