Here's my list

1) Porsche 356. Owned two, Loved them, but now feel they are too expensive for what they really are.

2) Sunbeam Tiger. My TR8 is just so much more comfy/reliable/easier to work on so I don't need another V8 Brit. Also the nature of owners has changed. 20 yrs ago Tiger owners didn't get their knickers in knots if a guy showed up at a meet with a converted Alpine.

3) Mini-Cooper S. Absolutely love them. Learned to drive on a MIni 850. Owned a pair of rare ones - 997 Cooper and a 1071 Cooper S. I would love a 1275 S, but its not at the top off my list.

4) Triumph TR4. Also loved it, but I want a TR250 next.

So what's your list.

Classic Minis (one 1275 and one 1098). Interesting cars, but two were enough.

I probably wouldn't want another Autobianchina either.

I've owned 4 cars in my time span.

3 are still in my stable.

Heh.

1 1997 Chev Cavalier. (Bought in 1997. Traded 2004) Die you POS. Car had a repair sheet a mile long. Nickel and dime'd me to death.

2 1968 Triumph GT6 Mk1. (Bought in 2001) Linked together for ever. My first restoration. My last restoration...

3 2003.5 Mazda Speed Protege (Bought in 2004) Despite running on high octane and only making 170HP a stupid fun sedan. Getting small as a family car, but I'll run her till she dies. Then replace her with a tow vehicle. BTW was amazing at race school. Something about passing 911's, vettes, vipers and a skyline in the wet is very pleasing.

4 1972 Fiat 124 Spider (Bought in 2009) My first Italian. My first vintage race car. 2010 was so much fun and I am looking forward to building on that in 2011.

If I ever give up a car I'll let you know. I have come close to considering selling the GT6, but so many people told me I'd regret it for the rest of my life.

A.

Thi is a fun thread amd made me think. Here is my list.

1. Fiat 124 Spider: Great car, nice looking and easy to own for the most part but it is just not as refined as an Alfa. I owned the best one in the world and sold it for a loss. Says it all.

2. Triumph TR3A: Had one many years ago and fondly remember it but am just not into that much of a basic car anymore unless it is a Morgan.

3. Ferrari Daytona: My dream car for many years that while amazing was a bit of a let down. Now that prices are in excess of 200k there are many better choices out there for me.

4. Datsun 240Z: I liked the one I owned years ago and have had the opportunity to drive quite a few great examples in the last few years that were for sale for very little money. I guess I want a bit more car these days but the 240 is just a bit too basic and at the same time too advanced. If I want a vintage sports car I will always look at an Alfa GTV or Duetto and not at the 240Z.

5. 1940's Toyota Celica GT: Owned years ago. Kinda cool but slow and boring for me to drive.

6. Porsche 912: I have owned one of these twice and am pretty much over them. I used to think I wanted a 912E but am over that as well. For about the same money you can own a 911, enough said.

1969 TVR Vixen.... , do a minor conversion (dump the Kent and 4 spd for a Toyota 4AGE and 5spd) but I barely fit in it when I was 20, now that I'm 51, I don't bend as easily as I once did....

1969 Alfa GTV Loved it... when I owned it, but there are far easier ways to get a similar amount of thrill (AE86 for one)

ANY of my muscle/pony cars(66, 67 Shelby, 70 Mach1, 69 GTO) because the were all pigs

Cars I would own again... 1st one comes to mind would be a tweaked(powered by BEAMS and 6 speed) Volvo 1800...... actually that is the only one

Four jump straight to mind.

First and second were a '66 Pontiac Catalina 2+2 with the 421HPO and Tri-Power. Then a '69 Roadrunner 400 six pack. I could barely afford gas for either then! Plus the Roadrunner wouldn't go 200 miles on a tank and back then very few gas stations were open past about six p.m. in Kentucky.

Earlier I owned a '52 MG TD. Wonderful classic but you don't want one if it's your only car and you live near the freeway system of Southern California. Especially during rainy season when the top is bad and you can't afford to get a new one.

Finally, maybe it was just my luck but I had a '73 FIAT X-19 for a VERY FEW months. I got about 10,000 miles per rear tire. On rainy days I had to turn the headlights on and off twice before the starter would kick in. Of course this meant I had to let them go up and down each time too. Finally, I discovered the whole undercarriage was rusted out when I replaced my first rear tire at 10,000 miles.

