Cars, as they are now, are probably some of the last pieces of technology designed to be able to last a fairly long time with proper maintenance. We all have that one car that we would be good with for the rest of our lives.
We asked readers what that one car was for them. What was one car they would be fine with keeping forever? These were their answers.
My TDI Volkswagen sportwagen. 40 mpg, roof rack, trailer hitch, a set of snow tires for the winter months and proven longevity. It’s a transportation appliance. Not very exciting but the perfect complement to my Mazda Miata.
Suggested by: Gregory J Murphy (Facebook)
My ‘09 E90 M3. The last naturally-aspirated M3, just enough tech but not too much, looks great and sounds great. It’s peak BMW (things went badly downhill after that) and supremely practical. It’s basically the perfect car.
Suggested by: iliketoeat
I’ve posted it before but I will again. I have a 1990 Pontiac Sunbird LE coupe that is my “forever car.” And yes, I know it’s a piece of junk and I know I’m crazy, but I love it. It is Torch Red over gray cloth and all original with 60,400 miles. Never seen winter and rarely seen rain. I bought it in august 2018 from someone who got it from the elderly original owner’s estate. I take it to car shows and cruise-ins and for random drives with my son. He loves it, too. It’s just a simple little car that is by and large extinct nowadays. Harkens back to a simpler time in my life.
Suggested by: Tyson Trogdon (Facebook)
2011 Mustang Boss 302, orange with white accents is my forever car. I think it’s the best looking Mustang ever, and people who have driven them claim that it’s the best handling solid rear axle car they’ve ever encountered. They sound sweet, rev halfway to the moon (everyone knows the moon is 15k rpm), and look absolutely the business.
Suggested by: NEBcruiser(cheering for Brandon)
Suggested by: Jason Merz (Facebook)
2014 Lexus GX. Built like a tank, seats 7, quiet, smooth, huge buttons you can operate with mittens, overbuilt under stressed V8, can haul tons of shit around, and indestructible. Gonna drive it until they outlaw ICE and then find a way to convert to electric.
Suggested by: Sidewaysisfaster
1986-1995 Mercedes-Benz E-class, preferably a wagon. Skip the 4-matic all-wheel-drive, skip the eight cylinder versions, and you have a car when a Mercedes was a Mercedes—before the Daimler-Chrysler merger that wasn’t, possibly the last Mercedes built to an engineering standard, not a price.
Suggested by: Joe Stricker (Facebook)
1966 Triumph Spitfire - used to own a ratty ‘75 and that car made me happier than anything else I have ever owned, but it was a rust bucket with a lot of non-functioning bits (heat, overdrive) and worn out bits (suspension, seats, dash, top) and was getting so rusty it sagged in the middle (common issue).
A good condition driver ‘66 would be my choice because it is prettier than the ‘70s models.
Suggested by: Toobs-n-stuff
I’ve already made this decision about my 2020 Scat Pack. Other cars in my small fleet may be rotated out for something else, but I’m keeping this one until I die.
It was the first real no-compromise new car selfish treat to myself. The importance of the car to me goes far beyond just being a fun new car.
Suggested by: Autojunkie
Mine is my Toyota MR2. Owned it now 16 years. Never going to let go.
I don’t think they will make another ever. A Toyota-made low running cost, midengine, reliable, and lightweight manual sportscar.
And every non-jalop thinks it is something fancier.
Suggested by: FutureDoc