What's Your Affordable dream car?

[PontiacFiero84 109]

Hey all , just curious to see what the community would say , what I mean by affordable is something you can ACTUALLY buy , not a concept car , or a car that costs 200 grand ( To some can actually afford that )

Mine would be a 1977 Pontiac Trans - Am , I just feel in love with since I was young , Because how absurd it is , Big loud thirsty 6.6 Liter/400 Cubic Inches V8 under the hood , T-tops so everyone to see that your driving a bad ass car , and a big Screaming Bird on the hood to finish it off . So you know mine whats yours!

[Easy Bakes 253]

if it was affordable it wouldnt be a dream car.

But i have always wanted one of these

1969 Pontiac GTO

  Edited June 4, 2011 by Easy Bakes  

[PontiacFiero84 109]

if it was affordable it wouldnt be a dream car.

But i have always wanted one of these

1969 Pontiac GTO

Nice choice , always loved the tach on the hood awesome!
  Edited June 4, 2011 by PontiacFiero84  

[Duke87 1,070]

Well, my current car is only a couple years old (2009 Ford Focus), and I firmly intend to run that baby into the ground. So, in all likelihood, the next car I buy is going to be something that doesn't exist yet.

As for what my "dream specs" on such a theoretical car would be, here's what I would really like to see: an American-made flex-fuel plug-in hybrid. This allows for great versatility in powering the car, and allows the user to switch their preferred means based on fluctuating prices. Nothing currently out there fits all those conditions, though the Chevy Volt has three out of four (it's American, it's a hybrid, and it plugs in, but it isn't flex-fuel). It's pricey (40 grand for a car? Yeowch!), but in the future as the technology develops, the price on such things is only going to come down.

Although, I would really rather it be made by Ford than by GM or Chrysler, as they generally seem to more have their act together as a company.

Flex-fuel, by the way, means a car can run on regular gasoline (E0-10, perhaps up to E15 in the future) or Ethanol (E85). Apparently two-thirds of the people who own such vehicles aren't aware that they have the capability or don't know what it means.

[TekindusT 3,809]

Whilst my dream car is, nowadays, the Ferrari 458 Italia (or any other Italian sports car TBH); my affordable dream car and the one I aspire to buy when I've got enough money is...

Dodge Avenger.

Don't know what happens with this car, but I'm in love with it. When I see it on the street, I have to turn my head as I would do with my non-affordable dream cars. The fact of currently driving a sedan property of my father also helped to make me like the large cars.

I'm only 15,000 euros away of an used Avenger...

  Edited June 4, 2011 by TekindusT  

[PontiacFiero84 109]

@Duke87, I know how you feel with the future Flex fuel / Hybrid / plug in vehicle . The Volt on the other hand is very expensive but , image how money you can save just with gas alone and I believe the U.S government sends people a check (Not sure the amount) for driving a non gasoline powered vehicle .

@TekindusT The Dodge Avenger is a very sharp car I do agree it's like a mini Charger . It would be awesome if Dodge added a SRT trim that supercharged or turbocharged it , and I see you live in Spain which is cool , Are American cars popular out in Spain ? , Are they expensive as well?

  Edited June 4, 2011 by PontiacFiero84  

[Ocram's Razr 964]

I don't have an affordable dream car so I would likely stick with whatever performs the necessary tasks affordably, unless I become extremely wealthy.

Edit: Here are the properties of my dream car that can go with any price range:

1. Safe

2. Have some sort of radio and/or CD player.

3. Fuel usage is affordable to me.

4. Predominately some shade of blue or green in the paint job or looks vaguely like the cars made in the Roaring Twenties.

5. Fast enough to match any speed limit in the US.

6. Rugged enough to go on any driving condition legal for cars (poorly maintained (or re)paved roads, brick roads, gravel roads, dirt roads, sand roads, snowy roads, icy roads).

7. Good condition.

8. Fabric seats (no leather or vinyl)

9. Front seats reasonably comfortable enough.

10. Easy enough for me and friends/family to drive (not a stick shift).

There are half-a-dozen (mass-produced) cars that can fulfill all my dreams (sports cars, town cars, or limousines). Toyota manufactures most of the commuter (affordable) cars I can desire.

I was not going to make a second post that is still slightly off-topic to try to explain why I posted in the first place.

  Edited June 5, 2011 by Ilikeseattle  

[A Nonny Moose 8,262]

The last time I drove a car I didn't own it was a rental Ford Focus. After years of driving minivans, and no longer needing one, I would seriously consider this vehicle. However, because of limited vision, I can no longer drive.

[PontiacFiero84 109]

@ Ilikeseattle , If you don't have one they why post? lol , but if your looking for a car that performs tasks for you affordable any four cylinder will do for you.

@ A Nonny Moos , Sorry for your vision , was it this kind of Ford Focus? A Ford Focus is one the most practical new / used car you can buy so I can see why you liked it.

[jacksunny 741]

I don't have a dream car, but I do have a dream truck:

The Ford F-150 SVT Raptor

[nathanthemayor 1,263]

My dream car is a hybrid, which probably when I am 18, will be cheaper than today.

