I had an interesting conversation this morning with one Mr. Justin Berkowitz. Among other topics we discussed: the fact that most people are happy with their cars. As car scribes, we have the luxury of ripping apart $44k BMW convertibles because, well, we didn't buy 'em. As RF often points out, an automobile is the average person's second most expensivepurchase. Or, if you live in New York (like Justin) or Los Angeles (like me), a car is by far the most expensive good you can afford (though I did see a lovely two bedroom, one bathroom for the reduced price of only $640k the other weekend…). Years ago a friend of mine bought a 2001 Ford Escort. Horrid, nasty little thing. Ugly, slow, worst build quality imaginable and awful to drive. I told her, "Don't buy that." But, she did. Even after multiple "issues," she still claims she loved it. She even shed a tear when it was totaled. Me, I love my car. It's my second WRX wagon (a 2006). And the more press cars I drive, the deeper I fall head over heals in love with my own car. I can't believe anyone drives anything else. Now, am I that much smarter than my fellow man, or just blinded by love? And what about you and your car?
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I love my 2006 V70R, but I love it for what it is, not what I’d like it to be. Would I love an Audi RS6 Avant more? Probably. But all the same, a 300HP AWD wagon with a row-it-yourself 6 speed? What’s not to love?
I love my cars until they break. And when they’re fixed, I’ll love them again.
I have a 2001 Focus ZTS that I loved when I bought it new, but now am hoping something will happen to it so I can get a new car. I have fallen out of love with it. I haven’t washed it in probably a year. It’s been fairly reliable, but has some issues now. If I could get rid of it tomorrow and get something else, I would. Only a lack of $$$ is keeping it in the family right now.
I only love some of my cars. I do like them all (or else I wouldn’t have bought them). The ones I love are the ones that have been beat on for 20 years and 200,000 miles and are now irreplaceable because of all of their “character”.
I like my Saturn SW2 well enough for what I paid for it. The ride’s a little bumpier than I’d prefer, it’s kind of loud at freeway speeds, and even at low speeds there are too many rattles and squeaks, but it handles well, it gets good gas mileage, and it’s reasonably peppy. I don’t know that I’ll truly love any car I own until I can afford something a little nicer.
It depends on the driver.
For the enthusiast, the person who enjoys the act of driving, love is without a doubt bound to happen. You love your car. You bought it, you know its flaws, its foibles, its tragedies, and its triumphs. I don’t think it’s a blind love in this case. I have a car I absolutely love but I know it’s a far cry from perfect. Ownership counts for a lot; you love it because it is yours.
For the non-enthusiast, the person who straps his/herself into a car to get from point A to point B, love is questionable. I mean you said it, JL, in your anecdote above – the car was totaled and not a single tear shed. That’s as cold as ice, Rick James. This isn’t love, it’s the kind of love you tell yourself you’re in it for the kids. Here’s where the blind love exists, blind, unaware, mute, deaf, sure – the whole bit.
I love my ‘99 Accord 5-speed stick. Its’ peppy, economical, reliable, and I can toss it hard into corners. The shifter snics nicely.
I’ve even come to like the way it looks, although objectively speaking, it’s a pretty boring-looking car. Of course, I’ve tweaked it mildly in ways that add a little personality. I made cruiserline ventiports from magnetic vinyl-like material. I added a leather steering wheel cover. And I keep a rubber snake on the dash with a cigarette in its mouth. (No, I don’t smoke.)
I can drive much hotter cars without feeling disappointed when I get back into my chariot. The most important thing is that it feels good to drive.
Yes, but I’d love a 911 more – does that make me shallow!?
1998 Impreza L, 194,XXX miles. Love it the same way I love a good pair of boots.
It hasn’t been washed in a year, it’s got dents all over it and it’s beginning to rust…none of which I intend to repair or clean. But if it were a pair of boots, the soles would still be stitched to the uppers tightly, the waterproofing would still work and they’d be nice and warm.
I love and appreciate it when the utilitarian items in my life show obvious signs of age and hard use, yet function as intended.
