Every year, new cars are announced, pre-ordered, and delivered to showrooms and driveways all around us. I have the same thought frequently… If I were to buy a new car right now, what would it be?

I definitely have strong preferences when it comes to what kind of car I will own. In fact, when I list the attributes of my dream car the results are either BMW’s or pickup trucks. I realized this as I scrolled through CarGurus the other day. I typed in everything I wanted in a car and hit apply. I wasn’t looking for a unicorn, but I knew the pickings might be slim. Here’s what I searched for: Front engine, inline 6 or V8, manual transmission, 4 doors, rear wheel drive. ( Obviously low miles, few owners, no accidents, etc…) I’m not picky on features and I’m usually glad I went with a leaner trim in the end. When those stipulations are considered, it’s easy to see why BMW’s and pickup trucks each fit the bill. I don’t love BMW yet I drive an automatic pickup truck. There is irony in my decision and I’m willing to admit it.

I love that my pickup is powered by a V8 to the rear wheels (and optional 4×4). I like that it has plenty of power and enough room to fit my wife and kids in it. I appreciate the added benefit of a pickup bed and tow hitch. It’s definitely a more natural progression from my past cars than a BMW would be. And yet I would never say my dream car is a pickup truck. It’s just that everything I want from a car can be found in one.

And so, sometimes a dream car is not made up of the perfect combination of what we want from a car, but something else entirely. Ask anyone who owns their dream car and they will likely concede to the drawbacks of owning or driving it. Dream cars are rarely practical, or check off every box, but are just the car we dream of experiencing even if only for a short time. That could be a special edition Corolla, Shelby F-150, Tesla Argyle or whatever, or even a top-of-the-line minivan. My point is that a car doesn’t have to be a multi-million dollar organic-inspired Czinger. Unless that’s exactly your dream car.