The Forever Car. You may not have done the exercise of narrowing it down to just one, but I’m sure there’s at least a handful of cars that you would never part with. But would you drive it all the time? Would you even be able to? The latest multi-screened, lithium-battery’d, over-the-air-updated wonder of engineering you’d happily own until you shuffle off your mortal coil (not to mention the rest of your mortal ignition system) may simply not be supported in fifteen or twenty years. Will the aftermarket pick up the slack when the battery gives up its last amp and the screens’ LED start dropping off like fireflies that have lit their weird little butts for the last time? Maybe. Maybe not.
For today’s Autopian Asks, we want to know what one car you would keep forever — one that you would actually use to get you places, and one that could—fingers crossed—be maintained so you could actually enjoy it for the rest of your days. It doesn’t have to be your daily driver, so if you need a truck, that doesn’t mean your forever car has to be a truck (you can have a second or third or 10th car in addition). Unless you just really love trucks, that is.
An example? Sure. Here’s Matt Hardigree’s Forever Car:
I’d say I already have my Forever Car: an E39 BMW 530i, which is perfectly sized, modern enough to work with my phone and just work. Every part is LEGO-able and replaceable. It’s as fast as I need a car to be and it has a five-speed manual, which is the greatest transmission ever invented by man.
[Editor’s Note: For me, that’s an impossible question, but if I had to choose just one car, it’d be a Holy Grail Jeep Grand Cherokee ZJ. It’s not my very favorite Jeep — that post goes to the Jeep Cherokee XJ. But XJs are just too primitive to drive everyday, and they’re small. ZJs are bigger; they’ve got a better rear suspension; they’ve got a more stout cooling system; and they’re never going to be as valuable as XJs, so parts are cheap. I love my new Wrangler YJ, but it’s too impractical. And I love my BMW i3, and I’d be willing to spend the $15 grand on a new battery in 20 years I suppose. I think the carbon fiber body and aluminum suspension will hold up until the end of time, and the electric powertrain is future-proof in many ways. But I need something that can go off-road; I enjoy that hobby far too much. Really, my ideal two-car garage would be my Holy Grail ZJ and my BMW i3. -DT].
What’s your forever car? Or a few contenders, no need to knock yourself out choosing just one. We’ll see you in the comments!
Top composite image, galaxy: NASA, ESA and J. Olmsted (STScI); thinking man, stock.adobe.com/khosrork; vehicle images via Ford, Volkswagen, Delorean marketing materials
69 Superbee (Also Ram SRT-10)
Since it doesn’t have to be a daily driver, that answer’s easy, the 96 XJ I’ve had for almost 20 years, and only drive occasionally offroad. For a daily driver, I’d probably be quite happy indefinitely with some sort of EV alltrack/crosstrek type of vehicle that was barebones, minimal maintenance, and I could beat on for years, but I doubt that will ever exist as a mass produced vehicle.
Well my Isuzu Vehicross. I bought it new in 2002, it has been my DD ever since. It still runs great, no major problems, good 4wd and AWD system, the design still looks more modern than most vehicles. I still enjoy driving it and rarely do I envy another driver on the road for what they are driving.
One of my favorite designs. They should reboot it
Looking at it as just a car I would keep forever without it necessarily being my only car Im going with a 1998 Lamborghini Diablo SV Monterey Edition.
A VW Bus, split window. Still has enough in common with modern cars to be driveable and serviceable, won’t go out of style anymore, and can carry the world. I just wish my body wasn’t part (or the entirety) of the passive crash protection…
E36 M3, coupe, 5spd. Or the 318Ti, same gen, also 5spd.
Ask me tomorrow and this will probably change. Something like 1st gen CRX Si… Again, 5spd.
[PS – how do I change my name? Brand new to this. Thanks]
Considering I’m closing in on having owned over 50 cars in the last 20 years, I’m not sure there is a forever car for me. There are too many options to get tied to just one for long periods of time.
I’ve heard people say nearly the same about members of the opposite sex.
Why stick to just that? Limits your options by about fifty percent.
