Thanks to all who read the first 16 parts. I still intend to finish the series as a legacy writing for my family and hopefully for generations to come who will never know me or my immediate relatives personally.
Before she died, a few years ago my grandmother gave me some photos of her family and the first known cars of my lineage. I most definitely desire to know their stories, which are mostly lost to history now. My mother, doing some genealogy work, uncovered a 1910 article where my car enthusiast maternal great-grandfather took a “joyride” in another’s for the weekend and landed himself in some legal “hot water.”
The car genes are strong in this family.
Here’s what is or was to come. Several are written, but not edited or ready to publish at this time.
Part, 17: “Student Loans Are Still For Buying Cars”
1997 Chrysler Sebring JX
Synopsis: I couldn’t really afford to rent a limo for our wedding, so I rented a Sebring Convertible for the weekend. Laugh if you must, but I super enjoyed open air driving and found a used one for us to drive for several years. Also learned about the existence of Crutchfield and doing a basic audio upgrade. Great car, as Michael Scott can attest to.
Part 18: “One Final Trip to The Bank of Dad”
2002 Toyota 4Runner Sport Edition
Synopsis: With the impending arrival of our first child, I was working, but with meager income. mrs. gokstate, in a nesting phase, was hoping for something tank-like and 4wd to ensure all the protections for the child. I always loved these 4Runners, but no way could we have afforded. My dad came through for us one last time as I turned the Intrepid over to him (which he then generously gave to another needy family member). My grandmother gave us a “bag VCR player” hung on the back seat that our son watched countless hours of kids videos on road trips
Soundtrack: Get Ready to Wiggle, The Wiggles
Part 19: “The Most Practical Car in the World”
2005 Honda Odyssey
Synopsis: Our daughter is born. First new car ever I purchased on my own. Found a website (A Fighting Chance) that taught me a great system how to buy a new car for the lowest price (usually under invoice). Taught me that minivans are actually the practical cars around for all around utility. Flip down DVD player for the kids and long car rides. Gave to my wife’s parents and they still have it (I still like the comfort of the seats in this one over our 2014 Odyssey).
Part 20: “Unleash the Beast”
1991 Ford Mustang LX 5.0 Convertible
Synopsis: We finally start getting ahead and I am dreaming on Craiglist and Ebay of getting that Fox body Mustang I always dreamed of. For $2500, my car knowledgeable brother-in-law helps me find an oil-spewing Titanium Grey automatic with about 130k miles. With his expertise and a $5 gasket, the car is brought to running condition. This is the car that gets me truly into the hobby and the fire is ignited. Nicknamed “The Grey Beast.”
Part 21: “Lil’ Red”
1992 Ford Mustang LX 5.0 Summer Special
Synopsis: I enjoyed the Grey Beast, but it was an automatic (and some other issues). I really wanted a manual. This limited edition Mustang was one I had dreamed about since high school. I tell a story about having seen one pass me in 1992 on the road, and whistling about its beauty, wondering someday if I could be successful enough in life to possibly own one. The answer becomes yes, and I actually found this one in Kansas close by. Learned about some mild hobby repairs and maintenance, how to detail (starting with Zaino), first car show, and loss when I eventually parted with it. This car is in the top 3 of all time most special to me. It was (may still be) on sale again by the person I sold it to, but I couldn’t pull the trigger to go back. Maybe one day, but for now we just go forward.
Part 22: “Future Collector”
2004 Ford Mustang Mach 1
Synopsis: Things start getting a little nuttier as I continue to be in full flame in the car hobby. Obviously the Cobras are more car of the era, but I fell in love with the shaker hood. Found an amazing deal on a sub 7k mile Mach 1 out of North Carolina and had the car shipped across the country (first time). Loved driving the car and dealt with the anxiety of being a steward of a low mile car that, like the ’92, might one day have collector value. Wanting to keep the miles low versus the desire to just want to drive all the time. First time getting fully immersed in an online car forum (mach1registry.com) and learning what enthusiast communities offer.
