With less free time than I’ve ever had in my life, due in part to raising an infant, investing in a wonderful marriage, fixing a 100 year-old house, and running a company, I can no longer “Buy First, Think Later”™ as I have done for the past decade or so. I have to make some tough choices.
The most cars I’ve ever owned at once was 14 — a count that coincided with me living in Michigan and having zero life outside of cars. Fourteen cars was, somehow, at the time, manageable. Now, times have changed, and my house needs a fence and we’re about to install some built-in closets into our office, and my baby requires supervision literally 24/7.
Time is gone. Money is gone. Ergo, some of the cars must go. It is life.
I’ve spent the last few weeks thinking about the cars that I simply cannot let go, and I’ve thought about how silly it is being sentimental about cars. “Don’t let cars control you. Ignore the sentiment and let it go. It’s just a machine” some said when I wrote about my first Jeep, a 1992 Jeep XJ currently rotting in the forest in Michigan.
I think I’m going to embrace sentiment. I’ve owned four XJs, four ZJs, two Grand Wagoneers, two Forward Control Jeeps, a Chevy Tracker, and a bunch of other off-road vehicles. Many have come and gone, but the two vehicles that have stayed are: my first Jeep and my Jeep J10.
Something made me hang onto those vehicles; it’s not that they were in better shape than the others — they were actually quite a bit worse than both my minty 1991 XJ and 1993 ZJ and even my 2000 Chevy Tracker. But I kept the XJ and J10. I kept the former because it was my first car, and I kept the J10 because I believe it is the very ultimate when it comes to trucks: manual, bench seat, manual locking hubs, stamped tailgate, regular cab, 4×4, longbed, gun rack — it’s a truck’s truck, and I love it.
Recently I was offered a two-door manual XJ — the holy grail of XJs. But I’m likely going to pass on it because it needs rust work, and if I’m going to put my heart and soul into a rusty Jeep, it’s going to be my OG:
Yes, it’s not rational. I could find a rust-free XJ for much less than it will take me to fix that one up, but that was my first Jeep. And my J10 has been in my car-family for a decade now:
I’m keeping these two. I’ll fix them up as needed, and I’ll have time and resources to do this because I plan to keep my fleet tight. This means that, in addition to these two OGs, I’m keeping only these four others:
My 2021 BMW i3S
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I need a daily driver, as the XJ and J10 aren’t going to cut it given $5/gallon gas here in California. The i3 is the perfect city car — it’s nimble, it’s quick, it’s efficient, it’s luxurious, it’s quiet — it’s a car I love driving everyday. I paid far too much money for it, but it’s a car I plan to keep for life.
My 1991 Jeep YJ
There are two reasons why I have to keep my YJ — the first is that I live in California, and not having a convertible is blasphemous. The second is that my YJ was my wedding car, which means my wife Elise (not her real name) wants us to keep it. Don’t have to tell me twice!
My Brother’s 1966 Ford Mustang
This 1966 Ford Mustang has been in our family since 2012; it’s my older brother Mike’s dream car, and though he lives in Hong Kong, when he visits, the joy he gets driving his Mustang is irreplaceable. A vintage Mustang in California is also just cool.
My 1994 Jeep Grand Cherokee ‘Holy Grail’
This one is controversial. Elise doesn’t get why I want to keep it, Jason doesn’t get it — nobody does. Especially since keeping it necessitates keeping a parts ZJ (at least, until I have the parts off the parts ZJ; then it can get junked).
But this is not rational. If someone has devoted a huge chunk of their life to cars — and Jeeps especially — you’re going to be hard-pressed to convince them to get rid of the best version of a Jeep. And that’s truly what I see what I look at the ZJ above.
I know, it needs tons of work, and ZJs aren’t “handsome” machines or desirable ones, but I believe that, if you can get your hands on one of the 1,400 stickshift models built, you’ve got possibly the best Jeep of all time. No, not the greatest Jeep (that’s the WW2 Jeep); I mean the best combination of capability/versatile per dollar. It’s essentially a Jeep Cherokee XJ — a vehicle beloved my all, including me — but with more space, a significantly improved suspension, and better interior quality. It’s a quiet, comfortable off-road beast with the most reliable drivetrain one could possibly want. There’s a reason why I call it The Grail.
So I’m not getting rid of this one. It’ll be on the backburner for a while, but when I do get to it, it’s going to be glorious.
