The classic/fave car thread

[ElwoodBlues1]

I'll go against the flow a bit and put in 'one for the small economical car. It's really what you look for in a car...and I've never needed more than something to get me from A to B, and the shops, so all my cars have been small/medium ones

Currently a Toyota Yaris.
Daihatsu Charade before that.
...and a couple of Corollas.
All very economical.

Each one, before the current one went the 300,000km and the Yaris is well on the way (around 100,000)
Never, ever broken down, a few strange noises from one of the Corollas, at one stage that took a bit of fixing but I've never spent more than a $1000 at any one time on repairs. Luck plays a part in that no doubt.

The downside is the space for long trips. I used to do the Sydney/Wollongong to Adelaide trip on about an annual basis. Now it's Brisbane to Wollongong (whenever). Packing needed to be a bit conservative.

I understand the need for some families to have the larger 'people mover' type vehicles but it frustrates me sometimes how poor many of them are at handling them.

Nothing wrong with a small car especially a Corolla, ultra reliable and always with good resale value.
Couldn't agree more on the large SUV people movers either and the dual cab ute obsession.
Half the owners can't drive them especially the big SUV's and you can forget backing them in to tight spots...takes some about ten attempts.
Turning wide is another gripe, they turn into the oncoming lane in carparks so others have to learn to stop short of the corner to allow them turning room. I just naturally do it now and assume they will make the turn wide. Our new Neighbors have a new lost in space chariot and cannot back down the driveway from their hotel like home and have managed to damage the new vehicle as well as destroy part of their garden and create some new borders.
I'm old fashioned and when I park on slopes or hills I always have the wheels angled into the curb slightly so if the car rolled, handbrake failed etc the car won't run down the road and damage other cars or hit someone.
I hardly ever see anyone else park that way I was taught, a lot of people now can't jack a car up safely and change a wheel. Same with jump starting a car safely too, just no idea half the folk these days.