Which Would You Take to Your High School Reunion?

I'm not cool. I'm not rich. I'm not a 'looker.' I'm not macho. I am sort of techy, but not enough to wear it on my sleeve. Really I'm pretty practical and basically anonymous. I was then and am now.

So from that list? The GTI. It's the most like me. And I don't like to pretend to be things I'm not.

James, didn't you just get married? Forget about Lauren Freedman.

Looking at the LT list, I see only one car that epitomizes the current state of automobilism: The Kia Optima Turbo.

Flashy, but not over the top.
Expensive looking, but not.
Might even impress Lauren.
And her husband.

All you need with the Kia is a front plate that says, "One of my other cars is a 911."

Miata.

Hahahahaha

Why would anyone go to a high school reunion?
Anyone who you went to high school who you actually like, and feel is worth a friendship, you'll keep in touch with anywway. As for everyone else? Who cares?

The car as a status symbol, eh?

Stop worrying what others think of you, drive what you like.

I would not feel the least bit embarassed about showing up to any function in the GTI. This car has the unique ability to hold its own parked along side any luxury or sports car.

The Raptor looks pretty badass in that picture.

I'd have to say either Mustang, cause it's awesome, or the Porsche, cause... it's awesome. I'm not even a huge Porsche fan, but it's hard to go wrong with a classic.

What the Kia Opitma SX sn't good enough for ya?

From the IL fleet, I'd take either the 911, Z06, or Raptor.

If you're going to get a rental, hopefully you'll engage in the time-honored tradition of offroad hooning. You can't take any of these cool cars with you, but it would be a kick to show up in a Dodge Neon that's completely covered in mud.

Dodge Neon? I'm going to my 10-year reunion, not going back in time.

@ethamp71:

1. The 911 is old and looks old
2. The z06 has been sold
3. The Raptor would probably suck down hundreds of dollars worth of gas. And what if Lauren Frredman is a greenie now? She surely wouldn't be impressed, but she would be repulsed.

Yep, the best car to take is the Optima.

The current IL fleet lacks any truly flashy cars. I'd take your own Z3 - its much more interesting then any of your other options. Plus, all your classmates remember Goldeneye.

I would probably take the TSX Wagon now that the A4 Avant is no longer part of the fleet. Otherwise, another vote for the Kia Optima.

I thought about this same thing when I had my class reunion in 2009. I took my 07 Mustang GT. I thought I'd get some attention!

Turns out nobody really noticed. It's not like people are hanging out in the parking lot. If people have an "impressive" car the odds are it is owned by a bank anyways...mine was at the time.

Most 28 year olds are living the American dream, ~5 years out of college and in a lot of debt.

@ questionlp,

I think James made it clear that he's going to the reunion, not a baby shower party...

I like the TSX and A4 wagons as much as the next guy but COME ON! Wagons for high-school reunion?!

Pret-ty awesome post!

Like John Travolta in "Get Shorty," an Olds Silhouette. Best rental car ever....

Raptor, just because it might annoy someone.

Really though, I hear/read this conversation from time to time. I've been to 3-4 reunions between my class and my wife's and none of them were setup so that you could see what anyone was arriving/departing in. Those reunions were held in restaurants, a highschool gym, and a state park.

Out of the current fleet:

1. Mustang GT or 911
That's it; after those two I would take my Club Sport, 2002, or MS3 over anything else in the IL fleet

Equus, M56, or Mustang.

If you were to show up in a fancy car and you then you say "I work for an auto web site" I think you'll lose the cool points. Just show up in something that looks clean and I think that would send a good enough statement.

Wouldn't bother going. No offense to the school as they did their job well (and I send them donations each year) but I would never spend my time or money traveling back up to Sacramento. No reason to go.

@hondanut: The actual Travolta phrase, I believe, is "Oldsmobile Silhouette, the Cadillac of minivans."

Is it more than 100 miles away? If so, Nissan Leaf.

The question is: what would Kyle like?

If it were me I'd pick the Raptor, Just because its the biggest baddest mutha' truck in your selection!

But you're right the VW would be the most practical, neat, clean, choice. Not too flashy, but yet not understated.