[PontiacFiero84 109]

@ Jacksunny , Nice choice those Raptors are so bad ass!

@ Nathanthemayor , The only hybrids I like are the Saturn Vue , Mercury Milan / Ford Fusion , Fisker Karma , and the Peugeot hybrids , hybrids / Electric cars aren't really my sort of thing though, but if it's yours then it's fine with me . You are right about the hybrid car / truck will defiantly drop it's price in the next coming years.

[A Nonny Moose 8,262]

It was a rental and something like five years ago, so I can't say if it was that model.

[Ocram's Razr 964]

Ever since the first Toyota Prius came out, I thought that the highest mileage car would be some sort of diesel-electric hybrid. Now, I have found a press release by Volvo that says it will have a plug-in diesel hybrid with about 150 mpg on average. Washington State, especially Seattle uses cheap hydroelectric power and all diesel is required to have at least 2% biodiesel while I have seen gas stations that sell E20, E85, B10, B20, and B85. Biodiesel is much more common in Washington than flex fuel, though regular gasoline here is E10.

For most affordable fuel usage, I found this page: Volvo's production-ready V60 Plug-in Diesel Hybrid

Here is a picture of the production ready car showing internal components:

Most cars have 4-wheel-drive and automatic transmission while Volvo is known for its good safety. On the other hand, Volvo cars tend to have bad suspensions, which makes even freeway driving rather bumpy. I am 19 and I won't be able to test to drive until I am 21 because I let my second renewal run out without taking a test.

I want my car's paint job to be unique enough that it does not blend in with a parking lot/garage full of monochromatic white, silver, black, grey, and dark blue sedans. Therefore a 2-tone paint job with half being a shade of a dark enough green and the other half being almost any shade of blue, maybe with silver pinstripe between the two for extra character. I saw an example of that on Xzibit's "Pimp My Ride."

Since the car will be released around 2012, it would most likely have good audio. Since I won't buy a car until several years of driving experience, I could buy that Volvo used. New Volvo cars range from about $25-50k so it is not affordable new.

My absolute wildest dream car would resemble a 1928 Rolls Royce or Bentley, though a Ferrari is a close second dream car but I doubt I would ever own one.

The most likely first car I will own would be a used Toyota Camry (my mother let me drive a red 1991 once I turned 16 until my Learner's Permit expired).

[FreewayofFlight 41]

I'm a big fan of station wagons, the one I drive now is a 98 and it gets around 30 mpg.

My dream vehicle would probably be another wagon, preferably a Ford Focus Wagon.

I've also looked at the Volkswagen Jetta Sportwagen

[EyeofMobius 27]

VW Corrada '94: With some nifty upgrades to improve handling, economy and aesthetics. I don't want to add upgrades that make it noisy or fuel guzzling just more efficiency.

This one is pretty:

[PontiacFiero84 109]

@ Ilikeseattle , I saw that Volvo at the NY auto show , it was pretty neat. Also I must agree with you with the two tone.

@ FreewayofFlight , That Focus and VW are cool , have you checked out the Dodge Magnum?

@ EyeofMobius , My mother almost bought a 94 Corrado , those are really nice and rare nowadays.

[TekindusT 3,809]

@@TekindusT The Dodge Avenger is a very sharp car I do agree it's like a mini Charger . It would be awesome if Dodge added a SRT trim that supercharged or turbocharged it , and I see you live in Spain which is cool , Are American cars popular out in Spain ? , Are they expensive as well?

American cars here are very far away of being popular, maybe this is another factor for me to like the Avenger so much. If you own an Avenger, you're definately an original guy; because you can't barely see them out there. The most popular American brand is Ford (if you can call it American), but its cars are (absolutely IMO) very... Europeanized.

There is always the inconvenient that this kind of cars (except Ford's) are really huge for my own personal standards. We always park right in the street where I live because not much people can afford to park in a garage; and having an small car is quite important to find a suitable gap to park your car in. This is why gigantic cars like Chrysler 300 or Cadillac Escalade (another car I like very much) are very uncommon and even unpopular.

[Alejandro24 575]

Well, not a car, I don't like the cars. But I like the trucks.

Ford F150. It is a common vehicle here in Mexico.

[Timmystwin 201]

That. But the hillclimb version. Only £10000 but it goes like stink and corners better. (Been in one on a hillclimb, scary as hell)

[PontiacFiero84 109]

@ TekindusT , Thanks for that information!

@ Alejandro24 , F150's build quality is excellent so I can see why there's lots around in Mexico.

@Timmystwin , That MG is sick man! , Rally is my favorite motorsport.

[Ocram's Razr 964]

@Alejandro24, that is a pretty popular truck in North America. Ford makes then BIGGER of course (F250, F350, F450) or at least they used to. I think they discontinued their biggest ones. Toyota also makes/made bigger trucks but I doubt they will be building anything new for the next couple of years. I have ridden through the streets of Guadalajara (I was too cowardly to try to drive) and I know that a pickup truck is a good choice. Although, autos like that contribute to the poor air quality.

