My lack of ‘brand loyalty’ comes down to manufacturers killing off the vehicles I enjoyed owning.

The Express/GMC Savana twins, for sure. Grabbed a cargo van from UHaul the other week, and except for 2XXX miles on the odometer, could have thought the van was 20 years old. 

For what WN charges nowadays, they’re no cheaper than any of the Big Three, yet they still run ops like they’re the old-school $39 OW airline. 

My parents were also the ‘Buy American’ crowd until around 2008, so my childhood was awash in 80s shitboxes.

The simple fact that a decent-mileage Element still pulls $1o-12K on the used market a decade later means this is the correct answer.

I feel like this is another prime example of a pristine 40-year old time capsule of a car that, while it’s unique...no one really clamored for. ND for me, but probably NP for someone on BaT.

It’s weird, it’s rare, it’s got a V-12, you have to explain to people what the hell it is...fine. Take my money. NP. I’ll hate myself when the electrics eventually render it useless, but hopefully I’ll get some good fun out of it.

The BaT, Cars and Bids, etc. rich-guy auction culture. Everything mildly interesting or collectible gets sold for stupid money and prices out anyone not in the top tax brackets. Saw someone last week trying to sell a 1990 US-spec Peugeot 405 for north of $12K. I bought an ‘89 405 when I was in college...for $500.

I’m sorry. The fact that someone -anyone- is dropping 6 figures on a Stellantis product just makes me laugh hysterically. These things are going to have more electrical gremlins than Range Rovers, lose value just as quickly, and will be sitting in whatever the equivalent of JD Byrider/DriveTime will be in 2030, ready…

I feel like the Maxima (current edition) is just the absolute example of a modern Nissan. It’s...fine. It’s nothing special, it doesn’t really have a true competitor anymore, it’s indistinguishable from the rest of the lineup, completely forgettable, and just kind of...there. 

Honda Element, please. I miss having a quirky SUV option rather than every boring looking crossover that’s on the road now. 

A quick search of sub-$10K convertibles around me makes this an easy NP. Functional back seat that can accomodate 4 (if not 5) comfortably, easy to maintain, just quirky enough to be cool.

Could have just posted the photos and price, and it would have gotten a 99% ND. Didn’t even need the salvage title to vote ND on this abomination. 

Again....this falls into the category of ‘perfectly fine and reasonable reliable transportation.’ No one who needs just to get to and from work on time has the $7700 in cash to drop on a 27-year old Camry (because no bank in their right mind is financing this car).

My wife and I -combined- don’t come close to a $1K/month car note. What the hell are these people buying? 

10 grand for a 20-year old, rental-base spec Taurus with rust issues? GTFOH. The people who actually NEED this car -which is the dictionary definition of ‘basic transportation’- won’t be able to finance $10K on a 20-year old car. No one with 10 grand in cash on hand is rushing to buy this thing. ND a million times…

Flashback to 2019 and a certain ‘Zoom Zoom’ dealer chain in Chicagoland. Took in my wife’s 2010 Mazda5 for maintenance. The thing was in great shape (despite carting around a then-3 and 6 year old) and had maybe 40K on the clock.

:imagines trying to park this on city streets:

A 17-year old Buick made of only the crappiest GM plastics and fabrics, with an asking price north of 6 grand. This market cannot burst soon enough. NP, because why the hell not right now. 

If it’s not in my immediate metro area, and it’s something I simply can’t find locally, I’ll just have it shipped. I’m at the age where I find road trips more annoying than fun nowadays.