My Cars
Here is the rundown on all the cars I have owned.
PAST VEHICLES
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- 1984 Toyota Corolla SR5 Coupe (AE85) Auto – The only car I regret not keeping. lightweight, RWD, sunroof, pop-up lights. Too bad it was an auto. Not as much of a classic as the AE86, but still a lot of fun. Mods: none
- 1989 Mazda MX-6 5spd – I put 150,000 miles on this car. It was a lot of fun. Mods: aftermarket head unit
- 2000 Suzuki SV650 – This bike was a ton of fun. I kind of wish I kept it, but with dead air conditioning in the Mazda and 100 degree Texas summers, both found themselves sold for the next car. Mods: none
- 1997 Honda Prelude 5spd – That VTEC motor screamed. This is the car which got me into autocross. Mods: short-ram intake, aftermarket head unit.
- 1994 Saturn SL1 5spd – gutless and boring, but cheap. Mods: you’re kidding right?
- 2000 Nissan Altima SE 5spd – practical but still fun. Mods: just a K&N filter
- 2006 Nissan 350Z Roadster Touring 6pd – An absolute blast to drive. I do miss the open air a bit though. We had a baby and it had to go away. Mods: short-ram intake
CURRENT VEHICLES
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- 1998 Ford Explorer 2WD 4.0 XLT Auto – I inherited this when I married Amy. I’m not a fan, but it’s reliable. 157,000mi and still going. Mods: K&N filter, 4×4 shocks
- 2005 Infinti G35 Sedan 6spd – I’ve made it as fun to drive as the 350Z, but a child safety seat fits in the back. Mods: short-ram intake, sway bars, 350z springs (fr), G35 Coupe springs (r), true dual cat-back exhaust, & brake pads get swapped out for street & track-duty
HONORABLE MENTION
- 1972 Chevy Blazer 4×4 4spd – This is actually my dad’s vehicle, but it’s the one which I learned to drive a manual transmission. Aside from the 400ft of clutch pedal & shifter travel, it’s a perfect learning tool. 1st gear is a granny gear, not generally used for normal driving. The massive torque of the 350ci motor in that low gear makes using the gas pedal completely optional. Add to that a gravel road, and there’s not nearly so much whiplash. I love this truck and my dad still owns it. It stays at their place in Colorado and gets a lot of use every summer. Mods: a sweet canvas soft-top