Soundtrack: The Sound, Switchfoot
Part 23: “New Red”
2012 Ford Mustang GT Convertible
Synopsis: The 5.0 is reborn. Garage space is at a premium with ’92 and ’04 both taking up spaces. Mistakenly, I believe the new 5.0 can fill all the needs of the other two. While it’s a nice car and fast to be sure, something’s missing from the foxbody era (’79-’04). It’s so fast (and smooth), it’s hard to enjoy at legal speeds. Working long hours. I sell it with about 2800 miles to a collector who enjoy low miles and in the wrapper cars (I ordered this one to spec without dealer prep and kept every piece of plastic/shred of paperwork). I’m still in contact with the buyer and asked him to offer me right of first refusal if he sells (He’s never driven it, trailered it only to car shows). If I were to buy it back, it’d be just like the day I sold it. However, I’m not sure I would. It just didn’t stir the soul like other cars have
Soundtrack: The Veldt, Deadmau5
Part 24: “Peggy—A Pegasus Unicorn”
1998 Honda Prelude SH
Synopsis: After selling the 2012 Mustang, I still find I’m addicted to fun cars. Looking for a 3g Prelude with 4WS, under 100k, and a stick (nigh impossible even years ago), I find the 5g Prelude. It has a beautiful back story. I didn’t know these cars and took a chance without test driving. After initially being ambivalent, I come to love this car thoroughly. I would describe these as nearly perfect driver’s cars, lacking only about 100hp to make it the best car of all time. My plan is to teach my daughter to drive a stick in it, and have it be her school car. However, it’s too nice to wind up in a school parking lot, and watching crash test videos of late 90’s Hondas compared with modern scares the wife and I about the safety of a teen driving. I decide to sell and look for something more modern. Stupid, stupid, stupid! I sold it on BringATrailer (stupid, stupid, stupid), and it is now the lead car photo on the Prelude page. Top 3 car of all time for me, maybe the top.
Soundtracks: We Are Giants, Lindsey Stirling (for the fun rides my daughter and I used to take in it). Honorable mention: anything by Owl City
Part 25: “In The Army Now”
2014 Toyota FJ Cruiser
Synopsis: I fell in love with FJs when they came out and the discontinuation was announced in 2013. The high residual values were already known then and I figured it would be better value to just buy new. The 2002 4Runner was still soldiering along and I didn’t really want to sell it, but it made way for the FJ. I had lots of overlanding dreams, but with work, it was mostly a pavement princess. Great car though. Put 40k miles of daily driving on it and sold it this year for about 8k more than I paid for it new! That will never happen again. I know these will always be collectible and fun cars, but it had really just been sitting in the garage for the past 3 years unused.
Soundtrack: Red Eyes, The War on Drugs
Part 26: “Flat Bottom Wheels, You Make The Steering World Go Round”
2017 VW GTI
Synopsis: The new and current daily driver. I love this car. So fun and willing to play. Makes my daily commutes a joy. This is the car I taught my daughter to drive a stick in. It is the car that is planning to be passed to her if she wants (and she’s doing an awesome job of quickly learning a manual). We’ve also had lots of fun drives. I don’t know if I’ll be able to part with this one. Top 3 car of all time.
Soundtrack: Diamond Eyes, Ghost Light (one of the best jam songs ever)
Honorable mention: Black Metallic, Catherine Wheel
Part 27: “Where There Was One, Now There Is Two”
2017 Mini Cooper S Convertible
Synopsis: It’s high time to bring the mrs. into the fold. She finds an affinity for Mini Coopers. Through some fun and misdirection, I surprise her with a new car (the first fun car she’s ever had in her life). Still has. Now she’s in the local Mini club. Not everyone can buy their spouse their own hobby car, but finding ways to share our passions helps grow our bonds together.
