# Ever have a car/motorcycle you wish you had back? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [October 23, 2019, 10:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ever-have-a-car-motorcycle-you-wish-you-had-back/842202 "2019-10-23T22:41:22Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Sarabellum](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sarabellum/32/3492_2.png) [@Sarabellum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sarabellum)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2019, 4:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ever-have-a-car-motorcycle-you-wish-you-had-back/842202/61 "2019-10-26T16:38:19Z")
I miss my 1992 Plymouth Sundance America, though heaven knows why. It was a Sally Rand model, not one upgrade or extra. I got it for a song, paid cash for it when I was 17, and drove it til I was 27. At which point it was ugly (SO ugly, the paint had flaked away on the entire roof) but it still ran okay. So I donated it to my down-on-his-luck FIL, who promptly wrecked it. My next car was a fun little GTP Pacecar Grand Prix, which did not last as many years as it should have. It was not a practical car for a young mom with a baby, for sure. ---
**Author:** ![blondebear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blondebear/32/1022_2.png) [@blondebear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blondebear)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2019, 5:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ever-have-a-car-motorcycle-you-wish-you-had-back/842202/62 "2019-10-26T17:04:26Z")
My favorite vehicle ever was a '89 4Runner. Perfect for roadtrips and camping–I loved being able to sit on the tailgate, which went away on newer models. It could go practically anywhere…even though I was a timid 4-wheel driver at best. It got 20 MPG consistently, had a manual 5-speed with overdrive, a removable moonroof and a decent stereo with CD and cassette player. But, after 240K, things were wearing out on a too-regular basis to be dependable for long trips and I had to get rid of it. ---
**Author:** ![ZonexandScout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zonexandscout/32/544_2.png) [@ZonexandScout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZonexandScout)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2019, 5:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ever-have-a-car-motorcycle-you-wish-you-had-back/842202/63 "2019-10-26T17:18:09Z")
I hope I’m allowed two entries. I also had a 1993 Isuzu Trooper LS, with virtually every option (including motorized folding side mirrors). It was the perfect car to take to the beach and drive on the sand. It had plenty of clearance and the old-fashioned 4WD where you had to back it up to unlock the front hubs. With light truck tires mounted, it would go basically anywhere. Another advantage was that it was white, so it stayed much cooler when parked out in the sun. Eventually the engine began to lose compression. It was a tough choice to sell it, particularly since the body and interior were pristine, but I didn’t want to invest in rebuilding the engine. That was stupid of me. I kick myself every time I see an old one tooling around town. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2019, 1:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ever-have-a-car-motorcycle-you-wish-you-had-back/842202/64 "2019-10-27T01:32:06Z")
Since I’ve never had one, I can’ have it ‘back’, but I’ve always thought it would be cool to have an [exact replica of a Porsche 550 Spyder](https://www.spyder550sale.com) I guessed that one would cost more than a new Ferrari. I received this reply when I asked the price: > [@](#): > > You would be correct. We put original, until we run out, 4CAM engines from 1955-1956, in our cars. These engines are $440,000 on the open market today, and are increasing in value. So part of our cars is appreciating. 😀 Every other car/replica, except very low production cars depreciate immediately. > > The turnkey price is over $900,000. That’s twice what I was thinking. I wonder how much it would be with a 356C engine. ---
**Author:** ![CelticKnot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/celticknot/32/3392_2.png) [@CelticKnot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CelticKnot)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2019, 12:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ever-have-a-car-motorcycle-you-wish-you-had-back/842202/65 "2019-10-27T12:44:28Z")
Not a classic, but our 2002 Subaru Forester, Goldie. We loved that car. She took us back and forth across the country many times, and was wonderful when we lived in the middle of nowhere in the 4 Corners. 10 years, 220,000+ miles when the new timing chain broke and took out the #3 cylinder. We had only one major breakdown in the life of that car, the head gasket. We had been slowly replacing parts, such as wheel bearings, when suddenly we needed a new engine and no longer had full time jobs thanks to the Great Recession. My family bought us a new car (not a Subaru), so to help out we traded Goldie in, and literally cried when we did. We were able to replace the gift car with another Subaru, but Sylvia is just not Goldie. ---
