I hope our '79 Volvo wagon (approaching 300k miles) will last forever, but I got to thinking about what kind of replacement vehicle we would consider getting someday. On the way to school, a Humvee passed me (a new one to the area...I see two around here now). I totally chuckle when I see these b/c it's getting so suburban around here! Why would anyone need one of these?? Anyway, if money were no object, or even if it were, I guess...what would you want for a vehicle? I specifically am curious about passenger type vehicles, c/b trucks, but not tractors, or mules!

Thanks in advance for your replies!

-- sheepish (rborgo@gte.net), August 10, 2000

Answers

You said "dream"..right???? Way back when we had money,we had a Ford Explorer with all the bells and whistles...What a great vehicle that was!!!! I never drove anything in all these years that was sooooooo comfortable,a breeze to drive,and in the 4 years that we had it, not one single repair was needed....Unfortunately,when the money situation changed for the worse, this was the first thing to go...horribly expensive to buy or lease.This was my last connection to the madness of suburban living..I could give up all of the other unnecessary creature comforts with ease, except my lovely Ford Explorer...I actually cried...Oh well, the next time I have an extra $35 grand and nothing to spend it on,I'll get another one..LOL God bless.....

-- Lesley (martchas@gateway.net), August 10, 2000.

I am waiting for Toyota to come out with a 4 door Pick Up with a longbed. I want something in the Tacoma size not the new Tundra.

-- Mark (deadgoatman@webtv.net), August 10, 2000.

First Choice?---30 Ford Model A. Second--55 Chev. Third-65 Pontiac. Now to be realistic--#1-30 Ford Model A. #2-34 Chev. #3. 50 Chev. Well, you asked! LOL. hoot the old duffer. Matt. 24:44

-- hoot (hoot@pcinetwork.com), August 10, 2000.

I guess I have my dream vehicle - an '88 Chevy Heavy half Suburban 4x4. It has over 250K miles and needs a few repairs, but I can't give it up. We desparately need a crew cab 4x4 ton truck for hauling our horses - so I guess that would be my second choice.

-- beckie (sunshine_horses@yahoo.com), August 10, 2000.

I would love to have a Subaru outback;they are so cute! [Not exactly why you should buy a car of course!] Teal green.Air! Thankful for what we have, ~~~Tracy~~~

-- Tracy Jo Neff (tntneff@ifriendly.com), August 10, 2000.

a black 1968 z 28 camero.

-- kathyh (saddlebronc@msn.com), August 10, 2000.

A Lincoln Navigator You said dream! But since I'd have to choose between that & a roof over my head, it'll never happen.

-- Lenore (archambo@winco.net), August 10, 2000.

I have an '84 toyota tercel 4wd wagon. My dream car would be that one....with the odometer turned wayyyyy back (it's at 164K) Car goes anywhere, has plenty of room (hauled baby sheep in the back!) and gets great gas milage. At this point however, it's gray with blue junkyard doors cause mine rotted out. OK I'm yapping, sorry! Sue

-- Sue (sulandherb@aol.com), August 10, 2000.

I like VW products. My choice would be a low mileage, 5-6yr old Jetta with a 4 cyl. 5-6yrs old because the depreciation curve has flattened out. 35-40+mpg. Comfy, snappy, dependable, fun to drive, and long life.

-- john leake (natlivent@pcpros.net), August 11, 2000.

Lenore, I have to agree on the Navigator also! Can't help but think the earth is cringing at this answer though! Vicki

-- Vicki McGaugh (vickilonesomedoe@hotmail.com), August 11, 2000.

a 2000 Corvette convertible, probably in the pewter gray.......well, hey, you asked !!!!

i have a 1999 chevy s-10 extended cab pickup, 4 cylinder, automatic, air. great little truck, gets good fuel economy, and i absolutely love the extended cab !!! i'll never again have a regular cab pickup !!!

i've had it for 18 months, and it has NEVER been in the repair shop for anything. just routine oil changes.

gene

ps, i still want the corvette convertible !! wooooo hoooooooo well, i guess i would settle for a john deere tractor

-- gene ward (gward34847@aol.com), August 11, 2000.

