What car do you regret not purchasing?

[MWS]

I was curious as to what cars others here have passed on purchasing that they really, really, really regret now? I'll start things off...advancing up my list would have been in '85 I passed on a '73 911 Targa, followed in '86 by a '67 MG, but my number one had to be an '66 Austin-Healey 3000 mk3 that I could have picked up (in 1987) for under $4000. Guess I could also say that when looking for a Boxster, I could have picked up the SE, but it was a manual, so I passed. I had also almost purchased (new) the last model year of the RX7, but ended up backing out because I feared the maintenance cost of a rotary engine...ironically a decade later I bought a Boxster.

This year I looked at and passed on a '02 Ferrarri... guess I am working on future regrets. LOL.

[Badboybox]

I had a chance to buy a low mile 1986 mustang SVO in 1990 for $3,500.it was super clean.i was only 18 at the time and could not get the money in time before it sold.

[Badboybox]

But I did eventually get a 1988 Mustang convertible GT.LoL.

[Quadcammer]

a red 959 for sale for about $425k. recently sold for more than twice that.

[Twin headlight Ernie]

I'm a motorcycle guy and missed out on a 1971 Moto Guzzi Ambassador with a sidecar rig. It was local, priced very reasonable, and looked great in the pictures. The timing was bad. I really didn't have room for it and was going through a divorce. Looking back I really should have had a friend of mine store it for me until I had my new garage finished. I did find two BMW project bikes instead since then so it all worked out.

[bockster75]

I was 20 years old with a baby and wife and was shopping for our first house. I came across a chiropractic student selling his home after graduating. He bought the home complete with a 1974 AMC Javelin AMX all original with less than 30k on the odometer from the previous owner. He was an Italian gentleman and had zero interest in the bulky American car and never drove it. He said it was free with a respectable offer on the house. I wasn't interested in the house but realized this car could be bought for pennies before this guy left the area. I know it was only an old Javelin but I probably could've made a nice profit had I not been 20 YEARS OLD WITH A BABY AND A WIFE HOUSE HUNTING. Especially now that I see what these guys can do with one... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9RmNdhmjSqk

[JBauer]

Its been a few years ago but 1970 Boss 302 for $10000. and 1971 Boss 351 for $11000 plus others. Both were decent and needed little work. Had too many projects at the time. 😠

[BoxsterSteve]

For me it was a pistol grip 4 speed Drag Pak 383 ‘70 Super Bee... for $1000 back in 1988.
It needed a full restoration, and included all the sheet metal, NOS decals, the entire interior and a rebuilt engine and transmission needed to put it right again.
I shoulda bought it and stored it until I was ready to spend the time needed to restore it.

[Paul]

In 2012 I was offered a one owner 1997 993 Turbo that was in Concours condition with 40K miles for $73K. Bought my one owner 996TT for a lot less instead.

[Pdwight]

I was offered one for 3 grand in 1975....and it was not in too bad condition. Also passed up a 1957 Chevy for $350 when I got my license in 1972...but it had been butchered

[rexcramer]

I passed on two different 912's over the last 25 years. Still want one.

[78F350]

"What car do you regret not purchasing?"
None really come to mind. My regrets are for the cars left behind when I returned to the USA from military tours in Germany. My first tour ended in '89 I had a BMW 1802.
Not mine, but like this:


Second tour in the late 90s I had a VW delivery truck, Beer Wagon (and a variety of cars). It's diesel engine really labored going uphill, but it was a fun versatile ride, complete with a canopy for the bed.
Actual car:


I'd love to have either one of those again.

[Steelepuls]

1987 Toyota 4Runner, blue with black top, 5 spd, and the bullet proof 4 cylinder engine. You know the first generation version with only 2 doors and the plastic top.

[husker boxster]

A car I always wanted to own but never did was a FI Scirocco (78-81). By the time I could afford one, my tastes had gone elsewhere.

I'd also always wanted a '90 300ZX. My sister had a few of this version and I'm glad I never bought one. Nice car, just not what I thought it would be but sexy none the less.

When I had just turned 16, I was looking for a wrecked 70 Mach 1 to fix up. My dad and I found a nice yellow 351 3spd that needed the front sheet metal put on. Unfortunately it had a tiny dent just above the windshield post and dad thought we wouldn't be able to get to the dent because of inner construction. Sadly, we passed on it, but it was in very nice condition. We ended up buying this one at the start of my JR yr in HS. We worked for months on it, partly fixing the damage, partly changing the color (factory color was ivy). It turned out nice but it had been thru the wringer by several of the previous owners. I think about that yellow Mach 1 often...

Here's what it looked like when we bought it in Sep '75.


Here's what it looked like hrs before I left for prom in Apr 76 (we barely got it done). We later put the trunk stripe and Mach 1 script on the trunk.


Later that summer:

[thstone]

Short hood early 911.

Ferrari 308.

Ferrari 360.

The short hood is probably permanently out of reach but the 360 will happen when I stop racing.

[Porsche9]

A low mileage and super clean all black 1989 930. I bought 89 Carrera 4 instead. Looking back the 930 appreciated a lot more then the $6kl less in the price I paid for the C4.

[particlewave]

..........

[mikesz]

68 Shelby GT500, red with white stripes, 68 Mustang GT with Factory 428, Stewart-Warner gauges and a Hurst shifter, it was a TASCA car. 74 914, silver with black interior.

[kk2002s]

Originally Posted by BoxsterSteve

...For me it was a pistol grip 4 speed Drag Pak 383 ‘70 Super Bee....

I had a 70 SuperBee 383 magnum. Plain as Plain could be with 3 speed auto.
Man could that thing move. Chirped the tires on the 1-2 shift

Never really had the opportunity to buy anything great after getting married, house, school.
After college my wife and I bought a new 1987 6 cylinder camaro with 5 speed manual. She talked me out of the Z-28 - I regret that.
Never go into a dealership and make that kinda decision on the spot. I paid way to much for the car I bought

Most fun car I have ever owned - my current 02 Boxster S. It took me 30+ years to finally put a Porsche in my garage

[itsnotanova]

A clean unrestored 1955 Chevy Nomad for $500 in 1994.