**Author:** ![Paintcharge](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/paintcharge/32/7946_2.png) [@Paintcharge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Paintcharge)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2019, 2:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ever-have-a-car-motorcycle-you-wish-you-had-back/842202/66 "2019-10-27T14:13:56Z")
My 1988 Nissan Stanza wagon. That thing was like the Tardis. Two sliding rear doors, and the back seat folded up leaving a space big enough to lid down. I moved across the country twice with all of my belongings. ---
**Author:** ![chela](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chela/32/21582_2.png) [@chela](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chela)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2019, 8:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ever-have-a-car-motorcycle-you-wish-you-had-back/842202/67 "2019-10-27T20:37:19Z")
1974 Yamaha RD 200, I was the second owner it was my first bike and I rode the wheels off it. Sold it to make room for my 1987 Cagiva Alazzurra SS 650 WHich I still have but it’s been parked for a while. ---
**Author:** ![chela](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chela/32/21582_2.png) [@chela](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chela)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2019, 8:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ever-have-a-car-motorcycle-you-wish-you-had-back/842202/68 "2019-10-27T20:53:59Z")
> [@Johnny\_L.A](#): > > Since I’ve never had one, I can’ have it ‘back’, but I’ve always thought it would be cool to have an [exact replica of a Porsche 550 Spyder](https://www.spyder550sale.com) > > I guessed that one would cost more than a new Ferrari. I received this reply when I asked the price: > > That’s twice what I was thinking. I wonder how much it would be with a 356C engine. How about a [Beck Spyder](http://www.beckspeedster.com/homepage.html) My husband bought his about 10 years ago, it’s an attention getter for sure and is almost his daily driver in summer. gets track time once or twice a summer with the porsche club and the Lotus club. It’s his pride and joy for sure, but all i see is another two seater in the stable that can’t fetch groceries. :eek:😛 ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2019, 9:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ever-have-a-car-motorcycle-you-wish-you-had-back/842202/69 "2019-10-27T21:37:16Z")
> [@chela](#): > > How about a [Beck Spyder](http://www.beckspeedster.com/homepage.html) Nice, and inexpensive. But if i had one, I’d want an accurate reproduction with an aluminum body. I did see one for about $400,000 with a 356C engine, but the one I linked to is for all practical purposes a ‘real’ one. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2019, 4:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ever-have-a-car-motorcycle-you-wish-you-had-back/842202/70 "2019-10-28T04:09:18Z")
In reality, I’d be perfectly happy to have [my 911SC](https://imgur.com/gallery/EQzreso) back (or a duplicate – white coupé, polished Fuchs wheels, no tail). A realistic bonus would be to have a red 1969 Porsche 911T. I already have a clone of my 1966 MGB, this one with overdrive. It would be nice to have an aluminum exact copy of a Porsche 550 Spyder with the 4 cam engine or a 356C engine, but not necessary with the others. ---
**Author:** ![Cheesesteak](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cheesesteak/32/3694_2.png) [@Cheesesteak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cheesesteak)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2019, 4:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ever-have-a-car-motorcycle-you-wish-you-had-back/842202/71 "2019-10-29T16:51:56Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > I had a 1976 Ford Torino. 2 door. It didn’t have the sport package. > . > I really enjoyed driving that car. Shouldn’t have sold it. > [@iiandyiiii](#): > > I kind of miss my first car, a 1973 Ford Gran Torino that my dad purchased for me in the mid 90s with, somehow, less than 25K miles on it. It was a 4 door with a 5 liter V8, and my friends and I had a blast with it. It could easily fit 6 teens, 7 or 8 in a pinch, and the body was nearly indestructible. Unfortunately, even with the low mileage, it would periodically have something go wrong – little stuff like radiator hose busting, alternator breaking, etc. > > I think I just kind of miss the fun my friends and I had with that car. But we also probably spent many hours stuck on the side of the highway waiting for help after a breakdown. It’s not even my car, but my sister (through good ol’ dad) had a 1970 Torino Cobra Jet with a ‘shaker’ hood scoop. Despite dad’s penchant for buying and restoring cars, that’s the only one I wish I had a chance to sit in and drive today. ---
**Author:** ![pkbites](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pkbites/32/204_2.png) [@pkbites](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pkbites)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2019, 4:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ever-have-a-car-motorcycle-you-wish-you-had-back/842202/72 "2019-10-30T04:14:20Z")
I had a 1988 Honda Hawk [650GT](https://bikez.com/pictures/honda/1988/nt%20650%20hawk%20gt.jpg). Sort of a sport bike/super standard. Had a V-twin engine. Was the only cycle I ever took a dive on. Hit a puddle of radiator fluid that was on the ground while turning into a filling station. $900 damage, mostly the fairing. I should have just took the fairing off (fairings weren’t OEM on those bikes) or replaced it and kept the bike. Instead I sold it for a rather handsome some (there is/was a cult following for that model). I miss it tremendously. ---
