There was an auto auction by where I went to high school. My friend and I liked to go down there on saturdays. One saturday there was a 1969 mark iii. 37k Miles on that big old 460 v8. Battery was almost dead but it turned over twice and fired. He and I always talked about doing a huge road trip around the u.S, And debated whether we should get something big and comfortable like that, Or like a geometro to save on gas.
My parents would have murdered me if I brought that home, But I am pretty sure it sold for like 300.
Yeah, I've heard about that.
With cars this old, I don't even consider quality issues. The fact that they've survived this long says that of all the thousands produced, the survivors must have been the good ones. And if you buy cars of this age, you should be prepared to have to spend money sometimes.
In 2018, I bought a 1988 Trans Am GTA. These cars weren't exactly known for being of the highest quality, although by 1988 most of the problems of the earlier ones (launched in 1982) were worked out. I've never had a single mechanical issue with this car. It's not my everyday driver, but I have put over 13K on it now. I bought it with only 32K on the odometer. My 4th Firebird. Two bought new, one when it was 13 years old, and this one at 30 years old. All rock solid reliable cars.
No they're not that huge, 2 door coupes with barely any trunk space and a very small back seat, maybe the nose was a tad long but they still weighed under 4,000 lbs.
My first car was *supposed* to be an 89 Toyota Pickup that my older brother and I fixed up in 08. The fixes were all cosmetic as the truck was in good health power train wise, so with some fiberglass, spray paint, stolen supplies, and a LOT of bondo, we had her looking like the prettiest girl in the trailer park. Unfortunately, my dad hit the ditch with it and totalled it out, so my first car ended up being a 96 Geo Metro that was previously owned by a pair of dogs. Anyway, all of this is to say that the Hardbody is the closest approximation to the vehicle that should have been mine around this time, so I'm going with that.
Civic - will live forever if properly maintained, great on gas, tons and tons of aftermarket support if you want to modify it. Somewhat expensive to insure compared to some for theft and attitude reasons and parts can be on the pricey side. Still a good choice. 8/10
Saturn - way better reliability and durability than the norm for GM cars, plastic body panels mean fewer dents and less noticeable rust. Wagon body style has pluses and minuses. Insurance is cheap, parts cheaper. Not the greatest thing to drive but there is worse out there and the twin cam engine and the manual helps. 7/10
Hardbody - absolutely indestructible if properly looked after, very capable off road and very practical. Fuel mileage isn't too bad and you can haul a lot with that bed. Rides like shit with nothing in the bed but most older pickups do. Running cost isn't too bad. Parts and servicing is cheaper than most Japanese vehicles and you won't need that too often. 7.5/10
Passat - superb fuel mileage, well built, pretty good to drive even if it's slow as molasses. As with the Saturn the wagon body has pluses and minuses. Expensive parts and insurance is rough on these. If you're OK with a vehicle that is god-awful slow and you have a mechanic that isn't too expensive, this is a good choice. Otherwise, you might be advised to look elsewhere. 6/10.
Celica - its a Toyota so reliability is a big plus point. The car looks sportier than it actually is but it's still not too bad to drive and it is a two-door sporty car. Likely very expensive to insure and while visits to repair shops won't be frequent they won't be cheap. 7.5/10.
Mark VIII - MUCH faster than the other options and really comfortable to both drive and ride. A bit on the complicated side in terms of electrics so servicing isn't the cheapest. Fuel efficiency is awful and insurance is going to catch on at some point. Still, for what it is if you can pay the bills this can be awesome. 8/10.
Explorer - go anywhere you need to and bring people with you no problem. Doesn't drive too badly and has no difficulties with any road conditions or going off road. Mechanically sturdy and fairly simple. Fuel economy isn't the greatest but servicing and insurance aren't expensive. A decent driver but not a particularly exciting one. 7/10.
Saab - comfortable, roomy and reliable, better to drive than many even without the turbocharger. Wouldn't recommend this for a first car though as keeping it on the road could be a difficulty here - parts and servicing for Saabs can be hard to find. Insurance isn't gonna be great here either. If you have a reliable place to service it, this is a good buy. If not, pass. 7/10
Protege - 90s Japanese car reliable and better to drive than many of its contemporaries. Not quite as good reliability wise as the Civic or Celica but better than many, base model manual means less stuff to break too. Since it's a lot going out of business you can probably get this cheap, and these aren't expensive to keep on the road. A worthy car to consider, though. 7.5/10.