The only car I can say I had true affection for was my 1981 Volvo 240 DL wagon. Sold it for $500 with 256,000 miles on it, and regretted it. It should’ve become a project car.
-Matt
mlbrown:
or a LeMons car!
“it was totaled while parked by a drunk” Well, that’s what you have to expect when drunks park cars.
Consumer Reports used to warn car shoppers who get infatuated with a shiny new car, “You may love your car, but it won’t love you back.” And I have to confess, I’ve been jilted by more than one perfidious machine.
I have loved most of my cars. I love my 93 Tercel, even though the cheap ass (Maaco? Before I got it, anyway) clearcoat has mostly peeled off and it has broad “Competition Pink” patches on the roof, trunk and hood. But I’ve driven that car across a good stretch of the US and it has never stranded me. Plus, it really is fun to drive a slow car fast and, since it is the basest of base models (4 speed manual, no passenger side mirror or airbag) I’ve been able to park it in truly horrible neighborhoods and nothing has ever happened to it. It just rolled over to 190k last night.
I loved my 95 Neon coupe before it, although having to replace the entire engine (not to mention replacing the head gasket on the replacement engine) truly tried my love. I was very upset when the nice woman in a hurry to work pulled out in front of me and I was unable to stop in time – the drawback to buying cheap cars is that insurance companies do not love cars, and are unwilling to pay based on love.
2004 TL 6-speed. Head over heals in love.
Comfortable yet sporty, not sloppy. Cockpit-like enough when its just me…and roomy enough for us and another couple. Smooth on the commute, sharp while hooning. And makes a beautiful note when pushed.
Can I break the rear-end loose on demand? No, because of FWD. Sigh. But that’s her only fault IMHO.
Oh well…I’m not perfect, either.
I would say that the more of a stretch someone makes to buy a car, the more they cannot abide anyone calling their baby ugly.
If you really want to see this effect on steroids, lurk on some of the plane forums.
I most certainly love my Rubicon. It’s more fun than any other car or truck I’ve had and it is a great performance vehicle. I never have to pay track fees (National Forest or BLM access is free) and it is the exact model, package, and color with each option I had speced out on the internet countless times. It was expensive and its mileage isn’t fantastic, but I love that Jeep.
Jonny,
I imagine it would’ve been the perfect LeMons car. It had the four speed with the push-button “5th gear.”
I bought that car about nine years ago for $300. Whenever I think of how little it costs to put a Ford 5.0 in a 240 relative to buying a newer car, I think, “shit. I should have just parked it.”
Also, putting a B230ti from a late model 940 is pretty straightforward, too.
Oh well. I still scan the classifieds on Ipd looking for suitable replacement. Those cars may not be fast, but they just feel right on the road.
-Matt
I think love is the only way to explain my 1977 Omega. Personally I think those cars are peerless as far as the variety of potential, which ranges from fire-breathing drag-strip racer to 4-cylinder 4-door economy car. I probably love my 2001 S10 ZR2 but just don’t know it yet. The new stereo made her a lot better for sure. Driving any new car sends me sprinting back to the waiting doors of these faithful beasts.
No. I spent 5 figures on a soulless commuter when what I really wanted was to spend 3 figures on a beaten-near-to-death hooning platform.
I love one of my cars (2006 Chevy TrailBlazer SS). I don’t love my Lexus or my Honda. They are much better cars than the SS, but they don’t inspire love…respect, but not love. The lightly modified SS has insane amounts of go, stop, and cornering ability (especially for a 4700 lb SUV). It also finds its way on the back of tow trucks far too often, headed to a dealer who I’d like to torch.
Everyone should have a car that’s faster than snot and one that never lets them down. Maybe one day I’ll find a car that does both? But until then, I’ll continue the pattern of not trying to have one car be all things.
I love my wife’s Protege5, especially with the aftermarket struts, springs, big-ass rear sway bar (ro-tation!), short shifter, header and intake! It gets good mileage, handles flat, seats four or five and carries a lot of stuff in the hatch. Great car!