**Author:** ![Scoobysnax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c4cdca/32.png) [@Scoobysnax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scoobysnax)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2019, 9:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ever-have-a-car-motorcycle-you-wish-you-had-back/842202/73 "2019-10-31T21:35:47Z")
I had a 2006 Honda S2000 for a while. I looked into getting another one for a weekend toy a while back. I gave up when the ones I found were either super expensive, in terrible condition, or both. ---
**Author:** ![Pork\_Rind](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pork_rind/32/111_2.png) [@Pork\_Rind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pork_Rind)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2020, 3:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ever-have-a-car-motorcycle-you-wish-you-had-back/842202/74 "2020-11-11T03:40:49Z")
> [@Pork\_Rind](#): > > 2008 KTM 690 SMC. This was the craziest, most hooligan-ish bike I could imagine. It was also a POS that had changed hands three times before I picked it up as a poorly running example. I never got it quite right and it was a total pain in the ass to ride in heavy Seattle traffic. But damn! It would be right at home here in the canyons around Santa Barbara. Looking for another. Sorry for reviving this zombie, but I thought I’d provide a short update for the approximately zero people who expressed interest in this post… So the simple fact of writing the quoted part of my original post started a thought process that slowly gained momentum and mass over the last year. I wanted to re-buy that 2008 KTM, and I more or less did, in the form of a 2020 KTM SMC R. Same bike, but with 12 years of upgrades and new features. And most importantly, still a riot to ride. ---
**Author:** ![Capn\_Carl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/838e76/32.png) [@Capn\_Carl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Capn_Carl)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2020, 8:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ever-have-a-car-motorcycle-you-wish-you-had-back/842202/75 "2020-11-12T08:39:10Z")
That is a REALLY cool bike. Congratulations. ---
**Author:** ![Sigene](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/df788c/32.png) [@Sigene](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sigene)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2020, 2:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ever-have-a-car-motorcycle-you-wish-you-had-back/842202/76 "2020-11-12T14:18:55Z")
The 1969 Mach 1…?. actually no…I don’t miss that car one bit. The 1975 Dodge Van in “godawful” orange…That’s the one I still wake up from dreams as still owning 30 years later ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2020, 6:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ever-have-a-car-motorcycle-you-wish-you-had-back/842202/77 "2020-11-12T18:04:55Z")
> [@pkbites](#): > > I had a 1988 Honda Hawk [650GT](https://bikez.com/pictures/honda/1988/nt%20650%20hawk%20gt.jpg). I’ve got an 89 model. So clean you can eat off it. But I won’t let you. ---
**Author:** ![Scoobysnax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c4cdca/32.png) [@Scoobysnax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scoobysnax)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2020, 9:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ever-have-a-car-motorcycle-you-wish-you-had-back/842202/78 "2020-11-12T21:49:40Z")
My 2006 Honda S2000. I would love to have another but the prices for decent examples are way too high for 1999 tech and engineering. ---
**Author:** ![zoogirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b9bd4f/32.png) [@zoogirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zoogirl)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2020, 2:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ever-have-a-car-motorcycle-you-wish-you-had-back/842202/79 "2020-11-13T02:02:13Z")
Yes! My dad’s 1965 Pontiac Strato Chief. We got it in ‘68. I learned to drive on it and had all kinds of fun. By the time Dad passed in ‘86 it had sat about a year and there it sat until Mom went in ‘95. I inherited both the house and car. I had every intention of getting her back on the road ASAP after the money came through. Except… Some jerk with a tow truck swiped her just before I sold the house! The Strato Chief was a rare model, only about 2000 in Canada. One day, I just might find her. ---
**Author:** ![pkbites](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pkbites/32/204_2.png) [@pkbites](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pkbites)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2020, 3:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ever-have-a-car-motorcycle-you-wish-you-had-back/842202/80 "2020-11-13T03:54:25Z")
Which color is yours, red or blue? I know there were some other colors available but 99% of the Hawks I have seen on the road were red or blue. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ever-have-a-car-motorcycle-you-wish-you-had-back/842202.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ever-have-a-car-motorcycle-you-wish-you-had-back/842202.md?page=5)