After the last two chapters in this series (Part 1 and Part 2) I can already hear the rumblings:
“Okay Kim, enough blathering on about overpriced old cars that will massively deplete your lottery winnings, and end up spending more time in the shop than in your garage. What four cars would you pick if you could only buy a 2024/25 model?”
Actually, it’s not a difficult question. Here they are, with a few words of explanation for each, and to make life simpler I’m not going to go into the luxury/supercar category because very few of them actually get me going. Each of these are cars that just about anyone could buy with just a small lottery win, or even a large performance bonus.
Acura Integra Type S
It’s the adult version of the Honda Civic R; same 300+hp engine, stick shift (!!!!) but with a little more luxury and a more comfortable ride. And Honda reliability. What’s not to like?
Mazda MX-5 Miata RF
Everyone’s favorite sports car. This one is for New Wife, who still misses her old MGB GT dreadfully. Also note the stick shift (!!!!) which means I wouldn’t mind driving it too… and having this means I wouldn’t be tempted into a Porsche Boxster or Cayman ($$$$). Less than half the price (and running costs) of a Porker, and pretty much the same amount of fun. Perfect.
Mercedes GLA 250 AWD
Call this my “guns ‘n groceries” car. Basically, it’s a classier version of a VW Golf (interior dimensions are amazingly similar), but it’s a Merc. Sadly, it’s not available with a stick shift [boo hiss] but I can slum it, I guess. New Wife would be driving it more than I would, anyway
Toyota Tacoma TRD 
New Wife has absolutely forbidden me to get a truck, any truck, ever. But I bet she wouldn’t mind me having one to fetch mulch for her rose garden at that new mansion instead of smelling up her Merc. Also, from my perspective, it’s pretty much a Hi-Lux, FFS, and it has a stick shift (!!!!). And if the things are good enough for a Somali warlord…
…feel free to guess where I’m going with this line of thought.
Putting together this last list was more fun than I thought it would be. As any fule kno, I frigging hate modern cars with a passion, but given all my preconditions (stick shift etc.), I think the above may well be the best of the bunch. (I love the fact that of all of them, the Acura is the only one that does not come with an automatic option.)
Feel free, as always, to take issue with me in Comments.
I’ll take the truck. Every single time. Many more options.
Put a high topper on the back and I’m ready to hit the backroads and do some camping.
nice picks especially the standard transmission ones.
I currently drive a 2019 Tacoma TRD double cab. It rides nicely and has lots of options. THe electronics are annoying at times. It’s a 6 speed manual transmission. I don’t know if this V6 is as bulletproof as Toyota’s previous offerings. It does what I want it to do but its towing capacity probably isn’t as much as I would like. The newer Tacos have a solonoid to put the truck into 4WD which I do not like. I’d rather have the extra stick shift for that. The first one I had, a 2002 extended cab 4WD 6 cylinder manual transmission was the best of the three that I have owned so far.
If you get a new Toyota truck, cough up the bucks to replace the retarded loose fit piston rings. The fuckers destroy your engine for a few extra MPG.
And ignore oil recommendations and use heavier oil. Same issue, light oil destroys engines for a few extra mpg.
Blame California.
New Models? easy-
911 GT3 RS Dream Track Day Toy
…… And of course you’re going to need a Truck / Trailer Combo to tack to your next 3 day Track event
so how about a nice new Toterhome with matching Stacker trailer.
https://www.bing.com/videos/riverview/relatedvideo?q=renegade+toterhomes+with+stacker+trialer&mid=E619B414E6A37A16A08CE619B414E6A37A16A08C&FORM=VIRE
And I still need an SUV for trips to the Garden Center with my wife and trips to the house in Maine… so a 2025 Cayenne E-Hybrid.
….And will need an around Town Car for trips to the City and other events. So a Panamera 4S E-Hybrid. My Porsche dealer is going to be very happy with a big chunck of my Lottery winnings.
Modern vehicles?
I have a 2018 Rav4. So for number 1 – I would have another Rav4
I recently drove a 2024 Hybrid Rav4 (closed loop system, NOT plug in) and that thing had a TON of power between the gas and electric motor working together. I could give a shit about the gas mileage from a hybrid, but not only was the mileage on the rental GREAT (averaging 35 to 40 mpg overall in the city), the power was more than my 2018 Gas powered. But for now, I am running my gas powered 2018 Rav4 until it’s not worth fixing. Hopefully will be a while, only 86,000 miles on it.
