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GEAR | Wheels


Truck in Barn, Wisconsin by Robert Natkin, 1973.

Guys! I need help! I need to get a new car and am having a complete identity crisis in the process. Vintage truck? Something green? What cars do you love and hate? Any suggestions? I don't drive much, but do live in Los Angeles, so I need something reliable. I've looked at a few things on Craigslist and eBay but have not had the guts to pull the trigger.
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Anonymous said…
Bronco II!
July 24, 2012 at 9:35 AM
Aurora said…
1985 Mercedes 300D! They can be converted to biofuel if you're interested. They are some of the best, most attractive and classic models, and usually pretty affordable. I love mine!
July 24, 2012 at 9:41 AM
Unknown said…
Definitely Mercedes.
July 24, 2012 at 9:45 AM
Unknown said…
early 90's volvo 240 wagon - looks like a brick, tonnes of cargo space, will last forever, and repairs are cheap (relatively speaking)
July 24, 2012 at 10:00 AM
dz_g said…
I'm a big fan of the newer Volvo V50 wagon... mmm, dream car!!
July 24, 2012 at 10:14 AM
Lauren said…
i spent my teenage and early adult years in a subaru outback. it braved illinois winter and hauled all of my thrifted furniture in the hatch.
July 24, 2012 at 10:45 AM
Anonymous said…
Hatchback is a nice way to walk the line between the SUV-style cargo space and more fuel efficiency/easier to park. I have a Mazda3 that I love to pieces. Not literally. She hasn't gone to pieces at all.
July 24, 2012 at 11:41 AM
Judith said…
My dream car is a mid 90s Ford Ranger. Boxy and beautiful!
July 24, 2012 at 12:00 PM
Anonymous said…
I'm a chevy girl so if you go old school pick up, like a cheyenne, that'd be rad and as much as I love the cute old and new Subaru's, buying American cars and trucks is where it's at.. especially for a tomboy ;)
July 24, 2012 at 12:10 PM
erica lorraine scheidt said…
mercedes. absolutely. i'd say 280 SE
July 24, 2012 at 12:36 PM
Jeremy said…
My wife's a total tomboy and picked our current car years ago - 1988 Landcruiser. Runs forever, plenty of room.

A close second would be a Grand Wagoneer.

You can, if you really wish, swap a diesel motor in there for maximum green. Not cheap, but awesome!
July 24, 2012 at 1:19 PM
Rob said…
old green El Camino!
July 24, 2012 at 1:20 PM
Rachel said…
I love my VW GTI. It's really fun to drive (fast but not ludicrously fast, moderately stiff suspension, corners well), and esthetically it's clean and basic so it doesn't scream "Sports Car". It's big enough to carry passengers and groceries but still small enough that it's easy to park. It's a nice compromise between a fun toy and a real car, and it feels a lot safer than the old Miata I had before it (which I'd recommend if you're looking for a tiny convertible roadster for surface streets as opposed to highway use).

Boxy things like Jeeps are really appealing esthetically, but I discovered when I had a Jeep Wrangler that it's a whole different driving experience, and finally concluded that I'm a small-and-zippy-car person even though I love the way Jeeps and Land Rovers look and thought a Wrangler was my ideal car. So I guess my biggest recommendation is just lots of test driving.
July 24, 2012 at 1:28 PM
Anonymous said…
I second the Land Cruiser. FJ62. It's a classic and lasts forever! And nobody messes with you when you drive around in it. A newer model, the FJ80 would also be cool and maybe a little more fuel efficient and more comfortable to drive. Land Cruiser all the way.
July 24, 2012 at 1:36 PM
Anonymous said…
subaru! or vw golf
July 24, 2012 at 5:47 PM
Anonymous said…
Scout! Scout! Scout!
July 24, 2012 at 7:31 PM
genevieve said…
i drive an 85 mercedes 300 SD and love it

it's a boat but gets 27 MPG, which is freaking awesome

and you feel like a badass driving it
July 24, 2012 at 8:44 PM
Laurel said…
I was going to say a Volvo too. Or a Saab.

Remember those old station wagons with the rear-facing seats? I can think of nothing better for a tomboy with style and friends to pile into the car for a day at the beach!
July 24, 2012 at 10:41 PM
notanymore said…
BMW 3 series. I miss mine so much. Either the mid to late eighties version or the 1998-2004 version. I had a 2000.
July 24, 2012 at 11:39 PM
Paul Thompson said…
Depends where you do most of your driving but how about an old Fiat 500 for town car and/or Mercedes W123 Estate 280TE (station wagon) or Volvo Amazon Estate for more practical things in life!
July 25, 2012 at 1:39 AM
Matt Toms said…
american muscle. plymouth baracuda, mustang, corvette, dodge charger, gran torino.

I live in europe where such cars are a complete fortune and non sensical in every way bacause of parts (the lack of) and fuel prices. To live in the west coast, in the relative sunshine, the cheaper fuel prices, with these cars around you! Cease the day. Identity crisis over...you'd look badass.
July 25, 2012 at 3:12 AM
janjamm said…
I would go for the Geo Metro. Hands down.
July 25, 2012 at 7:06 AM
paraproject said…
VW wagon... with a luggage rack on top and tie downs on hand.
July 25, 2012 at 8:08 AM
Ann said…
A 91 Landcruiser. Love the boxy shape. After 95, I think they started making them lower to the ground and less like a truck.
July 25, 2012 at 8:56 AM
Dana Joy said…
ideas:

VW Jetta wagon TDI - diesel, great gas mileage, incredible handling and comfort.

