What do you drive?

[Sledsel]

Because of my disdain for new cars I'm always looking for a good deal.  I found this 93 cougar sitting in a junkyard and ended up buying it. The car has 38,000 miles on it, and it was in the junkyard because the front brakes were metal to metal, both window motors needed rollers, and there was a busted brake line where somebody jacked the car up in the wrong place. So far it's been great and everything works as it should. And it actually cost less than a car payment on a new car.

Edited November 7 by Sledsel

[Zen]

Nice Cougar! Around here the junkyards won't sell you complete cars, just parts.

Looks like a square Bird and a Mark VIII hanging out back there..........

[Big Messer]

Usually I buy cheap cars without any regard for style or "cool factor", just mostly working (mechanicals and tires). They last for about 2 to 3 years, don't perform any maintenance other than maybe an oil change. Buying price around less than 1500-junk value when they die about 500. Cheapest insurance around 120/mo for 2 cars and 2 drivers. So about 200/month + gas. Right now a 2012 Mazda RX (229000 miles) and a 2012 Scion (186000) transmission started slipping a little. Safest cars around (nobody wants them). Suits me fine.

[MarkJ]

Man, Andy. You won the lottery on that Cougar. That thing looks right off the showroom, and you practically stole it for what you probably paid for it. Some people have all the luck.

[Sledsel]

14 hours ago, Zen said:

Nice Cougar! Around here the junkyards won't sell you complete cars, just parts.

Looks like a square Bird and a Mark VIII hanging out back there..........

Well this is an old junkyard, second generation and I go there a lot and know the owner. Yes, an 82 Landau Thunderbird (project) and a 96 Mark VIII.  

Edited November 9 by Sledsel

[Mike C]

I had to get the Limited level because I wanted to have the Harmon Kardon audio system and the GPS too. There's a lot of stuff to learn with all the touch screen features of this car. I had my last car (a 2012 Lexus CT200h) for 13 years and just under 150K miles so I finally decided to get something new again. That was the longest and most mileage I have ever owned a car for. The next owner will get a good used car. Anyway, here's the Crosstrek.

[NYLIBUD]

I did drive a black 09 Ford. CV unmarked car.The car was just a great strong car,but not strong enough.I apologize if I already wrote about this.Anyway,I’m making a turn,a big ugly brown UPS truck slammed into me.This was the accident scene and what’s left of my beloved Ford.BAAAAMMMMM!!!!🙄😬

[meechum68]

Those are nice, and wife got an Outback, test drove it at 2miles, left the lot at 7 miles.  She has never had a new car that low on miles, so was thrilled for her.  We considered the Crosstrek, except my tall self cant sit them comfortable even with seat all the way down. 

Those are slick! I hope you enjoy it man!! 

[TonyK]

Got mine 6 years ago and have the Harmon Kardon system also. On the test drive I was instantly as one with the car. Everything about it was comfortable. I'm retired so don't put too many miles on it and this will probably be my last car.

[MarkJ]

Hope you are okay. 

[Perspect Scale Modelworks]

Just added this to the stable. 2009 Volvo C30 T5 R Design. It's in good shape and at the price I had to get it. I've always liked these even though, or especially because, they weren't too popular here in the states. Volvo only sold about 4000 of this model year and a total of more than 22,000 from 2008 to 2013 in the US.

[WillyBilly]

9 hours ago, Perspect Scale Modelworks said:

Just added this to the stable. 2009 Volvo C30 T5 R Design. It's in good shape and at the price I had to get it. I've always liked these even though, or especially because, they weren't too popular here in the states. Volvo only sold about 4000 of this model year and a total of more than 22,000 from 2008 to 2013 in the US.

Always reminded me of the early 70s 1800 ES. I love the look. 

[Mattilacken]

9 hours ago, Perspect Scale Modelworks said:

Just added this to the stable. 2009 Volvo C30 T5 R Design. It's in good shape and at the price I had to get it. I've always liked these even though, or especially because, they weren't too popular here in the states. Volvo only sold about 4000 of this model year and a total of more than 22,000 from 2008 to 2013 in the US.

