I just went into the lounge to turn the stereo down whilst I get stuck into some study... realising that I've had that gear for a long time now. A Yamaha amp and a pair of BOSE 301 series III speakers. I got them both when I was around 20yo and I am now 46yo. They both get used every day and although the amp is only a Dolby Pro-Logic+ (ie old school surround sound and no sub woofer) I have never considered getting rid of them... very happy with them both.
On the other hand, we have had a $1,300 front loading washing machine die after about 5yrs - BUT it started to rust within the first year... Farkers would not do anything under warranty. Also got a $1,100 Orthopedic mattress (only) that is barely 18 months old and is all out of shape and we are both waking up with sore backs. To claim a warranty you need to have it professionally dry cleaned (~$300) and then delivered to the factory... and they will only repair what is at fault - not replace it.
Just wondering if others have purchased something from many years ago that they still smile when using...
- My 1973 Land Rover...until I made the idiotic mistake of selling it.
- Most of my tools. Paid a lot for them initially but they don't break.
Worse purchase ever would have to be a wedding ring 
Will have to think about the best purchase....
Worst purchase was getting sucked in to purchase this photography package.
No names.
Cost 3 grand. I'm still with the misses but have never looked at the photos.
Best purchase was my Ocean and Earth Spider Bodyboard. It started a lifelong passion with the ocean.
Best (in order of impact on my life)
Wedding Ring (since lead to wife, kids etc etc)
Engineering degree
First Kite
$200 box trailer
$19 supacheap hand trolley
VW Kombi
HJ Cruiser
Worst
Front loading washing machine(s)
Swimming Pool
Probably could do better with more thought.
Lots of things I value I've been given but haven't "bought".
Best purchase - house - bought it run-down but in a great location, now renovated & a comfortable place for family to live in.
Worst Purchase - 12mth 6-dive rental gift voucher (>$300) for wife's birthday last year (she got keen on diving & got her ticket so I was trying to encourage her to get out there!)...wife's birthday again this week, she hasn't been for one dive & it runs out. 
I told her no pressy this year as she wasted last year's...so I'll be in the dog house if anyone needs me.
Advertising! ...for both!!!
If anyone else pays for advertising they will know that before hand it is communicated to you with a bombardment of facts and figures that makes you believe that it is by far the Best purchase you will ever make. 
But once the ad is placed you mysteriously rarely hear any further facts and figures. Making you feel like it was the Worst purchase you ever made.
The Casio F-91w that I bought when I was about 20 (now 40). Just pulled it out of my tool box and chucked a battery in it for my 3 yr old son to use. Found out today after some googling that Casio are still making them! 
He's gonna have to wait a while longer to get my Tag though 
Best purchase is my 2003 XT forester, haven't once considered getting rid of it cause its fast and can hold my kite gear, mountain bike, dogs, stuff from bunnings etc.
And it can go off road a little bit.
Other notable best purchases would be my kelpie, giant anthem mtb, kite gear, gopro, and drum kit.
Worst purchase would be the first dell desk top computer I bought.
Piece of $hit had a multitude of problems, constantly having call outs to fix it.
Eventually they replaced it with a whole new unit and its been fine ever since (touch wood).
Other worst purchases would be a blue ray player (used it twice maybe), beyonwiz PVR (it's ok but always having issues with it) and chest freezer (used for 6 months and haven't bulk bought meat since).
Best = my first windsurfer, many years ago. Gave me a lifestyle, that's still happening.
Worst = chest freezer, as the man said.
Those exercise machines, a family purchase that never works - gathering dust.
Flowers on Valentine's day - I was young, never done it again.
Yeah - my old man talked me into buying a chest freezer when I first moved out at 21yo... thing is a pain in the arse, as you have to dig under everything to find the frozen peas you got two weeks ago - but it just keeps on going... 25yrs on
Having said that, the top of it makes a handy work bench!
Best = my boat.
Worst = I can't think of anything yet, I'm sure there's something but nothing major comes to mind.
Edit: I just thought of something, that over priced POS Ripcurl wetty I bought. Started to deteriorate just out of warranty but the O'Neill I replaced it with is awesome!
then reading through it all that stuff came up
Best Purchase - Funeral plot for the mother-in-law.
Worst Purchase - Funeral plot for the mother-in-law. She hasn't used it yet.
Best:
Definitely my house that's 25m from the beach. (I also have a Yamaha amp that I got over 30 years ago)
Worst:
A Ford Cortina back in my 20s
My pushbike. Done over 20k on it as of this month.
Its inspired me to ride, get fit, and i'm now doing triathlons with a plan to eventually do an Iron man.
Bestest buy ever.
Worst:
#1: Land rover 1999 Freelander... farking piece of sh!t cos me more than $1 a km.
#2: BMW K1300... farking piece of sh!t cos me more than $1 a km.
Best:
#1: Yamaha 2002 R1... awesome in every way, sold it for $5k less than I bought it 4.5 years later
#2: Denon AH-D5000... awesome.
Best: 6 burner hooded BBQ with Spit attachment. mmmmmm yummm, use it most days
worst: it's 50/50 on this one, ...my bloody lorikeet that wont shut up, loudest hypo bird ever, but always lets us know if something is outside that isn't supposed to be.
BEST: 40yo VW I traded 2 cases of beer for.
Spent a bit on it over the last 9 years but much less than what I would on a new car and it keeps increasing in value, is a very cool car (Type3 Squareback) - fits almost anything and I can camp in it, little on-road costs and the improvements I've made have increased performance to new car specs.
There are so many bad purchases I've made but think I avoided the worse ones (like a wedding ring), even separating from a de-facto relationship cost $90K in legals!
Best - my north boom, fibre spa mast and dakine quiver bag , all back in 1994, and still going strong today,
Worst- ficher & paykel appliances
Worst - anything made in china...specifically the 27k tractor now sitting in the middle of the paddock.
Best - laser eye surgery...so I can see the sets coming in.