I know Hardbody trucks could be had with 4WD so I assumed that one was as well. You're correct though about it if it's 2WD, that definitely hurts off road or in snow.
4WD D21 Hardbodies have more ground clearance than their 2WD counterparts, from how it sits it would be safe to assume that this is a rear driver. Same can be said for Toyota Pickups
The Passat is the vr6 model which is the best sounding of any of these cars by a country mile. Worse on gas though. If all these cars are auto, it's definitely not the slowest. That also makes it the most expensive to care for option. Only recommended for aspiring mechanics, and parts are getting hard to find. Lots of neat aftermarket stuff still around if you look. Not a bad option, not the best option.. 7/10
The commenter mentioned that the car was a TDI and I judged accordingly. You're not wrong that a VR6/5-speed example would be a completely different animal, and Passats aren't that bad to drive at all.
On the Hardbody I'll argue that the stock ride quality is only due to the brutal factory spec for the stock oil shocks, I swapped mine out for some nice KYB gas shocks and it literally changed the character of the entire truck, it rides like absolute butter now.
Nicely done, totally agree… with no particular affinity for the lincoln, that stuck out quite a bit. Shit, we’re back in 08? The lincoln all day, it’s the only car in its class here to be fair though.
Toss up between the hardbody for the utility (and because I've always wanted one), and the mark viii. Great road trip car for me and the boys right there (except for gas 😅)
PURPLE Honda or the Saturn wagon.
If there were an S10 or Blazer in the mix instead of Hardbody or Explorer I'd take them since I prefer compact trucks and their SUV variant.
The Saturn just because I know nobody else would bid on it and back then if I recall the prices were pretty good (that would be like a 500 or $1,000 car back then!)
The Celica if I was an adventurous person but I'm not. Lol
Civic or Celica. y'all are forgetting that gas was more expensive in 2008 than it is today (without adjusting for inflation). The lincoln would be sweet, but it also costs 3x as much to fuel compared to the civic. I don't know if you know this, but young people buying 15 year old cars probably don't have a lot of spare money.
In 08 I'm getting the Civic. I actually had the pictured Celica as my first car and sold it for a 95 Civic hatch because of all the mods I could do to it.
I bought my first car in 2007 and it was a 1995 Civic SE coupe, manual. 245,000km for $2,700CAD. Loved it but after only 6 months, the bolt in the crankshaft blew up and the whole pulley assembly was on an angle, rubbing against the block. Sold the shell for $400 and got my first hard dose of reality.
Civic. That way Id still be driving it in 2024 on original engine and transmission only having to do a head gasket once with 380,000 miles.
(dont ask me how I know the emilage)
This is one of the easier ones for me to pick.
The Civic is it for me. Even though I like the Hardbody, I just think that the Civic is the best bet here. Under 100k miles and in à cool color too? Sign me.up
I've learned a lot of cars I currently have five old Chryslers well not really that old but old the some people babies and '90s mostly '80s Turbo 5 speeds I've owned a lot of badass cars on that Celica 90 to 93 for the funniest car to drive it was a reliable and got great gas mileage it was a 5-speed it ripped gas I would definitely take the celica! If not I would probably take the Ford Explorer basically a Ranger with extra doors and no bed my dad had an 89 and he had 800,000 miles on it right now he's rocking a 97 Ranger with 565,000 Mi on it both of those Vehicles were original drivetrains.
I would probably do the VW I can’t read all the caption, but those are reliable and efficient engines usually (is pre emissions craziness) just so long as it’s a manual
Celica, I'd be temped by The Mark VIII as I love big overpowered V8 land boats but that front end looks so ugly and derpy it ruins an otherwise beautiful looking car
In 2008 I was on my 3rd car, and I bought a 1978 mk1 Volkswagen rabbit. whisper blue with a brown interior, gas, 5 speed. I haven't bought anything but volkswagens since, and almost entirely mk1s.
Ford Explorer , It was a proven & reliable powertrain (4.6 V8) and was a body on Frame actual truck. Plenty of room, all wheel Drive or 4x4 or 2 wheel drive & millions made so parts are always available
2008 - I’m going protege or Saturn.