The only car I’ve wanted since I first discovered they exist at age 13: a Shelby Cobra Daytona Coupe replica. An absolutely ridiculous car that would make a terrible daily, but is just too cool for me to care about any downsides.
After my GLI was totalled, I needed something with 4WD, stupid reliable, can tow (if I want to tow in the future) and has no frustrating UI to become outdated. I envisioned the a jack-of-all trades family car that would not need replacing for 20-30 years (I only drive 5k miles a year). So I bought a Lexus GX in Lux trim off a lease with only 31k miles. The depreciation curve did me a solid so it was incredible value. It does everything I need and is future proof because it is already so outdated. Only drawback is gas mileage, but you can’t have it all. I’m pretty much done buying ICE cars now, but I miss driving stick so if I had the means I would def do an air cooled 911 or a 2nd gen Cayman.
I own my forever car already, my 1962 Lincoln continental….even thought about building a mausoleum with a glass front so I can keep cruising in the afterlife.
I don’t know that I’ve found it yet. I loved the roominess/style/comfort of my 2010 Dodge Charger, but Dodge transmissions gotta Dodge so had to get out of it. Our Forester is roomy/comfy but again drivetrain longevity, can be iffy, and not soo snazzy in the looks department, also not as much pep as I’d like.
Probably something like the roomy Charger, with dependable engine/transmission, maybe raised higher, so it’s sounding almost like a Durango or to David’s point maybe a Grand Cherokee. I actually had a Compass previously too that I fit in fairly well, but the CVT bleh.
Maybe a used 2010 Dodge Charger Police cruiser with the cop tires cop suspension, cop shocks, comfy and maybe a bit more reliable.
This is hard, no wonder car company focus groups keep telling them to build the wrong thing.
I bought my 1968 Cutlass (now a 4-4-2 clone) in 1995 while I was in college to force myself to learn how to wrench, but it quickly became more than that. I worked a side job to earn enough money to get parts for it, watched as it went through the toughest parts of its life – transmission and engine went right around the same time, then it watched as I went through some tough times. Focusing on bringing new life to that Olds kept me grounded and happy when other things were terrible. I quickly knew I would have this car forever and I still do.
It recently got its second paint job (with body work) and over the years I’ve constantly made it fresh with little upgrades or new/rare parts here and there. All the way along the right, it’s been cool enough to (95% of the time) start with one click of the key and get me where I’m going in style.
Probably a late 80’s SAAB 900 Turbo. At least 1985 for the 16V motor. I should never have sold my 1985. But if the question implies what vehicle (see what I did there?) that I currently own will I (try to) keep forever? Either the 1974 CB550 or the 1999 Miata.
Subaru Impreza WRX (Japanese market, since we didn’t get chassis code GC8 together with the 2.0-liter turbo engine here in the US). My 2-door 2.5RS was the most fun I ever had on 4-wheels, and I wouldn’t mind having more of that experience until shuffle off this mortal coil.
BeforecI can answer that Im going to need a LOT more info:
How much is a gallon of gas in this future? $0.01? $100? Is gas unobtanium? How about electricity? Are we paying PG&E rates or Hydro Quebec rates? Is natural gas banned? How about hydrogen? Any promises delivered there?
Do I get the roads to myself or are they choked with coked up ragemonkeys speeding around in spiky 15,000lb steel-and-granite egomobiles?
Are there laws in this future or is it a Deathrace 2000 style free for all?
Is there a motorlaw? Are there aircars two lanes wide? If so how far is it to the nearest one lane bridge?
How about the Mohave, are there giant scorpions? Does Vegas have aggressive, flesh eating roaches?
Are there genetically recreated wild dinosaurs in this future? Are they tasty? How about roaming killer robots? Any of those?
Are the zombies the slow, shuffling Walking Dead type or fast Z-nation type?
How much land is left after the sea levels rose? Is what’s left all scorching desert?
I guess to be on the safe side my ride will be a Lada Niva. At least if it breaks it can be fixed with bailing wire and tree sap.
I think what you’re looking for here is a Red Barchetta.
“Does Vegas have aggressive, flesh eating roaches?”
Depends. How are you gonna distribute the solar power plant’s electricity?
