FR-S/BRZ Old Timers Club

[einzlr]

This thread is inspired by a discussion in the "Age and Profession" thread e.g.

Originally Posted by cwb48

We should start a separate "old guys" branch of the forum. Half the time I have no idea what these young whipper snappers are talking about (I'm 64).

Topics can be cars we used to own, comparisons to present-day cars, "please translate what that kid just said", or anything else of interest. And young people are welcome to ask questions, particularly of the "what was it like back then" variety

To get the ball rolling, which car(s) did you learn to drive in, and what was your first car? I learned first in my parents' '69 Mustang automatic (!) and after I had my license for a few months my mom taught me to drive stick in the family Pinto wagon. I hated the Mustang passionately because the transmission never got it right and lurched with every gear change. My first car was an early '70s Bug which I bought during my second year of college from money saved from part time jobs. It wasn't in particularly good condition and required a lot of TLC to get it to do things like, oh, start up, go into gear, things like that. Good times lol


EDIT: Poll is public, so people can see your username and selection.

EDIT: The category 90+ has been misappropriated by our charming young followers , which is fine by me, but if someone who really is in their 90's joins us, please PM me or post so we can give you special recognition


EDIT: Help select our group name and logo!

[whaap]

This should make for some interesting conversation. I started driving while setting in my fathers lap and I honestly don't remember what cars we had when I was a kid. Chances are it or they would have been older, used Chevrolets. I do remember going to my grandfathers gas station in the summer time in his model A.

The first car I owned was a l947 Ford convertible in 1952. I see a lot of posts by young people here about some of the strange mods they do to their car and I have to stop and realize I did the same thing. Back then it was shackles, Cadillac hub caps, fender skirts, lead (badge removal), blue dot tail lights and I had a semi Carson top, glass packs. It was a regular convertible top but it covered the quarter glass like a Carson top. And, speaking of hi-tech, I'll never forget the day I added a rear seat speaker to the car. I had a toggle switch under the dash that I could have either the front or the rear on but not both at the same time. I also though it was cool to switch the shift lever (on the tree) over to the left side.

I've owned a few interesting cars over the years. In l967 I bought a new Mustang fastback. In 1972 I bought a '71 Corvette convertible from Roger Penske. He owned a Chevrolet dealership in the suburbs of Detroit at the time. Back in the 60's and 70's we owned a couple VW Bugs. In '77 had a neat VW Bus converted into a camper which was neat. The last three cars I owned before buying the FR-S was a '99 Miata, '87 911 Carrera Cabriolet, '02 Miata. For quite a long time I have been trying to talk myself into buying a Cayman but I just wouldn't allow myself to spend that kind of money. Then a few years back, learning about the FT-86 program it looked like I found the answer. Now having my FR-S I'm satisfied that I've found the answer to what I was looking for.

[wbradley]

Glad to be on the younger end of old. I learned on my dads '79 Pontiac Parisienne. Took it out a few times until my mom noticed it "missing" one Sunday afternoon. Ha ha.
Officially learned on my moms '79 Grand Prix V8. It was faster than most of my teenaged friends "wheels". Eventually I took it over and put Michelin X sporty tires and alloy rims. Cracked it up and abused it until getting a new '85 Golf GTI in Mars Red with crank open sunroof. I always liked my friends '86 Corolla GTS, and drove it several times.
Here I am 27 years later finally owning a (Toy)ota summer sportscar. Never considered used ( except Lotus Elise briefly), n fact I have never purchased pre owned. Probably due to not knowing/wanting to know about hidden repair bills.

[travace]

im glad my age is not officially in the "old timers" yet i got 5 more years to act a fool

[SkitterSkotter]

Originally Posted by travace

im glad my age is not officially in the "old timers" yet i got 5 more years to act a fool

actin' like a fool with your pants on the ground.

[Flow]

Learned on Mom's Hunter Green '78 Oldsmobile Ninety-Eight Regency
'77 Puke Yellow Olds Delta 88
'91 Pontiac Grand Prix
'93 Camaro Z28 (7 pts first day )
'95 Jeep Wrangler
'92 Chevy Monza (Brazil version of Opel Ascona 3... 5MT, low center of gravity. It was my company car so I didn't care about it, and with fewer road rules there, I had so much fun beating the crap out of it.)
'98 Grand Am
I've also driven a bunch of my dad's GM PEP cars for extended periods of time, and usually try and rent something fun and drive some good roads whenever I'm traveling overseas.
No car since 2003
Now, my baby - Ltd BRZ - is showing me I've lost a lot of skill (or never had it in the first place), so I'm having a lot of fun learning this car and how to drive again.

