I use BNC and N for all my connections, and use adapters when I need to connect to HF connectors, such as SO-239 (socket) PL-239 (plug). I use BNC all the time for signal-level projects. I take BNC connectors on coax for portable (hiking in the mountains) comms. They are so much lighter at the radio end, and several of my radios (Elecraft KX2, for example) already use BNC. I make feed lines and jumpers with both BNC and N, and use whichever fits the bill. I’ve rewired all the mag mount antennas I bought that had HF connectors. These days it’s getting easier to find VHF/UHF cables w BNC and N, but, sadly, VHF equipment sold in the US come w HF, not VHF, connectors. YMMV.
Another possible issue is whether your antenna was inside the car or outside the car. I have an HT style antenna mounted to a window mount. You place the mount on the lip of the window and roll up the window. The antenna is outside of the car and inside you have a thin coax cable to attach to the radio. It works much better than when the antenna is inside and the car is blocking a lot of the signal both sending and receiving.