Perhaps because we always had a string of crazy vehicles over the years — often missing various body parts — but I have always loved cars. My brother and I used to go with my Dad to his friend, Jeff’s junkyard and we would wander all over playing in all the various cars scattered across his yard in upstate NY — from a huge Cadillac to an ice cream truck, the cars ran the gamut, and our imaginations ran wild. These days, when I get the opportunity, I drive up to Chicago to visit the International Auto Expo and it is always just a feast for the eyes! The cars and SUVs I have had over the years may not have been the world’s coolest or the nicest, but it’s been an adventure to drive such a variety.
1973 Ford Maverick // 10/1988 – 3/1989 – $50
My very first car. It was for sale down the road and everyone said I was crazy not to buy it because it was so cheap. It had huge rust holes, which we fixed with green bondo… so it looked like it had been slimed. Thus it became the Ghostbuster. It was a fun car, mainly because it was my first, and with its straight six engine, it could move along pretty well. I ran it into a driveway culvert and that pretty much ended the front suspension on this car.
1980 AMC Concord // 3/1989 – 4/1990 – $250
The Concord was a tank. Seriously. Everything in this car was industrial looking. It was a lumbering beast with no grace. For some reason I put wire wheel hubcaps on it.
1983 Ford Escort // 4/1990 – 11/1990 – $0
This car used to belong to a friend of my Dad’s. He gave it to us and I wanted it because it was a stick shift, so Dad let me have it. It used about a case of oil a week, but this was the car I learned to drive stick on.
1983 Nissan 200sx // 11/1990 – 6/1991 – $700
Oh how I loved this car. Her name was Tasha and she actually talked. It was an 80s thing. She said things like “Your lights are on” or “The key is in the ignition” or my favorite, “Left door is open.” She had a sexy computerized voice and was a fast car. She got smacked by a deer and repaired, but I never did get to paint her before I sold her to go to college.
1981 Honda Civic Wagon // 6/1991 – 7/1992 – $400
What can I say about the first car named Wonderbox? This car came from my Uncle Vic, who had done alot of work to it. I believe it would have floated because the entire bottom of the car was coated in roofing tar. I drove this from Florida to NY and back and forth from college in SC. This car was a pizza delivery vehicle and boasted no options whatsoever… no even a radio. I had to find one of those in a junkyard that would work with it. I loved this car. Anytime you would find any rust, I would just bust out the can of faded lime spraypaint and fix her back up.
1986 Chevy Cavalier RS // 7/1992 – 7/1994 – $1,600
I am still not sure what posessed me to buy a Cavalier, but I did. I think I wanted something that looked better than the Honda – something alittle nicer. This car looked nice, but was the doggiest car I have ever owned. It was a pokey thing, especially on hills. It did take me to college in SC and IN pretty well, but to be honest, I was glad to sell it for the Bronco.
1985 Ford Bronco II // 7/1994 – 5/1995 – $2,500
By far one of my most redneck vehicles. It had a top speed of about 65mph, which is never fun when you are on the beltway around DC on a Friday evening at rush hour. I later added a brush guard on the front of it before I sold it. This thing had one of the best turning radiuses of any vehicle I have ever owned.
1987 VW Jetta // 5/1995 – 6/1995 – $2,700
I did not even own this car long enough to take a decent photo of it. I hit a tree that was across the road one night after a tornado. Thankfully, I survived, but the car did not fare so well. I did enjoy this car for the month I had it. It was much faster than the Bronco, and much better on gas.
1985 Acura Integra LS // 6/1995 – 5/1996 – $3,500
After I wrecked the Jetta, I needed a car fast, so I bought my friend Michelle’s car. This was my first Acura, and despite some rust problems, I really enjoyed this car. It was pretty much an upscale Accord.
1991 Acura Integra GS // 5/1996 – 4/1997 – $8,500
I enjoyed this car alot. It was my first “sporty” car and even though it had a few problems, it was fun and fast. I had the radio stolen out of this car, and completely totalled it in a field one rainy day.
1991 Nissan Pathfinder XE // 5/1997 – 10/1997 – $10,000
I know I paid way too much for this SUV – it was an XE, which meant it was stripped down. Still, it was really nice and I enjoyed having it.
1988 Volvo 760 GLE Turbo // 10/1997 – 9/1999 – $5,900
Dad called this my Mafia Staff Car. By far one of the most comfortable cars I have ever driven for a distance. With black leather, heated seats, dark tinted windows and a giant power moonroof, this car was luxury for me. It’s major downfalls were many repairs in the 2nd year and the fact that it was so horrible in snow of any kind.
1993 Acura Integra LS // 9/1999 – 5/18/2001 – $9,800
I drive all the way to Waukegan, IL for this car and I loved it. I had the windows tinted, new rims put on and a nice stereo. This was definitely one of my favorite cars. Scott Devlin, his cousin and I took off one day and drove all the way to Colorado in this car. Many winter storms were endured in this car. My friend Casey loved it so much, we drove to Chicago so he could get one of his own, which he later heavily modified during the years of The Fast and the Furious. I sold it to my friend Jason, who sadly got hit and it was totalled it shortly after.
