QotD: 07 Apr 2015: Must haves in a car...

I bought my first car when I was 19 and the ONLY must have for me was that it was cheap! lol. Luckily my Dad was a car guy so he found me a great deal - a 1987 Dodge Lancer (cost $700 all in to get it on the road).

That lasted me for almost 3 years with only minor repairs, but it finally gave up and I replace it with a Mazda MX3. At that point my must haves was that it was sporty (I put in a good stereo and remote starter).

I finally had to let go of my sporty car because we needed more room (DH at 6'4 hated it) so we bought a Sunfire together. I hated that car!!! lol

We upgraded to a Dodge Minivan when we got pregnant with DD and we just bought our 3rd one (1st one didn't last long and DH now drives the 2nd one).

The must haves when looking for our current van was that it was within our budget (we've never been car loan people), low kms and in really good shape.

Some how I've managed to have AC in all my cars even though its never been on my radar. Our newest van has power everything, which comes in handy with the kids. I love our current van and don't plan to upgrade any time soon (its a 2007).

I feel deceptive contributing on this thread because much like coupon girl I did not learn to drive till I was 39! The first vehicle I drove was what my DH called a Pimp Mobile! ( kind of a boat ) Google Image, not our vehicle. ( '72 or '74 Oldsmobile Cutlass Brougham )


http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-VcQkaGM8zE...e_cutlass.jpeg

but I liked it very much and felt safe inside it compared to a small vehicle. I actually care very little about vehicles period. They are just to get me from point A to B. No status issues for me. Now I must say I do need A/C and a radio ( like Patty ), but can do without all the crazy new fangled automatic gadgets they push now.

first car i had no say in.. it was what my dad brought home and said "your learning on this, this is your car.. you now owe me...$650" it wasn't a bad car.. and he worked at ford so he got a great deal on a trade in...

now.. it must have power windows!!!!!! i can live without AC if it has power windows! power locks are nice too must not look like a boat, spacious bigger then a car but not full sized SUV... and has to have a big trunk for all my chaos shopping addictions at target and where ever else... a split fold back seat so i can get big stuff and still have kidlet seat

Just curious why some of you didn't get your drivers' licenses as teens? I have sisters, your ages and older, who did.
I know it was more unusual in my mom's time, she got hers not long before my dad passed away, she was in her 60s.

WOB, that's similar to the car I learned to drive with when I was 14, our family car. That would have been 1975 - think it was a '72 or 73 Chev or Olds - but we called it The Boat.

On my driving test, had to pass a big truck on the below bridge - I swear there were just inches between us!


https://encrypted-tbn2.gstatic.com/i...Ild4HPa_sQnPaO

[QUOTE=Natalka;6362910]Just curious why some of you didn't get your drivers' licenses as teens? I have sisters, your ages and older, who did.
I know it was more unusual in my mom's time, she got hers not long before my dad passed away, she was in her 60s.

WOB, that's similar to the car I learned to drive with when I was 14, our family car. That would have been 1975 - think it was a '72 or 73 Chev or Olds - but we called it The Boat.

[QUOTE]

Natalka, the area I was raised and lived in was all city, so transit was affordable, and reliable. Also I rode my bike once I left home at 17 and arrived to my destination often quicker than the transit option. None of the women in my family drove, by that I mean the women that many would call my " role models " ( Mom, Aunts, older Sisters ) Only the " men " in those families drove that I ever saw.
Our family never owned a vehicle my whole life. My Dad had use of an old station ( yellow ? ) wagon with the wooden paneling along the sides for a short time when I was real young, but cars never were necessary really. Shopping was all close by.
I then feared ever learning to drive and my DH had no problem doing all the driving so we were a perfect match! lol.

Ah, never thought of that.

I grew up in a small city, no transit.
Prior to that, small towns - and families always did a lot of highway driving.
Difference being on the prairies as well.

Did not have my licence till I was like 25. first car was a 99 ford escort I loved it even though it had an electrical issue that nobody could figure out.. Someone sideswiped me and with the check from that persons insurance I bout a 99 Alero.. what a piece of crap if it was not one thing it was something else.. I drove it for about 5 years and most that time had no power steering, doors that did not open properly, locks that were broken as thieves broke in on both sides and i did not bother fixing it as they would just do it again.. tape deck was broken the plastic that covered the wires in the steering wheel was broken and so forth... finally scrapped it for like 100 when I got tiered of repairs funny thing is with all the GM recalls it was part of it and I got multiple recall notices even though I did not own it anymore. Then I bought a 03 ford focus.. It was an ok car but I needed something a little better (long story) so I drove it for about 8 months then traded it for a 06 nissan trail with some body damage. The nissan is great :)

i have a friend who has never owned a car.. and she's in her 30's.. she was born and raised in a city.. where i was born and raised in a small town.. there was 2 buses that circled through 4 routes that covered the whole town and they only ran from about 7am to 5pm so if you wanted to get around it was walk, bike or drive (and with snow for 4 months of the year it was driving)

In 1978 my first car was a rare ramair 1firebird i didnt know what i had sold it bought a 1964impala ss convertible 409 4speed dual quads 300.00 it needed a top mom made me sell it to .1979 my sis bought a new tbird she had a 1969gt mustang 3514v fastback sweet but not me kelp it 5years it had tw foldown console amfm scoop mirrors magnum500 i recented.tas but they where what i wanted in 1980 my little sis bought a 75ta hooker sidepipes wirewheels love at first fell! I eventually bought an orignal 71camaro 396 auto l had made it! Loved it started telecommunication school traded it for a 76malibu classic sweet car but no power bought another pony 71ps tw powerwindows console locks powerseat rimblow tach gauges nasa hood duals rare ! Bought a gp traded it for a 78trans am factory tops nice ive never looked back now ive owned 162 cars 62 fbodies. Currently we have 10! From 79-97

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