Thanks for asking this question. Fun trip down memory lane.

[ToxicSneakers]

My dad was an English car fan, so I learned to drive with an Austin A40 Sport, Hillman Minx and the Sunbeam Rapier (with 2-speed electric overdrive). My first vehicle was an L-head jeep that stayed mud-clad most of the year. Was a cycle-atic on a BSA Gold Cup and Hornet, Triumph Bonneville, Ariel S4 and a Red Hunter. Rode a series of beach beaters to rusty junk; my favorite was the Olds Cutlass that had only 2nd gear (parking nightmares). Worked at a racing garage in high school and tracked a bug eye AH Sprite, Elva Courier and (once) a Lola. Had a '50 Merc in primer, frenched lights, scavengers; what a girl-getter! Ran through Triumph TR-2/3/6 and AH 100-4/6 and 3000 MKII. Had to have the Honda FH, and owned 3 over the years. Bought the first year Toyota Land Cruiser and the first year RX-7. My only regret was a Lancia 7 that wouldn't stay on the road or off the curb - but I learned stuff doing that. Probably I am forgetting stuff, but you are tired of reading this nonsense now anyway. Bottom line: The AT FR-S is the best bang-on sports car for the buck EVER!

[Don Ivey]

Can't pass up the opportunity to reminice, even if I can't spell it. Started driving with a 35hp vw bug, moved on to two vw busses, being a hippy at the time, living in the last one for awhile. Then I went into the Navy, and bought a 69 Mini, what a blast. On to Audi 100, then a down period with Toyo Corolla, but then things picked up with three Alfas, a Saab Turbo, a few Porches, and a long list of motorcycles. I think I've been a gearhead since the age of eight or so. Just sold a '10 Golf TDi in order to get the FR-S, and can't wait for it to come in. And, I'm glad to have a place to talk about the car to more mature folks

[Spartan65]

Sign me up. I don't fart dust yet, but I like the young college girls as I get older the stay the same age.

[dem00n]

You guys must be getting weird looks driving around in the FRS.
My mom saw an old guy in a BRZ and said it was the most weird looking thing she say all day.

"Daddy why is that old guy driving around in a Scion?"
"I don't know son, he is a bad bad man."

Sorry, i had to.

[Rampage]

Learned to drive stick in a 3 speed 1963 Chevy Corvair in the field behind our horse barn. Bought it for $50 when I was 15. Lasted me about 3 months after I got my license and it was the first in a series of $50-$100 cars that took me through high school.

Off the top of my head, I would say that I have owned well over 50 cars in my lifetime. They have been a lifelong passion for me and at times the bane of my existence. I would probably be a wealthy man today if I would have invested just half the money that I wasted on cars.

[5hairpins]

I just make the cut for this group. First drove my Dad's 70's Suburban in the pasture from his lap. First one I drove on my own was his (now mine) 84 GMC Jimmy. Learned stick on Mom's 78 Supra. My first car was an 81 POS Pontiac J2000 Sunbird, got an 89 Mustang 5.0 LX hatchback manual my senior year.

[einzlr]

Originally Posted by Spartan65

Sign me up. I don't fart dust yet, but I like the young college girls as I get older the stay the same age.

You're officially signed up! And you are encouraged to add your own car stories hint hint hint

Originally Posted by dem00n

You guys must be getting weird looks driving around in the FRS.
My mom saw an old guy in a BRZ and said it was the most weird looking thing she say all day.

"Daddy why is that old guy driving around in a Scion?"
"I don't know son, he is a bad bad man."

Sorry, i had to.

I like to think of myself as some version of the Little Old Lady From Pasadena

But... looking at the poll results, either you made up this story or you cheated on the poll ...and here I was all excited about being able to congratulate the oldest old timer of them all


Thanks for the great stories, everyone; keep 'em coming! :happy0180:

[einzlr]

Originally Posted by SkitterSkotter

actin' like a fool with your pants on the ground.

You said that way better than I ever could have