I can't say horse so I would like a remake of my 74 Dodge pickup--slant six engine, four wheel drive. I need the bed to haul my mother-in-law cause she ain't riding in the cab with me !

-- Joel Rosen (Joel681@webtv.net), August 11, 2000.

When I was a teenager, I fell in love with the TV show "Remington Steele". Of course, Pierce Brosnan was the main reason, but a close second was the vintage Auburn they had gotten as payment for a case. If ANYBODY knows what where I can get the info to hunt down or make one of that make/model/year I would be ETERNALLY grateful. I don't know anything about it's specifics, but it was beeeoootiful, with a nice cream/almond paintjob and lovely curves. Can y'all help me out here. I'd even like to build it ground up, if I couldn't find a low- budget fixer-upper.

-- Soni (thomkilroy@hotmail.com), August 11, 2000.

Soni, there is no such thing as a low budget Auburn. Krause International Auctions is having a Classic Car Auction in Auburn In. in a few weeks, you can probaly find one there.

-- Mark (deadgoatman@webtv.net), August 11, 2000.

My favorite car is anything that will get me where I am going comfortably and safely. The most important thing, it should be paid for!

-- bwilliams (bjconthefarm@yahoo.com), August 11, 2000.

How are you, Sheepish? I am really satisfied with my '84 Chevy Suburban. It seats 8, has bench seats, can fold down to haul about a pick-up's worth, can handle a big load, can tow stuff, has a strong tailgate, a rear heater. I wish it got better gas mileage, of course, but a big vehicle takes fuel. It's my farm truck. We scoot around in a minivan, but I wouldn't mind driving the truck all the time. Except that it only has AM radio! I could comfortably tote 10 goats in it.

-- Rachel (rldk@hotmail.com), August 11, 2000.

These all sound like so much fun! I really don't know what in the world we would want....another Volvo wagon? BORING! Somehow, I keep thinking about something that seats about 8! I guess that would be some kind of van. Then we could take the extended family camping, etc. However, we really most often drive with just one person, are thoughtful about mileage and pollution, and of course often are hauling stuff around. I wonder if I will ever come up with anything!!!

-- sheepish (rborgo@gte.net), August 11, 2000.

Sheepish;

The wife just drools over the Navigators. Personally for me, a 1972 Toyota Landcruiser with a short block 350. Don't know why just loves the boxy looking things.

Jim T.

-- Jim Tanner (tanner_jim@hotmail.com), August 11, 2000.

This is waaayyy out there, but as long as we are dreaming....what does anyone know about Land Rovers/Range Rovers? I saw one in Yellowstone once (RRover) and thought it looked so practical. I'm sure it must be big bucks and probably hard to service or get parts! (The Toyota Land Cruiser made me think in that direction!)

-- sheepish (rborgo@gte.net), August 11, 2000.

Subaru, for sure. I love my little Mazda truck, but I had good luck with the two Subaru wagons before it. Those things go thru snow like nothing. My dream passenger vehicle would be a Subaru Legacy or Outback, RED, please, with a/c, automatic, that's good.

-- Cathy Horn (hrnofplnty@webtv.net), August 11, 2000.

If you are hauling people and stuff, I recommend a Ford van. We have a 1995 van (8 passenger- that could be converted to 11 passenger). The seats come out easily. It hauls a family of six, a dog and bikes for everyone. Has a/c, rear radio and heater and was reasonably affordable. At least more affordable than the Ford Explorer or suburban that I dream of!

-- Amy Richards (tiggerwife@aol.com), August 11, 2000.

If the times we live in would allow it, I would like 2 Percheron mares and a good Amish-built 3 seat surrey.

-- Jason (AJAMA5@netscape.net), August 11, 2000.

Well, *my* dream vehickle is a team of Norwegian Fjord horses and a buggy -- perhaps the Amish-built surrey mentioned above!! But I have a Toyota Tercel, 1996, and though I wish it had four doors, I have been very happy with it. It gets really good mileage, and is very reliable. My next car will also be a Toyota, as the whole line has a really good reputation for being reliable. Do they still make the Toyota Landcruiser? A friend had one at college (25 years ago) and I was just thinking about that a few days ago. If I can't get one of those, I will probably get a pick-up next time around. (Sheepish, if you want to go on vacation with your whole family, you could rent a van for a week or two for a lot less than it would cost to buy one.)

