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

[sugarwood]

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 ?

[1990C4S]

Potato chips from the Dollar Store.

Two Jetta TDI's.

My Chinese digital tire inflator.

[juanbenae]

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?....

[Norm K]

[Nostril Cheese]

SAAB 900 Turbo

[70SATMan]

Yeah, my wife. 33 years ago.

[matthewb0051]

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.

[Seahawk]

Still on my first wife as well after 31 years

Battery powered electric tools...all of them.

[vash]

2006 toyota Tacoma.

(knock on wood)

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

[aschen]

Ego Electric Mower and String trimmer.

[pwd72s]

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...

[stevej37]

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

[vash]

Originally Posted by pwd72s

2009 Bullitt Mustang. Now 11 years old, almost 34,000 miles on the clock. ..

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?

[pwd72s]

Originally Posted by vash

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.

[vash]

Originally Posted by pwd72s

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.

[Scott Douglas]

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.

[pwd72s]

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

[creaturecat]

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

[LWJ]

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.

[maxnine11]

a G-50 transmission.