Every enthusiast has “The List,” a theoretical registry of the automobiles they would like to own should the opportunity, timing, and financial means present themselves. Of course there’s the opposite end of the spectrum which we toyed with yesterday, but the prospect of hitting it big in the lottery is, rather unfortunately, extremely unlikely, rendering the attainable car much more realistic. And with that in mind, we all have that one car that’s on the forefront of our mind: the car we have a “crush” on.
For me, that has taken a surprising turn, with the 1999-2000 Honda Civic Si ocupying my mind as of late. It doesn’t even make sense why it’s the car I’m spontaneously lusting after, seeing as I generally like all-wheel-drive and rear-wheel-drive cars with forced induction or eight-cylinder powerplants (and yes, I very much like a combination of the two), and the Civic is wholly neither. It’s the simplicity that has me as much as does the nostalgia aspect, and with great visibility, relative lightness (2600 pounds!), and a traditionally fantastic Honda shifter, a bone stock Electron Blue Pearl Si would be a hoot to drive hard, and drive hard everywhere. I have no intention of buying one now or anytime in the future, but for some reason the 6th-gen Si just seems fun, and the idea of it has me captivated. Gotta love the cars Honda built in its Golden Age.
So, what car (or truck) is tickling your automotive fancy at the moment? For the sake of keeping it realistic, let’s stick to things that are reasonably attainable and that can be had within a modest budget (or at least within your own). Hit the comments below to let us know what you’re crushing on– rational or not.
Hooniverse Asks: What car are you crushing on?
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63 responses to “Hooniverse Asks: What car are you crushing on?”
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Getting tired of driving a full size truck on my everyday commute. Might could swing something sub $5k. Been looking at stick shift Saabs, early to mid 2000s, 9-3 and 9-5, no 9-3 convertibles. They appear to be pretty good bang for the buck right now. The later ones are basically Malibus, so parts shouldn’t be too much of an issue. I was impressed that my Dad’s 2004 9-3 convertible sat for 3 years and started right up with just a new battery.
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Mmmm, 9-3 Viggen…
I’ve wanted one for ~10 years. Coincidentally it was offered in nearly the same color as the Civic Si that inspired this post. -
Ahh, no parts ARE an issue – the across the board GM parts aren’t the problem (and those are the parts that don’t break) it’s the Saab only parts that are a huge PIA. Good luck trying to find a rear window regulator. Or Aero front coil springs, or you name it – if it’s Saab only, it seems the only resource are wrecking yards. The tech issue is another problem – do you have a prior Saab shop nearby? A GM Tech II can be tricked by inputting as a Caddy CTS, but only for a few functions. Otherwise, good luck finding someone with a Saab Tech-II and access to IRIS.
I loved our 9-3, but, I’m truly glad it’s no longer ours.-
You are assuming that I would actually repair anything besides the drive train, HVAC and Radio. I live in a county without emissions testing. A check engine light can be fixed with a small piece of electrical tape. I probably wouldn’t get an Aero or Viggen. This would be a commuter car to beat on, not a treasured classic that I would keep on the road forever (Sorry Saab fans.)
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I too have used the black electrical tape solution to fix those pesky check engine light anomalies. Quick and efficient, I must say.
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Specific parts are less of an issue than in years past. Rear window regulator? Sent one to the crusher in kid’s wrecked ’01 9-3 a few weeks back. Springs are available from Orio, off the shelf–BTDT with my 9-3. Heck, body panels are available new from them, and they’re starting to have classic 900 front fenders made again! The Chinese clones of Tech-II work pretty well with the Saab software on a PCMCIA card, and clones are pretty cheap these days. Older 9-3s and 9-5s don’t need to be connected to the mothership, thankfully. ’03+ 9-3s do need security access via a PC with TIS2000 or Global TIS (or online connection to the mothership).
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Doesn’t GM guarantee parts supply? The value of SAABs dipped ridiculously here after the bankcruptcy, only to improve a bit after newspapers started recommending “cheap SAABs wuth guaranteed parts supply”.
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I had a coworker that had a car just like the one in the lead photo back in the mid-oughts. It was, of course, stolen, stripped, and the carcass was used for target practice.
