2nd gen Nissan Xterra. Lots of aftermarket support, 4x4, cargo space, manual. I found a nice 2006 yellow one with 87k for just under $13,000 just across the boarder in IL.

First 2 generations of the Ford Taurus SHO. It has to be bulletproof because I drove it when I was in high school, and man, I was not nice to that car. Loved the hit at around 3k RPM when the short tubes opened up. Also, smoking GMs best (outside the vette) and scaring the hell out of Mustangs in a family car was oh…

So my Dad had bought a 2005 GT500. I was visiting a couple weeks after, and as one should, we took it out hooning on the backroads near their house.