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The first car I want to buy is a Scion TC with a 5 speed manual! Modify a little so I can rip it on the tōge a little, then I want to get my absolute dream car, an FRS/BRZ!! Then later down the line I want to own a RHD JDM car, don't know which one yet tho!
What about you guys?!
Also the picture is a display of 86s and BRZs in Maryland!
A rare tC enjoyer! I had an 08 tC from 2016 to January of this year and it was an absolutely fantastic car. It never once failed me, cranked up first try and never even had any maintenance issues other than drinking oil up until I put some additives in it one time. A very practical and fun car and practical unless you have adults to put in the back seat. I sold it in near perfect condition this year to an 18 year old kid for 5500 USD and made him promise to take care of it. After I sold the Scion I bought a 22 Miata RF which has been my (achievable) dream car since the ND came out in 2016. The car has absolutely lived up to expectations, without a doubt the most fun car I've ever driven, my friends FR-S and SS Camaro can kick rocks. The only thing I don't love is the machine grey color but I have a dark green wrap picked up that will nip that in the bud. Finally my actual dream car is the lotus Elise/Exige. Im 6'2 and can't get enough of cars that I barely fit in. It seems like a Lotus is the perfect upgrade from a Miata but unlike the Mazda couldn't be my only car so I'd need a daily. Haven't figured that part out yet but I'm thinking maybe an Audi wagon. Not a huge fan of German cars but it's hard to argue the mix of luxury and performance the Audis offer.
Here's a picture of my Scion
Pagani Huayra. Whoever thought of putting active aero flaps on the hood so the driver can see them is a GOD.
I became aware of Pagani somewhere in the middle of the Zonda development arc and loved it. When the Huarya came out, I wasn't as enthralled by the rounder shape but I agreed, the thought of having those flaps and gorgeous steampunk [automatic] shifter was so enticing (not that I'll ever afford one). Ironically, I now think the Huarya is a standard shape and the Utopia has some less-desirable curviness, but the application of steampunk styling to the returned manual shifter is enticing. I appreciate the sentiment of no longer chasing the absolute fastest lap times and instead working towards a driver's vehicle that's 99% as fast around a track. Horatio Pagani continues to keep his artistic flare attached to his namesakes.
I'm gleeful over Koenigsegg for similar reasons, but from an engineering perspective. Christian can ramble on about his tech development and deliver results much in the way non-technical people think "Tesla" does.
I fell in love with Mopars back when I was a teen. My maybe attainable dream car if I didn't have kids and crappy health insurance is a 1971 Plymouth Cuda. Well maybe if I cloned it from a later model.
True dream - 1970 Plymouth Superbird
I've always dug the Renault r5 turbo
Apparently they're making a new one but electric (so not actually turbo but whatever) which looks pretty bonkers
1976 Datsun 240z. I would want to give it all modern internals, but that body design is perfection in my eyes.
If I had unlimited money I would basically pull the engine and drivetrain out of a 5th Gen supra and cram it in there.
All I need is like 200k in cars, parts and labor then my dream can be a reality lol
I used to own a 2014 Ford Flex (Titanium trim). It started to wear down and eventually would have cost more to fix than it was worth.
If I could get an updated version of that vehicle, ideally with an EV conversion, I would be so happy. I ended up getting a 2024 Ford Edge, which is fine and came with a 0% interest promo, but is comparatively very disappointing. I tried to get an Explorer, which does appear to be a modernized Flex, but I live in a rural area and there were none realistically nearby given that it was a somewhat urgent situation.
Geez do I miss the Flex every time I leave my house.
Also, I suspect that this answer doesn't fit the general vibe of this thread, but I'm answering the question literally so I'm sticking with it.
edit: I do also own and enjoy a '79 Corvette, in case that helps with the last part! It used to be my dream car, but also it serves a very different purpose from what my Flex did.
1930 Deusenberg Model J
[USA] To mirror your TC goal, I'd say my "buy it now" car was probably the Mercury Marauder. Simply speaking, a Mustang Cobra engine stuck into a Crown Vic pursuit. If you're under 25 and/or non-American, you probably didn't experience the Panther body being THE police car for a decade. However, I never bought one. I inherited a Lincoln LS and have had it over 10 years. An American take on the European look, less power, and superb handling make it lovable to me.
My version of your FeBReZeS dream is probably a Pontiac G8//Chevy Caprice pursuit/Chevy SS. Again, simply speaking, a corvette engine stuck in an Australian family sedan, but with decent handling. While less enticing this far past production, I'd throw Mercedes E55 or early E63 into this cohort.
Unobtainable dream: Anything from Pagani (engineered art) or Koenigsegg (artistic engineering). Jaguar XJ220 is in there as well.
Under, say, $200k USD currently? 99ish Viper GTS, obviously in blue with white stripes. The 2016 Viper is in there too as what I consider an acceptable homage to the original shape. I've also come around on the Gallardo. I just love the sound of a V10, especially one that's odd-firing such as the Viper or half the Gallardos.
Honorable mentions: Jaguar F-type. While the V8 sounds amazing, I'd probably choose a V6 manual since the cars on this list are meant to maximize enjoyment, not necessarily practical or the fastest around a track. Powerful cars haven't been as enticing since I picked up a few motorcycles. 1969 Mustang is easily my favorite year ever. 1967 Ford Galaxie has some excellent body lines IMO. Lotus Elise. Probably Amy Porsche 911, assuming the 2006 I drove was representative of the excellent driver dynamics present in all 911s.
'59 peugeot 403 convertible 
Lotus Elise in attention whore yellow
except I can actually fit in it. total dream.