As the Germans might say "Sehr gut" (Very good.)

"The Equus and M56 are pretty expensive, but I don't think they properly convey how much better I am than that douche from the baseball team who now works at the H&R Block in Fishers."

This line made me actually laugh out loud.

I don't have the time nor interest to fly across the country to attend anything from my high school, but if I did I'd show up in a helicopter.

I missed my 10-year HS reunion. No one there I want to really see. I don't think anyone would care what I drove to get there anyway.

That being said, the Raptor would fit in well with the corn-fields of Illinois crowd.

@ ed124c

I said for me, those are the cars that I would take. Just about all of the new cars in the fleet lack any real sort of uniqueness, so I would have to turn to the older cars.

911- What you call old, I call seasoned. How could you go wrong with any sort of 911?

Z06- Was not aware that it was sold.

Raptor- I don't know any Lauren Freedman, and if any girl was that much of a greenie, I wouldn't care about her anyways.

I didn't go to mine last year. But had I, I probably would have driven my own car. It's not like people stand around and watch you get out of your car (and if there is, that's pretty sad). There's booze to be drunk.

I'd take the Mustang GT.

However, I would take the long term car that is in the process of being sold. The Corvette Z06.

"but it may unfortunately also say that I've borrowed my wife's car or that my wife is in fact named Kyle."

haha, funny line James. Id say the BMW but it just doesn't look as good as a 5 should... Porsche or the VW

I'll take the Raptor....literally. I just bought a '11 Black Raptor Supercrew.

I would take the Raptor. There are times to dress-up, show-off, maybe even exaggerate a bit... Like hitting the Vegas strip or you're high school reunion.

My choice of car for a HS reunion doesn't differ from the one I'd pick to buy for myself. Out of the current IL fleet, that would be the Mustang GT or 911. Both seem like a lot of fun.

Indianapolis? I thought you were Canadian JR.

mrb5091 said:

"The car as a status symbol, eh?

Stop worrying what others think of you, drive what you like."

+1000. I used to get ragged on in my 20's for the cars I drove. OK, so I did not have the flash cars my buddies owned, but I did not have their debts, either. So, who out the group was one of the few never to have a car repo'd...:)

Let us know how the Laureen Freedman thing works out.

I'd probably try to call up Karl and try to borrow the Ford GT myself.

raptor...the chicks get fat i hear, need the space.

Yeah, take the beat-to-sh*t Miata.

When people look at it sideways, say, "Hey, it's supercharged, and has a sweet steering wheel".

You'll be like West Coast version of the guy that shows up in an IROC-Z with unpainted bondo on the rear quarter panel.

Glad to see that you'll be returning to the Circle City. Hope you enjoy your stay. You'll meet some much friendlier drivers regardless of what you drive. May I suggest picking up a muscle car from Hertz. I believe they have a collection featuring Camaros, Mustangs, and Challengers. Sort of like the Rent-a-Racer thing they had a few years ago.

On a side note, if you don't mind me asking, which HS? I didn't know that you went to school with the current VP of the Colts.

From that list, I like the GTI the best.

Lauren Freedman's probably got six kids and scratches lotto tickets for income by now :)

I'd take the 911. Because of its age, it doesn't scream "pretentious", but it is just special enough to become a conversation piece.

Make friends with a cop. Have him drop you off right at the front door. He'll need to let you out of the back seat. People you went to school with will want to talk to you, I guarantee it.

James, I thought you were a bit older. Huh.

If I went to my 10 year reunion (I did not) and I, for whatever unfathomable reason, had access to all the vehicles you currently have in your fleet, I know exactly what vehicle I would choose. I'm reminded of what one of my high school friends said when I told him I wanted a Mustang. "Eww, they're everywhere." Still, it is the car I would choose, because I'm not out to impress anyone except myself.

GTI or BMW 5

Since attending a reunion at my old high school in Detroit would be like recreating scenes from "Escape from New York", I would have to go with the Raptor just to increase my chances of survival. Go Comets!