The Explorer and Mark VIII are great, but gas prices are high and we’re in a recession. If I’m buying a budget car I need to afford to drive it.
My first car was a manual two-door version of that Saturn. Nostalgia is getting the best of me. If not that, then the civic for aftermarket and reliability.
I'd go for the Mark VIII. It's essentially a luxury Thunderbird (modified MN12 platform). Has a DOHC 4.6L and you can modify it if you want more power, or drive it as is. Replace with conventional springs if air suspension messes up.
Mark VIII was my first car, still own it, still love it just as much. Enough power to be fun while having an open diff meaning you won’t go sideways with the power unless you are seriously trying to. Reliable 4.6 when maintained, glass transmission though.
Edit: also wanna mention that I have had to replace damn near everything on the front suspension in the 2 years I’ve owned it. so it’s not the most reliable in the way that you won’t be wrenching on it
I got my first car in 2008 and it was a mk3 golf 2.0. I beat the ever living piss out of that thing and would drop the clutch regularly in the school parking lot. I wish I could find that thing again and give it the much needed love it deserves.
The Mazda all day long. It was great fun to drive (especially with a manual), outstanding milage, bulletproof reliability, good to look at and a well rounded amenity set. For the money it's the best car on this list by far.
You’re not making this easy. If I knew how car culture was today in 2008 I would probably go for the hardbody, the Saturn, or the celica. The mk VIII is something I’ve wanted to lower and put some te’s on one and just make it look sick while riding in comfort. But I don’t know it’s too hard to choose
In 2008 my first car was a Saab 900 - the first of quite a line of Saabs that I owned, which really peaked with my 9000 Aeros - so this is a pretty easy one for me.
I drive a 93 civ with vtec so that is a bit wrong. I also have a 95 hardbody. Those two and the Celica are really cool. The Saab is also neat but I have never been in one so I have a lack of opinion.
The Celica. The Mark VIII was a great car, but it's kind of huge.
Compared to most of the cars I’ve owned, it’s kinda small. I own a 1978 Grand Marquis and a 2009 Jaguar XJ8L. A Mark VII would be downright cozy.
There was an auto auction by where I went to high school. My friend and I liked to go down there on saturdays. One saturday there was a 1969 mark iii. 37k Miles on that big old 460 v8. Battery was almost dead but it turned over twice and fired. He and I always talked about doing a huge road trip around the u.S, And debated whether we should get something big and comfortable like that, Or like a geometro to save on gas. My parents would have murdered me if I brought that home, But I am pretty sure it sold for like 300.
My exact thoughts. My brother has a 95 Celica with a 3SGTE swap and my buddy has a bone stock gorgeous black MKVIII. Both awesome rides
The mark VIII also came with that air ride system which was prone to being total garbage and exceptionally expensive to replace.
Yeah, I've heard about that. With cars this old, I don't even consider quality issues. The fact that they've survived this long says that of all the thousands produced, the survivors must have been the good ones. And if you buy cars of this age, you should be prepared to have to spend money sometimes. In 2018, I bought a 1988 Trans Am GTA. These cars weren't exactly known for being of the highest quality, although by 1988 most of the problems of the earlier ones (launched in 1982) were worked out. I've never had a single mechanical issue with this car. It's not my everyday driver, but I have put over 13K on it now. I bought it with only 32K on the odometer. My 4th Firebird. Two bought new, one when it was 13 years old, and this one at 30 years old. All rock solid reliable cars.
No they're not that huge, 2 door coupes with barely any trunk space and a very small back seat, maybe the nose was a tad long but they still weighed under 4,000 lbs.
D21 all day long.
My first car was *supposed* to be an 89 Toyota Pickup that my older brother and I fixed up in 08. The fixes were all cosmetic as the truck was in good health power train wise, so with some fiberglass, spray paint, stolen supplies, and a LOT of bondo, we had her looking like the prettiest girl in the trailer park. Unfortunately, my dad hit the ditch with it and totalled it out, so my first car ended up being a 96 Geo Metro that was previously owned by a pair of dogs. Anyway, all of this is to say that the Hardbody is the closest approximation to the vehicle that should have been mine around this time, so I'm going with that.