A cool little hatch and with plenty of options to make a powerful engine. Here in Sweden they tune the Volvo engines allot. And I believe the focus or fiesta RS have the same base engine

[Mattilacken]

I replaced my WK2 with this. A Lexus NX300h. And then I also have this Cadillac CTS since this summer. Got it up and running recently, got it for super good price. 

[Perspect Scale Modelworks]

4 hours ago, WillyBilly said:

Always reminded me of the early 70s 1800 ES. I love the look. 

Exactly. I really like the P1800.

[iamsuperdan]

On 11/7/2025 at 9:54 AM, Sledsel said:

Because of my disdain for new cars I'm always looking for a good deal.  I found this 93 cougar sitting in a junkyard and ended up buying it. The car has 38,000 miles on it, and it was in the junkyard because the front brakes were metal to metal, both window motors needed rollers, and there was a busted brake line where somebody jacked the car up in the wrong place. So far it's been great and everything works as it should. And it actually cost less than a car payment on a new car.

 

Love the Cougar, but I'm far more interested in the lte 70s TBird by the barn. The one under the tarp.

My first car was a '78 Thunderbird. Triple brown, with spoke hubcaps and whitewalls. Would love to find another one.

 

[Sledsel]

8 hours ago, iamsuperdan said:

Love the Cougar, but I'm far more interested in the lte 70s TBird by the barn. The one under the tarp.

My first car was a '78 Thunderbird. Triple brown, with spoke hubcaps and whitewalls. Would love to find another one.

 

That is actually a Ranchero with a Thunderbird front end. You might want to message me cuz I have a 78 Thunderbird here that I'm going to sell. It is actually Brown with a brown bucket seat interior. It's in good shape but a project. And yes, I'm planning on selling it in the spring

[Bugatti Fan]

My daily driver is a boring but reliable Vauxhall Zafira MPV that I bought new about 12 years ago. Not worth much now but does what I want it to do so I keep it going. Over here in the UK Vauxhall Zafiras tend to be the butt of jokes about drivers who use them having given up on life ! Not that it bothers me much as I can use it as a van whenever needed. I can own all the exotics I cannot afford in model form !  Having said that I have owned some nice cars in the past like a Lotus Cortina Mk2, a Wolseley 6/110 , Triumph Dolomite, an original Fist 500 and a Simca 1000 Saloon uprated with Abarth goodies.

My late younger brother's philosophy on buying cars was always buy old and very cheap up market cars with a year long test certificate, and buy the least expensive insurance. If the car did not go through the test a year later and expensive to repair it was offloaded to a breaker and he would simply go and buy another one with a year long test certificate. Cheap motoring as far as he was concerned !

 

Edited 17 hours ago by Bugatti Fan

[WillyBilly]

13 hours ago, iamsuperdan said:

Love the Cougar, but I'm far more interested in the lte 70s TBird by the barn. The one under the tarp.

My first car was a '78 Thunderbird. Triple brown, with spoke hubcaps and whitewalls. Would love to find another one.

 

They do exist. 1979 ford thunderbird for sale - Sanbornville, NH - craigslist

[WillyBilly]

Our current lineup. My Gladiator Willys, our Cadillac ATS Performance 3.6 AWD, and her Cadillac XT4 Sport AWD. The ATS has just under 200k miles on it. It still drives and looks like a new car.

[Mike C.]

last spring I bought a Nimble Nomad pocket troller. haven't had a chance to put it in the water yet.

stock photos. mine are on my phone.

[oldcarfan]

On 12/11/2025 at 5:23 PM, Perspect Scale Modelworks said:

Just added this to the stable. 2009 Volvo C30 T5 R Design. It's in good shape and at the price I had to get it. I've always liked these even though, or especially because, they weren't too popular here in the states. Volvo only sold about 4000 of this model year and a total of more than 22,000 from 2008 to 2013 in the US.

These cars must be rare. A guy I worked with in Austin about ten years ago had one but I think it was in bright blue. When I needed a car to replace my Saab 9-2X I looked everywhere to find one like yours. I finally found a V50 wagon which looked the same from the front doors forward. Nice cars and they really drove nice.