Jaguar XJ220 in the OG silver or British Racing Green
If we're dreaming, how about a TWR XJ220s ? Gorgeous.
There are so many cars I want.
There are sooooo many more...they are ALL my dream car. All of them, in some special way.
Mercedes-Maybach Vision 6 Cabriolet
Pretty stoked about Aptera.
As far as cars that are currently available go, maybe the Audi R8.
Caterham 7 SV. Probably one of the lower trims
I had a bike engined (Honda fireblade) locost 7 that's very similar. Trick with any 7 is to keep the weight as low as possible and the red line as high as you can. Still miss it now but the track days got expensive
I have a few different categories of dream car:
Realistic daily: GR86/BRZ
Realistic sports/weekend car: C6 Corvette
Unrealistic: a brand new Porsche 911 GT3
I'm currently on the lookout for a 90's Subaru Domingo with the right specs. I might need to bite the bullet and partner up with an importer, though.
Maybe one day an R32 skyline.
If money was no object, a Lancia Stratos would be it. It looks so sick.
A Renault Master MWB van. Tall enough to stand up inside of, wide enough to fit a 3 seat sofa or 2 pallets, and short enough that it fits in any regular parking spot. Ultimate practicality. I'm lucky enough to already own and daily drive my dream car.
Only thing that would make it better is if it was electric.
Used to lust after the R34 Skyline as a kid. Interests have shifted a little, but still remains JDM at heart with a strong desire for a nice kei-car/van; something like an Autozam AZ-1 or something like a Suzuki Every.
Having driven a Geo Metro for a couple hundred thousand miles (350k on the odometer when I sold it for what I paid for it after having having driven it for 250k~ of those miles myself) I have a strong like for Suzuki products.
A car with open schematics, simple mechanic, no computerized bs other than basic engine control and good blind spot cameras. And good room inside. That's all
check out the Brubaker Box
interesting concept
The right answer! Cars are filled so much computer bull shit it's unbelievable. It is to feel "luxurious" but all people need is mechanical tuned cars that will just work. Not a disposable, which ironically isn't good for the environment, which the entire point of electrifying is saving the environment. 🫠
El Camino SS. I'm flexible on the year, I don't mind the boxy look of the 80s models I just want that sweet ute style.
There was a very good condition one for sale near me a while back for $4,500, but it seemed too good to be true so I passed on inquiring about it. Plus I don't really have the place to put it or the spare cash to spend, but once I get a place with a garage you bet your ass I'm buying one.
Eventually when I retire to Brazil or decide to just abandon the US I'll get one of those Fiat Strada's and put a better motor in it. There's tons down there.
The pink one.
I've wanted a pickup truck since I was a little kid. Specifically all black murdered out one. Now I have it - 2007 Nissan Navara King Cab with a camper shell and I love everything about it (except that it's rusting faster than I can keep up fixing it)
What's surprising to me is how much attention and compliments it gets from other people. I don't live in the US but pickups aint that rare here either - granted most of them are more or less stock while mine is slighly modded. I have people coming up to me at parking lots asking about it, kids are giving me thumbs up when I drive by and my customers are constantly commenting on it. I didn't want a big american truck as I prefer to keep low profile and not draw too much attention but apparently I just as well could have.
One that got away was the FD RX7. 1993-1995 in the US.
I mostly own my current dream car even though I've had it 8 years now
From my youth: 1970 Buick GSX Stage 1
From my 20's: I started autocrossing at age 19 with a 1985 Corolla GT-S. Which for those that know Toyotas, know that the Corolla GT-S was the North American version of the AE86. Which is ONE of the greatest platforms Toyota has made. It ended up being my favorite car that I've ever owned. Adjustable struts/shocks, sway bars that would look at home on a semi truck and Hoosier tires. Plus some minor mods on the engine, which was also used in the MR2 of that era (4A-GE). It was a ferocious little car and I won a lot of autocross events with it. I was even keeping up with some of the MR2's, which at that time (late 80's) were the greatest autocrossing cars on the track.
Now that I'm in my 50's, having participated in multiple forms of auto sports, then left that for skydiving... My opinion about cars is this:
A "fast" car is just less slow that its competitors.
Given that I've been north of 225mph with NOTHING around me except for a parachute. Cars are booooooring.
1995 Toyota Hilux
Bro i wish Toyota was allowed to produce the Hilux here. Such a reliable truck, so many Americans would benefit from it. It pisses me more and more that us Americans won't get the toyota hilux champ.
The Toyota pickup is a damn good second, always has been, since it was the same vehicle without diesel. Even today a Taco is a great vehicle (though a diesel would make it so much better).
Though I'd love a current HiLux diesel. What a slow and steady beast.
The twins are so beautiful! I have a 2017 BRZ in blue and always enjoy it when someone appreciates them.
Yoooo 🫡🫡🫡 brz gang les goo!!
Kudos to Mazda, Toyota, and Subaru for making fun, cheap, rwd sport cars. Don't forget to check your oil! ;)
There are lots of cars here that I would love to own or at least have a good go in.
As times gone by, I fell out of love with maintaining old ICE cars. There js always something that needs doing or something broken. Constant babying.
I'd rather take a classic and convert it to electric now. More power and torque, less hassle as less to go wrong.
With that in mind, I'd want either an E Type or that R32 Nissan are working on.
Realistically, Mazda MX5 (Miata). But I want the hard top trim. I don’t really care much about the convertible aspect, I just like how the car looks.
I, too, prefer the hard top. The soft top just doesn't do it for me.
Audi RS6 avant.
Family wagon that can also hunt supercars with a few mods.