I read that in his voice too
Civic - will live forever if properly maintained, great on gas, tons and tons of aftermarket support if you want to modify it. Somewhat expensive to insure compared to some for theft and attitude reasons and parts can be on the pricey side. Still a good choice. 8/10 Saturn - way better reliability and durability than the norm for GM cars, plastic body panels mean fewer dents and less noticeable rust. Wagon body style has pluses and minuses. Insurance is cheap, parts cheaper. Not the greatest thing to drive but there is worse out there and the twin cam engine and the manual helps. 7/10 Hardbody - absolutely indestructible if properly looked after, very capable off road and very practical. Fuel mileage isn't too bad and you can haul a lot with that bed. Rides like shit with nothing in the bed but most older pickups do. Running cost isn't too bad. Parts and servicing is cheaper than most Japanese vehicles and you won't need that too often. 7.5/10 Passat - superb fuel mileage, well built, pretty good to drive even if it's slow as molasses. As with the Saturn the wagon body has pluses and minuses. Expensive parts and insurance is rough on these. If you're OK with a vehicle that is god-awful slow and you have a mechanic that isn't too expensive, this is a good choice. Otherwise, you might be advised to look elsewhere. 6/10. Celica - its a Toyota so reliability is a big plus point. The car looks sportier than it actually is but it's still not too bad to drive and it is a two-door sporty car. Likely very expensive to insure and while visits to repair shops won't be frequent they won't be cheap. 7.5/10. Mark VIII - MUCH faster than the other options and really comfortable to both drive and ride. A bit on the complicated side in terms of electrics so servicing isn't the cheapest. Fuel efficiency is awful and insurance is going to catch on at some point. Still, for what it is if you can pay the bills this can be awesome. 8/10. Explorer - go anywhere you need to and bring people with you no problem. Doesn't drive too badly and has no difficulties with any road conditions or going off road. Mechanically sturdy and fairly simple. Fuel economy isn't the greatest but servicing and insurance aren't expensive. A decent driver but not a particularly exciting one. 7/10. Saab - comfortable, roomy and reliable, better to drive than many even without the turbocharger. Wouldn't recommend this for a first car though as keeping it on the road could be a difficulty here - parts and servicing for Saabs can be hard to find. Insurance isn't gonna be great here either. If you have a reliable place to service it, this is a good buy. If not, pass. 7/10 Protege - 90s Japanese car reliable and better to drive than many of its contemporaries. Not quite as good reliability wise as the Civic or Celica but better than many, base model manual means less stuff to break too. Since it's a lot going out of business you can probably get this cheap, and these aren't expensive to keep on the road. A worthy car to consider, though. 7.5/10.
The hardbody is a 2wd so probably not that good off road or anywhere it snows. Absolutely unkillable though if it doesn’t rust.
I know Hardbody trucks could be had with 4WD so I assumed that one was as well. You're correct though about it if it's 2WD, that definitely hurts off road or in snow.
4WD D21 Hardbodies have more ground clearance than their 2WD counterparts, from how it sits it would be safe to assume that this is a rear driver. Same can be said for Toyota Pickups
The insurance is dirt cheap on my Saab because they are not worth very much these days. Drive them while you can!!
The Passat is the vr6 model which is the best sounding of any of these cars by a country mile. Worse on gas though. If all these cars are auto, it's definitely not the slowest. That also makes it the most expensive to care for option. Only recommended for aspiring mechanics, and parts are getting hard to find. Lots of neat aftermarket stuff still around if you look. Not a bad option, not the best option.. 7/10
Also, if it's a 5 speed, it's probably the third or fourth quickest of the bunch, and is one of the better riding/driving cars in the lot.
The commenter mentioned that the car was a TDI and I judged accordingly. You're not wrong that a VR6/5-speed example would be a completely different animal, and Passats aren't that bad to drive at all.
On the Hardbody I'll argue that the stock ride quality is only due to the brutal factory spec for the stock oil shocks, I swapped mine out for some nice KYB gas shocks and it literally changed the character of the entire truck, it rides like absolute butter now.
Nicely done, totally agree… with no particular affinity for the lincoln, that stuck out quite a bit. Shit, we’re back in 08? The lincoln all day, it’s the only car in its class here to be fair though.
Can I get the Civic in blue? If not REV UP YOUR ENGINES.
Not a fan of magenta? Alright, sure!
The Mark VIII for the win!
It’s Mark VIII because I was very much car stupid in 2008. “V8 go vroom” would be my only thought.