So just to recap:
- 2021 BMW i3 (daily driver)
- 1991 Jeep YJ (my summer daily driver; this thing is in great shape)
- 1992 Jeep XJ (my first car; a full restoration project)
- 1985 Jeep J10 (my workhorse; I’ll tinker with it and eventually fuel inject it, but for now it’s a runner)
- 1966 Ford Mustang (my classic cruiser; needs a new suspension)
- 1994 Jeep ZJ (overlanding project)
This means I’ll be parting ways with my 1989 Chevy K1500 — a great pickup truck, to be sure, but not one that has my heart. And I’ll say goodbye to my Willys CJ-3B and my Nash.
I realize that some of those choices aren’t rational — the ZJ that’s in a million bits, the J10 that clearly needs work and eventually needs to get through SMOG, and the old XJ that needs lots of love — but I’m going to lean into the sentimentality of it all, because that’s what gives cars meaning. I’ve found that my love for a car isn’t about how nice it is or how little work it needs, it’s about what the car means to me — its story. There’s a reason why so many have come and gone, but my OG XJ and my J10 have stuck around.
Six cars. I don’t need any more. Maybe if a super nice manual XJ or ZJ comes around I’ll carve out some space, and it’s possible I’ll replace the YJ with a Jeep Wrangler JL four-door since I helped engineer it and since I’d like to take my family off-roading without jeopardizing their on-road safety in a vehicle without airbags. But until then, these six vehicles are the ones I plan to drive into the future.
Not reading any more of these things.
I have enough frustration in my own life.
I fully agree.
I quit Facebook for a (the same!) reason.
There’s gotta be some kind of a balance between content for its own sake and that “something extra” that would make me feel like the time I spent reading it was valuable.
But then here we are…
This is healthy David. But I think you’ll continue to realize that even more will have to go. Like me, young kids, work, house, all of it will eat up too much time and even when some time will open up, you’ll feel guilty using it to work on a car that ultimately may never get finished or realistically just isn’t worth it.
Secondly, how do you maintain all of them. I have to force myself to drive all of mine a couple times a month, and even then they probably don’t get enough use to justify keeping them, especially with insurance being so high nowadays.
I think you’re right. I think, in time, six will become five, and five will become… who knows. But it’s a start.
You’ll know when the time is right to reduce or add to the fleet.
I suspect if you added something that needs (almost) no work like the Lexus or the i3 those would be welcomed by your spouse. it’s the things that suck the time / life / money out of you that you should consider trimming.
This. I reduced down to 4 fully operational vehicles, no non running “project” cars anymore. My EV is the DD and meets 95% of my needs and it is so nice to just get in and go. The others all need something and every time I drive them I’m reminded of it. They’re not hopeless but everything adds to the death by a thousand cuts. It’s one reason where my mind has opened up to the idea of appliance cars. It’s not a lack of passion, just a pragmatic decision to prioritize my available time.
In time, one child will become two, two will become three…who knows 🙂
I think these are the correct decisions, though keep in mind I’m single and get emotional about cars easily.
I really want to read about you building out that ZJ soon! You’ve been teasing it since before the Autopian was even a thing.
Ah yes! We’re in David’s “the cars I’m keeping” article season.
It needs a catchy name like Toyotathon or Honda Days. David’s Summer Sanity Check, perhaps.
I think Mercedes is also trying to reduce her fleet, but I would love it if this article was followed by a “fuck it, I’m buying six more Smart Cars” headline from her.
I think she’s saving up for a locomotive, I think she’s got a deep interest in them, because of the great articles she keeps writing.
On the plus side if she does buy a train, she is less likely to forget where she left it. Unlike half her fleet…
I bet her neighbors will REALLY love her when she starts laying her own rail spur.
Here’s an idea: make a train out of Smarts.
I’m sure you can find a buyer for the ZJ who appreciates its’ rarity and potential and will give it a good home.
That and selling the J10 (maybe send it to Mercedes or Jason to sell in a more agreeable market?) will leave you with only the Mustang taking space on the Galpin back lot and frankly, if I were Beau I’d want you to park it behind the main Ford store on a part of the lot where it can be seen on the street since having a driver-condition early Mustang sitting behind the shop only helps the place’s car-guy cred.
The YJ is the best of the Jeeps since it’s running, open, and the go-to weekend fun car next to the daily-driver i3.
Someday father and son will get around to putting the “Holy Grail” ZJ on the road. Someday…
Prudent choice not stating which father and son 😉
Hilarious!