My first true love was a black on black 1987 Chrysler Conquest TSi widebody with a manual transmission. I would kill to have another one that would last forever and never break down and never need parts.
Props for the Maverick love! I have an abiding affection for them
My Lancia Scorpion. Hey now, just hear me out! Parts are surprisingly reasonably available because the 70s/80s Italian parts bin is fantastic. That which isn’t available can usually be made by some guy in a shed somewhere. There is plenty of documentation on the Lampredi Twin-Cam engine. The car is simple enough to work on with basic tools and has no modern fancy electronics, just old school electrical to occasionally go hinky. It’s surprisingly comfortable and feels generally like the interior of a Mercedes of the same age. The most important part though is if we end up in some sort of apocalypse where we’re all stuck with our forever car, I will typically be the coolest/weirdest person in any given room.
For over a decade I proclaimed that my 84 Mercedes turbo diesel wagon was my forever car. It was lowered on 16” Ronal wheels from a later AMG. Beautiful blue-almost purple. Fresh paint with the wheels color-matched. Prettiest car I ever owned-but it was an automatic. When I changed careers and started putting 12k+ miles each year in the work trucks/vans, the need for a manual became pressing. It was a cruiser, and I enjoy throwing shitboxes at corners too fast. Sold it on to a buddy early last year.
I’m now in the save for/learn about stage of acquiring a Volvo 1800ES-never had a shooting brake…
Mercedes-Benz W220 S-Class, doesn’t matter which motor. So long as somebody else pays for the repairs!
I would never have sold a car or motorcycle if I had the space and money to keep all of them.
I don’t anticipate ever selling my ’76 Beetle of ’77 F250, so I guess they are “forever cars.” I drive both of them regularly, although my Leaf is my daily driver. I used to daily drive the F250 when I had a short commute (it gets 7 mpg so it gets expensive). I could see the Beetle being a daily driver if I added air conditioning.
My 2008 997 Turbo. Something has gone very wrong in my life if I ever sell it.
With rare exceptions, my car has always been a small Nissan pickup with a 6′ bed, occasionally with a canopy. The current one is kinda tired but with a refresh it might last a good long time.
Not sure if my “forever car” exists on the market but it would be a small PHEV with room for a motorcycle or two in the back.
I also would choose a PHEV if I could only own one vehicle. My hypothetical “forever car” would be a PHEV Ranger, assuming it had an EV range of at least 40 miles and could tow 5,000 lbs.
If I had a way to stock up on some perishables suck as tires. etc. I would pick my 1932 Chevrolet. This may sound ridiculous but I would like to one of the few who keeps the Blue Flame alive for posterity.
Believe it or not for general shopping and around town chores it does just fine. Obviously there is a considerable learning curve before a person is adept in safely driving an old car. The sense of satisfaction one gets when executing a nice down shift while going around a corner is very real!
Oh, cool, now that’s living! I got to drive a pretty yellow Phaeton at the WAAAM a couple years ago and always dreamed about DDing an antique car.
https://www.waaamuseum.org/collections/automobiles/558-1931-chevrolet-4-door-phaeton
Beautiful car but very pricey. My plain old 2 dr is “only” worth around $28K. That phaeton would go for well over $50K. Worth every penny if you’ve got the scratch.
I am fortunate/unfortunate to be stuck with a 1970 Triumph Spitfire as my forever car. It was/is my first car and unless an act of God takes it, I’ll keep slapping parts on Old Spitty and replacing panels as they rot off. Not the fastest, most efficient, reliable (HA!), or practical vehicle but man is it a lot of fun to motor around with the top down. Driving a car with a solid roof was quite a letdown after daily driving the Spitfire for almost 2 years. Old Spitty is currently waiting for its turn in the project list to receive rocker panel replacement (structural) and other rust repair.
My first car was also a Spitfire. I actually outgrew it (I’m 6’6″). I just went to a british car show at a winery here in NC and there were 20+ spitfires – it was a hell of a nostalga trip.
People are always surprised when I get out of it, as I am 6’3”, surprisingly roomy for a small car, but if I was any taller it would be a no go for me.