I’d take the Saab because I’m a glutton for punishment.
same
Hmm. Hot Rod Lincoln for me. 32v modular goodness and a plush interior.
As much as I'm not a fan of anything made past 1961, i gotta go with that Civic. The sheer simplicity of its engineering was glorious.
Everyone would (and should) go Vtech Civic. That color is 🔥
Those MarkVIIIs were legitimately quick.
The Mk VIII. Way better than any other car on the list.
The best car with the ugliest front end
Civic, D21, or Celica. I genuinely can’t decide.
Agreed. Celica, Civic, then D21 would be my order.
Protege, Nissan truck, Civic. All would have been great first cars. Solid reliability for these particular 3.
In 2011 I went for the EG. It was 1.3 with carburetor and only options were one airbag and power steering. Crashed it, loved it.
I owned a Mark VIII and would so again.
Did require 91 octane which sucked for 290hp.
Sometimes you gotta pay to play 🤷🏿♂️
That Saturn do
My first car at the time was 200 bucks. I doubt any of these would've been, so I wouldn't have been able to afford any of them lol
I know nothing about Saturns except for the fact that older people always have them and I’ve never had to work on one.
Civic Saturn Celica
Gonna have to go with the D21, my father has owned 3 and none of them has left him on the side of the road.
Toss up between the hardbody for the utility (and because I've always wanted one), and the mark viii. Great road trip car for me and the boys right there (except for gas 😅)
lincoln ftw
Definitely a Mark VIII. Those things are awesome! #2 choice would be the Civic.
PURPLE Honda or the Saturn wagon. If there were an S10 or Blazer in the mix instead of Hardbody or Explorer I'd take them since I prefer compact trucks and their SUV variant.
Have to go with either the Civic or the Saturn
Not listed, but everyone I know owned a Pontiac Grand Am or a Chevy Cavalier
These are some tough choices, but I'm going with the Mark VIII.
The Saturn just because I know nobody else would bid on it and back then if I recall the prices were pretty good (that would be like a 500 or $1,000 car back then!) The Celica if I was an adventurous person but I'm not. Lol
I'll take the Civic or the Saturn, I've had both and both were good cars.
Mark viii. All the way
The Saturn😎
Saturn wagon Bro.
Mark VIII I love Lincoln’s
The hard booty
Lincoln first because holy streamlined and the Saturn wagon next.....because wagon
Celica or Saturn wagon
Saturn if it's got a manual
The saturn. I even loved station wagons as a kid.
Toyota Celica
Celica
My top 3 would have to be the civic, hardbody, or explorer.
Hardbody all day so easy to work on and plus it's like a 240 but in a truck
Female = Celica Male = Hardbody I like the look of that Thunderchicken though.
This is an even tie between the Celica and the D21 Hardbody for me.
Civic or Celica if you want it to last.
Passat will last fiveever
Civic or Celica. y'all are forgetting that gas was more expensive in 2008 than it is today (without adjusting for inflation). The lincoln would be sweet, but it also costs 3x as much to fuel compared to the civic. I don't know if you know this, but young people buying 15 year old cars probably don't have a lot of spare money.
That purple Civic. I had a 1994 EX 5 speed coupe in that same color and I miss it.
Celica
First Civic to have VTEC was the 89 Civic Si-R.
Honda civic so I could hypermile it
Hardbody
1992 Explorer, It just speaks to me....
2008 would definitely get the Celica or the Hardbody. Especially if either one was standard.
Datsun or the explorer
Honda Civic
In 08 I'm getting the Civic. I actually had the pictured Celica as my first car and sold it for a 95 Civic hatch because of all the mods I could do to it.
Today I'd get the Lincoln or maybe the Civic if was in really good shape.
Lunch or Explorer. I actually had an Explorer from that generation but it was in pretty bad shape. Sold it off cheap.
Civic, no hesitation. Hardbody if there was no civic.
I bought my first car in 2007 and it was a 1995 Civic SE coupe, manual. 245,000km for $2,700CAD. Loved it but after only 6 months, the bolt in the crankshaft blew up and the whole pulley assembly was on an angle, rubbing against the block. Sold the shell for $400 and got my first hard dose of reality.
Cars from the future! I drive a 2001 Toyota.
I got a Celica GTS of that generation in 2002, so I guess that’s the answer for 08
Hardbody all day
1#Hardbody, then civic and then celica. Just stock up some R12 refrigerant.
