How did you arrive here?
 

Some recent comments about early adopters (i.e. teens given MB's, BMW's, etc. by parents), made me a little nostalgic and curious about how others ended up in their present cars. What I'm referring to is: What was your history of cars from your first primary car up to today's? For some, it may be too many or too far back to remember, but give it a shot. The challenge for me is correctly identifying "my primary" car while married. For this, I chose the car that I drove the most.

I'll kick it off with a list of the cars I've owned in my 45 years (well, 29.5 if you consider my driving years - 15 1/2 in MA at that time).

'76 Dodge Dart
'86 Dodge Aries K
'89 Chevrolet Cavalier
'92 Olds 98 Regency
'99 Mitsubishi Eclipse (new)
'02 VW Passat (new)
'07 Volvo S40 (new)
'13 MB E350

What struck me about creating this list is the direct reflection of where I was in my life at the time...inner-city teen, US Air Force, UMass, first job, married, kids, etc. Hopefully this exercise will take you down memory lane or at least look forward to the progress you'll make as you drive down the road of time. Above all, let's have a little fun with it and hopefully keep it a little lighthearted.

1978 Buick Regal Sport
1984 Honda Accord
1987 Honda Prelude
1989 Toyota Supra
1995 Infiniti Q45 (company car)
1994 BMW 318 I
1998 BMW 325 IC
2000 MB CLK 430
1967 MB 230 SL
2003 MB E500
1988 325ix coupe (wife is original owner)
2006 Jeep Grand Cherokee
2006 Jeep Commander ltd
2007 Shelby GT
2011 MB E350 4M
2011 Acura MDX (wifes)
2014 MB E350 4m

Those are my rides since 1981 !!
Holy crap I am old...

1974 Volvo 164E (mom's car)
1978 Volvo 240DL (my first car)
1985 Nissan Maxima Wagon
1985 VW Jetta
1989 Nissan Sentra
1992 Dodge Grand Caravan
1995 Dodge Grand Caravan
2003 Ford Excursion (still own, 130K)
2008 Honda Odyssey (still own, 95K)
2011 MB E350BTC (still own, 56K)

1989 Pontiac Grand Prix STE
1993 Nissan Sentra SE-R
2003 Nissan Maxima SE
2008 Audi S5
2012 MB E550 4M

2011 E350 given to me at 17, (2010-2013 RIP :( may her soul rest in peace.) 3 years later I'm in a 2011 E550.

Included my wife's cars as I have a lot to do with purchasing decision and drive them often. Dates may be a year or so off; all except 65 purchased new.
65 Ford Galaxie 500 Sedan (in 1969 & needed lot of room-in Army and moved every 4 months)
71 Dodge Challenger SE (POS)
71 Buick Skylark Custom Coupe (via marriage - sold the Dodge POS)
74 Datsun 710 (wife)
75 Datsun B210 hatchback
78 Fiat 124 Sport Spider (much better than its rep.-for 3 years)
80 Plymouth (Mitsubishi) pick-up (wife)
81 Audi 4000S
83 Saab 900S (very underpowered) (wife)
84 Saab 900 Turbo (biggest POS ever) (wife)
84 Nissan 300Zx
87 Mazda B220 Pick-up (wife)
87 Mazda RX 7 convertible
96 Ford Taurus GL
97 Mazda (Ford) B2300 pick-up (POS) (wife)
03 Toyota Camry XLE V6
05 Toyota RAV4 (wife)
07 Hyundai Azera Limited
10 Merecedes Benz E350 Luxury Sedan
11 Toyota Tacoma Access Cab SR5 pick-up (wife)
Still have the RAV4, Tacoma and E350.

1982 buick skylark that I crashed three times (once my fault) that the insurance company refused to total, they replaced every body panel on the drivers side, doors, motor...crazy. The paint jobs alone were worth more than the car! I drove it through a 5' pile of sand that pretty much killed it, but it was a fender bender where an old lady rear ended me at 5pmh(crash 4) that had her insurance co buy it from me! like the thing was on it's way to the junkyard the week she hit me. I've never had even a fender bender since getting rid of this car.

1970-something datsun b210 that I had for a few months before it literally fell apart, I don't even think I ever registered it, I just abandoned it somewhere.

1984 mercury marquis brougham (hilarious car, white with powder blue velour interior, power everything and huge motor, looked like a cop car so people would dive out of the way on the highway. it floated over the road, like sitting on your sofa.

1988 golf gti, my first brand new car, I drove the f-ing wheels off of this thing

marriage had me double up on vehicles which my wife and I passed back and forth, selling at various times.

