There’s a certain way I’ve come to think about “forever” cars. See, they aren’t necessarily perfect, but they hit a chord with their owners. You fix what breaks, live with quirks, and refuse to let go.

I dug into forums, long-term ownership threads, and brand communities and found models that seem to generate that kind of fierce fidelity. By no means is this a complete list, by the way.

Here are 11 cars people say they plan to keep forever (or at least can’t imagine ever selling).

1. Nissan GT-R (R35)

GT-R fans call it “the car you keep when everything else fails.” In a GT-R owners’ Reddit thread about long-term plans, one user said they had 61,000 miles on their car and “plan to keep it forever” because no other vehicle delivers the same mix of performance, all wheel drive grip, four seats, and usable trunk.

The allure here is that it straddles the line between supercar and consistent daily driver. It’s not just a weekend toy. Fans claim with strict upkeep it will outlast many rivals. In another GT-R Life thread, owners debated whether to upgrade to an R36 or just stick with their beloved R35s forever.

The GT-R has some sticking points: high repair costs, the need for specialist service, and the brutalness of pushing it. But so far, for many, that’s part of the romance.

2. Toyota Tacoma

You’ll find dealer-floor sales brochures calling the Tacoma reliable, but the real evidence is in the user boards.

In Tacoma World, in an aged but relevant “Will you keep yours forever?” thread, one member summed up a common view: “With little luck, yes :D.” Another pointed out that while they might not keep their current iteration forever, they’ll always have a Tacoma in the garage.

Others concede that keeping one forever demands vigilance (rust, drivetrain, suspension), but many say they bought theirs to last more than a decade.

On Toyota Nation, one long-term owner, at nearly 300,000 miles, detailed how maintenance has become more about preventive care than reactive fixes.

Owners love the parts availability, ruggedness, forgiving mechanicals, and the fact that you can do a lot of work yourself without hunting down exotic gear.

3. Mazda MX-5 Miata

It’s almost cliché to say “Miata owners never sell,” yet it still holds true in owner circles. 

In an MX-5 Miata Forum, a thread analyzing cars kept over 15 years repeatedly cites the MX-5 as among the most likely to cross that threshold.

It’s simple in build, lively to drive, cheap to maintain, and modular. One owner put it this way: when something breaks, you fix it, then drive it some more. Because you’re emotionally invested, it yields to being kept.

4. Chevrolet Corvette (various generations)

Corvette owners regularly treat their cars as lifelong commitments.

On Corvette forums you’ll find countless threads about clutch swaps, body panel repros, or interior refurbishments. But rarely conversations about “when to sell.”

The hub of the community is a testament to long-term devotion.

Fans cite the blend of a car with performance pedigree, collector respect, but still one you can daily-drive or attend autocross with. You keep parts, hunt for NOS trim pieces, and patch bad paint rather than abandon the ship.

5. Toyota 4Runner and Land Cruiser

While less flashy than others, Toyota SUV and off-road communities often include people whose ownership span decades.

On off-road forums and Toyota enthusiast communities, it’s common to see people talk about their 20+ year 4Runners or Land Cruisers still being daily drivers.

What drives the loyalty is durability, reputation for long life, ease of repair, strong aftermarket for rugged parts, and the sentimental bond of off-road memories. Many say the vehicle becomes part of the family.

6. Infiniti G35

The G35, particularly the 2003 to 2007 sedan and coupe, shows up frequently in “forever car” discussions on Nissan and Infiniti forums.

Owners praise its naturally aspirated VQ35DE V6, rear-wheel-drive platform, and balanced handling. All traits that make it feel like a budget BMW without the high-maintenance drama.

On forums like MyG37 and NICOclub, several owners said they plan to keep their G35s indefinitely because they’re fun to drive, simple enough to work on, and aging into modern-classic territory.

One owner described the G35 as “the last car I want to work on,” explaining that the engine and transmission have proven tough even past 200,000 miles. The aftermarket is still active too, which makes refreshing suspension, interior bits, and even body panels more realistic than it is for many cars of that era.

