Cars
I like cars. I didn't grow up in a family that liked cars, in fact, all of my relatives drive very practical vehicles (if they drive at all). One of my uncles owned a '68 Corvette Stringray years ago, but he sold it. After my parents retired they got themselves a truly exciting car--a Volkswagen Cabrio. To each his own. My interest is not genetic, but it's there, although it has also mellowed over the years, and I no longer lust after exotic sports cars to nearly the same extent.
2019 Acura RDX Advance (modern steel, ebony interior), 2018-present
After almost 13 years of faithful service, the old RDX was getting, well, old. The interior was wearing out (like arm rest padding completely flat), the exhaust system was rusting out and couldn't pass inspection, and the headlights were getting worse and worse (even after multiple rounds of polishing). This situation led me to several months of research on the plethora of upscale smallish SUVs with turbo four-cylinder engines, but ultimately I opted for the new model RDX. It had the power and refinement I was after, as well as all the nice tech goodies like adaptive cruise control and Apple CarPlay, without waiting forever to get a factory-customized build (specifically unlike the Audi Q5), at a very reasonable price (unlike the Porsche Macan).
2007 Acura RDX (carbon gray pearl, ebony interior), 2006-2018
One of the most difficult decisions I've made around cars was replacing the RAV4 with a more upscale, better performing, safer SUV. The RAV4 was rock-solid reliable. The RDX, on the other hand, is an entirely different breed. "Super handling" all wheel drive, a torquey 240-horsepower 4-cylinder turbo engine, and outstanding fit, finish, and amenities look to make this a worthy successor to the old workhorse.
2001 Porsche Boxster (silver, blue interior), 2001-present
Now THIS is a CAR!! Say what you want about it not being the fastest (yes, I test-drove a Corvette once, and couldn't stand it), it has handling to die for, refinement that leaves the competition in the dust, and an engine that whines and roars like nothing else out there. It's even better with the top down. I guess this makes me a "Porsche guy" and that means I will never be a "vette guy" or a "BMW guy" or among the "Ferraristi." Well... about that last one... we'll see.
1999 Toyota RAV4 L (forest green), 1999-2006
In 1999 I realized that I got lucky in the Miata with the mild winters, and that there was no way a serious sports car would be able to handle most mid-Atlantic winters. So I got the RAV4 to haul things and people, drive through snow and mud, and in general be the "beater" car. Of all the SUVs I tried, this one had the best transmission, handling, and steering response. It was like a Miata, but big. And slow. And a bit more prone to rollovers. The last time I ever saw it was when they drove it around back at the Acura dealership.
R.I.P.
1996 Mazda Miata (brilliant black), 1996-2000
My first car purchase. Made me a sports-car driver forever. It was an amazing little car and I had a lot of fun over the course of almost 5 years and more than 50,000 miles. A totally reliable convertible with train-track handling and a short-shift gearbox. The power left something to be desired (133 hp 4-cylinder) and the refinement wasn't up there, but it was a great little car. It did provide some entertainment one time when a couple of relatives who were visiting from Italy started ogling it. The younger one got to go for a ride. The last time I ever saw it was at a car dealership in Delaware when I traded it in.
R.I.P.
1988 Volkswagen Golf (gold), 1991-1996
One of my parent's old cars, which I drove now and then in school and then drove to work when I graduated. I had a 40-mile commute (one way) so I contributed in no small way to the car's eventual death by charitable donation. It was faster than the Vanagon, but that's about all that can be said for it.
1985 Volkswagen Vanagon (blue), 1990-1991
The car I drove to school when I first got my license. It was a real performance machine (or not--it once placed dead last in Car & Driver's year-end performance review for 0-60 time). Everyone called it the party van, but it was potential more than reality. I did manage to fool a very gullible friend (who later wound up at MIT) into thinking I had installed a big-block Chevy V-8 once when the muffler broke. In retrospect, a car with a built-in mattress should be a pretty exciting thing for a young guy, but what do you want, I was a nerd. I'm not sure what became of this one.