Still a bit of fat to trim, the ZJ, it’s parts car, the J10, and XJ could probably all go, keep the wedding Jeep, I guess your brothers Mustang for some reason?(I have 2 siblings and if either wanted me to keep a car for them over 10 years and through multiple moves, I love them but sorry, they’re gonna have to make other arrangements)
Also would keep the Chevy truck instead of the J10.
So commuter car, truck, Jeep, and random relatives car for some reason. Also the wife’s car, still quite a bit, especially with a newborn and a site to run.
I have family who moved abroad 20 years ago still storing stuff at our or other relatives’ houses. You’re never moving back, and you’re never taking or shipping any of that stuff to where you actually live. So what is the point of burdening others with your crap?
Choosing the rusty J10 with no power over the K1500 is a mistake.
Of course, now I want to buy the K1500 from you.
*shakes couch cushions furiously*
The K1500 is the better truck, but the J10 is as “David” as it gets. I understand why he intends to sell the K1500.
I understand it too. It’s still the wrong choice.
I was going to comment on your choices.
My three car fleet is:
A fast, fun 2-seat coupe.
Another fast, fun 2-seat coupe.
A GT86 that might as well have two seats.
That makes no sense at all. So do whatever makes you happy.
I’d say to get rid of the ZJ, but the Jeep Kitten pin on my lunchbox is staring at me accusingly.
I think you should say goodbye to either the 1994 ZJ or the 1992 XJ as well. Probably the XJ since it is not so conveniently located thousands of miles away from you. I get the sentimental attachment, but you didn’t bring it with you to California for a reason. Even the non-running Golden Eagle made the trip even if you eventually sold it.
Progress is progress, but that’s a LOT of project cars for someone with more pressing commitments, will there even be anything restorable on the XJ by the time you get to it?
I agree. That XJ and ZJ will never be completed or worked on. The K1500 is a better choice over the J10 if he ‘NEEDS’ a truck but I’d argue that he could get by in life without one. Both Lowes and Home Depot offer same day delivery for stuff free these days with a minimum order amount (at least they do in my area).
I’m in a similar situation, with two Civics, my 03 Lx has spent most of the year with a dead battery; so dead that a jump pack wont get it to spin over.
It sits because it needs a clutch, engine and transmission mounts, a valve cover gasket, and probably more I’m forgetting. I keep saying I’m gonna get to the clutch, mostly so it can be my winter Civic preserving the 13 Si from salt as much as possible, If I don’t get it road worthy by the end of October I should probably make the hard decision and get it to someone who needs reliable transportation.
I was there with my ‘92 Roadmaster Wagon. It was running but needed some things to be reliable. I had dreams of restoring it for a cross country road trip but then I looked at the list of things and amount of work and time I had with an infant. It just didn’t add up for some arbitrary vision that may or may not happen so I moved on. Selling it was such a liberating experience. I’m down do no projects and it feels so great.
The one big thing making me conflicted is my 13 year old wants it to be his first car, but that’s just far enough away that it may be a really bad idea. A 25 year old tin can with two airbags might not be the best first car for a new driver.
Remembering 30ish years ago to when I was just learning to drive I would argue a Honda with +/- 100hp and a manual transmission seems like a pretty decent car for them to ruin first. My brother destroyed a pretty nice MT-5 Taurus and, while I didn’t total it, I did a number on a Volvo 740 before either of us had too many miles under our belts, no airbags in either but new enough to have good crumple-zones and seatbelts.
Selling the infant was a bold move
You talk as if getting the Civic ready is going to be a pain. You can do everything on that list in a day if you work hard, it’s a easy weekend of work if you work moderately.
I’m aware of my tools and capabilities, and a clutch is not not a single day job for me, but I appreciate the confidence 🙂
Also Uhaul trailers are like $15/day and will haul as much as a pickup.
They will! But I wasn’t sure if he would have a tow capable vehicle if he purges all his Jeeps (ideal IMO) and U-Haul won’t rent trailers for soft top Wranglers.
That was my exact thought, although I would say he gets to keep 1 Jeep SUV. The XJ would make more sense, actually. Getting rid of the ZJ actually relieves him of 2 vehicles (ZJ and parts ZJ.) Plus the XJ has some sentimental value as his first car, the ZJ is just the perceived holy grail.
