I've had my driver's license for about two years now. My very first car was a '97 Forester, on which I honed my skills. It was a beloved car, and even though its age meant it required a bit of love, it always started up and drove.
However, I fell in love with a Volkswagen. Even though I had told myself I would never buy a VW because I don't really like the company, I actually went ahead and bought a Volkswagen Up! And although I have the three-door version—which means that in tight parking lots, it's almost easier to exit through the window (which is actually doable since the windows are so huge you can get in and out of this car like in NASCAR)—it is simply a wonderful, agile little car. Once you get it above 3000 RPM, it's quite fast when overtaking.
It definitely gives me a kit car vibe. I just wanted to share this. If anyone wants to, please leave your opinions about this car, but also feel free to share your own beloved, unexpected, or fulfilled automotive dreams.
I cannot yell this loud enough from any hilltop. Small cars are the best. They conserve fuel. They are all you need virtually every time. It's so easy to hold hands because the car is narrow. Many of them are so incredibly cheap to maintain. But most of all, they're light so you can usually toss one around.
15 or so years ago, I hated the 8th and 9th generation Honda Civic. Perhaps unfairly so. Now that I have a 2012 model, I love it. The chassis is so good. It's so planted. Sure, it's slow as stink, but that's not what it's about. It's about doing 40 mpg but you can also carve out some twisty roads in it. It's a much more fun car than its egg-shaped appearance might lead you to believe.
Big vehicles suck. I also have a Toyota Sequoia. Sure, it's incredibly comfy. I don't mind the floatiness when it's loaded up with people and we're driving two states away. But it's unengaging. I want to drive it on a straight road only because it feels like piloting a skyscraper. My wife likes an SUV, though.
But when I go alone, I'm in my little Honda.