7. Ford Bronco (6th gen/modern revival)

This one surprised me a bit, but the Bronco community is vocal. Around here in the Midwest, they’re everywhere. I’d almost go as far as to say it’s filling in spots where a household would normally opt for a Jeep.

In a Bronco6G poll, nearly 65% of respondents said they plan to keep their 6th-gen Bronco “forever” (or at least long term).

They talk about the vehicle being more than transport…like a “legacy” that might be handed down.

It helps that this Bronco revival (launched in 2020) leans intentionally rugged, modular, and user-serviceable. You know, ideas that appeal to folks who want to live with a vehicle, not bet on replacing it once it’s paid off.

8. Subaru Legacy and Outback

The Subaru fandom is strong, and “subie loyalty” is often joked about…but there’s substance behind it.

On a SubaruForester.org thread, one user remarked that every Subie owner they’d met swore by the brand and “stayed loyal over the years.”

The appeal lies in all-wheel drive, decent parts availability, and a wholehearted acceptance by the community that these are capable utility cars. But many come with headaches, which owners seem to accept and move past.

Subaru enthusiasts are used to head gaskets, turbodiesel swaps in some markets, and making them last is part of club membership.

9. Ford Escort

Hear me out: most Escorts were basic economy cars, and the majority were driven into the ground and forgotten. But certain trims, especially the early 1990s Escort GT and the ZX2 coupe, earned quiet cult followings.

Fans on the Ford Escort Owners Association’s social media talk about how they’re still daily-driving cars with over 250,000 miles and no plans to sell.

One longtime owner explained that the simplicity of the 1.9L and 2.0L engines, plus the easy access to parts, makes it “too cheap and too reliable to replace.” Although I will say as time passes, parts aren’t “so easy” to come by. This goes for any discontinued Ford sedan or wagon, really.

The Escort’s longevity reputation depends heavily on maintenance, but its low cost of ownership and fix-it-yourself nature are precisely why some owners say they’ll keep theirs forever. It’s not glamorous, but that’s the point. It’s a workhorse that outlasts the urge to upgrade.

10. Toyota Tundra

How could we not include it? Tundra forums are dotted with “keepers.”

In one Tundra Forum thread titled “keep forever,” an owner described their Tundra as “the most solid, dependable feeling vehicle I’ve ever had. And it’s paid off. So my only regular expense is just feeding it.”

Enthusiasts praise its frame, engine durability, and towing robustness. Many plan to hang on until the truck literally gives up, not because they outgrow it.

11. Older Volvos (850 and S70/V70, for example)

In long-term threads on Bob Is The Oil Guy, you’ll find veteran Volvo owners who, over decades, have rebuilt suspensions, swapped in engines, and defended their cars against rust. 

One user described refurbishing nearly every wearable part in a 1981 Volvo, and claims it now runs “essentially like new” after extensive work.

The 850, S70, and V70 are the “modern classics” Volvo fans say they’ll never part with. With the 850, Volvo introduced its first front-wheel-drive platform but kept much of the brand’s tank-like durability. The 850 T-5 and T-5R, with their turbocharged 2.3-liter five-cylinders, are especially beloved.

On Turbobricks, several original owners reported driving these cars past 300,000 miles and plan to keep them as weekend cars or hand them down to kids.

The early 1997–2000 S70 and V70, essentially refined versions of the 850, share much of that same appeal.

These are often passion projects, not necessarily daily drivers. But they represent the spirit of “I’ll own this until it’s gone.”

Why some cars become “forever” machines

In the end, the cars people swear they’ll never sell aren’t necessarily the rarest or the most expensive.

They’re the ones that keep earning their spot in the driveway year after year, often because they’re honest about what they are. They start every morning (or not!), they’re fun to drive, they’re simple enough to fix without a Ph.D. in engineering, or they just “inspire” a kind of loyalty that transcends resale value.

What’s striking is how often these cars become more than transportation. They turn into rolling projects, family heirlooms, or even small rebellions against disposable consumer culture.

Owners patch them up, customize them, and celebrate their quirks because replacing them wouldn’t just mean buying a new car. It would mean losing a trusted companion. And that’s why, even as the industry races toward electrification and automation, there will always be people in garages and forum threads talking about the one they’ll never let go.