-- Kathleen Sanderson (stonycft@worldpath.net), August 11, 2000.

Kathleen has a great point there! Husband and I are also big rental fans. We recently rented a brand new less than 1000 miles Dodge truck with all the bells and whistles, cab and a half with the thrid door, to pick up my new bucks and doe from Louisiana. My AC is on the fritz in my Dodge. Now I so enjoyed that truck, don't get me wrong, but who would want that note? Vicki

-- Vicki McGaugh (vickilonesomedoe@hotmail.com), August 11, 2000.

I had a 1985 Jeep CJ7 Laredo and every day I wish I had it back. Then also, back in 1967 I bought a brand new maroon Corvette convertable. I wouldn't mind having that back too.

-- Joe Cole (jcole@apha.com), August 11, 2000.

I dont know about rental vans, but lately rental cars have been quite expensive. I guess it depends on where you pick them up and drop them off. A couple of weeks ago it cost us >$500 to rent a basic car in Denver for 11 days. Granted, less than buying a car, but sheesh! Now I am looking to rent a car in Sacramento for a few days. Looks like it's more reasonable..guess there's more demand in California?

I called some places to see about renting a motor home for 2 weeks (want to drag everybody to Yellowstone next year) and got quotes of, oh $2000.00. Yeah, we could probably get rooms at the Lake Hotel for that!

So, still thinking about something...maybe I will check out renting a van, though! Hadn't thought about it. You guys are great. Hey, maybe I could borrow a van! DOH!

Nobody said their favorite dream car was a BMW...How come? :)

-- sheepish (rborgo@gte.net), August 11, 2000.

OK, should I say it~ ~ ~ Couple of well trained Fjords and a Enclosed Amish buggy (rains a lot here) ~:O) And a Peruvian Paso, for when I am not having to haul any thing.

-- Bergere (autumnhaus@aol.com), August 11, 2000.

I'm glad to see I'm not the only one who prefers warm-blooded horse power to oily, greasy, breaks-down-all-the-time-and-costs-a-mint-to- keep-up horse power!! :-) I suspect, though, that we'll probably have oxen-power before we get those Fjords I mentioned above -- oxen and their equipment cost a lot less than horses and their equipment.

-- Kathleen Sanderson (stonycft@worldpath.net), August 12, 2000.

My dream vehicle? A Willys Wagon with a buick V6 engine and overdrive and, of course, 4 wheel drive with locking hubs and driving lights. My husband is NOT mechanical, so I will dream on about that wagon.

I'll settle for a Subaru Wagon that does NOT have 2500,000 miles on it.

-- Laura (gsend@hotmail.com), August 12, 2000.

I currently have a 95' jeep grand cherokee that has been very reliable. i'm really into those lincoln navigators though. i want a/c, a cd player and all the other great stuff. except leather seats because i hate when my butt sticks in the hot weather. you can really burn you tush on those things. but until i win on "millionare" i have to stick to the jeep. : )

-- Amber (ambrosia75_@hotmail.com), August 12, 2000.

in reply to sheepish's comments on renting being expensive. last summer my family flew in from phoenix to st louis. as usual my vechicle was not one i wanted to take a 400 mile round trip in. so i started calling for prices including the ones that i was entitled to a 10-20% discount on. i found also that you never want to rent at an airport because of surcharges which go to the airport this was as much as an additional 20% above their quoted prices. also as i didn't have full coverage on my car i had to buy that too. i ended up going with rent-a-wreck they really aren't and i rented the car for a week for what the others wanted for just the insurance. i guess my dream car or vechile would be what i have but to have everything working at one time. also in regards to wanting a car that will get where i am going i also want to make it home again. gail

-- gail missouri ozarks (gef123@hotmail.com), August 12, 2000.

A Ford Shelby Mustang like the one used in the movie Gone in Sixty Seconds, only in screaming fire engine red. Might as well let folks know I'm comin' up behind 'em!! LOL

-- Green (ratdogs10@yahoo.com), August 13, 2000.