Lately I’m on a kick for the square body 73-87 GM pickups and 78-87 G-bodies, to include El Caminos, of all things.-
I have a soft spot for both 73-87 GM Trucks and 78-87 G-Bodies (Regals in particular). My first car was a 1981 Buick Regal Turbo and I have owned or driven a 1973 C-10, 1979 K-5 Blazer, and a 1984 K-10. I would like to find a 4X4 Suburban of this generation before they get too expensive.
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I’m longing for a 1st gen Saab 900. They were so common when I grew up that I never really cared about them, but now that they’re getting rarer I feel like I’ve been taking them for granted.
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Lately I’ve really been drawn to pre-war domestics – but not rodded out. BaT had a really neat brown, ’38 Chevrolet Master that didn’t meet reserve a month ago that I was really smitten with. I’d really love to cruise to work with a ’38 LaSalle Series 50, or a Packard 180, or a ’40 Chrysler Windsor. New enough to still have juice brakes, and power to keep up with traffic.
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Not sure about the LaSalle, but the lower end non-Ford cars can be had for surprisingly little cash. Saw a couple of nice Plymouths on Hemmings for under $10k, with nice show worthy ones around $20k. Several nice Pontiacs in the $15k rnage.
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I used to work with a guy who inherited a 1946 Ford pickup he used as his daily driver. It was essentially stock, other than whatever may have been used to replace parts made of unobtanium.
I’d like to do something similar, but maybe be more lenient about upgrading brakes and HVAC. -
Have you driven pre-war cars? I’ve never tried one, but all the work with it keeps me away. For some though, all the work is all the attraction.
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I can’t stop thinking about FJ60 Land Cruisers…
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I mean, once you do a Safari build on the Wombat it will effectively be a road-going FJ60…
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Oh the itch will definitely be scratched when that happens.
Also, you should find someone with an EM1 and drive it. Easily one of the most fun front drivers I’ve ever driven-
They almost completely cease to exist in CT. Road salt has not been kind to them. I don’t think I’ve seen a truly clean 1999-2000 Civic Si in an easy 5 years. Maybe when I make it back out to CA we can line something up…
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I think I sold mine for like $2500. Would’ve been a perfect project car for you
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Too many projects as-is…maybe in the future
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I don’t think I’ve given them a second glance, ever – BUT – that Sky Blue ’83 that sold on BaT just yesterday (for $34k!), with those chrome wheels and chrome bumpers and 4 speed was stunning. I’d have no problem making space out in the shed for that rig.
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I can understand that. I’ve had an itch for an FJ55 for the past few years.
First gen Audi TT, C4 Vette, Toyota Land Cruiser, something odd but not a money pit…wait, no, two contradictory truths cannot occupy the same space in the space-time continuum, or so says Doc Brown. Or maybe it was Doctor Who?
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If you get a C4 Vette, go for a later LT-1 6-speed. Just check for water pump leaks and bad Opti-Spark systems.
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Thanks. I’m looking at post dash redesign LT1 convertibles…with all buttons and switches working (fat or slim chance). But first I have to buy a roll of black electrical tape.
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The only accessory electrical issue that I had with my 1994 Coupe in almost 150k miles was a burned out rear defrost. As in the power wire burned in two. Left me on the side of the road at about 11k miles with a bad coil wire and I had to replace the Optispark once too. Overall fairly reliable. I owned my 1994 from 1998 to 2004. It had about 9,500 miles on it when I got it and close to 150k when I traded it in for a 2004 Trailblazer for my new wife.
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That is outstanding reliability. Tyler Hoover needs to hire you to pick out his cars for him.
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You don’t want to hear about the BMW Z3 with a S52 swap that came a couple of cars after it. Spent more than the purchase price on repairs in a year. My 2011 Silverado that I bought new is now on its 3rd transmission. First one went out at 32k miles under warranty, second one at 99k miles.
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Ouch!