Now, on to the truck. The Chevy makes so much more sense to keep. Yes, the SJ-10 was a trucks truck – back in the 60s/early 70s. Modern day, it can’t keep up with modern traffic, can’t tow much, etc. Maybe if it had a 360 in it I could see it, but I’m the anti Jeep 6 person – I’ve seen plenty of exploded 4.0s, and the 4.2 is nothing special. That makes it pretty redundant when you have 2/3 other Jeeps that can do pretty much the same thing as the J-10 with the addition of a trailer plus haul more people. The Chevy, on the other hand, is a modern classic, will always be worth something, and just better at truck stuff than the J-10 in the 2020s. Lastly, having a reliable truck that doesn’t need constant work has been a godsend to me. I went from having old Ford trucks to first a Lincoln Navigator (realized I needed an actual truck with a bed) and now a Ram 1500. Both of which needed essentially only routine maintenance in the 5 years I owned each.
We’ve read articles like this like 5 times from you David. Maybe with the wife and the kid this one will actually come true, but we’ll see.
Indeed we will. It’s a new frontier!
His goal is to cut it down to just 4 of these articles per quarter.
If you’d whittled it five instead of six, you’d be a five car stud.
Technically the mustang isn’t his, so he’s there.
Good choices. Congrats.
I didn’t know there were only 1400 manual ZJ’s. My dad had one as a company car in… 1996ish. I drove it regularly during the summer of 96, and would take it down to the beach at night and drive into the office road only section at East Beach in Charlestown, RI. I would park it and smoke ciggies before it was time to go home.
That was a blast, and now, 30 years later, I realize just how much more special that summer was. Ours was white, and I loved driving a manual Jeep on the sand after watching everyone else do it for the prior 10 years.
This is a no hate zone, David. Hatties Jam into When It Rains is an amazing jam.
https://youtu.be/WCcKsEKWHTA?si=FHHBaTZpZR_RDZ2w
David, David, David, that’s still too many.
Ditch the ZJ at least. Realistically this project will A) never be complete and B) unless your kiddo is into overlanding, won’t be used nearly as much as you think. If your kiddo is into overlanding then start a fresh project with him when he’s old enough.
I’d argue the YJ, XJ, and J10 should also all go. At a minimum choose between the YJ and XJ.
Use the proceeds to start a post secondary education fund for your son.
Agreed, the best use of a YJ is to donate a VIN and chassis to a plated buggy.
Woh woh woh; why is everyone hating on a borderline-mint condition 4.0 5-speed YJ? The thing is awesome!
It’s in the trough of “dated but not yet retro” value and has been for a while. Probably a good reason to keep it, along with the fact that as I said above it’s a great weekend car.
I dunno, I’ve seen JKs backdated to look like YJs with square headlights, so the Radwood effect is in play here.
I agree. It runs. It looks great. It was cheap. Off road, and convertible
Because YJs are objectively terrible, a strange mashup of leftover AMC parts and whatever they dug out of the Renault parts bin. The transmissions sucked, the fueling was awful and the YJ was generally a mashup of junk from a dying brand. The TJ was a huge leap forward in off road ability, comfort, and reliability.
This just isn’t true. It’s literally the exact same drivetrain as the TJ, minus emissions bunk.
Doesn’t quite flex as well or ride as well, but as for durability, it actually outshines the TJ due to shear simplicity of its suspension and emissions equipment.
I’ll disagree. The TJ felt well put together, whereas the YJ felt like the lion Voltron and the vehicle Voltron tried to merge.
Now if you could find a mint, six-speed LJ…
This.
It hasn’t moved in years and it probably still smells like kittens were born in it.
The YJ is perfectly fine and serves the purposes of convertible, beach car, and off-roader. There’s no reason to get rid of it. I never thought there was a question about keeping that, the i3 (daily driver and he wisely sold the other one), and the Mustang (will never leave unless the brother actually takes possession).
Wait until you have a conversation about number of children vs. number of vehicles. Where the challenge that you can only have as many cars as you have kids.
You’ll quickly find a new equilibrium.
Time to crank ’em out!
On the note of the green 2 door XJ, I had the opportunity to go check it out in person for David last week, and the owner is very much looking for a good caretaker for it. It’s been in the family since 96 and was parked because the rust was getting bad with the intent to fix it. It should fire up with minimal effort, and is well worth saving for someone with the desire and ability. I’d be happy to get people in touch with him if anyone is interested in a great project from SE Virginia.
Thank you so much Brandon! Former me would have said yes immediately!
