What you used to drive (before eco-modding)
 

note: kind of off topic, and I'm not sure it'll go anywhere, but I'm curious, so I'll try anyway.

So I see a lot of people post about, or allude to, their old hot rods, sport compacts, etc, that they used to drive before they got hip to energy conservation.

The passion for increasing HP seems to transfer pretty well over to increasing mpgs... not quite the same thrill factor though, lol.

So what did you guys used to drive? I'm betting a lot of you have some pretty rad former rides to show off.

This was my last vehicle: 1990 Mistubishi Eclipse GS-T
A FWD turbocharged nightmare of torque-steer. No airbags, no ABS.... sometimes I'm surprised to have never killed myself.

http://i287.photobucket.com/albums/l...FrontAngle.jpg

http://i287.photobucket.com/albums/l...ofsiderear.jpg

After upgrading all intake and exhaust piping I was actually beating the EPA estimates, even when driving like an absolute a$$hole at all times. Then I went from 250 HP to 90 when I bought my Jetta..... and moved into the right lane.

Your turn, let's see 'em!

58 VW
4-63 Valiants
65 Lincoln Continental
67 383 Formula S barracuda
59 Corvette 71 Z28 engine and transmission- bought for $2000
67 390 Mustang GT
71 BMW 2002
76 280z
84 Honda CRX 1.5 bought new serial number 1018
77 Accord
73 Alfa Romeo GTV
67 Dodge Dart GT
67 Barracuda convertible
2-59 Austun Healey sprites
57 Chevy-bought for $52 at abandoned car auction (first car)
5 Nissan Altimas 93-97
95 Buick Riveria supercharged
05 Scion XB
06 Corolla
99 F150
03 Tundra
93 Del Sol
Mazda RX2 (gas hog 12 MPG)
77 280Z rebuilt total with 325 miles on it when I bought it
74 F350 cab and chassis put a drive on grease rack on it to make it a car hauler
66 Chevy van first total repaired in 1973
74 Montego MX brougham
73 900 Kawasaki (not a car but soo fast)
Harley Davidson (just had to be cool once)
71 Datsun 510 2 dr with a 2 liter truck engine
37 Ford 5 window coupe all original 6 volt with mechanical brakes

I built over 100 total losses over a span of 25 years.

regards
Mech

I've had more than I can count, but all budget rides, I'm a car sl*t.

Most insane one I've heard of is Coyote Xs coyote
http://ecomodder.com/forum/showthrea...html#post50977
rear engined eldorado drivetrain in a 2000lb kit car with 500hp nitrous fogger, wheelies at 80 :)

Similarly, I drove for performance on a daily basis. The car that changed my outlook on driving was...

The 2003.5 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution VIII
http://pic16.picturetrail.com:80/VOL.../193338615.jpg

It turns out that you can't drive it on public roads (legally) as it was designed, it's inefficient, costly, and not practical. After that, I started to focus on FE.

History: I got my learner's permit at 15 in Kansas. At that time I drove one of my folks' vehicles:

1988 Plymouth Voyager SE V-6 (primary vehicle)
1984 Chevy K20 Silverado 350-V8
1985 Jeep Cherokee Pioneer 4-speed, 4-cylinder (leaned to drive stick on that one).
1988 Olds Cutlass Supreme Classic (RWD, V-8)

First Car:
1977 Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme Brougham 4-door Colonnade 350-V8
http://pic16.picturetrail.com:80/VOL.../193156707.jpg

Later...
1995 Chevy Beretta 3100 V-6, Level-II
1990 Chevy Beretta GTZ Quad-4, 5-speed
1997 Honda Civic DX Coupe, 5-speed
1999 Honda Civic Si Coupe, B16A2
2003 Mitsubishi Evo Turbo AWD
1999 Acura TL Base

Current:
2006 Acura TSX Base Automatic (Wife's Car)
took over her vehicle (original owner)...
1998 Acura Integra LS 3-Door Automatic (see garage)

...and scores of rental cars.

RH77

Deezler -

Beautiful Ecipse. I loved that design the day it came out. Here's my list :

1972 VW Karmann Ghia - Dad's - from about 80K miles to 120K miles
1973(?) Honda CB350F motorcycle - used - for maybe 10K or 20K miles total
1976(?) Datsun B210 Honeybee - Sister's hand me down - Umpteen miles, didn't look at odometer
1990 Honda CRX DX - First new car - 0 to 87K+ Miles
1997 Saturn SC2 - New - 0 to 98K Miles
1999 Saturn SW2 - Used - 36K to 183K miles and running

4-bangers one and all, never less than 25 MPG City. I've never felt comfortable in cars that weren't compacts.

CarloSW2

1990 GMC Suburban. I kind of did a 180 degree change. :D

http://www.edmunds.com/pictures/VEHI...43-300x189.jpg

I've owned these two vehicles over the last 11 years. I don't really go for the "new and shiny" thing. :p

Oh, lets see:
My high school/college beaters were -
83 Chevy cavalier station wagon (AKA Puff the Tragic Wagon)
81 Toyota Corolla (AKA the "General Lee" - as in it "generally" ran)
Work life cars
01 Olds Alero (too new/good to get a nickname)
95 Ford Taurus
01 Ford Ranger
02 Toyota Corolla

First car was an 89 Olds Cutlass Ciera wagon. Then came the 1999 Hyundai Elantra wagon. Now it's the 1999 Buick LeSabre hurriedly acquired.

I'm going back to a wagon or hatch when the Buick dies. That won't be for a while, though.

The same kind of cars I'm driving today.

90 VW Golf D
91 VW Jetta TD
99 VW Jetta TDI
00 VW Jetta TDI

And you can bet the next one on this list will also be a diesel.

One day I'll have a weekend car though. Something quick, but not necessarily with huge power.

From the start:
Parents' cars which I drove:
'70 SAAB 96, V4, 4-on-the-tree
'70 Opel GT, auto
'80 Chevy Citation
'86 Toyota Pickup (aka Hilux pretty much everywhere but NA)

My cars:
'78 Honda Civic, 2-speed Hondamatic. Great little car
'87 Toyota Pickup
'86 Hyundai Excel (die, die, die you rotten little f&@%er)
'91 Dodge Caravan
'98 Subaru Forester

Current rides:
The '87 Toyota PU. Owned it since new. Its age is starting to show
The Forester. It's nice enough.