I am the queen of practical cars. I am on my third Toyota Prius and I LOVE it. Why three? The first one we ended up giving to my MIL because her car was on it's last legs, and the second one I took on a huge two-month cross-country road trip last year. When I got home, my husband saw that I'd put 10,000 miles on it and decided I "needed" a new one while the trade-in on the old one was still so high. Plus the new one has the solar sunroof, and he knew how much I loved having a sunroof.

Maybe in a few years I'll go for something sportier, but I have gotten seriously spoiled by 45mpg. I do a lot of driving around for my photography, and I prefer to be fairly low-key, since I sometimes end up in areas that might seem a little sketchy.

But then, those Teslas sure are cool!

1968 Mustang GT. Original 390 4 speed car but now has a 428CJ with a five speed. Painted Guardsman Blue with White stripes. My dad found the car for me when I was 15, and helped me buy it. I only had half the money needed. Then, for the next year we both worked on getting it restored. He told me, 16 or not, no license until the car was ready for the road. So, I worked extra shifts, odd jobs, and when I turned 16 he gave me the balance of the money needed to complete it. Along with the money, I got the warning about not driving like an idiot and if I did, he wasn't coming to get me out of jail. The day I passed my driving test, he announced that it was time to learn to drive a car for real and we both went to a performance driving school. Most fun I ever had over 2 weeks. Over the next several years, through high school and university, the car was always there, weather permitting of course. No salt on my baby. The car was a real hunk and cop magnet. I swear the local police had pre-printed tickets with all my particulars. Just fill in the charge and the speed.

It has no airbags, no anti-lock brakes, no stability control. You can steer it with the accelerator, and get rubber in all 5 gears, and I can fix practically anything that goes wrong with it. It's loud, in your face, and not at all easy on gas. So keep driving those hybrids and small cars, girls, my Mustang needs your gas.

First drive in the spring is always the best, and that's about a week away.

Julie

I drive a sporty little Honda Civic.
I love VW's and drove a Passat previously, but the car tried to kill me on several occasions, and the repair costs and parts were out of this world expensive.
My husband's Honda has 250K miles, so we decided to stick with what works best (for us).
I've always loved driving little cars, especially manuals. I like to feel like I'm actually DRIVING the car instead of the other way around.

A very practical 1996 Subaru Outback Impreza. It now has faded paint and plenty of dents from snow burms and the like. It's also closing in on 200,000 miles. The funny part is this is actually my BF's car and he is a manager at a car dealership lol. This year he finally bought a new Nissan truck but it took him 15 years bewteen cars. Go figure the guy who sells cars never buys 'em! (I had a Toyota Tercel wagon that I gave to a roommate when she needed to get to dialysis in the snow and then bought a 1991 Suzuki Sidekick off my stepmom. It sits in the garage mostly because it's a terrible snow car)

My first car was a burgandy 1983 Pontiac Grand Prix. My great uncle found it for me and drove it down from Michigan for me. I think I paid $500 for it. The interior was shot so my mom re-covered the seats. It had no air conditioning and a crummy radio, but I loved that car - I named her Phoenix. I only had her for a year because I couldn't have a car when I started college and I didn't think she'd do well sitting for two years. My next car was a giant blue conversion van, also brought from Michigan by my uncle, kind of a piece of junk (named her Bertha). I'd have to stop every so often to fill up the oil and check the gas. Then DH bought me a little Saturn sedan when we got engaged because the van worried him.

After the Saturn (which my SIL still has - over 120,000 miles on it and 10 years old), I had a Mini Cooper (pepper white with a black roof and a sunroof) that I adored. Jasper was my first manual and I so want another sometime. Unfortunately, we only had the Mini 6 months when we decided it needed to go because we were starting on babies and DH didn't think it was very safe. Then I had a Honda CR-v for awhile which I never really liked, probably because I had to give up my Mini for it.

I'm currently driving a charcoal grey Mazda5. It's definitely more gear than accessory, but I like it. I've had it longer than any other car I've ever owned - five years now. It's the closest thing I'll ever get to a mini van, I think. It's three rows, but only two seats in each and there's just a tiny bit of space behind the last row when it's in use and it's got sliding doors, but it's still small and low to the ground like a more sporty car. When I replace this one, I'll probably go smaller, like a Honda Fit or maybe a Mini Countryman.

I took a look at the Countyman recently; its a contender for when I decide its time for a larger car. I want a third dachshund so might have to size up. Julie, the first car I ever fell in love with was a Mustang from the 60s. The car I had before the Mini was a Mustang, bought new in '94.

What fun cars !

I drive a Prius ( 5 years old, light metallic green ) and we also have a tan Dodge Caravan that is about 12 years old. I am waaaaaay practical.