Did you ever buy something, and after you bought it, it was way better than expected?
 

Did you ever have your eye on something and when you finally bought it, it was way better than expected ?

5 years ago, I bought a pair of $55 wool long johns that wildly exceeded my expectations.
I have gotten insane use from them, and they are still going strong.
I wear them basically the entire winter. At work, at home, to the gym, in the garage, everywhere.
Best $50 I have ever spent.

What did you buy with little to no expectations and it turned out to be majorly satisfying ?

Potato chips from the Dollar Store.

Two Jetta TDI's.

My Chinese digital tire inflator.

the way sweetstump's panties are always in a bunch over something or another who'd expect an under garment to last so long under such extreme, clinched conditions?....

SAAB 900 Turbo

Yeah, my wife. 33 years ago.

Land Rover Disco II. We are on our third. Keep going back to them!

Otherwise, my Scumacher battery charger. Had it for over 20 years and it keeps paying for itself.

Still on my first wife as well after 31 years:cool:

Battery powered electric tools...all of them.

2006 toyota Tacoma.

(knock on wood)

a $50 carbon steel chinese cleaver. it is stupid cool, and i am blistering fast with it now.

Ego Electric Mower and String trimmer.

2009 Bullitt Mustang. Now 11 years old, almost 34,000 miles on the clock. Nothing but service by the book and usual replacement items..tires, battery, wipers. Dead reliable.

My mistake at first was to compare it to the old 911S. Of course, it's no Porsche. But there's also no Porsche tax. Those on a Bullitt Mustang board who have never had anything better tend to think the Bullitt is the best car ever. From their viewpoint, they're right. From mine, it's a great compromise car, does nothing in a spectacular manner, but does everything well. Better than most, matter of fact.

Yesterday, Cindy mentioned we have a CD maturing in March, so that would be the time for me to trade cars if I wanted something else. I responded that there was nothing out there I wanted. Guess that says it...

Trac-Vac lawn vacuum for picking up cut grass and leaves.
Have had it for 40 years and would buy another if it dies.

11 years and only 34,000 miles? wow!!

you think you would still have the same experience if your car was approaching 180,000 miles?

Probably not...although some on the Bullitt board have gone way past 100,000 miles. The '08-'09 Bullitt 4.6 V-8 seems to be the Mustang counterpart of the 911 SC...they just keep running.

Yep, retired..Mustang used mainly for highway duty. Mainly a weekly trip to our favorite pool hall & back home...roughly 80 miles. Cindy's Camry is used for the around town and medical appointments chores. Neither of us drive much these days. The virus thing and Kommisar Kate's lockdowns have even those miles eliminated and reduced. Haven't been to the pool hall since mid March. We've long ago been there and done that with Oregon's scenic attractions, so nowhere we really want to go to.

Highly likely we're done buying cars.

you need to really drive that thing to know it.

my 06 tacoma is the opposite. i can state with confidence it is robust. i have over 180k on it and it is still smooth as the day i got it. i did a 50 miles offroad trip in idaho i thought was gonna break my truck. it didnt break.

my interior has no rattles. maybe the dirt and grime is wedging the seams tight. it is the longest and most miles of any of my cars in my history of owning a car.

I'd have to say my 2011 Honda Accord. Bought it used with 9600 miles on it. It had been a Honda Corp exec car that our local dealer won in a Corp auction to get to sell it. We happened to stop by the lot the day it was put out for sale. Took it for a test drive not really intending to buy it. Wife could see the desire in my eyes as she was willing to pay more for it than I was.
It has 49k on it now. Gets 28mpg at 70 mph on cruise control and will do the ton quicker than you'd think a Honda could.
The 3.5L V-6 is magical and makes nice music when the V-Tec kicks in.
Just normal maintenance too. It's coming up on time to do the timing belt but I'm not sure it'll be in my garage that long.

Vash, Your Toyota story is a pretty common one...especially the Tacoma.

Yamaha XTZ.
so far ahead of it's time. probably 15 years worth.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1608240576.jpg

1991 & 2000 Landcruiser
Iphone 7
Boxster S (really. WOW)
Dewalt impact driver
no name wireless headphones from Amazon for $50
Nalgene bottles
Columbia waterproof down jacket (forget the name. They look odd, though)
Harmony 420 tube amp (bought around 1982. it cranks)
Several carbon frame mountain bikes. Amazing.
Danner boots
Cabelas fiberglass fly rods - $65!!! I have several.
zip lock baggies. Amazing.
Vintage carbon chef's knife $40 and cleaver $2. Wow.