Generally once I've owned a type of car, I try not to go back. Try to get something different, even if I liked the car. Just don't think you can re-live a car once you've had one.
Although there was one exception but it wasn't done on purpose. I did own 2 Ford Pintos. First one my 1st wife and I bought from her parents because the price and deal was right at the time. A 72 sedan bought in 77. Second one I bought from someone I worked with that was being transfered and had to get rid of the car. A 74 Hatchback. Just got married to present wife. Paid $250 for the car, put another $250 into it over a year of driving it and sold it for $800. Don't plan on repeating purchases again.

Buick Skyhawk (looked like the Chevy Monza of that era) purchased new in Feb. '76. It practically rattled itself apart in the 3 years I owned it. And to think I traded my '68 Volvo 1800 fot it ... Geez.

'79 El Camino also purchased new. Bad paint, bad camshaft (GM had a run of cams with soft lobes back in those days) bad gauges, cheesy switchgear, early rust, etc. I drove it until '86, parked it in my driveway for about 12 years and sold it in '98 for practically nothing even though it was a so-called collectible.

Both cars were examples of General Motors quality at it's worst. After the El Camino I never bought another GM product. Probably never will again regardless of what they're supposed to be doing with themselves these days.

Interesting....

A few come to mind.

1. Any muscle car. Been there, done that, they drive like a truck connected to a tanker.
   Smoky burnouts only stay fun for so long.

2. Fiats. I've had too many to count, but unless it starts with Abarth, I don't need another one.

3. GTV6. Maintenance costs and fun factor don't equal. Sounds awesome though.

4. Non-turbo 944. When a turbo exists, why would I want another one. I didn't find ownership costs to be much less, and the car is far less.

5. Triumph TR-4A. I loved it while I had it, but would rather have something a little more substantial. Body rattles and flex drive me crazy these days.

6. Audi sedan. Any of them. Let's just say I had a BAD experience and leave it at that.

7. RX7. Bought one back in the mid '80's and enjoyed it, but drove one a few years back and was horrified at the steering. Was it that bad then? I traded it for a new Alfa Spider in '87 and never looked back.

I'm sure there are more, but those are the ones that came to mind first.

Datsun 2000- was my first project, and I learned a lot. Cool cars, but just not for me.

Honda CRX HF- the car I've put the second most personal miles on. Beyond it now.

Alfetta GT- neat car, but I prefer the earlier chassis, as they are easier to work on.

'95 Miata- not really a classic, but my current one is just better in every way.

I've not owned much.

The new poll reminds me that I owned a '56 Nash Metropolitan back in about 1970. It was a fun car to own, but it drove rather like a small tank. The MG ZA Magnette that I almost bought the year before is one that I wish I had.

Bad memories from the past;

Fiat 128- sold it after the third tranny replacement.

Renault Alpine- no specific reason, just a POS.

VW Beetle - I was side swiped, glancing blow, not a T-Bone. The other car hit just behind the driver (me) and pushed in almost a foot into the car. I have to say, the car kept running and my soon to be ex girlfriend drove it , as is, for another year until she stopped putting oil in it.

AMC Javelin - Owned two and they both were turds. Fast, good handling (at the time) but completely un reliable. Electrical system that made Lucas seem like an upgrade.

mike

I liked my 1970 144 Volvo but it was past its prime and wanted a lot of expensive repairs at the Volvo shop. This car more than any other I owned would break down on me. This was in 1978-79.

Ron

My first dedicated race car was a '89 Ford Probe GT that I took to the GRM $2004 Challenge and a lot of local autocrosses. Had a lot of fun with it, this was a cheap car, held up pretty well, and had some very balanced handling.

There are two reasons I wouldn't want to own one again. One, it's nearly impossible to find one anymore, and harder still to find replacement parts like taillight lenses. Two, I later owned and had to sell a C4 Corvette, which beats the Probe hands down in cars I no longer own that I still lust for.

Had to think about this for a while...

'59 Corvette: Pretty, but doesn't really do anything except go fast in a straight line. Way out of my price range now.

'67 Chevelle SS396: See above.

'71 Fiat 124 Spider: Good looks, comfortable, does everything quite well, but after putting 80K miles on mine I was done with it.

'74 Gremlin X 304 V8, stick and HD everything: Fun power-to-weight, surprisingly good handling, terrible interior quality, and they've all returned to the earth by now.

What WAS I thinking dept... '75 Chevy Monza coupe w/ 350 V8: Really a Vega with a honkin' heavy engine detuned to something like 120 HP. Worst car I ever owned, including a few out and out transportation beaters.