can’t think of a new one right now

If I’m being completely honest… I never really looked at cars as a form of self-expression. Being the practical guy that I am, cars were always just a way to get from point A to point B. As long as they were reliable, economical, and safe for me and my family — that was good enough for me. I wasn’t the guy drooling over horsepower numbers or polishing chrome on Saturday mornings. To me, a car was a tool.

But since this question forced me to think about it… if I had to choose a favorite car of all time, it would be the one that did exactly what I needed when I needed it — whatever car I was driving during the years my kids were growing up. The best car I ever owned wasn’t fast or flashy — but it brought my family home safely every single day. It carried car seats, baseball gear, science fair projects, prom dresses, moving-day boxes, and all the precious cargo I cared about most. It wasn’t a dream machine; it was a life machine.

I grew up in a time when cars had character. When you drove down the street, you could instantly tell a Chevrolet from a Pontiac, a Mustang from a Camaro — and often even the year. Muscle cars, sports cars, and quirky European imports weren’t just transportation; they were statements. Designers and engineers poured personality into every curve, every grille, every exhaust note, believing that style and performance could win your heart.

Fast forward to today, and I can walk through a parking lot and struggle to tell one SUV from the next if you cover up the badges. Crossovers dominate, sizes blur together, and styling is so safe that every vehicle seems to melt into the next. And don’t get me started on the names — Q5, GX, Mach-E — all sounding like model numbers from a washing machine catalog.

And here I am now, thinking about buying something new. I love driving, and I appreciate a car with some soul… but the reality today is kind of sad: very few cars stand out. Even my dependable VW station wagon — which most people would call “boring” — suddenly feels like it has character. It has a personality. It’s unique in a world where uniqueness is disappearing.

In fact, I’ve come to the strange realization that my “boring” wagon might actually be a collectible 20 or 30 years from now. Not because it ever turned heads… but because station wagons practically went extinct. Imagine that — a future where the car everyone ignored becomes rare simply because nobody wanted one.

Bittersweet, isn’t it?

So when I think about my favorite car of all time… it isn’t a Corvette or a Ferrari or some iconic muscle car. My favorite car is the one that understood its assignment. The one that showed up every day. The one that kept my family safe. The one that was part of our life story.

But I still hold out hope that the auto industry will rediscover passion again — that one day, cars will have soul, personality, and style that doesn’t require reading the badge. They’ll have names that stick in your memory and designs that stir something inside you.

Until then, I’ll keep appreciating this little VW wagon… because in a world of sameness, sometimes the most practical thing ends up being the most unique.

Discover more from Beebop’s Blog — where boring cars with heart can still be heroes.