Love the family MPV?
When I’m hauling a big, bulky load: Yes.
When I flip the third row out of the floor and have room for 3 more: Yes.
When I’m driving it somewhere with just me and the 2-year-old in it, getting less than 20mpg because my wife’s got the P5 that day: Not so much.
I loved my Miata.
I loved my RX-7.
…Shouldn’t have let those two go!
Yes, I absolutely love our 01 Saab 9-5, although it has not been the most reliable car available. Fortunately, a good warranty and an excellent nearby dealer have made things acceptable. Back in 01, it was the only car out there that offered all these in one car: comfort, safety, performance and yet good MPG and practicality. I am not sure you can find that even today, at the same price as the venerable but improved 08 9-5. I basically count out all Japanese cars because they cheat to get good MPG by siting you low in the car, which breaks your back on long hauls because of the shitty driving position with your spine taking all the beating.
Saab has always offered terrific turbo-charged four bangers. Probably the best thing GM got from Saab because they don’t know what the hell they are doing with the brand. Oh ! I only wish Honda had bought Saab. But Honda doesn’t go around buying other brands do they. No, they concentrate on developing their own stuff and it has served them very well thank you.
I love my car, but I still want a new car every day. Thats why I have a “car of the day”.
http://www.caroftheday.org
Why did your friend let a drunk park her car?
I loved my 96′ Olds Ciera. The thing was decently solid until 280,000 miles came and everything started going to hell completely. Slow, check. Boaty, check.
It’s only proof that if a car works no matter how slow,rusty,nasty,ugly (fill in the blank negative) it is and you drive it long enough, anyone will love it.
My new Civic is no sports car but it’s SO much better than that Olds ever was.
SherbornSean:
I guess I phrased that poorly.
Her car was parked.
A drunk crashed into it.
She pretended like she was upset.
I’ve got an on-again, off-again love for my car. It’s a 2005 Mazda3i. My parents leased it from new for me, and the lease is about to end. I’m planning on buying it from Mazda for $9000. Sounds like a screaming deal to me.
The car is just awesome, absolutely no mechanical problems. I drive it on my short commute and still get 25mpg while driving like a maniac. The car just gobbles up off ramps and asks for more. Just amazing. I’ve driven cars that cost 4x as much that I enjoy less.
The off-again aspect of my relationship is basically because it has an automatic transmission. It needed to be my sister’s transportation while I was at college, so it had to be an auto. Thank god it has great manumatic operation.
Though I guess I don’t completely love my car, since I’m looking to replace it with an E36 M3 sedan.
To those who say driving a Camry or Prius is only for those who don’t like driving, my response is “Bah!” I’ve driven cars from every model year from 1961-2007 (and a 1958 on a “closed course”), some when they were new or nearly so, a couple when they were 23 years old. I like driving anything, but some cars are obviously more fun than others. (A manual transmission helps!)
As for my current whips, 2 Camrys and a 10-year-old Frontier, I love them, yes.
Love is the only way to explain why the constant TLC needed for my 14 yr old German wagon (’95 E320) doesn’t bother me. Despite it’s age, it hasn’t stranded me yet, (knock on teeth), it gets the same fuel economy as all the current cars in it’s size range, and it can haul full-size refrigerators with the doors still on and the hatch completely closed.
My wife has a Rav4 which has been faultless. But it’s also somehow soulless.
Out of the cars that I have owned the one car I can’t seem to part with is my E39 M5 – and believe me, I’ve tried.
Every time it has been in the shop I absolutely hate it and want to sell it. Then I get it back and I forget about how much it cost me to repair it.
I also had a Miata, but I never became attached to it. I think it didn’t have that edge that the M5 has when I drive it. Could be the horsepower, the handling, the interior, or (more likely) that “Oh my God” feeling the M5 has when you drive it hard.
I love my car because it is long paid for and still runs.
John
I love my ‘03 Subaru WRX sedan. I think its the ultimate car. Its faster than most, it has four doors to haul my two boys around without climbing over seats, and has never given me any problems.