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I’ve just bought the car I’ve been thinking about for a while, and that will consume my time and cash for a while, but inevitably, in a sort of bring balance to the force sort of way, the moment I get one sort of car, I start thinking about adding something entirely different to the fleet to counterbalance it. I’ve got the small, buzzy, fun b-road and track thing (Suzuki Cappuccino), so thoughts turn to something a bit more GT-ish, that you could spend longer journeys in, but it’d be very budget GT, we’re not talking rollers here. I’d love a ZZ30 Toyota Soarer, but they’re not quite in the rolling 30 year classic tax bracket for Ireland yet (€50 a year versus over €1000), which is fine, because it’ll probably be that long before I can afford another purchase. https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/e5/Toyota_Soarer_30_011.jpg
Ther other one I’ve been thinking about is the Reliant Scimitar, but I’m not sure I can take people telling me “Princess Anne had one y’know” all the time.
http://www.classicandperformancecar.com/uploads/cms_article/3601_3700/1976-1982-reliant-scimitar-gte-se6-a-b-3662_6811_969X727.jpg
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bahahahaha 😀
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I’ve never seen a Scimitar in person, but from the windshield foreward it looks just like my MK1 Ford Capri?
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It’s heavily V6 Capri based mechanically, so it’s probably the same windshield. Construction is the usual British cottage industry combo of steel chassis and fibreglass body, which makes it lighter and bit quicker than a Capri. Funny thing is that they’re actually a fair bit cheaper than an equivalent condition Capri these days.
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Scimitar Se5a Windscreen shared with a Capri, not that one, this one, the first Ford Capri and it’s progenitor the Consul Classic.
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/43/1962_Ford_Consul_Capri_1.3_Front.jpg/1280px-1962_Ford_Consul_Capri_1.3_Front.jpg
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/e4/Ford_Classic_four_door_registered_May_1962_1498_cc.JPG/1280px-Ford_Classic_four_door_registered_May_1962_1498_cc.JPG
And with this Lotus, the Elan Plus 2
https://cdn.bringatrailer.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/1-51-e1507317500260-940×633.jpg
With the Se6, the one you picture, they got all grown up and got their own windscreen.
Incidentally
The other Capri Mk1 through to Mk3, windscreen was shared with TVRs, seemingly all of the later Peter Wheeler ones, but with a black edge added in the laminate.
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/4e/TVR_Griffith_-_Flickr_-_mick_-_Lumix.jpg/1200px-TVR_Griffith_-_Flickr_-_mick_-_Lumix.jpg
https://i.ebayimg.com/00/s/NTc2WDkyNQ==/z/gOQAAOSwceNZTRNC/$_86.JPG
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/d1/TVR_Sagaris_-_Flickr_-_exfordy_%281%29.jpg
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/9/92/Tvrs_nlr_030607.jpg
Going to that Design Museum lecture on low volume production car design by Peter Stevens really lit a fuse about collecting this trivia.
Windscreens are expensive to tool for, use one someone else has designed is preferable, and it makes parts supply easier. No-one generally notices commonalities in windscreens like they do with headlights or tail lights.
Pop quiz: What volume mass production carmaker supplied the donor windscreens for this British kitcar carmaker?
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d2/GTM_Rossa_K3%2C_Cox_GTM%2C_GTM_Spyder%2C_GTM_Libra_-_Flickr_-_exfordy.jpg/800px-GTM_Rossa_K3%2C_Cox_GTM%2C_GTM_Spyder%2C_GTM_Libra_-_Flickr_-_exfordy.jpg-
Rover Metro and Mini?
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They supplied the mechanicals, but who supplied the windscreens?
Clue 2. There are two models that gave their screens from the same manufacturer -
Fiat (I used Google)
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No, but close. Citroen.
GS/GSA for the white/biege car, C15/Visa for the others
And the maker GTM,the models are GTM Rossa K3, Cox GTM, GTM Spyder, GTM Libra
https://images.autouncle.com/at/car_images/160a6fb4-428c-4520-8bd2-1aa1c20559a1_citroen-gsa-cimos-ga-limousine.jpg
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/88/Citroen_Visa_Post_facelift_including_front_view.jpg/1280px-Citroen_Visa_Post_facelift_including_front_view.jpg -
Damn forums, not worth the paper they’re printed on..
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Thanks for playing! we’ll uprate your membership to Hooniverse Gold.
