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PaperclipPerfector  1mo ago (text post)   1794 thread views

Friday Fun Thread for June 13, 2025

Be advised: this thread is not for serious in-depth discussion of weighty topics (we have a link for that), this thread is not for anything Culture War related. This thread is for Fun. You got jokes? Share 'em. You got silly questions? Ask 'em.

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It appears that this forum is filled with city slickers in fancy German cars. What cars have you driven on a regular basis? If they were expensive, have you found them to be worth the extra money?

I have driven the following cars on a regular basis.

I have been driven around by my parents in the following cars.

I have never found fault with these cheap (not including the S60, I guess) cars (other than the Civic's poor rear visibility; I prefer hatchbacks to sedans) or seen any reason to get anything more expensive.

(Note that I purchased the Mirage, not to replace the Fit with it, but so that (1) I could sell the Fit back to my mother, and then (2) she could expunge from our household the Civic that I disliked. Another motive for getting the Mirage was FOMO on a car that was soon to be discontinued in the US market despite obviously being the best car there.)

As a single man I had two separate convertibles. Mainly because I love convertibles.

First, a 1966 Sunbeam Alpine which had been my father's. I accidentally burned it to the ground along with part of my parents' house in the summer of 1989. I had been driving it since 1986. I am pretty sure my dad bought it because he wanted to feel like Sean Connery in Dr No though that one was Robin's egg blue. I loved that car to distraction, drove it through my first years of university, had it repainted and the engine rebuilt and had just installed a new cloth top before the accident. Which is a long story.

Then a Toyota Corolla of my mom's, a Volkswagen Jetta which was the first car I paid for myself, then my first car in Japan was a 1993 Eunos Roadster aka Mazda Miata, used (8 years old when I bought it). I sold it when I got engaged. It was fun but Osaka isn't friendly to convertibles (lots of standing traffic.) I liked driving through the city at night though. Also it is possible to have sex in that car in the driver's seat with the hardtop attached. I am here to assure you of that, doubtful though it may be.

Since then nothing special. A Suzuki, a Toyota. Currently another Mazda but a CX8 Diesel which is primarily driven by wifey and which is much less my taste but carts the family around well.

Edit: Found a photo of me the Sunbeam (pre-torching.)

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