The AWD is nice in the winter, and the power is nice for me when I need to go around a Grand prix or a G6. I guess the thing I Love about it most is the car is able to be the same car in all weather conditions.
Jonny,
My wife just “loves” her MDX and won’t let me sell it. Please forward the address of where your friend parked so a drunk can total my wife’s “SUV” and I can buy a Boxster or S2000.
“Heels,” Jonny, “heels.”
Of course I love my car. I made the very best choice based upon my knowledge, experience, needs, and available budget.
Current-generation Camry SE V6.
I love the rush from my 89 SHO when the second set of runners kick in!
I love my car (Mazdaspeed6 GT). It gets the lookback every time I walk away from it. Honestly, for what I paid for my car 2 years ago, I cannot think of anything I would rather have including models that have gone into production since then.
Generally speaking, I think most people will praise their cars. No one wants to admit they spent X amount of dollars on what turned out to be crap. Your car is a matter of personal pride, defending it is to defend your sense of style, taste, savvy consumerism, etc. So in a sense, I dont think current owners of a particular model are really the best resourse when researching vehicles. The best test as to whether someone really likes their car though would be repeat purchasers (something I cannot do unfortunately), or at least sticking with the same brand.
Something else will come along though and sway my cheating heart, then, particularly if my new love interest is in my price range, the relationship with my current ride will sour. Til then, I am a happy camper.
Yes, I love my little Yaris. She’s reliable, never let me down and doesn’t ask much in return. I’d rather drive her than a Ford GT and I’m not joking.
Now if only could find a partner like that…..
Non-enthusiasts can certainly love their cars for a variety of reasons, such as long trips taken with the kids in the vehicle. I had a funny experience once about that. I’d recently moved into the house where I’d grown up, after living in another city for many years. One of the neighbors had had a ‘60 Plymouth wagon when I was a kid. I had a shot of an identical ‘60 ply wagon I’d taken a few years earlier at a car show. So I sent them a photo of the car, with my old return address, and “The Car Finders,” with a letter on official-looking stationary stating that “we have found your car after all of these years, in Virginia. Would you like us to drive it up for you, or would you like to get it yourselves.”
A few days later I spotted the parents of that family walking around the neighborhood, and asked them, “Have they found your car yet?” The woman looks at me, and says, “HOw did YOU know?” and I confessed to having sent them the photo. They proceeded to tell me about all the wonderful reminiscences they’d had with their kids after receiving the photo about trips taken in the Plymouth. We chatted about this for about five minutes, and then, as we were getting ready to go our separate ways, Fred turns to me and he says, “You know, that car was really a lemon.”
driving course :
Yes, but I’d love a 911 more – does that make me shallow!?
I think this comment was directed at me, and my love for my Accord. My answer: absolutely not. I’d love a 911 more, too. A Cayman even more.
I love my car. It’s a 1992 Ford Thunderbird that I’ve owned for ten years, which probably explains much of the attachment. It has the base 3.8 motor and an indeterminate number of miles (the odometer quit working at 129,000 and change); it’s got two doors and RWD, it’s not especially fast but it is torquey as all get out and it handles well enough to make me smile while being remarkably sure-footed in nasty weather, and it’ll probably get 30 mpg again as soon as I finish a couple of repairs that should see it running smoothly for at least another couple years. It’s all the car I need, it’s paid for, and we’ve been a lot of places together. Yup, I love my car.
I really love my Hyundai Sante Fe. It’s got gobs of get up and go. She’s far more comfortable than the ratty ol’ Chev we traded away to get her…
But I did a terrible nasty thing…
I took out a Mazda RX8…
It was only a date, really…
Yes, we did some dickering…
Yes, she held me spell bound and romanced me…
Yes, I romanced her back…
Now, the Sante Fe is loved but not so much…
I’ve lost my heart to the RX8…
I feel like such a shit
I don’t love my car, the car is FAR too new for that kind of commitment! LOL! I doubt it will ever be love. Too few mass produced cars have real character, IMHO, due to fear of alienating too many potential buyers. When I think in terms of love, I think of cars with real individuality, cars you either love or hate, but are never indifferent to. Examples of cars that evoke that kind of response would be anything made by Lotus. A more common, but still quirky car is the RX-7/RX-8. You either love them for what they are or hate them for the very same reasons.