I can't help but answer this one. I am without wheels at this time. I sometimes just day dream of the vehicle I would love to own. THAT is if it were free. Ha Ha Okay here it is. I would like a huge SUBURBAN, a white one that matches my camper and I would take all the kids I know for a long ride with the windows open and the radio blaring. That is my dream. SOOOO...... when do you think it will come true???? Wishfully, ' Karole

-- Karole (Biz3boymom@aol.com), August 15, 2000.

Well the 79 Volvo should be inline for its 300K mile badge. Did you get your 100k and 200k badges yet? It should be good for at least another 200K miles, but have done a million miles.

My wife dream car is a 1980 Jeep Grand Wagoneer. White with wood trim. Not the crappy wagoneers of today, but the real one made with metal instead of plastic. Me I would be happy with a Model 416 Diesel UNIMOG..

-- Gary (gws@redbird.net), August 16, 2000.

Gary, are you serious? Is there such a thing as a "badge"?

-- sheepish (rborgo@gte.net), August 16, 2000.

I have one of those Jeep Grand Wagoneers mentioned above, only mine is a 1990. I love it, and will run it till the wheels fall off! Chris

-- Chris Dehne (mdehne@ccpl.carr.org), August 16, 2000.

Hi Ya'll. Well sheepish you did say "Dream" vehicle. So I'll take a 2000 SHADOW. Currently there built in Saudi Arabia for Kings, Sheiks Etc. They have 3 a/c's out perform a Hummer and look really cool doing it.

Ok now back to reality. We have a 1990 Dodge Dakota 3.9V6 4x4 and a 1990 GMC Suburban SLE1500 4x4. The Burb seats 8 has dual a/c gets about 13 mpg but has a towing package. My wife drives the burb. It just turned the 200,000 mile mark. My old pick-up has 117,000 on it.

Hey if were goning to dream I say Dream Big! LOL

-- Kenneth (wizardsplace13@hotmail.com), August 16, 2000.

Yes, Volvo's do have badges.

If your Volvo is legally registered and the odometer reads at least 100,000 miles, we invite you to join our Club by simply completing the registration form you can receive by calling 1-800-458-1552. The combination of even higher quality standards and increased sales over the years leads us to an inescapable conclusion: We expect an increased membership in the High Mileage Club. And we hope every Volvo owner has the opportunity to join.

-- Gary (gws@redbird.net), August 17, 2000.

Gary, cool! I will check it out...thanks. Do we get extra points if my husband is Swedish? LOL

Somehow, I keep thinking about buying some big seated thing like a Suburban, but I just go into some physical discomfort even thinking about 1) the gas usage, and 2) the sticker price!! We paid $1800 for the Volvo, and even brand new we got the Ranger for < $12K. I know we are "dreaming" but every one of these vehicles has to be at least $30k, right? Are there some serious values buying used? (I only bought new b/c I worked for Eddie Bauer and had a coupon for $500 off through Ford..."new" goes against every frugal concept I can think of).

Got any ideas how to get big 6-8 seater rigs at a good price? And gee, what about maintaining them? Do you need an advanced degree? thx

-- sheepish (rborgo@gte.net), August 17, 2000.

An older big suburban is going to be very easy to work on. No computer to deal with, some electronics unless you go real old, lots of room inside the engine compartment and parts available at most any auto parts store.

Milage is going to vary, but how good the engine is runnng but a 350v8 in a suburban will get your 15 miles/gal as long as your not pulling a load. Heck the new Dodge Durango is only getting 13mpg.

-- Gary (gws@redbird.net), August 17, 2000.

My dream passenger vehicle is my 1983 Jeep Cherokee Loredo. I am not talking about the cheezy cheap Cherokees you see today, but the 6000 lbs. model that AMC discontinued to keep up with a changing market. Even though this car is 18 years old it still runs like a dream. It has power everything, and it all still works (knock on wood). Who would have thought that someone would have actually build a car this big with two doors!!!

-- Nick (Pbeagle1@aol.com), January 07, 2002.

id have to say a humvee :), but since im not wealthy ill stick with the tercel wagon<< it's really fun to drive and it does go ANYWHERE! ...>>1983 tercel sr5 4x4 wagon<< and it's still pretty mint =) cheer's

-- curt (neokillyou@hotmail.com), March 14, 2002.