What was your (reasonable) dream car as a teen?

[y_p_w]

Yes, Basic Instinct was the later model. The Spy Who Loved Me and Magnum were my formative years.

I was thinking of the turbo versions. I heard that the 2.2L turbo was kind of peaky and had to be flogged. But the later versions had a 3.5L V8 with a turbo. Reports were that it was capable of far more than the 350 rated HP, but that they had to detune it because the transmission couldn't take 500 HP.

 

[ecotourist]

I got this buick, a 76 350. Mine had black vinyl top.
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Had the identical car (the Buick Regal that is) in light blue with a dark blue vinyl top and a dark blue interior. It was a great car.

I sold it for $1500 to my nephew who was starting off in life and needed a good car. He drove it for several years, put 100,000 miles on it (and only had to change one power steering hose during that time) and sold it for more than $1500. He would never say exactly how much he got for it, just more than $1500. He's good with money!

 

[ecotourist]

My dream cars when I was a teenager were a '65 Mustang 289 V8 4MT, or a '66 Chevelle SS 396.

As a broke university student I bought a 3 year old '65 Mercury Comet 4 door sedan with a 289 V8 3MT. Sort of close I suppose, but without the style. And not a very good car either.

 

[CharlesInCharge]

I remember wanting so many cars it would be hard to even make a meaningful list.

I had friends with really fun cool cars, a 70s Malibu, a 70s Monte Carlo, a convertible Cavalier that was so cool, had a friend who had a 60s era Camaro SS and a 80s era Iroc Camaro that was so much fun when you're a teenager, another friend had a incredible 60's Plymouth I think it was a Cuda. Man, as a teenager you just want ANYTHING cool looking and fast-"ish." I realize some of those cars especially the 80s and 90s would be slow by todays basic sport car standards pushing 300hp.

It's not even close to anything special or on the list, but when I was probably about 20, I remember sitting in one of the more sporty Saturn 2-door coupes. I never drove one or wanted one, but I remember feeling like that "sport" interior was so well done, comfortable, and well appointed that I wanted one at that moment.

I've had some sporty fun cars since then and would have no desire for that type of a Saturn now. But it's just funny how the brain works.

 

[1uz_4me]

Notch 5.0 Mustang

Bought a 93 GT when I was 20 & beat the snot out of it for 15yrs

 

[CharBaby]

As a young teen, my dream was just to have a car, any car...and a girlfriend.

 

[alex1212]

jaguar xj 1985 , 6 Cyl

 

[Motu]

Not many dream cars for me, but lots of dream motorcycles. But when I was in highschool a mate of my brother had a 1938 Chev Coupe - primer grey, sheepskin and tassels inside, side of the bonnet removed and the engine fully chrome. What a heap, but I loved it...what a hero. It was up for sale...it went to his brother who wrapped it around a pole. But when I was 18, I had a 1938 Chev Coupe.

 

[Skippy722]

I happened to be able to buy one… 4th gen Ram pick up. And it happens to be the first vehicle I haven’t considered getting rid of after a year!

 

[OilMagnate]

I'm a 90's kid, born in late '89.

I definitely had an "era." A very narrow one at that. I always wanted a 2002-2006 Ferrari 575M Maranello. 5.7L V12. Grigio Titanio - amore a prima vista! I loved this car and it's predecessor, the 550 Maranello, long before it was idolized in Bad Boys 2.

But since the title says reasonable, I always liked the following 3, in this order:

#1 - 2003-2004 Ford Mustang SVT [Terminator] Cobra - 4.6L Supercharged DOHC 4V

Leave it bone stock (maybe except for the Eaton and tint) and DON'T screw with the cosmetics. Black or Sonic Blue for the win.

#2 - 1998-2002 Pontiac Trans Am WS6 - 5.7L LS1

Again, leave it bone stock (I don't care for the rims below). Black, T-top, and T-56 or GTFO. No talking allowed!

#3 1998-2002 Chevrolet Camaro SS - 5.7L LS1

This one actually *requires* at least one mod IMO - smoked headlights (pictured below). Onyx Black and T-56 or go home.

Of course life always throws you a curveball. I came so close, yet not close enough to owning these fine specimens. Here's what I actually owned in order (skipping my first beater). These are exact look-alikes, down to the meticulous details:

1996 Ford Mustang GT - 4.6L SOHC 2V, T-45, Laser Red

1997 Chevrolet Camaro Z28 - 5.7L LT1, T-56, Arctic White, 30th Anniversary Package (Not to be confused with the 30th Anniversary Edition SS LT4 with the stripes). My all-time favorite transmission, but my all-time most hated part under a hood - the Opti-Spark.

2004 Ford Mustang GT Premium Hardtop - 4.6L SOHC 2V, TR-3650, Dark Shadow Grey. Couldn't find an image with my exact setup, so I had to rip an image from a video.

Now I drive a Hyundai

 

[diyjake]

I've had a few on my list that I always loved and still do but they were out of my price range back in my teens and not any cheaper today.

1. MK4 Supra
2. First gen NSX
3. DC2 Integra Type R

Also I really like the AP2 S2000 but that wasn't on my list as a teen.

 

[Trav]

I never really dreamed of any car, don't get me wrong I like them but nothing to dream over.
I always wanted an HRD Vincent Rapide, C series Black Shadow or the totally unobtainable Black Lightning, every time I got close to one these HRD machines even 35 years ago it was either way high priced, damaged to the point of not being restorable without a replacement frame or as in one case couldn't be sold or bought because of some customs regulation.

 

[Taildragger]

 

[Jetronic]

Nissan 300zx twin turbo, TVR griffith convertible.

Never owned either, or drove either.

 

[BMWTurboDzl]

I did like the look of the Lotus Esprit Turbo and of course the Lambo Countach but I always wanted an E30 M3.

 

[KenshinHimura]

second gen Mitsubishi Eclipse or Eagle Talon. Wanted one since i was 3 or so and continued wanting to get one all through High School and College. Ended up with my first car at 20 being a Saturn SC1 since it was decent low miles, being still in college, 3rd door, got great gas mileage and was at a decent price. Ended up getting my current Eclipse in winter of 2017. was hoping to get either a GST or GSX hard top but ended up getting a Spyder with the 2.4 that the body was in really great shape. Its not as fast as the turbos but popping the top and going for a spin is just as fun.

 

[RhondaHonda]

A Fox body Mustang 5.0! I wanted one so bad I could barely stand it. Ended up buying a 1990 GT in 1998 for $7500 my junior year of high school. My parents did not have a lot of money but they kicked in $5,000 toward the purchase and I paid the rest and the maintenance, mods, insurance and gas. Very nice gesture from them at the time. Sold it in 2010.

 

[Passport1]

'That, got this
'

 

[Lubener]

I wasn't particular. Anything with four wheels on it.

 

[Bobaloo22]

I got a 65 Impala SS when I turned 16 in 1976 and loved the car but wanted a big block Chevelle. In 78 I took my graduation money and bought myself a 70 Chevelle SS 396 4 spd. I really loved that car too.