2 – 2024 Toyota Tacoma.
3 – 2024 Toyota Tundra
4 – Toyota Highlander
Honerable mention would be the Honda CRV 2024, but only the Hybrid model. No I have not gone lefty, but the Hybrid 2024 CRV has a 2.0 naturally aspirated 4 cylinder engine that works with the closed loop electric engine to give the driver more power under acceleration. And the natural aspirated 4 cylinder will last far longer than the 1.5 turbo hunk of shit in the Regular non hybrid CRV.
And yes I know that the 2024 Tacoma and Tundra have Turbo engines, HOWEVER – the 3.4 V6 is enough engine to drive around the Tundra even if it was not turbocharged, and the 2.4 4 cylinder is enough engine to drive around the Tacoma even if it was not turbo charged, as for years Toyota used to used naturally aspirated V6’s in the Tundra’s (3400 V6) and 4 Cylinders in the Tacoma’s (2.7 liters) (before 2007 in the Tundra and before 2024 in the Tacoma).
With regards to the Honda, I personally do not see a tiny ass 1.5 liter engine holding up over time in an SUV, but maybe I am wrong, but I wouldn’t take that chance myself.
So in other words, it is NOT just about the vehicle model, it sometimes has to do with also picking a specific trim level as well.
Toyota pickups are great – mount a Ma Deuce or Dishka in the bed and you’re ready for almost anything. I don’t enjoy driving a stick because of an old injury – I didn’t say that I couldn’t but its painful and not much fun- so I really enjoy my older automatic trans Miata. I grew up with MGs and Triumphs and even a 67 Sunbeam Tiger but its nice to own a sports car that has power brakes, power steering, a top that doesn’t leak, a decent sound system, electrics that don’t randomly catch fire, and air conditioning which turns a three season car into an all year ride.
Here’s one for the younger readers:
Same kind of garage ask, but include the need for at least three car seats for kiddos. Which means space for the car seats; modern child restraints tend to be bulky. Yes, I know this will slant things toward vans, minivans, SUVs, and large trucks.
Add in considerations for the ride, durability and longevity, cargo space, towing capacity, bug out potential, and the rest.
I know what my family’s choices are, but I want to see what others pick.
Choices? How about condoms, birth control pills, the pullout method or a combination of three.
Oh, you already had crotch fruits.
Wel, all of my picks above include. vehicles where there is room for kids. Just get the 4 door crew cab tundra or Tacoma for the truck, not extended cab
I know they’re renowned as “the lesbian limo” but have you considered a Subaru? The best all-wheel-drive system on the planet, and their flat-four engines are very well time-tested. I had a friend who put 240,000 miles on her Subie, and when she bought a “new” one (with only 110,000 on it) she gave the “old one” to her brother, who’s still driving it.
They make the pocket-rocket WRX which is available in most configurations (except the “luxury” version) with a 6-speed manual transmission. With the turbo-charged 2.4-liter engine it will beat most other high-performance cars off the line in 0-60 but still stay on the worst of roads in the worst possible weather. You probably don’t get multiple-foot snowfalls in Plano, but you do get ice storms and other slippery stuff. Put good all-season Nokian’s on it for winter, and then switch over to performance tires for the rest of the year.
Around here in NW Wyoming we just kind of ignore their social posturing, and they’re well accepted as one of the best winter-weather cars on the road. I used to swear that if I could figure out how to mount one, I could plow 3 feet of snow with my wife’s 2007 Impreza Outback Sport with Nokian “tyres” and a 5-speed manual. We only just traded it in on a new ’24 Forester because of the cumulative rust damage from a dozen years of driving in the salt-laden slush of Minnesota.
I had a small Scoobydoo, many years back. Damn thing broke after only 175,000 miles.
2024 Audi R8 – my daily driver
2024 F-250 Crewcab – Always need a truck
2024 Audi Q5 Sportback – for the wife
2024 Yukon Denali – for roadtrip vacations