re: Best car you ever owned?

2005 VW Passat Wagon.

Took it on two cross country road trips and had zero issues. Could pack for 14-17 days on the road. Could hold a shite ton of stuff. It was extremely comfortable and powerful. Had a 190 hp 2.8 liter V-6 engine which allowed it to climb all sorts of mountains out west with no problem. Traded it in with 185,000 miles and still miss it when I take long road trips to this day. Loved that car!!

2003 4Runner. Not a moments trouble in 13 years, ran great, oil changes and a battery. Sold it to a friend who drives it daily. I wish I still had it, but he gave me over book value for it.

Currently driving a 2003 Avalon, it's been a good one - bought it used.

But... I sure could count a lot of cars I wish I had back.

1) 1971 VW Super Beetle with the auto-stick-shift. First car in HS. Multicolored primer, bondo, and rust spots. Me and dad bought a tub of bondo, a roll of masking tape, a pack of sandpaper, and 12 cans of 99 cent almond spray paint. The sunday newspaper was free. What a rough looking job... but it was good enough to sell for $300 more than what we had in it. Wish I had it back in decent shape.

2) 1975 Audi Fox, 1.8L four speed manual. That little car would go like stink. Was hit by a hit and run driver, killed my buddy but that car at least saved my life. Wish I had it back in decent shape.

3) 1981 Honda Civic wagon, 1.5L 5 speed. Driving a station wagon in HS was not cool... until I started dating pretty seriously. Was the ultimate cheap road trip vehicle in college. Crumpled the front end in the rain one day in 1994. Had probably spent less than $500 on the car total in those 14 years. Wish I had it back in decent shape.

4) 1981 Audi 4000, 1.8L 5 speed. Might have been the most comfortable riding car I have ever owned. Got t-boned by a postal jeep and totaled it. Wish I had it back in decent shape.

5) 1981 VW Rabbit diesel, 4 speed. Top speed was about 72mph on a good day. Could get up to 50mph easily. Drove it to work one day, just under 100 miles. Got home and decided to change oil. Set up ramps, backed it over and onto the ramps - and noticed this long black streak where it was parked. After 100 miles that day, the oil filter chose THAT MOMENT to vibrate off. Ran it for about 45 seconds with no oil and the engine froze. Wish I had it back in decent shape.

6) 1988 Honda Accord 4 dr sedan 5 speed. Paint was peeling like a bad sunburn. I was in outside sales at the time and needed something halfway presentable, so sold it because a paint job would have cost more than the car was worth. Wish I had it back in decent shape.

7) 1996 Toyota Camry, 2.4L. Great car. Blew a head gasket and getting the engine rebuilt, replaced, or used motor would have all cost more than the book value. Wish I had it back in decent shape.

I could probably think of more, but these would be at the top.

1a. 2005 Honda s2000. Most fun I've had in a car that was mine, until my grandmother (God rest her soul) tried to do her best monster truck impression in her Lincoln town car.
1b.My current car isn't bad either. 2016 Silverado z71. First brand new car I've ever owned.
2. 2004 Acura Rsx type s
3. 2011 Toyota 4runner
4. 2006 Toyota Tacoma trd

2011 Kia Sorento.

It's also the only car I've ever owned.

Total brain fart...while I listed my two favorite cars...the best car I ever owned was a 1985 Chevy S-10. It was back when Isuzu was making their drive train. It had a salvaged title when I got it (my Freshman year of college). I drove it for 3 years and gave it to my brother. He drove it for 3 years (including when he moved to Colorado). He sold it to a friend who drove it for 2 years...3 years after that, they saw a Mexican selling Burritos out of the back of it. We know it was the same one, because it was an odd color and had a prototype Gem Top camper on the back that was one of a kind.

So, for at least 30 years it was running after being wrecked and rebuilt. That 1.9L Isuzu engine was a complete badass.