1987 isuzu truck
1990 vw golf (matching color with gti)
1994 isuzu rodeo (literally every electric motor on this vehicle was replaced twice, I was an expert at locating these parts at a junkyard.)
1997 Saab 900s an absolute high mileage wonder, great to work on, fun to drive
2000 chevy tahoe z4...great...expansive plastic dash that squeaked and rattled. go everywhere do anything.
2006 ford escape hybrid that I still have, haven't done ANY maintenance on her other than oil and tires and one brake job. might be the most reliable car I've owned
2009 Mercedes ML 350 limited (whatever packages had every option). My wife's "executive car" that she was pressured into selling by others at her non-profit. Volvo/saab was about as luxury as you could get there, no BMW/AUDI/MB for management team.
2011 Prius that she was pressured into buying, that she subsequently sold because she was pressured by others at her for-profit. really is a remarkable car, 50mpg, but buzzes like a tin can.
2007 clk 63 amg cabrio, because I've always wanted a convertible, has a little "giddy up"
2012 E350 4matic

there's a couple of real short term mistakes sprinkled in there, a bmw project car that never ran but I still sold for a profit. a couple of motorcycles, several boats. I need an old pickup to haul my new boat, and my daughter needs something so I think the hyrbrid will go soon.
already planning on the replacement for the AMG, likely a 911t or C4 convert(might consider that '14 vette once they're a year or two old). most of these cars were bought used, something my frugal yankee father was always told me, he had plenty of money, but always bought used.

True answer is about 500+ cars through my dealership from a Toyota Yaris to Range Rovers,

but for personal extended use over 6 months I have had

92 lex ES300
96 bmw 528I
03 G35 Coupe
06 Infiniti M45 My only mistake... bought wholesale from a Ford dealer in NJ.. was supposed to be mint, had the worst frame damage I have seen. Never trust a ford dealer :)
06 745I
07 S550
07 Lex Ls460
06 MB E350 Sport
10 E350W4 Sport
11 E350 BT Sport

1982 Dodge conversion van
1989 Ford Thunderbird (awful) Sold.
1994 Honda Accord EX with manual trans (great) Sold.
1999 Acura TL (rear ended 3 times and set on fire once. still drove great.) Sold.
2007 R350. Love it but oh the maintenance.
2010 Mercedes E550

2005 GMC Canyon(bought new at 19 y/o, was big into atv's dirt bikes at the time)
2008 C300 lease
2012 E350 lease(used the GMC as down payment, stupid idea!)
2012 C300 wife
2014 CLS550 (current lease)
2014 ML350 wife (current lease)

.

Here's my list

'82 Audi 5000s (mom's)
'84 Audi 4000s (mom's)
'87 Audi 4000s (mom's)
'89 Ford Mustang 2.3L 4 cyl
'94 Lincoln Continental
'97 Mercedes C230 (driven by my brother)
'04 Mercedes C230 Kompressor Sedan
'12 Mercedes E300 4Matic

Cars I have owned
 

My list:
63 VW Bug
63 Ford Galaxie
69 Dodge Dart GTS
72 Ford Pinto Hatchback
72 Ford Econoline Van
64 Ford Ranchero
74 Ford Pinto Stationwagen
82 Honda Accord
84 Ford Truck
87 740 Turbo Volvo
87 Honda Prelude
78 Ford Window Van
89 Ford SHO
87 Ford LTD
92 Ford Explorer
97 Mercury Grand Marque
97 Lincoln Mark VIII
2002 Ford Expiedition
97 Nissan Maximum
2010 Ford Escape
2011 E350

The last 4 vehicles we still own. Ready to sell Nissan because it sits. At 58 years young, list still growing. :)

01 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am - Sold
02 Ford Explorer - Current beater
07 Corvette C6 - Sold
10 E350 4m - Current

26 years old :)

Sure why not ill bite. My 14 E550 is my first ever Euro car
Started with

96 Ford Probe GT
99 Mustang GT
01 Mustang GT
01 Camaro SS
03 Mustang Cobra
04 F150
04 Corvette Z06
08 Corvette Z06

Started driving in '90

81 Toyota Corolla 2dr
83 Volvo 740
87 Toyota Cressida
94 Lexus LS400 (best ride)
97 BMW 740iL
96 Acura RL
09 C300 Sport (new)
11 C300 Sport (new)
14 E350 (new)

81 Toyota Corrolla wagon
84 Toyota Pick up
88 Jeep Cherokee
99 Honda Accord Sedan
02 Honda Accord Sedan
05 Honda Accord V6 6spd manual (fun car to drive)
11 Toyota Tundra
2013 E350 (Current)
2010 Ford Raptor (Current)

I sold the Tundra to lease the E350 because the gas was way too much. Gas + car payment was much more than the E350 lease payment + gas so it was a no brainer for me.