[Larks2242 251]

Dodge Viper acr edition

However on the affordable side

A Shelby GT 500

http://www.rsportscars.com/eng/articles/images02/gt500rs.jpg

Pics are too large.

  Edited June 7, 2011 by Larks2242  

[PontiacFiero84 109]

@ Larks2242 - Those car's are very nice !

To spice the topic up some more I chosen a pair of cars I would like to own someday in the future.

The first one , an Alfa Romeo GTV6 , with these being very rare in America it sure is one unique machine , but with Alfa reliability

At second it's an American Motors Pacer X , now I know what your thinking , you probably think im an idiot for posting this car , but I always had a passion for odd cars. I've chosen the X trim which has the V8 engine in it so it's defiantly a flying fishbowl .

At the third spot it's a Ford Contour[ Mondeo in Europe] SVT . The SVT team at Ford developed a road ripping sedan from Fords small sedan , the contour. I like it because the V6 in it is quick and it's a very practical car to own.

  Edited June 8, 2011 by PontiacFiero84  

[Easy Bakes 253]

American Motors Pacer X looks like a Ford Pinto Knock off.

wonder if those explode too?

[PontiacFiero84 109]

@ Easy Bakes , The AMC pacer was used as the main vehicle of choice in wayne's world and it's sequel( As seen herehttp://www.imcdb.org...ne-s-World.html) . To tell you the truth im pretty sure it doesn't explode , because after the Ford Pinto/Mercury Bobcat problem with the gas tank , Ford recalled the cars and installed a protective shield between the rear end of the car and the fuel tank.

  Edited June 9, 2011 by PontiacFiero84  

[Alejandro24 575]

@ Alejandro24 , F150's build quality is excellent so I can see why there's lots around in Mexico.

@Alejandro24, that is a pretty popular truck in North America. Ford makes then BIGGER of course (F250, F350, F450) or at least they used to. I think they discontinued their biggest ones. Toyota also makes/made bigger trucks but I doubt they will be building anything new for the next couple of years. I have ridden through the streets of Guadalajara (I was too cowardly to try to drive) and I know that a pickup truck is a good choice. Although, autos like that contribute to the poor air quality.

Actually mostly part of the vehicular park in Guadalajara Metropolitan Area, ZMG, -well, all the state of Jalisco- are trucks, specially Ford or Dodge, now Toyota, Nissan and Volkswagen trucks are becoming popular too. Thats because one of the nicknames of the city is "pueblote", big little town. So, Why the trucks? Firts, it is common to have family outside the city, in the rural area, so a truck is usefull. Second, it is a cultural element of this region, western and north of Mexico. Third, the trucks don't pay too much taxes as the autos, or cars. SUV's are popular too, like Ford Explorer, Chrysler Voyager, In cars, Nissan Tsuru is a common car for Taxis; Volkswagen Beetle, Volkswagen Jetta, Chevrolet Chevy -Opel Corsa- are common. European models, like Peugeot or Renault, have aceptation but they are not succefull at all.

About the air quality, we are not too bad as Mexico DF, they have a really poor air quality. It is normal for they have around 90 or 100 IMECAS of air queality, when here in Guadalajara 90-100 IMECAS is pre-contingency phase. We are habituate to have 30, 50 IMECAS as a normal air quality, including the goverment is trying to reduce the index. IMECA means Indice Metropolitano de Calidad del Aire, Metropolitan Index of Air Quality.

[EyeofMobius 27]

@Alejandro24, that is a pretty popular truck in North America. Ford makes then BIGGER of course (F250, F350, F450) or at least they used to. I think they discontinued their biggest ones. Toyota also makes/made bigger trucks but I doubt they will be building anything new for the next couple of years. I have ridden through the streets of Guadalajara (I was too cowardly to try to drive) and I know that a pickup truck is a good choice. Although, autos like that contribute to the poor air quality.

Ford and all the others still make all those bigger end vehicles. However the F-350 is about the biggest that any city slicker buys these days. If people are going bigger it is because they are pulling large trailers, using for farmwork or converting to flatbeds and construction/utility vehicles for industrial purposes. You do regularly see 'round these here parts of good ol' Alberta folks who just feel the need for something like the Ford Excursion or the need to take their teeny weeny F350 and jack it up into a big'n Hot wheels monster truck; this is all becuase Alberta is the worlds highest number of trucks per capita and wasted money on them. If you want to own a sweet pickup truck that is unique in your community you need to live somewhere else.

[zahrul3 472]

@all the people thinking about cars with v8: your wasting our precious resources and cause oil wars lol

Here's my dream car

Its powered by a diesel engine(handy with biodiesel) and its somehow subsidised by some amount, so its quite affordable. They cost 30k dollars equivalent here but it isn't that expensive considering cars in Indonesia have steep import taxes and its the price of a Corolla here. You get one free if you work for the goverment and get sent to Papua or Kalimantan, because roads can only be travelled by 4x4s there. The police also use it for carrying stuff in hard to reach places like Papua and Kalimantan, again.

[Meastro444 1]

This one: