I was out for my morning, after breakfast drive and was thinking back on the cars I've owned over the years and ended up thinking about the cars I wished I had owned over the years.

The first one that came to mind was in 1956 I regret not buying a new MG. At the time I was 21 and just out of the Army and wanted something a little bigger and ended up buying a 1956 Chevy Convertible. I regret that I didn't buy that little MG and never got myself into a foreign roadster until I bought my first Miata in 1999.

There was one other car that I would have loved to own. When the 240Z first came out I went ballistic over the design, as did many others. The problem was I had just purchased a new Mustang the year before and wasn't in a position to make a swap.

What's your story?

 

Had a chance to buy an XK-120 many years ago and all I could think of was the hassle of getting it half way across the country on a trailer and let it go. All it needed was bushings, bearings and a few other fiddly bits to make it roll. An even greater regret now was letting my E Type roadster get away too soon. The super twistie handling MINI assuages much of the regret.

 

Not really... the only thing that comes to mind was a Evo that I was seconds away from getting. Found it on ebay... talk to the guy... made arrangements... got the loan and everything and was ready to go down and pick it up. Things started sounding really fishy with the guy and after a few months of going back and forth. Said screw it and told him I wasnt interested in it anymore. Regret getting rid of my 08 Mazdaspeed 3 like I did only to get a Legacy GT that I absolutely hated.

 

A 275 gtb & 275 gts.

 

Believe it or not, No. Had I not purchased my first MINI in 2009, then I would have a story for you. But, against people saying 'no way', calling it a Barbie car, or the fact it was 'baby blue' somehow affected my sexual affiliation, I bought my R53. Best vehicle decision I've ever made. I would have never found all of you of course!

 

About thirty years ago, I had an opportunity to buy an AC Ace for $700 (Imagine an AC Cobra with a straight six). It was a barn find, but it was real straight and ran when it was put away. My dad talked me out of it, he was the furthest thing there is from a car guy, I learned never to take car advice from him.

Dave

 

Two cars. A 08 GTI and a 99 3000gt VR4.

 

It was the early 90’s and I knew someone who had a genuine 1976 3.0 Carrera in grand prix white. The asking price $12k it was a runner and a driver no BS stories car. The interior was a little tatty and the paint was average. It was a lot of money for someone just out of school. I ended up buying an E30 instead.

I also looked at a number of early 911T and E-s during that time. If I only knew what the market would do.

I think the days of a nice entry level aircooled 911 for a good price are long gone.

 

Vr-4 was my childhood dream car, I've never regretting not buying any cars, just regretted buying some.

 

Anyone have the outrageous regret of buying an AMC Matador? Fool me once!

 

M635csi grey market import w/Dinan turbo kit on it. I waited to respond to the seller and by the time I responded to the ad the car was sold.

 

Yeah, actually I do.

I wanted to buy a 1995 BMW, but I had to do some things that day and said to the seller that I'm going to buy it the next day... a**** still sold it to someone else the same day... It was a nice BMW, though...

 

Only cars I've ever owned ...

1967 Austin Cooper S (Jan 1968 - August 1972 [stolen])



1973 BMW 2002 tii (Feb 1973 - Sep 2002 [sold])



2002 MINI Cooper S (Jul 2002 - Present)



No regrets

 

Had a 78 Saab 99. Not sure why. Loved my 87 GTI though. That was a very very dependable car. My 87 MR2 was a blast and I had that for YEARS... My Adult cars were my 92 Lexus sc400, my acura CL and then my 528i...I had that car for a long time ...it had 200k on it, then I purchased my current baby....my 06 JCW. Love this car but it feels like I am reverting back to pre adult years because its so fun.

 

"When the 240Z first came out I went ballistic over the design."

I had one of those, and never regretted it. Called it 'Quikslvr' on the license plate.

 

Too many really cool cars I passed up on but a short list of the worst kick in the pants ones:

late 50's BMW Iosetta for $150 - running, used to borrow it for grocery runs all the time.
Early '60's Jag MkII for $1000, running, excellent interior but faded paint.

and the cruelest one :( 1969 Lambrorghini Miura that sold for $3,800 in 1979, not running but complete,...

cry, cry, cry....

http://bedmagazine.files.wordpress.c...-miura-08.jpeg

 

A guy down the street was asking $400 for a 65 jeep gladiator. Not running but it was all there and only $400. Would have been a super cool beater truck if I could get it street able. If not it was looking to costly to fix could have flipped it for minimal loss

 

A really nice early 80s 911 that I could've had in the mid-90s for around $10k. I even had the cash. As we all know now, it would have proven a somewhat better investment than the Lincoln Mark VIII I bought instead (loved that car, though).

 

[QUOTE=RockAZ;4006173]Too many really cool cars I passed up on but a short list of the worst kick in the pants ones:


My first car ??? - was a 1950s torpedo back Pontiac which I painted with a brush.

 

I have a few I regret selling:

In 1980 I had a '71 'Cuda 440/6-pack I got rid of because of 8mpg. I had this car for 8 months. Stupid fast.

In 1984 Buick Grand National in 1986 because of continued "check engine" sensors that kept going out. Got rid of it while everything was still in warranty.

The only car I regret not buying is a 89 Porsche 944T that had the factory race kit that put 350 HP to the rear tires in 1996. My doctor owned this car and drove it like it was made of glass. Good deal, low mileage, and well maintained.

Currently, for high performance I have a '74 Stingray that can do a 12 second quarter mile.

 

i regret never buying a prestine mini for a good price :(

 

While in junior year of high school a friends brother sold both his 1968 Opal GT and a V8 Vega he built, each well under $1000. Passed on them and ordered a new 1984 CR125 motocrosser. Kick myself often for passing on these.

 

The 1976 edition Monte Carlo. I wanted one those things ever since I learned how to drive. I thought they looked cool. Now........they may get 10mpg, but they still look cool.

 

In college/'82 my dad (a big euro car guy) was shopping for a car for me for when I got home. I had about a $2500 budget. I really wanted a Z car (ended up with a 260). Other options he liked were a 60's Lotus Elan and a Porsche 356 (he had a cabrio a few years earlier) all in very good shape. I wish I had any of them now.

 

I bought a 240Z when they first came out. It was silver and the license plate was QUIK SLVR. It was great little car. My first car (when I Escaped from socialist England to Canada) was a 52 torpedo backed Pontiac - which I painted with a brush. See my art at ronnorrisart.com.