But I missed the truck so much that I had to get the Raptor as my second car.

1994 Ford Escort
1995 Honda Civic DX Coupe
1996 Nissan Altima
1998 Nissan Altima
1999 Nissan Altima
2000 Nissan Maxima GXE
2001 Nissan Maxima GLE
2002 Nissan Maxima GLE
2006 Dodge Charger RT
2009 Mercedes E550
2010 Nissan Rogue SL AWD (Current)
2011 Mercedes E550
2011 Mercedes E550 4Matic (Current)

I am overdue for a new car but I don't know what it will be. I am thinking W205 C63 will be the one. I need a car with a V8 that is below $80k new. I don't buy used cars but I think in a couple years I will make a 2014 W222 my first used car purchase. :D

My car list going back to 1965
 

Wow - great thread - Been driving since I was 16 - so here's my list of over 40 cars: :)

1964 Dodge Dart - Mom's car - remember push button trans?
1964 Austin Healey 3000
1966 Pontiac GTO
1967 Oldsmobile 442
1969 Plymouth Fury Gran Sport
1971 Pontiac Trans Am - drove to California with this one - stayed there
1972 Mazda RX2 - Rotary engine - great experiment to remember
1974 BMW 2002 Tii - first German car - polaris silver - loved this one
1972 Porsche 914/6 - with appearance package - spec car - sold at a profit
1974 Porsche 911 Carerra Turbo - yellow whale tail - fast
1975 Pontiac Trans Am - T top - dark brown - so so car - rattles and issues
1977 BMW 320i - Reseda green - bought in Oregon
1978 Porsche 911 SC Targa - Emerald Green Metallic - bought with 4,000 miles from dealer in Long Island while on a business trip - drove back to Newport Beach in 4 days
1979 Datsun 280z - traded in for the automatic Turbo - got full price back in trade
1980 Datsun 280zx Turbo
1981 Volvo 2 door Turbo
1982 Alfa GTV6 Bulacco - bought from business associate with 5,000 miles
1982 BMW 528i - Black - tan interior - nice but boring
1983 BMW 635CSI - Delfin Grey - black interior - thank God for warranty
1984 Porsche Carrera Targa - Grand Prix White - my favorite Porsche
1988 Porsche Carrera Targa - Grey/green metallic - grey interior - sold after 6 months - put money in college fund for kids
1988 BMW M6 - Black/Tan - first lease - got 18k off MSRP
1988 Porsche 944 Turbo - 928 appearance package - last Porsche - Baltic Blue Metallic / Grey interior - great car above 60 -
1991 Acura Legend Coupe - White/Black - 60,000 miles - zero issues
1993 Nissan Pathfinder - Burgandy/Grey - first SUV - in 4 wheel drive Once!!
1994 Nissan 280ZX 2+2 - Red/grey - fun car - tight fit for kids in back
1995 Nissan Maxima - Beige - boring commute car in Silicon Valley
1997 Honda Accord -green - another commute car
1999 Ford Taurus - blue - another low cost commute car - all told - over 150,000 miles on the 3 low cost commute cars - almost zero cost
2001 Honda Accord V6 Coupe - Silver - drove this to San Diego when i moved from the SF Bay area
2003 Acura 2.0 CLS - Black/Black coupe - fun - fast - zero cost to maintain
2004 Infiniti M45 - first V8 in a long time - old school design - black/black
2006 Mercedes E350 - Black/Black - my 1st Mercedes - but we had the wife's Mercedes with the 1988 Red , 2001 ML
2001 & 2002 Audi TT Quattro - had 2 of these for 3 years - back to back as fun weekend cars in SOCAL
2006 Mercedes CL500 - Gray/Black - stealth car - 304hp V8 - fun and a looker - but serious electrical problems and after 6 electrical system failures it became a Mercedes Buy Back - and MB was gracious through it all
2008 Audi A4 - Gray/black - loaded - fun but underpowered
2006 Saab 9.3 Areo V6 Convertible - 2nd owner - a steal at $16,800 with 28,000 miles - still under certified warranty - sold in 2011 for $16,000 as trade for wife's Lexus RX350
2010 Mercedes E350 White sport Sedan - great CPO car - traded in for current ride - CLS550
2012 Mercedes CLS550 - Silver/Almond - fast, stealth and a keeper -COP Warranty until July 2017
2014 Mercedes E350 Coupe - White/Almond - lease - wife's car - short term 24 month lease waiting for 2016 E350 redesign

2010 Mercedes E350 - loaded Distonic etc. - traded in with Saab for Lexus - wife's car
2011 Lexus RX 350 Mica/Gray - wife's SUV -

So - there you have it - my take from my history - for me - MERCEDES all the way - now I have stealth performance with the CLS550 - looks with the 2014 E350 and a complete sense of being safe in all situations.

