While going through the recent posts during lunch on AutoBlog, it got me thinking of the cars I have driven since I got my license. Here is my list:
1983 Dodge Ram Pioneer Van -two tone brown (tan with dark brown mid section all around), tan plaid interior. Shared this with Sean. Nickname was C-Tank. The Tank was traded in for my mom’s 93 Explorer in 93.
1987 Honda Civic Si – red, first manual transmission. Went through three clutches. This is one of the cars that kept Steve’s Auto Body in O’Fallon, IL in the black finiancially, I’m sure ;). Shared this one with Sean as well. Sean and I installed a sony CD player, Sony MKII90 equalizer, some generic amplifier and some 6×9’s dad put in boxes in the hatch. I think we later added a sub to the mix. I finally killed the Civic driving to work (Baskin Robbins). Was messing with the stereo and nailed the end of an highway island divider curb at 40mph.
1988 Mitsubishi Montero Sport – 2 Door, 5 speed, Red. I LOVED this truck. It wasn’t fast, but it was rugged (except for the transmission…) and could go anywhere. If want to own another one of these one day. You can still find Montero’s and its cousin the Dodge Raider around the US. I sold this for $350 (KBB private party was $3000) after Auffenburg Mitsubishi in O’Fallon, IL diagnosed it with a bad block or head or something. Sold it to a friend of my sisters and it turned out to be bad spark plugs in 3 of the cylinders. I was really ticked off.
1991 Eagle Talon TSI AWD – white, 5 speed, turbo, all wheel drive. Loved this car too. Parents weren’t happy about another turbo car after Sean’s Ford Probe GT fiasco, but I was in heaven. This lead me to the DSM Community. Sold the car in Dec 2001 to a St. Louis DSM member when I bought my next one
1992 Eagle Talon TSI FWD – Maroon, 5 speed, red(!!) interior. Its sad when you buy a new car to replace another and realize the first day…that you don’t like it as much. Going from an AWD car to a FWD car was a big let-down. Torque steer in the snow or rain is not fun. Never-the-less, this car had low miles, was in decent shape, so it was OK for a daily driver. I had fun modifying it though. Of course, when I saw and ad on the Cinci DSM Yahoo Groups for my next car, I didn’t think twice about selling this one!!
1998 Eagle Talon TSI AWD – Black w/ grey leather, 5 speed, AWD – I got this car for pretty much a steal – about $2500+ less than the KBB value. It was already pretty modified (suspension, exhaust, intake, and some others), had only ~60k miles, and much to emily’s happiness – it had airbags. Since I bought it, I’ve upgraded the injectors, fuel pump, pump, turbo, added a front mount intercooler, new wheels, paint job plus new bumper cover and drivers side fender, stereo and other things.
Also have my 94 Yamaha FZR 600R motorcycle 🙂
So whats next? I know I will have to get something that has four doors, or can easily haul kids around, but it still can be fun! Maybe I will go back to the truck route with the Toyota FJ Cruiser, Jeep Liberty Renegade, or Wrangler…or maybe I will stick with teh fun 4 cyl cars and go with an EVO or WRX/STI. There are so many cars out now and that will be out in the next 2-3 years, its going to be a tough choice. I’ll probably have to stick with the Talon until we are settled into the new mortgage.
What about you? what have you been behind the wheel of?
-pc
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January 19th, 2006 at 3:30 pm
Since you asked… ’93 Ford Ranger, ’97 Ford Explorer Sport, ’99 Ford Expedition…All Black with Grey interior. And i will drive the Expedition into the ground because i just cant part with it.
My 2 cents on a kiddie hauler…you will need something with more rear legroom than an evo or wrx can provide…trust me we just traded in the jetta for an explorer…they might work with one child with thier legs sticking into the front seat from between the seats, but once you have two its time to get a bigger ride….
January 19th, 2006 at 3:34 pm
Actually, I have friends that have EVO’s and kids. One of them has two kids, age 9 and 11 (i think) and they fit just fine. Plus they have a decent sized trunk. Besides, if we have to haul andything or go anywhere long distance, it will be in Emily’s car 🙂
January 19th, 2006 at 3:53 pm
oh forgive me, I didnt know you weren’t planing on using car seats…just straight to seatbelts for your little ones???? I know people will fit in the backseat paul…its the rear facing and later front facing car seats which push the kids up and out so it takes up a ton of rear space…just try putting two rear facing car seats in one and getting in the front seat without your knees being in the dash.
January 19th, 2006 at 4:01 pm
Now you’re just getting picky. I won’t have car seats, I’ll wrap the kids in bubble-wrap and stick them in the trunk. I’ll stick on little LCD TV in there and it will keep em quiet. When we pull over for rest stops, I’ll give em each a pair os scissors to run around with and a couple of Wal-Mart plastic bags. They’ll just love those smiley faces on the bags. 😉