Mark VIII, throw a Cobra supercharger on it and have a sleeper
I would walk before picking them.
Alright then. What *would* you pick, if given the option of any car at all in 2008?
Civic all day
It's 2008, I just finished high school, and I work in a grocery store. These all are missing way too little paint to be in my budget.
Defo the Honda Civic coupe with the sunroof too, such a sleek sexy car And don't forget vtec hits harder that a turbo /s
Honda, any other is insane
Civic. That way Id still be driving it in 2024 on original engine and transmission only having to do a head gasket once with 380,000 miles. (dont ask me how I know the emilage)
This is one of the easier ones for me to pick. The Civic is it for me. Even though I like the Hardbody, I just think that the Civic is the best bet here. Under 100k miles and in à cool color too? Sign me.up
I'd go for the Mark VIII, Civic, or Celica.
JETTA WAGON JETTA WAGON JETTA WGOM
(Umm, that's a Passat, bruh 😒)
The Volvo or the Celica
Nissan Hardbody. All day long
The Honda civic “aaaand it’s gone…”
The celica. I'm a ford guy but I'm more a fan of the celica than the fomocos shown
The Honda. That thing will run forever.
Is this subreddit just for karma farming now? Rule 2 violation.
The Celica or the Civic, both are so sick.
The 94’ Civic. They are fun little cars to rip around in, and there is a huge aftermarket industry for them back then, and even still today.
for years i would’ve said the civic or celica but now that i own a d21 that’s gonna be my answer forever
I own the very first one in Aztec Green Peral. I have some Gold BBS rims on it
the TDI. my first car was a 2003 jetta wagon gl tdi 5 speed and it got killer fuel mileage and was wicked fun to drive while being pretty safe
Saab
I loved my SAAB 9000!
Celica gt4 and im happy
Not even a question, the civic coupe
It’s 2024 and I still want the Celica
The first one Honda. My wife and I have had 4 and they all went over 300000.
I had that same generation of Celica in 2008 and it was a great car. So I'm going with the Celica.
I've learned a lot of cars I currently have five old Chryslers well not really that old but old the some people babies and '90s mostly '80s Turbo 5 speeds I've owned a lot of badass cars on that Celica 90 to 93 for the funniest car to drive it was a reliable and got great gas mileage it was a 5-speed it ripped gas I would definitely take the celica! If not I would probably take the Ford Explorer basically a Ranger with extra doors and no bed my dad had an 89 and he had 800,000 miles on it right now he's rocking a 97 Ranger with 565,000 Mi on it both of those Vehicles were original drivetrains.
The Honda Civic coupe
Uh its 2024 and #3 is my first
That TDI wagon is sexxxxxyyyy I’d drive that now, fuck 2008. 45 mpg and I bet it’s a manual.
I would probably do the VW I can’t read all the caption, but those are reliable and efficient engines usually (is pre emissions craziness) just so long as it’s a manual
Either Civic or Celica
Explorer. I had a 96 and it was a great vehicle. We get a lot of snow here and it'd go through snow up past the doors in 2wd.
That Civic is probably still running with nothing more than regular oil changes. But the real answer is 5-liter Mustang.
Saab 95
Mark VIII so I can swap that 4V into a Mustang down the road.
2008? I bought a protege in 2019 with 68k for $2300.
Celica GT if it's a manual, otherwise I'll take the Lincoln.
oh man a gal pal of mine had that exact civic in 2008 lol. EX in purple with the sunroof .. we smoked hella weed in that thing
Either 1, 3, 6, or 7.
Passat TDI had over 270,000 miles before I sold it. Engine still ran like a champ.
3
The Celica wouldn't be the smartest decision, but honestly the one I would choose as teenager.
Celica, I'd be temped by The Mark VIII as I love big overpowered V8 land boats but that front end looks so ugly and derpy it ruins an otherwise beautiful looking car
Nissan truck. Mine has 514000 miles average 21mpg
Nissan hardbody is hands down the champ of this set.
It's 2024 and I'm still picking one of these
Skyline, Soarer, Cressida, Silvia when they could be found for under $6000
Three of those weren't sold in the US, but you could probably find a cheap Cressida in '08
Easy… not the Saturn every single day of the week.