450 SL Mercedes from the 70's or 80's converted to bio-diesel

Vintage Mercerdes wagons are super cool too.

Baby Bronco?
July 25, 2012 at 12:18 PM
Laura said…
I'm kinda of an old man tomboy, but I drive a 90's Buick LeSabre. It is a solid piece, huge trunk for camping gear etc and has an ashtray for every seat. Plus wood paneling on the inside.
Seniors every way are selling these babies and in Canada you can buy for less than 1000.
Frickin steal.
July 25, 2012 at 2:33 PM
AG said…
I had a VW pickup in college that I adored. It got great gas mileage and was cute as fuck. Plus, it was a truck, so it got the tough factor.

They get kinda pricey these days, though. I'm planning on getting a late 80's Toyota 22R pickup, when the right one comes along.
July 25, 2012 at 4:25 PM
Anonymous said…
Vintage VW Karmann Ghia
July 25, 2012 at 6:09 PM
Lexie said…
i am in the process of buying a car, too. i'm looking at manual honda civics! best reviewed car that i've found so far.
July 25, 2012 at 9:45 PM
Parent 2 said…
I grew up with a Mom who bought "cool" cars that were perpetually dying (many of which are listed above!). Practicality always wins out for me, unless you are really into car-repair (or are best buds with a great mechanic). Today I drive a Toyota Corolla, truly the most boring car possible. No one ever wants to steal it, it NEVER breaks down, it gets GREAT gas mileage. I love my car, but when I can afford it I will get a second car, a 4-Runner. I think they are the best looking cars on the road. (Not the new ones, sadly they are v. ugly!)
July 25, 2012 at 9:48 PM
Christina said…
vintage saab 900 hatchback. before 1993!
July 26, 2012 at 4:59 AM
JessieRutland said…
I love my VW Jetta wagon TDI.
July 26, 2012 at 11:31 AM
LadyA said…
I second the Volvo 240 (wagon or sedan). Literally the best car I have ever had....I still think about selling my new car and going back to a Volvo 240 dl... :)
July 26, 2012 at 12:01 PM
LadyA said…
I second the Volvo 240 (wagon or sedan). Literally the best car I have ever had....I still think about selling my new car and going back to a Volvo 240 dl... :)
July 26, 2012 at 12:01 PM
Anonymous said…
i third the early 90's volvo. timeless effortless cool design, safe and indestructible. i stole my parent's and am still driving it like 300,000 miles later. you can find them for peanuts too.
July 28, 2012 at 10:07 PM
Kasey Jo said…
This comment has been removed by the author.
July 30, 2012 at 9:32 PM
Kasey Jo said…
I drive a 92 Volvo 240 and a 80 mercedes w123 wagon, both are tanks... safe and reliable and good on gas. Next will be an early 70s Bronco, and an old Ford ranger.... Can't go wrong with old ford trucks.
July 30, 2012 at 9:39 PM
ann ladson said…
VW wagon TDI, reliable, great gas mileage, green, sporty.
August 1, 2012 at 12:19 PM
ann ladson said…
VW wagon TDI, reliable, great gas mileage, green, sporty.
August 1, 2012 at 12:19 PM
Old Polo said…
Our stable has a 1960 Austin Healey Sprite (bugeye) 1965 Series lla Land Rover station wagon and a 2012 VW Jetta Sportwagon. Oh yeah and a 1995 Cevy 3/4 truck. If I were living in town and could only have one car I'd do a Subaru stationwagon or a new Fiat 500.
August 1, 2012 at 2:45 PM
Anonymous said…
Jeep Wrangler - 2 door - vintage or new
August 2, 2012 at 8:31 AM
WrySmile said…
Buy a pickup with a crew cab. Dodge or Chevy. My mother always had "cool" cars back in the seventies, mostly foriegn, most of the time they didn't run... Come to think of it she still has this problem. On the other hand my 2004 Dodge pickup and my sons 2005 Chevy pick up are still going strong: 215,000 miles and 123,000 miles respectively; no breakdowns.....
August 3, 2012 at 9:58 AM
Anonymous said…
You need to call Leon at Wagonmaster.com. The one and only place to find beautifully restored Jeep Grand Wagoneers. It's your only and, actually, quite obvious choice for you considering the style and spirit of your blog. I have a 1988 Grand Wagoneer that is my daily driver. It's spectacular.
August 13, 2012 at 9:24 AM
Kate Stewart said…
Audi Allroad, Audi A4 (S4) Avant Wagon, Volvo v50 wagon, late 90s/early 00s Range Rover, or my dream, a 1987 Toyota Landcruiser FJ60. Love Audis, but if you don't need all wheel drive the volvo is a great car and small enough to zip around LA traffic in.
August 16, 2012 at 5:47 PM
kumi said…
I had a red austin mini when i was in high school. Loved it, it had a choke and a stick shift that took some finesse in driving. It was truly basic, no air conditioning, no heat, but lived in AZ and it was a blissful wonder- could fix anything simply. My car now twenty years later ~is a lovely black mini cooper convertible. I still love to drive- zippy and so sporty and fairly unusual. Wouldn't trade it for any other- a grown up version of my first car-love.
August 16, 2012 at 9:18 PM
jim smith said…
This comment has been removed by the author.
February 26, 2013 at 10:59 PM
jim smith said…
The cheaper fuel prices, with these cars around you! Cease the day. Identity crisis over...you'd look badass.
Transmission Hollywood FL
February 26, 2013 at 11:03 PM
Anonymous said…
good agog
January 10, 2024 at 4:49 AM
Anonymous said…
sdsad sass dadas
January 10, 2024 at 4:54 AM
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