1977 Volkswagen Van (white), 1989-1990
I learned to drive a manual transmission in the "Porsche of Vans." I also spent a lot of my childhood freezing during long trips thanks to the air-cooled engine. It was more aptly called "the bus," not because it was powerful like Jerome Bettis but because it drove like a bus. I think my parents sold it to some relatives.
Rentals and Loaners
Above are all the vehicles I've ever owned, but over the years I've also driven many rental cars while travelling, or loaner cars during service and repairs:
- Audi A4 - One of my loaners was an A4 with 100k miles on it; rather beat up, but drove just fine.
- Acura MDX - I often get these as loaners; they're obviously a bit bigger than my RDX, but refined and competent.
- Cadillac CTS - When my wife and I went to California to get married (so technically she wasn't my wife yet), we got a reasonably nice car. Mostly I remember that the windshield had terrible glare from the dash while driving on roads through the woods, and the interesting but plasticky vent flow controls.
- Cadillac XT4 - Drive one of these for a week once while my Acura was in the body shop (the first time). Decent car, typically comfortable not-super-rugged SUV, very nice engine but sluggish.
- Daihatsu Terios - This diminutive little SUV was our rental car in Tortola; it mostly got the job done, but could barely make it up some of the hills and switchbacks. Particularly interesting was driving it into Road Town, the capital of the BVI, to extend our visa at the immigration office, given that my experience driving on the left was quite limited.
- Dodge Durango - One time when I brought my Boxster in for service the only loaner they had available was this horrible truck that steered like an overloaded cargo ship. Hated it.
- Ford Explorer - Unlike a Wrangler, not a good car on the islands. Way too big, mammoth turning radius, and limited visibility. One year it was all they had, and therefore better than nothing.
- Ford Escape - Our rental vehicle for several trips including Maine, Utah, and Alaska. Actually a pretty nice small SUV, comfortable, capable, and with plenty of room; I considered buying one, but wanted more power.
- Ford Edge - Our vehicle during a trip to Tennessee; competent overall, but the padding on the ceiling began coming off.
- Jeep Compass - Competent and comfortable low-end SUV, though not even close to a Wrangler. We rented one during a trip to New Mexico.
- Jeep Patriot - Drive one of these for a week once while my Acura was in the body shop. Nothing really notable about it, but I was glad to get my Acura back.
- Jeep Wrangler - A Wrangler is our standard rental vehicle in the Virgin Islands, and I've driven plenty, including both 2-door and 4-door hard tops and soft tops. I love them, they just go where you need them to go without complaint, even if that is through deep mud, up and down steep hills, or over roads with bad or no paving. Not something I would want for daily driving at home, though.
- Nissan Altima - Rental car during a trip to Florida. Decent enough and comfortable.
- Porsche Boxster - I got a newer model year once as a loaner; very similar to my own, but with quicker steering and a lighter-feeling shifter.
- Porsche Cayenne - A random loaner I got, nothing wrong with it, just bigger than my usual SUV.
- Porsche Macan - I specifically requested one as service loaner in 2018 while shopping for something new. It's a great car, but a bit cramped inside, especially in the back.
- Porsche Panamera - Another loaner, drives like a Porsche with plenty of power, but also rather gigantic. I'm just not into big sedans.
- Toyota RAV4 - I owned a first generation RAV4, of course, but also rented a third generation 2009 model in Grenada - notable for being right handed and therefore a jarring experience!
- Subaru Outback - Got this on one of our trips to Utah, and came in quite handy on the dirt roads near national and state parks. My parents actually had two different generations of Outback, and I rather like them.
- Volkswagen Tiguan - This was our rental vehicle in Hawaii. I wanted an SUV for the space and capability, although we really didn't run into anything other than paved roads. Compared to the Acura it felt sloppy and, well, cheap.