I have only owned one non-German car

[e90m3]

And here it is, a 1997 Explorer Sport.

It was my first car and the only car I've owned that I didn't buy. It was eventually titled in my name, so I did in fact own it. It wasn't just my parents' car I used.

[Chariotoflove]

@e90m3
I can see why you’re so sad, but don’t worry, there’s still time to own a GM car!

[e90m3]

@chariotoflove My parents had two when I was of driving age, with the direction they're going, I'll pass.

[WhoIsTheLeader]

@e90m3 It's a very nice color. I can't remember seeing one that same shade. I do think the two door Explorers weren't bad looking at all. I can't say I'd want to own one though.

[Chariotoflove]

@e90m3

[VeeArrrSix]

Right there with you. Literally the only non VW I've ever owned beside a brief stint where I had an 85 GMC S15 Durango that I drove that was my Grandfather's.

[e90m3]

@whoistheleader It wasn't awful, it wasn't a great driving car either but it was a car at 16. Plus, when I got it, it was only 9 years old and had only done 62k.

[Huzer]

@e90m3 As far as fairly mainstream vehicles, German is one of the only countries I haven't owned (Korean, Italian being the others).

[WhoIsTheLeader]

@e90m3 Any first car is worth having if it runs and drives. That's a pretty low miles per year figure.

[Boxer_4]

@e90m3 The cars I’ve owned have not only been the same nationality, but built in the same country in the same factory. It’s very likely the next car I would buy (something fun) will follow this trend.

[DasWauto]

@veearrrsix whoa, there’s a name I haven’t seen in a while. Welcome, I’m glad you’ve come to our new home.

Are you still enjoying the WRX? I traded mine in about a month ago as I don’t need it to be my one car to do everything anymore. I replaced it with a Ranger to handle practical/winter duties and my 128i handles the fun car role.

[VeeArrrSix]

@daswauto hey! I was just wearing one of your shirts the other day! I like some things about it, namely the grip and the noise, but it's a unrefined car over all with turrible MPGs. After three years and 17K miles it rattles a lot and the stereo sucks balls. But not one thing has gone wrong with it, and my lease is up in November, perfect time to go back a GTI or maybe an S4 if I can swing the down payment.

[mustangchris66]

All of the cars I've owned except my first (my Mustang) have been Japanese and manufactured in Japan.

Toyota 4Runner
Mazda 3 (but kind of a ford)
Infiniti Q50s

[DasWauto]

@veearrrsix My sentiments mirror yours almost exactly. The sound system suuucked (my base model Golf’s was leagues better), as does the fuel mileage (mind you, my truck is worse but premium commands a disproportionate premium here so it cancels out) and overall it was just rough around the edges. I also ended up disliking the seats, I had no thigh support for my long ass legs as the tilt adjustment range is insufficient.

All that said, now that the snow is on the ground, I miss driving it something fierce. The WRX/STI loose surface driving experience is unmatched by anything else on the market and I’m gonna have to own another one, just not as my daily driver.

If the S4 ends up being too dear, is a Golf R and option? If I wasn’t so averse to buying effectively the same car as a previous one I would have seriously considered one (same goes for an STI).

[VeeArrrSix]

@daswauto 45K USD for a Golf R just doesn't make sense. A S4 with a 7500 mile lease is doable but that requires a 7K USD (GULP) down payment. With what is going on economically in the foreseeable future ballin' on a budget isn't a good idea. I could end up just swapping out for a new WRX or an A4, but if the MK8 is here by then it's at the top of my list. I'm pretty hooked on real AWD just like you mentioned, but it's not a deal breaker to go back to FWD with a real LSD.

[JeRC1500]

@e90m3 I seem to have missed Korea but did hit all Big 3US, VW-Audi-Porsche-BMW German, and only Nissan/Fancy Nissan for Japanese.

[6MT_FTW]

@e90m3 In 39 years of driving I've owned only two non-German cars, and they've been my last two, a 1999 Ferd Windscar that I got for free and my current car, a 2012 Mazda5 6MT. The Ferd was only the second car I've had with an automatic.

I still want another German, preferably something with RWD, an I6 and non-assisted steering, if possible. I figure that it will either be an E21 323i or some flavor of E30, or maybe I'll snag another 968 or a 944. However, given my positive experiences with the Mazda5 I'll probably just get a Miata...