No brainer... the 911. You can reprise the role of Nick Carlton (played by William Hurt) from '80s flick "The Big Chill". Show up with a frunk full of barbiturates, a laconic attitude; with the cops tailing you in; then reveal you lost an important "male appendage" during some military service. What high-school sweetheart disappointed by Mr. "Most Likely to Succeed" won't be impressed?

If you want to arrive in style: 911.

If you want to be anonymous: GTI.

If you want to look like a douche: 528i

Note: If you still had the E90 M3 that would be my vote in a heartbeat.

911 or the M56.

OK... as another Hoosier who's escaped to California, what High School? (me: North Central, 'girls, sex, beer, wine, we're the class of '69)

CTS-V Wagon.

"Most 28 year olds are living the American dream, ~5 years out of college and in a lot of debt."

HAHAHAHAAHA!!!! I can vouch then, that I too am "living the dream".

I totally skipped my 10-year reunion this year. No desire at all to hang out with those snobby brats. If I had to choose from your list though, I'd go GTI also.

The Leaf, of course.

But seriously, a road trip from Cali to Indiana? How could their be a choice other than the Equus?

From the choices you listed, I think the GTI makes the most sense, but why not the Mini? It seems to check all the boxes for this age crowd. Or maybe the WHITE POS Miata, haha! Now purely from a practical point of view, technetium99's suggestion of the Equus makes the most sense--the trip is about YOUR comfort, and who cares if anyone sees your car.

sherief, you made me laugh!

I don't know. While the 5 says that I have arrived, the Mustang would be more fun getting you there!

the gti. its the only one that wont any illicit 'oh there's THAT douchebag!' comments from your ex-fellow students

GTI.
Shereif, how does the 5-Series make one a douche but you'd take the M3?

BMW and other upmarket German cars conjure up images of Bill Lumbergh and you don't want that, people will think you're becoming a douche. The Mustang and Raptor imply "boy with humble beginnings makes good" at non-douche levels, but also implies that you haven't gotten any more sophisticated since then and are some sort of manchild. The 500 is a bit too whimsical for this sort of event (if you know what I mean) ans the Volt will have you looking like the newest breed of eco-douche by the time you've explained how it works for the 100th time. That just leaves the GTI. Most everyone knows it, respects it, and likes it so it fits in almost anywhere. Unlike you during your high school days! :D

I am with you on playing the job card, though. If only it were possible to take something like the LFA. That'd show 'em!

I think I'd take the M56, its a pretty cool car, and something different than the seen-everyday BMW. The 911 is old, most of the other cars are pretty common too. The Volt would be my second choice, as it is also something different.

1)M56
2)Volt
3)Optima SX
4)Juke or Countryman

"BMW and other upmarket German cars conjure up images of Bill Lumbergh and you don't want that"

Didn't he drive a 993 in the movie?

None. I'd come by in a bright orange Boss 302 LS, drop the clutch from 6 grand, and leave.

If I absolutely had to pick, it'd be the Raptor. And I'd park it through the side of the building. 6' off the ground. If you have a Raptor, then you probably have "FU" money to afford the gas, and therefore, makes owning multiple Raptors not only easy, but necessary.

bimmerjay says:
11:24 AM, 05/ 5/11

"I don't have the time nor interest to fly across the country to attend anything from my high school, but if I did I'd show up in a helicopter."

J.R. This is the only logical answer. Fly into Indy, then helicopter into the parking lot. Pretty sure only a RR Phantom can hold a candle to this entrance.

"None. I'd come by in a bright orange Boss 302 LS, drop the clutch from 6 grand, and leave."

If you're going the rental route, maybe Hertz still has a few Shelbys(ies?) laying around.

-My inclination as well. I know what everyone looks like from social media: Balder, fatter. If you take anything other than your own car to impress people who made fun of you in HS, then you're still a tool. People of substance know better than to flaunt wealth through a vehicle. If you show up in a status symbol machine, conversation will lead to your profession that may conflict with your whip, and you'll have to lie to keep up the facade.

I'd prolly take my own MK6 GTI.

I'd skip them all and get a vintage DeLorean. Then dress up your wife to look like Dr. Emmett Brown.