There are so many cars that I want but that I know better then to actually buy them. The Land Rover LR4 is one of those. I liked it a lot when I reviewed it but I just know that it is a horribly bad idea to buy a used one, especially now when most of them are off warranty. Every time I see one, the want is strong. I can say the same thing about Corvettes, Miatas, large pickups, and many other European cars but for different reasons. I’m old and I’ve learned some things over the years. Yet I have a Lada, go figure.
So what vehicle would you love to own but you know that you never will?
Hooniverse Asks: What's the one car you love but will never buy?
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43 responses to “Hooniverse Asks: What's the one car you love but will never buy?”
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I’d like a new Fiat 500 Convertible, an Audi R8 coupe, a Doge Charger Daytona, yellow only. None of which I will ever buy. Story of my life.
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Truthfully (and I hate admitting this): a Wrangler.
Despite my off-roading proclivities, the downsides of the Jeep on-road can’t be offset by how good it is on the trail. Maybe I could swing one in a fantasy world in which my commute is short, or I live *right* by the trails, but for now…and for what is my foreseeable future…there’s no reality in which I want to commute ~100 miles and 2-2.5 hours each day in even a JL.
The other vehicles in its competitive space (or what can be considered its closest competitors) can do 90% of the stuff on the trail, while the Wrangler is only 75% as good on-road at its best. And it’s a hell of a lot easier to upgrade a vehicle’s off-road ability than it is to upgrade its on-road ability.-
twice in my life I almost bought a used Wrangler. Common sense got the best of me
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I keep trying to talk myself into one, but my off-roading would be almost entirely based on hopes and dreams if not outright pretensions. I suppose I wish I had a lifestyle in which a JL Rubicon on 35’s would come in handy.
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This one is constantly challenging my rationality. Not sure I’ll ever let the “loaf” win.
https://a.d-cd.net/d40feb2s-960.jpg-
I really enjoyed that video of this thing. Really entertaining. Buy it.
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In front of the household assembly, I have tried to rationalize this as a good firewood collector and camping vehicle. The Veto Coalition pointed out that nothing can drive in our 30-degree-sloped wet rainforest, and that we, in fact, own a nice collection of tents. Norwegian import policies are neckbreakingly tough, too, so this would cost a fortune I am not willing to spend; hence fitting today’s theme.
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You’d still be left with Russian build quality, and all the niggling little problems that ensures. Sure, you can fix them with a claw hammer and a plumber’s wrench but they still don’t drive well at any speed above walking pace.
For less money I’d rather have one of these, ex JDM, second hand. It’ll be more reliable and the powersteering and A/C are not only fitted but will still work.
https://i.ytimg.com/vi/aAdFNGN6atU/maxresdefault.jpg
https://i.ytimg.com/vi/Am09a9sE0lM/maxresdefault.jpg
https://d3lp4xedbqa8a5.cloudfront.net/s3/digital-cougar-assets/4×4/2016/11/28/84205/Mitsubishi-Delica-Bushmaster-main.jpg-
You couldn’t be more right, yet, none of these vehicles is smiling from the factory. And I already have more than a handful of seats on wheels that will go where I want to go:
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But maintenance is cheap! – in Kyrgyzstan: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=00Av_tFQ-J8
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Surely your family can’t say no to that: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OGFuKgK7lbA
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Hell yeah! Even Masha (of the Masha and the Bear kids show in Netfllix, translated from Russian) has one. https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/7be6aeb0b4ce7197148ff9bd518d6955b16c7b486383d4d6908d8daae3304441.jpg
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I’d love to own a C-type Jaguar, but between very few in existence and costing millions, I can’t see it happening
There are many cars out of my reach, but a Turbo R heads the list of attainable cars I still don’t see myself buying.
https://photos.motorcar.com/used-1995-bentley-turbo-r-12208-17252057-3-640.jpg
Just one?
Audi Allroad. I’ve gone down that path a few times, and always stopped short of buying one thanks to their reputation. I love the looks, I love the idea, but I can’t seem to get myself over the issues.
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What about other manufacturers similar concepts? Volvo XC70 or, dare I say it, a Subaru wagon?
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I now own a Crosstrek…
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An original-generation Acura NSX. They were far, far too expensive for a long time (and they’re still pretty damn pricey) and by now they’re getting old and needy which won’t help the running cost.
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They were fairly attainable ten or even five years ago. But prices have soared. R32 GT-Rs are doing the same thing now. Integra Type Rs also, Supras of course … I knew this would happen, but was broke and couldn’t get any one of those then, and now, prices are apparently nearing the asymptote. I have to get an SW20 MR2 again before those are next in line. Might be a little safer there though, they were never quite as cult-status.
Another ’64-’66 Chev C10. Unless I come into some stupid money somewhere, I’ll never be able to justify getting another one.
Pretty much anything from a dead or obscure brand.