Soundtrack: Live For The Drop, Capital Kings (her car, she picks the song)
Part 28: “Oops”
2004 Honda S2000
Synopsis: I might have a car problem here. Still in mourning over the sale of the Prelude, I look to fill the hole by browsing bringatrailer auctions. I see this car nearing the end of the auction and it looks to be (though by no means am I a value expert on these) underpriced. For “fun,” I put a single bid in, and then watch in near panic as the counter winds down to zero without any other bids. “Honey, um, I have something to tell you…” She is good-natured about my gaffe. Stupidly, I’ve never even driven an S2000 before this. Take possession of the car. It’s a good car (she loves it, btw), but I’m too tall to find it a comfortable fit. Even with the aftermarket seat adjust options, I do not believe this to be a long term car for me. I’m thankfully able to sell it for about what I have in it.
Part 29: “I Become A Rock Star”
2014 Lotus Evora S
Synopsis: For the past few years, I’ve been looking for just one car to tick all the boxes I outlined in part 1 of this series: fun car, unique, fast, sporty, driver’s car, forever car. Looking at literally every car in the country past and present, a Lotus Evora S seems to tick all the right boxes. This is uncharted territory, beyond anything I’ve ever considered to date. A car that stickered near six figures, exotic. Find a used one in Texas. I cannot buy sight unseen. The mrs. gives the green light to go look and I hop a plane, rent a car. I’m smitten. This is the most gorgeous car I’ve ever laid eyes on that I was considering purchasing. We can’t initially make a deal and I’m prepared to walk away, but the next week we come to terms. The buyer meets me halfway in Oklahoma and I drive it back, unaccustomed to people speeding up to grab a look, whip out their cell phones to take pictures. Ownership of this car is neurotic. I quickly find there are no nearby reliable mechanics (there is BOE in Kansas City, about a 2 ½ hour drive for me, but I get the impression they only work on Evoras as a community service, and more prefer to develop their performance parts). While trying to get some basic maintenance parts, I learn how difficult and delayed it is (the first website I ordered went under, and I had to file a claim on the CC to get my money back). It’s hard to relax while owning this car, every little thing is mountain to solve. Driving experience is, of course, sublime. However, after about 6 months, I can’t shake the worry this car could bleed me dry on maintenance. I reluctantly put it up for sale. Rock star life ends.
Soundtrack: Heartbreaker, Dionne Warwick
Part 30: “Continuing Life in Cars”
2020 Honda Civic Si Coupe
Synopsis: I guess you’d call this my current fun/hobby car. I left one of my two jobs this past year, and received a nice payout. This car was my gift to myself for working 80h or more a week for the last 7 years. Kind of a reaction to the Lotus, now I have a car I can service locally, will be dead reliable, tunable, with an enthusiast community behind. Now that Honda has announced no more Civic Coupes ever (we’ll see), it probably has a little more collector cachet. Not the prettiest of sporty cars, it does have some admirable angles. It is fun to drive. It needs a little more motor (I have a JB4 tune on it, giving it a nice extra turbo shove). Currently about 1000 miles only on it (everyone knows what kind of a year 2020 is). I’m not certain I will keep this car forever, but for now, I can get it out on weekends and smile.
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To this point, having owned/driven multiple cars, it’s helped refine to me what makes a great driver’s car. I will continue to look for a manual offering at all turns as long as I’m physically able to drive one. This certainly limits the options, especially among newer cars. The perfect car has to have the special sauce that puts a grin on your face behind the wheel, gives excitement even on local grocery runs, handles well (got to have grip in the twisties), and motivates me to get out of bed every morning and go to work every day. It has an enthusiast following, an aftermarket just in case stock isn’t enough. Reliability to know when I get those rare moments to go driving, it will be ready and willing to go.
The GTI and the Si have that. As stated above, I think the GTI is the current car in our stable that I would be the last to part with. As a daily, it is subject to wear and tear, and the possibility of getting wrecked. When I bought the Si, I debated putting the GTI in the garage and “saving it” for fun drives. In the end, I decided no. I’d rather enjoy it every day I can. I guess that says something. As for passing it to my daughter, she’s just going to have to wait a little longer….
Thanks for reading,
—-gokstate
Series soundtrack: Fast Car, Jonas Blue