Of course I have loved every car I’ve owned (and I’ve only owned two, having spent a good portion of my adult life not needing one). But what amazes me is that my girlfriend has loved them despite never driving either one. In fact, she loved my old Prelude so much – a car I assumed only a driver could love, given the uncomfortable front seats, unusable back seats, harsh ride and lack of sound insulation – that she cried when we said goodbye to it. And even though she cringed when I said I was buying a station wagon (she wouldn’t believe that the S4 is actually a muscle car in disguise) now she loves that one too, horrible gas mileage and all. Go figure.
justjim,
I love your analogy. I’d really like to get some stick time in an RX-8, but feel that it would probably lead to financially irresponsibility, of which I can afford little more.
Sure I do. 2 year old Mazda 3 GT wagon with 41k miles. Been a superb vehicle for all the types of driving I do and has really met my needs for what I want out of a vehicle. It handles well for a compact FWD wagon, looks great, has several nice features at it’s price level, excellent interior fit and finish but with typical lower-end Japanese plastics. Hauls quite a bit too. And it’s paid off.
I’m definitely falling for the gal’s 82 240, and ever since I read about Paul Newman swapping a V8 in his RWD Volvo…I’ve wanted a Volvo to do that with. Maybe I’ll have a chance now…cheaper than buying her that Escape she wants/needs.
brownie: Of course I have loved every car I’ve owned (and I’ve only owned two, having spent a good portion of my adult life not needing one). But what amazes me is that my girlfriend has loved them despite never driving either one.
Keep that woman close! I was lucky enough to marry one like that. She is the best thing that ever happened to me.
As someone who trades in pretty frequently, I have loved many of my cars. Also hated a couple. No matter the car, at least a fraction of the affection must be earned. Only the day to day can test this.
My Legacy LTD (no turbo) has stood up to 25K miles of hail, blizzard, glare ice, muddy field roads, MN pot holes, WI fuel prices, thirty bags of cedar mulch, two rain soaked dogs, and three parking lot bumps from idiots. It looks, runs, and drives perfectly, just as when I drove it off the showfloor (incredibly true). Driving home from the dealership was when I fell for it on day one. Since then, the rest of my affection has been earned.
I didn’t understand subaru loyalty…I do now. When I look back from parking it, I know it will take me home…no matter what.
N85523 :
May 16th, 2008 at 4:51 pm
justjim,
I love your analogy. I’d really like to get some stick time in an RX-8, but feel that it would probably lead to financially irresponsibility, of which I can afford little more.
thanks much, but I just can’t get that little heart breaker out of my mind.
The 6 standard… oh my, and the power, and how she responded to all my demands…
How she ate up the road twisting and turning making me feel so much more than just any driver…. but her driver
yes, I’m still a shit
I have to have for my own!
Aside from wanting 50 more hp, 10 more mpg and 25 years of wear and tear removed, I don’t think I’d change anything about my car (’83 Mercedes-Benz 300 SD).
No, I can’t afford my car (I have no job and I’m getting unemployment) and I’m wasting what little money I have paying for it.
OK.
Hate my cavalier. It creeks worse than an old wooden boat.
The trailblazer is a work horse, but sways like a star on Dancing With Stars…stay off the MO mountain roads!
My dodge cavalier was wonderful…except for the engine replacement and the transmission repairs…other than that it was/is a sweet running-do everything vehicle.
But the car I LOVE…my little Mazda3 hatch.
Talk about a poor mans BMW!
Other than it sucks in snow, man, oh man…I find reasons to go out to the store.
I love the cornering…the buttery engine.
In fact, every Mazda I drive seems to give this.
I wish Mazdas did offer better MPG…