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Wish I had my Volvo 244 back , looked just like this one. https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/1c236e34a9a89096b957134aa52a330c851ebadfbf0cd3d5c465663c7c264da7.jpg
At the moment I’ve been eyeing this Model A doodlebug, which I suspect is just a set of rear wheels and some refurbished lights away from becoming potentially street-legal. I suppose the hole in the exhaust manifold should be addressed, too, as should the front tires. Nonetheless it tempts me to test the limits of the Lemons Rally rule specifying that vehicles are to be “roadworthy and free from dangerous defects at all times.”
https://images.craigslist.org/00Q0Q_jlGF9b13NZv_600x450.jpg
https://seattle.craigslist.org/sno/atq/d/homebuilt-ford-model-farm/6708262412.html
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Mad Max takes up farming..
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My theory is, the fewer mechanical elements in a vehicle the fewer chances for dangerous deffects. This Model A seems to fit the “spirit” of the rules.
MK1 VWs
A late ’90s Honda Prelude. Mother of God I need one.
Facelifted second-gen (1998-2000) Lexus LS400. The last of the no-nonsense, old-school LSs, but with more modern creature comforts, the more potent VVT-equipped 1UZ-FE and a 5-speed automatic.
https://mycarboard.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/AwesomeAmazingGreat-1998-Lexus-LS-LS400-Nice-original-condition-1998-Lexus-LS400-95875-Miles-2017-20182018-201920172018.jpg
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Those still look good. Simple, and somewhat bland, but still good. 90s Japanese simplicity in design still works today.
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Seconded. I’ve been watching for the right one of these (or an LS430), but I can’t justify letting go of my first-gen LS.
I’ve had a real hankering for a first gen Chevy Volt
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Dad was used-car shopping last month, so I checked in on prices for these and the BMW i3, and he considered the Volt for maybe 5 minutes, but both look to be on track to depreciate down to prices even I could pay within the next 3-5 years.
Personally I’m leaning more towards the i3, because if I’m giving up a manual transmission it would be at least nice to get RWD back in return, but keeping an out-of-warranty carbon fiber electric spaceship on the road could possibly end up being an even more expensive mistake than when people buy fully depreciated 7-Series and S-Classes instead of Corollas.-
Just be wary of the artificially small gas tank, due to california regs. They put a baffle in the tank limiting it from the euro tank size. My main draw to the volt, was that it was the first GM car I’ve been in where it felt like they actually tried.
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You need to drive a Chevy SS/Holden Commodore.
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The Opel version of this got completely ignored in Ireland as people were in their annoyingly smug about diesel phase. 2ND gen never seemed to make it over as a result, and now a lot of the insufferable former turf burner cultists have become born again EVangelists.
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Funny you mentioned this. I have been looking at used 1st gen Volts as well on my ongoing search to replace my 2nd Gen Insight. The Insight does everything without a hiccup but I crave something newer. The Volts are almost universally loved by their owners. I’m seeing used versions sell of song in the used market.
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Recommendations-turned-purchases: I’m at a handfull, still basking in the glory of being listened to up to 20 years later. The 150 or so ignored recommendations are…forgotten.
Four door 73-87 GM square body pickup, with the bed removed, the wheelbase shortened, frame shortened, and a custom flatbed built up for wheeling/camping.
Or I could just buy a newish Tacoma and accomplish the same thing much more reliably…
After many years without one I want a pickup truck, Not some fancy luxury truck, just a solid no frills hauling stuff truck, like a 1995 Ford F150, “the official truck of the middle of nowhere”
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I recently scratched that itch. Excellent choice. https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/9f746fafeadc2d9665773f319c36006dd01d84a793ba184dcaddf45ee0d19350.jpg
Lately I’ve been really thinking I need a post war Mopar in my life. Something like a Dodge Wayfairer, Plymouth Cranbrook, or a Desoto. Racing a similar vintage Dodge pickup has only added to this want.
https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/16efdde09ac829855ed23bb41a468731ccb6dae6927e65ac8049d3960f54e1f7.jpg
The neglected Suzuki Kizashi. If there was ever a car that deserved more attention, this was one of them.
I am proud owner of some classic vehicles and some more newer modern also but I have always wanted buy a new Mercedes G65 as my Ultimate Machine !!
1972 Lincoln Continental Mark IV. Must specifically be a 72 though with the form fitting front and rear bumper. Preferably black with red leather.
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