Combinations of cars

Here is my current garage:

2000 Ford focus ZX3 --> Wife's DD

1996 Mazda Miata --> My DD and occasional autocrosser

2006 Mazdaspeed6 --> Has become the "backup car" since the other two occationaly have issues, also used when we need to take the whole family somewhere, less frequent than you would imagine

1982 Mazda RX7 --> Lemons car,

Here is what I eventually want to shift it to:
2000 Ford focus ZX3 --> Wife's DD

1996 Mazda Miata --> My DD and occasional autocrosser, and HPDEr

Big Honking Diesel truck --> I NEED a tow vehicle. If I get a crew cab we can also use it for family outings, alternately a pedo van or a suburban might fit the bill.

Lotus 7 clone --> My Dream car,

Currently I'm down to a TDI Jetta wagon for DD and light transport (at 48 mpg....), and a MK1 MR2 SC for fun/autox/track/summer commuter toy.

Ideally, I want a: TDI Golf w/GTI suspension and brakes, 2005 Jeep Grand Cherokee w/Benz diesel engine for comfy transport and towing or a V10 TDI Toureg, and then whatever silly car could fill out the stable. Make the MR2 more wild, fox body track car, 944, too many interests.

I cannot imagine a world where I was down to only three vehicles

I've been thinking this question over recently. I'm currently looking to consolidate the stable a little. This is what I'm thinking I may move to. Hopefully within 2011.

2005-2010 Honda Odyssey - Family Hauler (Wife's DD), 2000-2005 BMW 330Ci - Fun Car / My DD, Honda CB350/360 Cafe Racer - Motorcycle Duties / Project Vehicle

Have: 2003 Maxima- absurdly reliable family hauler for wife to drive. 2002 P71 w/5.4 swap- my daily driver/tow vehicle/burnout machine 1995 Nissan Hardbody 4cylinder 2wd- it was free, don't know what I'm going to do with it.

Want: Late model WRX wagon for wife. My daily drive duties split between the current P71 and a nice CUCV A N/A Mazda FC for autocross sundays.

20: 1996 GMC Sonoma xtendedcab 2.2L 2wd 4l60e with 273k. Used to be my work truck, now it just does whatever a beater truck does.
21: 2010 Hyundai Accent GS hatchback. Does everything else. 21 Was supposed to be a Miata. (actually, my search for a Miata started way back at 7). I'm really hoping 22 will be a Miata while keeping 20 and 21.

98 F150 - for utility purposes
96 Impala SS - for absorbing any extra cash I have
05 Scion xB - for the wifey
65 Scout - to use as a sacrificial anode to attract rust away from other projects
66 Bonneville - the never ending project
67 LeMans - the new project

In an ideal world, I would have a truck (94-97 F250 with 7.3 powerstroke), the wife's xB, and one crazy wild project racer, like the LeMans... but the bonneville is a family heirloom, the Impala is my retirement plan...

Don't get me started on the travel trailer, the two boats, the box truck...

An ugly one, a broken one and a project usually does it for me.

Now:

'06 Tundra 4door 2wd

'08 Mazda 3 5door

'74 Jensen Healey tube-framed goodness

Next:

Either a Volvo C30 or Subie STI 2011/2012

A 4wd F-150 or Van to take the Tundra's place 2013/2014

Assorted motorcycles to take the Jensen's place

ShadowSix wrote: In reply to MrBenjamonkey: What is an FC20? A quick google didn't reveal anything.

It's the motor they put in the Honda S2000. I can't think of any vintage small sports car that wouldn't make an excellent home for one. Although it would probably help if I called it an F20C instead of an FC20.

as of right now:

st185 celica all trac

my future cars:

some kind of jeep or fj cruiser elise/exige or s2000 4 door e36 m3

My combo... I have the cars.... but they aren't all finished - YET!

The cars as they sit 1983 AE71 coupe - Surreptitious - 80% finished 1986 AE86 full optioned hatch - 90% now catching up on back maintanence 1989 AE95 sedan 80% - developing S/C 4AFE for powerplant

all 3 get over 30 mpg.... and with gas $ climbing, I get to choose which car... and enjoy it.

I think I would go into withdrawals if I could only pick 3.

Current:

03 Mach 1 - DD

99 modified Cherokee - offroad/camping

91 Suburban - Offroad/camping, occasional towing

95 Cummins Dodge dually - towing

85 911 Carrera - fun

71 Chevelle 454ss - fun

78 Trans Am ws6 - fun

72 Firebird formula clone - fun

09 Solstice GXP Coupe - fun

60 Baja bug - fun

87 944 turbo - fun

76 GMC Casa Grande - eye candy

75 Chevy 4x4 - almost completed project

unknown year bugeye sprite - project

65 Riviera - project

73 Hurst Olds - project

Bikes:

05 BMW k1200s

06 Yamaha yz 250

82 Honda cm450e

80 Husqvarna 390

70 Honda 450 project

I have...

'90 Cherokee Laredo - Go anywhere/dog/Home Depot car

'92 Audi S4 RS2 - My daily driver fun car

'05 Audi A4 Avant - Wife's daily driver

'89 Porsche 951 with a LS1 in it - track car

I'd like to sell my Audi S4 and the Cherokee and get a Grand Cherokee diesel or Touareg diesel as my daily + tow vehicle. The wife is eyeing an X3 to replace her Audi...

Valiant - DD, long-term project, sport sedan wannabe: My Car

Cavalier - Her car, transportation appliance

Suburban - backup, people mover, heavy hauler, tow vehicle, ZAV

bringing back this older thread.

