I did. I knew the car I wanted, I worked for the down payment and then worked to pay it off. I learned about financing, the rule of 78, and about having a budget. I polished it every chance I got and went on a date every weekend. ;)
Our problem today is not that we dream too big, our problem today is that we dream too little. In the process of fulfilling our goals, we learn more than we will ever learn in school. My dream car in '72 was a '68 Mercury Cougar (one below is not mine):
I had ayellow one with a 428. Put my f-—n’ brother in the hospital for 6 mo.s while I was in VN. I prayed for my Cougar, never saw it again and beat my f’...’g brother (after he could walk again). I hate that man.
Those early Cougars had really nice lines that have grown on me over the years. I’m a pushover for those sequential turn signals too, lol. Top of the line XR7, leather, sunroof, triple black. Very cool car. Almost more like a concept/show car with all the metal strakes, in the grille, hidden headlights, on the taillights, even carried over inside if I recall correctly.
How often do you kick yourself that you didn’t keep that car! Very nice...;)