IH Scout, sure they are cool, but a K-5 Blazer is just cheaper and easier to work on.
AMC muscle car of some sort. nice but a GM or Ford product would be much easier.
Anything new and Italian or British. I like the new Alfas (and I’m hoping that they seriously depreciate while you can still get a warranty, I might be tempted.) The new Jag suv looks nice. A 500 might make a nice little commuter car, even a 500E if it was cheap enough. But when it comes down do it, I just know in my heart that there is a big down side to any of these choices.
I’d say my opportunities at a ’51 Pontiac Streamliner are well past me. They’re fairly rare at this point. Rusty shells are within my budget, but even solid non-runners are pricey.
https://i.ytimg.com/vi/YrHLblIh3Yo/hqdefault.jpg
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Don’t people agree on that prices for aging classics are coming down as their collectors age as well? A recession might help, too. I have one of the era that is a bit out of reach, too:
https://i.ytimg.com/vi/OI1ktpL6sRY/hqdefault.jpg-
The market has definitely cooled, but considering it had went nuts for a while, I think that was expected. Pre-war cars are definitely on the decline, but that’s about the only era in which I have little interest. Sites like Bring A Trailer, as much as I like browsing them, have given some people unreasonable expectations of what their car should be worth.
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I’ve loved the first gen Audi TT and used ones in my neck of the woods are cheap but practical side of me says a Miata would be more practical.
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And waaaay more reliable, and nicer to drive, with a better gear change.
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You are so right. But the Bauhaus look of the concept car knocked me out. The styling was evocative of many German cars like the Borgward Rennwagen coupe. It’s hard to find an original TT where I live that hasn’t been beaten to death or isn’t throwing codes. I thought they’d be more reliable when I learned they were based on the Golf platform.What was I thinking.
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I always wanted a new Mercedes G class SUV mostly G63 or even the V12 G65 !
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I always liked the idea of the R63 AMG, could never buy one.
https://cdn.bringatrailer.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/5a1c979618a71_IMG_3570-3-940×592.jpg -
I looked at those for a while as an alternative to a minivan, but my search (and interest) stopped cold after reading this:
https://www.roadandtrack.com/car-culture/buying-maintenance/a32269/this-r63-amg-owner-is-rebuilding-his-engine-to-avoid-a-57000-repair/ -
How does a head bolt fail? I get adding complexity for some performance advantage at the cost of reliability, but a head bolt?
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I know, it’s completely ridiculous, especially from a company with such engineering expertise. When a $5 item creates a $50k problem…
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I found one of the ~200 made locally here once. New price in Norway was approx. 230k$. This is like sending a message close to no one can understand.
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I drove a friend’s one way back when they were current. They drive like what they are, a Golf in drag.
The TT is AWD for winter purposes and has a huge cargo area … on the other hand, reliability is, apparently, catastrophic. As mentioned.
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Also, unlike the Miata, it at least has a vestigial back seat (and for all the catastrophic reliability, most of the greasy bits are common VW stuff, right?).
Pretty much any Ferrari. Even if I had the money to even buy tires for it they’re just too flashy. And for what you pay the reliability is shit
I’m of an age where the Viper was absolutely the coolest thing imaginable, and I think they’re supposed to be relatively okay to live with as quasi-supercars go. But, I think they’ve depreciated as much as they ever will (out of my range), wouldn’t be a daily driver, and frankly are just completely wasted somewhere where 95mph will get you impounded.
https://www.americancarcollector.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/1996-dodge-viper-gts-coupe-drivers-front.jpg
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They may not depreciate much further. Get thee behind me…
Well, I’m sure I could come up with a pretty long list, but for the sake of keeping the post length reasonable, let’s limit it to stuff that’s attainable-ish. (As such, “love” might be a bit strong, but “interested in” definitely applies.)
— Latest-gen Honda Civic Type R. By all accounts Honda has knocked it out of the park, and its combination of power, excellent driving manners (allegedly, anyway — never driven one myself), reasonable price, and reasonable practicality hits a sweet spot for me. However, it’s a bit too boy racer. I kind of love that Honda was willing to go as all-out as they did on the styling, but then again, I’m starting to feel like I’m getting “too old” even for the WRX I drive currently (don’t get me wrong, I still love it, but in terms of a next car, something a little more understated feels more appropriate. Hey Subaru, remember that Legacy spec.B? That was a cool idea…).
— A stickshift Alfa Giulia. Due in no small part to the fact that they don’t exist in the ‘States.
Any BMW M3 after the E46. Too complicated for DIY. Frankly, the E46 M3 may be too complicated too. The E46 is the newest BMW of any kind that I’d own.
The last of the Series II Land Rover Discovery. I’ve always wanted one and nearly pulled the trigger several times. But the sheer cost of upkeep scared me away every single time. https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/06b0902ea13509ddcf4569d870fa0afd57051d3a28fe376492149298375ce423.jpg
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