MrBenjamonkey wrote: Buick Roadmaster with a Duramax swapped in for towing.

I've got a brother?!?!?! I've dreamed of this combo for years. I stand by this being quite possibly the best possible road trip and tow rig combo given the trade-offs that are typically made. I have yet to see one built. Add in rear airbags to aid in towing, and SS go-fast bits for handling/braking.

What I have:

'99.5 Golf TDI - great 46MPG commuter for my ~150 miles/day commute

'80 Rabbit track car - because mk1 VW's are dirt cheap and stripped interiors, no heat, etc. SUCKS with a long commute

'08 Volvo V50 T5 (wife's) - looks fancy, fits the car seat and stroller, keeps wife happy, etc.

I'm pretty happy with what we have, but in a perfect world I'd make my wife's car more tow capable since she stays home and MPG's matter less. I've been eyeballing Flex EcoBoosts for the future. I'd put her in a Roadmaster wagon or the like now but she absolutely despises B-Bodies. I had a '91 Olds Custom Cruiser that I LOVED but she HATED it, and with my commute it just didn't make sense to keep it. That and I don't trust her in RWD in west Michigan snow. If no wife replace 3rd vehicle with real truck or off road toy.

The other home made DD/road trip/light tow car I've been dreaming of (besides the Duramax B-Body) is a clean E39 wagon with M5 looks and an LS V8 T56 swap. If I ever move closer to my work (upside down on mortgage) my options open up tremendously. mmmmm... wagons...

98 e36 M3-daily driver,HPDE 76 bmw 2002 with s14 engine,etc. -daily driver,HPDE 96 Dodge Ram 4x4-daily driver when weather isn't good & getting into the fields & woods 04 PTGT- bride's daily driver 11 Range Rover (free car) -daily driver esp. for longer trips 85 BMW 325- needs work,may sell it here for challenge price

2008 Nissan Armada- Wife's car/ family traveler

2004 Dodge Stratus- My old DD, now backup runabout

1998 Dodge 2500 V10 2wd- Camper/boat puller

1997 BMW M3- My "new" and funner DD, future track toy

1989 BMW 325i- Chump Car

In my garage:

• 1988 Volvo 780: Future LR4 recipient and future DD
• 1993 BMW 318is: Mrs. Zero DD - the Gas Sipper
• 1993 BMW 325is => 350is: Track Rat (If I ever get my lazy bum in there and finish it)
• 1994 BMW 530i + 5spd: My DD, track day & hoonmobile
• 1997 BMW 740i: Cruiser/Road trip luxo barge
• 1998 Honda VFR800FI: Weekly time warp machine
• 2000 Dodge Dakota: V8 + 5spd : Parts hauler

Mrs. Zero have claimed we are at max driveway capacity . . . until I build the two car garage in 2013

Currently in the garage / on the driveway:

1991 Miata track rat.

2001 BMW 325i - my DD

2000 Miata - wife's DD

2002 F150 - tow beast / hauler

My fun, reliable, comfortable, and practical DD with an oil-tanker of je ne sais quoi: '87 Mazda 626 sedan turbo

A-to-B boring daily for snow and rain: '99 Nissan Sentra

Speedy weekend ever-lasting project: '93 Mazda RX-7

Wife's family truckster that I don't have to think about: '07 Nissan Murano

Back-burner mothballers: '89 MX6 GT & '86 626 coupe turbo.

Current trio:

1987 Mazda RX-7 GXL: Backup 3-season DD, former project/autocross car

1986 Mazda RX-7 Sport with JDM S5 13BT swap: Stalled track day project.

2007 Mazdaspeed3: DD

My ideal trio:

Keep the 1986 RX-7, make into track day/time attack car over time, sell or trade in others

Old, cheap pickup truck or BOF SUV with automatic: Tow vehicle/parts hauler for RX-7, home project vehicle, winter DD (so I'm not sacrificing the next car to the road salt), emergency backup vehicle for family

New RWD, MT, 4- or 6-cylinder hardtop coupe: 3-season DD, occasional autocrosser. Candidates include Scion FR-S/Subaru BRZ, Ford Mustang V-6 w/ Mayhem package, and 2013 Hyundai Genesis 2.0T R-Spec. Would also consider Miata coupe or RX-9 if Mazda makes one in 1-2 years time, but I'm not holding my breath.

Thinking back to when I've owned three, it was:

• '91 Taurus SHO - For eating miles and carrying friends.
• '92 Suzuki Samurai 2wd - For fuel economy and hauling stuff too big for the Taurus trunk. Also for being very, very lucky in mud.
• '97 Miata - It's a Miata.

Now, today I'd want:

• Ex-police Ford Excursion - All the burly stuff gets done with steelies and a rubber floor.
• VW Phaeton W12 - Road trips.
• Lotus Elise - Some fuel economy, fun, and sun. And hey, it's an Elise.

Right now I've got a Daewoo Nubira track car project and that's it.

Here's a recent photo

Next I want to get a Tico, figure out some sort of motorcycle/snowmobile/jetski engine and then make it rwd with the nuttiest ground effects possilble.

This is a Tico, btw.

1) Elise as a "Do-All" sports car - Miata substitute on back roads, Corvette substitute on faster ones, long component life span for autox/trackdays.

2) Ratty Mazda5/5 as a truck/roadtrip car - throw whatever in the back, tow half a ton, etc.

3) Extremely energy-efficient vehicle, if necessary for a 10-20 mile commute. gen1 Insight, CBR250R, or an electric.