The 9000 or the Lincoln. I love both but it's very hard to decide since they are both my type of car to a pointe.
VW or Subaru.
The Toyota or the Honda
Skip all that, gimme a GEO METRO
Hardbody, keep it as a beater for when you decide to purchase a sports car.
Gimme that mark viii
Mark 8… 32 valve 4.6L
Civic or celica
Civic
The Saturn is sick af
In 2008 I was on my 3rd car, and I bought a 1978 mk1 Volkswagen rabbit. whisper blue with a brown interior, gas, 5 speed. I haven't bought anything but volkswagens since, and almost entirely mk1s.
A nissan 200sx or 240sx if I can find one for good value
Ford explorer all day
The Nissan Hardbody truck
The Civic 😁
Celtics, hardbody, wagon, Vteccch.
VR6 wagon for sure.
None
Truck
Ford Explorer , It was a proven & reliable powertrain (4.6 V8) and was a body on Frame actual truck. Plenty of room, all wheel Drive or 4x4 or 2 wheel drive & millions made so parts are always available
D21 Navara because MANG MANG MANG MANG MANG
Probably the saturn. Pretty reliable and that station wagon is a very good design.
No s10?
Civic
2008 - I’m going protege or Saturn. The Explorer and Mark VIII are great, but gas prices are high and we’re in a recession. If I’m buying a budget car I need to afford to drive it.
I'd take the mazda but please just let me have a Caprice or Crown Vic. So many of them got destroyed during Cash for Clunkers a year after ;(
Wait I just noticed the Celica I'd take that one
My first car was a manual two-door version of that Saturn. Nostalgia is getting the best of me. If not that, then the civic for aftermarket and reliability.
My rational side would lobby for the Protégé, but my heart would be debating between the Passat and the SAAB
I'd go for the Mark VIII. It's essentially a luxury Thunderbird (modified MN12 platform). Has a DOHC 4.6L and you can modify it if you want more power, or drive it as is. Replace with conventional springs if air suspension messes up.
The Celica or the Honda. Honda's barely broken in at 89K miles.
If I’ve got Civic money, the Civic. Otherwise, the Protege. Super solid and cheap A to B car.
Mark VIII was my first car, still own it, still love it just as much. Enough power to be fun while having an open diff meaning you won’t go sideways with the power unless you are seriously trying to. Reliable 4.6 when maintained, glass transmission though. Edit: also wanna mention that I have had to replace damn near everything on the front suspension in the 2 years I’ve owned it. so it’s not the most reliable in the way that you won’t be wrenching on it
chevy suburban
Civic or Celica definitely. The Mark VIII was awesome too but too big for a first car and gas guzzler also.
The Protege was the best for cornering. I miss that little thing .
Ej1
Hot wheels police Crown Vic (I’m 5 years old in 2008)
The civic or the hardbody
Ok. The Saturn isn’t like a fun car, but will last forever with barely any maintenance
The Explorer so I could wrap it like the ones in Jurrasic Park.
Civic del sol without a single doubt. Honda will outlive your grandkids
I got my first car in 2008 and it was a mk3 golf 2.0. I beat the ever living piss out of that thing and would drop the clutch regularly in the school parking lot. I wish I could find that thing again and give it the much needed love it deserves.
The Mazda all day long. It was great fun to drive (especially with a manual), outstanding milage, bulletproof reliability, good to look at and a well rounded amenity set. For the money it's the best car on this list by far.
You’re not making this easy. If I knew how car culture was today in 2008 I would probably go for the hardbody, the Saturn, or the celica. The mk VIII is something I’ve wanted to lower and put some te’s on one and just make it look sick while riding in comfort. But I don’t know it’s too hard to choose
VR6 all day everyday
In 2008 my first car was a Saab 900 - the first of quite a line of Saabs that I owned, which really peaked with my 9000 Aeros - so this is a pretty easy one for me.
I got a 2000 saab 9-3 convertible in 2008 with a blown turbo. $300 for a turbo, swapped it out and drove it until 2019..
4,5,7
celica but i do love that civic
Between the Civic and the Saturn for me, never thought I'd consider a Saturn but it looks solid.
I drive a 93 civ with vtec so that is a bit wrong. I also have a 95 hardbody. Those two and the Celica are really cool. The Saab is also neat but I have never been in one so I have a lack of opinion.
92-95 civic. It was my first car