1994 Nissan Pathfinder SE // 5/18/2001 – 08/05/2003 – $9,500
I remember the day Jesse and I test drove this truck up in South Bend. I did limo tint this one. She survived 2 wrecks and a lot of mudding. After the second wreck it got new yellow stripes on the side. I moved with this truck — pulled all kinds of trailers. She was totalled in a four car wreck (my fault) in Nappanee.
1994 Honda Prelude // 5/2002 – 01/2003 – $
I remember the day my cousin Lisa bought this car and I told her that when she was ready to sell it, that I would buy it. So she gave me a call and I drove to NY and bought it. I probably should not have, but it was an awesome car to own. It was like the cockpit of a fast boat – very sleek, all leather and digital. I did not do much to this car, only tinted the windows. I sold this car to my good friend Dave Carey, who enjoyed it for several years.
1993 Volvo 850 GL // 9/23/2003 – 11/05/2003 – $3,875
This car was so solid. I found a great deal on it and it was amazingly well taken care of. Sadly, it was rear-ended and totalled after just a few months of enjoyment.
1995 Ford Explorer XLT // 11/2003
My friend Ron loaned me his truck for a month while he was out of state and I drove it to NY. Actually, I rather liked the Explorer. It reminded me alot of my Bronco II.
1995 Land Rover Discovery // 11/30/2003 – 03/20/2004 – $4,995
One of the toughest vehicles and best in the snow that I have ever owned. I love Discoverys. It had 2 sunroofs, leather and seating for 7. I didn’t keep this one long only because it needed tranmission work that I simply could not afford. Otherwise, this was one of my favorites.
1978 Ford Econoline Van // 03/20/2004 – 04/2004
While looking for a new ride, I drove this vintage vehicle – complete with shag green carpet, velour captain’s chairs and wood grain panelled walls, it only had 70k on it. She was not much to look at, but you had to admire the “Vantique” sticker on the back door.
1991 Ford Mustang // 04/2004 – 05/14/2004
My friend Mike let me use this car for a while until the transmission died. It was a fast car with a big subwoofer in the back. I took it up to 120 before I thought about the fact that I had no idea how decent the tires were. This isn’t a pic of the actual car, but it pretty much looked like this one, only not quite as pristine.
1994 Toyota 4Runner SR5 // 05/14/2004 – 12/30/2005 – $5,000
I had always wanted a Toyota 4Runner. I thought they were cool. It took me a little while, but I found this one and really enjoyed owning it. It was a 5 speed but one of the best parts was the huge sunroof and the great tailgate roll-down window that they have since done away with. A lot of memories made in this truck.
1995 BMW 318i // 12/30/2005 – – $3,650
I loved this car. A 5 speed with a 4cyl which got incredible mpg – like 40 – and it ran like a champ. Never had any major issues with it either! It is a rear wheel drive though, so it didn’t get along real well with snow.
2001 Dodge Ram 1500 // 6/12/2009 – 11/2015
This truck actually belonged to the ministry, but I drove it daily. It did so much for us… moved us several times, pulled many trailer loads of stuff. I drove it from KCMO to Upstate NY and everywhere in between. Lots of great memories in this truck.
1989 Toyota SR5 // 8/8/2011 – 4/19/2016 – $2,700
This truck came from Colorado and I bought it from an architecture student from Notre Dame. It got a 3″ lift, new tires, fender flares, and a new paint job, among other things. I was sad to sell it, and it was a great adventure ride! Looking back I wish I would have kept this. They are so hard to find now and this one was pristine. Ah well…
2008 Subaru Outback Limited // 6/27/2019 – 12/22/22 – $6,350
Well, despite everyone’s raving about the amazing Subarus… this car has already been a money sink. It’s super nice to drive with AWD, leather, heated seats, and pano roof, but reliability? Time will tell. And time did tell. Reliability was HORRIBLE. I did so much to this car – head gasket, timing, water pump, lots of suspension stuff, catalytic converters, a transmission (which failed again after 10k miles). It was great and comfortable while it ran, but good Lord. After the transmission went, I sold it for what I could to a mechanic. Onward!
2003 Ford F150 // 11/2015 – Present – $4,500
Oh this truck… her name is Betty White. It’s taken me all over Michiana but goodness, she has cost me lots of nickles and dimes. But she is still ticking along at over 235k and lots of rust!
2007 Toyota 4Runner SR5 4WD // 3/1/2023 – present – $6,000
My buddy Damascene needed to upgrade as his family went from 3 kids to 4, so he got a Sequoia and they sold me this! It has some miles for sure, but it’s in great condition and I enjoy having one again! I love the sunroof and the rear window that rolls down. Such a great feature. I have upgraded the front headlights and grille and put some wheels from a 2018 4Runner on it as I need some new tires.