The older BMW's were tanks and had a real sense of style and made a statement - when I had the 1974 2002 Tii there were so few on the roads that I was constantly asked "what kind of car is that" and that continued on to the 1988 BMW M6 - the last of its kind and a looker - but all things considered - and after driving so many miles over the years - it's very hard to beat the Mercedes - especially the Bi-Turbo V8 - and I look forward to 2017 when the warranty expires on my current 2012 CLS550 - as I'll have a look at CPO S550, New CLS550 and maybe consider an AMG CPO.

I love this forum - been here since 2006 - and have learned so much - thanks to all for sharing your car stories with me.

Regards to all,
DKCHIPS

.

Here’s my list of cars:
1969: Triumph Herald Convertible (Used).
1971: Ford Capri (Used).
1974: Fiat 128 Coupe (New).
1977: VW Beetle (New) + Ford Cortina Station wagon (New).
1989: Colt Galant (New) + Mazda 323 (New).
1980: Colt Celeste (New).
1982: Jaguar XJ (Used) + Mazda RX-7 (New).
1984: BMW 323 (Used) + BMW 728i (Used).
1986: Isuzu 4X4 SUV (New) + Mercedes-Benz 380SE (New).
1988: Buick Century (Used).
1990: Dodge Caravan Minivan (Used).
1993: Mazda 929 (New) + Honda Civic Sedan (Used).
1996: Nissan Altima (New) + Honda Civic Coupe (Used).
1998: Honda Accord (New).
2003: Chrysler PT Cruiser (New).
2005: Dodge Caliber (New).
2007: Suzuki Grand Vitara (New).
2008: Honda Accord (New).
2010: BMW 335D (New).
2011: VW Jetta TDI (New) + Mercedes-Benz ML350BT Grand Edition (New).
2013: Mercedes-Benz E350BT (New).
Edit: Left out the following (temp memory loss!):
Mini Minor
Mazda 626
Datsun 510
Peugeot 504
Volvo 144
Audi 8000
Cheers

Fun to read all this, surprised to see a few Galaxies mentioned.

1966 Galaxie 2 door HT/390
1971 Datsun 510
Then the cars in my "drives" list - not nearly as many or diverse as most here.
1964 220SE
1989 300SE
1998 C43 AMG
2002 E55 AMG
2013 E350 BT

BT is the only new one, I didn't start driving til the early 90s, so one can see I have mostly liked older cars.

My list is a bit shorter than that....been driving for 20 years now. The cars I have owned were:
93 Mazda 323;
96 Jeep YJ;
2005 Pontiac GTP;
2008 BWM 535 xi; and now
2014 MB E550 4matic.

My list is short since I've only driven for 8 yrs:
2005 Camry SE (parent given car)
2013 Merc E350 Palladium Silver
2013 Merc E350 Diamond White
2014 Merc E350 Steel Grey
2014 Merc E350 Diamond White <= Current

Too many to list !
 

Driving since my 16th birthday:

1952 Rover 90 (my 1st car, complete with rotten wooden floorboards !)
1953 Rover 105R
1965 Austin Healey MkIII (definitely should have kept this one !)
1967 Alfa Romeo Gulia Sport 1750
1968 Honda N600 hatchback (worst piece of crap ever sent to North America !)
1968 Triumph TR250 (last of the great Triumph sports cars)
1969 Triumph GT6
1969 Fiat 124 coupe
1970 Volvo 144 (got married)
1970+ various Volvos & Fiats
1976 Honda Civic
1976 Honda Accord CVCC hatchback (an awesome value for the $)
1978 Honda Accord sedan
1983 Honda Prelude (drove to Disneyland and back)
1984 Mercedes 190 2.3 sedan
1987 Mercedes 190 2.5 Turbo Diesel (very solid car !)
1988 BMW 525
1990-2007 various BMW 3/5 Series, inc. E30, E36, E39, E46, E90, E92
2008 Mercedes E320 Bluetec (wonderful highway car, drove to Santa Fe and back)
2009 BMW 335d (terrific driving car, but developed many mechanical issues)
2009 Mercedes E350 4Matic wagon (great utility, but a gas guzzler)
2013 BMW F30-335i (another thirsty beast)
2013 Mercedes E350 Bluetec - "The Best or Nothing" !!! :y