Maybe I buy too much stuff? Hmm.

a G-50 transmission.

LOL ... G50 Carrera here :D

Bic single blade disposable razor and barbasol foam. Went to them after Gillette's "politically correct" ad pissed me off. Actually gives a better shave that the Gillette stuff did.

'08 Z06 (LPE 630 equipped)...genuinely remarkable performance, makes great sound, affordable and my 12 yo son also loves it.

My CR_250, that thing is 30 yrs old and its still ticking. It still runs and give me grins..http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1608249449.jpg

I bought two light towers this past September because the Sierra Nevada forest fires took all of the light towers in California. I could not rent one, and I need them for my annual pumpkin patch carnival.

New, these things run $80K+. They rent for $2K per month. I paid $4,300 because one of them was not running. The Coarsegold rodeo grounds is being sold, and the owner had a maintenance guy who probably did not know how to use tools. I replaced the fuel pump on both of them. It needs a new main cord, which is around $120.00 They both now run like brand new machines. The Magnum light tower has a Kubota diesel engine and it looks brand new. The Allmand has a Caterpillar diesel engine and it looks more run down but I am close to restoring it. It runs magnificently now. So basically I got a steal. Two free light towers and I never have to rent them again. It turned out they were using dirty diesel and they were too cheap to replace things like ballasts and capacitors, so they started jumping connections and that burned out two capacitors which cost me $250 to replace and re-wire.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1608253137.jpg


Chrome messenger bag. 20 years of almost daily use.

Bose noise cancelling headphones, gift from my wife that I’ve used on literally hundreds of flights.

My 911SC, miss it all the time

My SL63, honestly longer I own it the more I like it

First wife here too, though I didn’t buy her she’s been a good investment;)

My boat, actually all three I’ve had. Single best investment in family fun.

+1 on the Bic Metal. Best disposable blade I've ever used; have been shaving w/these for must be at least 20 years.

And Proraso shaving cream. Nothing better, IMHO. SmileWavy

Lexus GX460-thought it would be just another Japanese appliance but it has been a real joy.

Rossi M92 chambered in .357, cheap lever action that has been a hoot to mod and shoot

Golf Tec - transformed my golf experience, wish it had been available 20 years ago.

Sears floor jack. 35 years and counting.

My 87 930.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1608258134.jpg
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1608258134.jpg

i never understood how people can judge a vehicle under such conditions. i drive way more than 34,000 miles in a year. with what i consider a years worth of miles i would hope it hasn’t had any major problems. for me that would be like driving to the mailbox and back for 11 years

my 911sc far exceeded my expectations

My BMW GS. Still puts a big grin on my face every time I get to take it out.

I feel the same way about my Robert August surfboard too. :)

mine lasted 14 years.

I never had a woman last that long.

On topic though I once bought a Chevy Biscayne for $75 and it ran for much longer than one could expect.

Noise cancelling headphones (Plantronics Voyager 8200 UC, basically the same as the Bose QC35)

I've worn/used them probably 250+ days/year for the past 3 years. I get about a year out of a pair of ear cushions.

My old '88 911 targa.
A couple of my Benchmade knives.
and I feel like there have been some other items, but I can't think what they were now.

2006 Nissan Frontier crew cab 4X4. Bought new, 186K and counting, still looks good and runs great. Would buy another with out a doubt.

Honda lawnmower, first one lasted 19 years, deck rusted out finally. Second one might outlast me

#1 My wife. 28 years of joy.
#2 My 911, 25 years of joy.
#3 My El Camino, 29 years of fun and lots of people love it and compliment it and offer to buy it.
#4 My headband light that Vash recommended. I call it my superpower. It just light up whatever I am look at and it never glares in my face like every other light I have used. It is wonderful for working on cars or anything else where more light in needed.

A single 500 miles one day jaunt involving a two lane mountain pass, then across a desert floor, then a freeway jaunt...that helps judge a vehicle. If long life is your only criteria...well, you can always judge by other owners who drive more than you..

Cinnamon Turtle Chips.

^^^ What???