Haha not gonna lie, I thought about it myself, but I don’t have room, the requisite skills, or the desire for it. But it’s hard to turn down for sure.
All of this makes sense to me, especially the manual ZJ. I understand when something like that is an obsession that others won’t understand. Besides, it’s not like the ZJ will financially ruin you guys lol.
The only one that I kinda don’t get is the J10. I do think they have a cool factor, but it seems like this has been the least rewarding? And now that you have a kiddo but still want a pickup truck, it feels like getting something WAY newer with ABS, airbags, and a rear cab that you can load/unload a kid from makes more sense?
But, these are personal decisions, so gotta respect that.
Honestly, if you need a pickup, and you live in a rust-free place.
Used Honda Ridgeline.
I know, I know. I’d be skeptical as well. But after I borrowed one with 200k on the clock from a family member, I do think they are very underrated vehicles that just happen to have a cargo bed.
If I’m going to keep a truck, it needs an 8ft bed.
If David is renovating a 100 year old house, all those complaints about bed size and dry wall may finally make sense.
5×8 utility trailer is the answer…just hook it up to whatever car you currently own…maybe not the i3?
Those are a PITA. If you got the space, truck is leagues better.
Meh. I had a lot of pros work on my house, with loads and loads of 4×8 sheets of drywall, OSB, and ply in their trucks, and you know what? The only guy with an 8-ft bed was the foreman and the bed was completely taken up with tool boxes.
You can carry sheet goods in shorter trucks. People do it all the time.
Ah, yeah, I see your issue. Especially if you are doing home reno stuff, might as well have a larger bed. J10 it is!
My house is 120 years old, the previous owner moved in in 1993 and did exactly nothing to maintain, fix, or update the house…. I have a new soft spot in my heart for anyone doing home reno stuff now.
But … you actually have 7 cars. Your wife’s car is also your car. And an RX350 can tow what, 3500 lbs? The YJ probably isn’t far off that. So a cheap rental trailer is the way to go when / if you need to haul stuff.
It’s really easy to convince yourself you need a truck “just in case”, but all that ends up doing is helping you justify tackling more projects that take you away from the important stuff. Trust me, I’ve been there and have the regret and alimony bills to prove it.
I may have to make some tougher choices in the future. One step at a time!
My most at once was 5 I think, while trying to sell the 2.5RS that got replaced by the WRX.
I’m back down to 3 since April and my driveway/garage is happier for it. GR Corolla, Crosstrek (appliance), and 90 Celica GTS former race car from the old Celebrity / Pro series.
But I keep looking at MR2s and Miatas on Marketplace.
I’m up to 4, and keep looking for a motorcycle, but really need to do something about the Yugo before making any other moves. I only have room for 3 at this point in time so something needs to change, and somewhat quickly.
I’ve got a KLR 650 I’m passively trying to get rid of and one dead Torchinsky-mobile in the barn already… We could make some magic happen.
Dual sports are definitely not high on the list that I was looking at, but it is nonetheless tempting. And a bike as vehicle number 4 would take up far less space than the Yugo, that I could make work… Oh man you’re going to get me in trouble. Are you in the discord at all? What happened to kill the xB?
https://www.theautopian.com/how-i-turned-an-abandoned-beater-into-a-championship-winning-race-car/
DM sent.
Ah. I remembered the article, but the fun times overshadowed the unfortunate ending. I’ll look for it this afternoon. I don’t have access to the discord/my phone at work.
Wait, what happened to the XB?
I had to go back and read it again:
Oh my. As a former owner of two xB’s (06 that I did AX and later 04 that did appliance duty but was a manual and cheap) plus rallycross fan, this catches my interest. I even had brackets that let me mount Hellas to the front using spots behind the grill.
Nice. I just screwed my auxiliary lights straight to the bumper plastic, but your method sounds nicer. I’m surprised you were able to autocross yours, from what I’ve heard the Detroit SCCA chapter is a stickler for the “must be wider than it is tall” rule, which the xB (barely) isn’t.
Maturity comes fast with parenthood, eh? Congrats, I bet this wasn’t easy for you.
Don’t forget the Lexus. You married her, so you married her car too.
Hadn’t you already decided to get rid of the CJ (too much secret Bondo) and the Nash (I thought you had given that one away already)? It seems like getting rid of the K1500 is the only change. We could tell from the last update that you never really intended to sell the J10.
If you need a parts car for the ZJ, then you actually have 7 cars, but I guess that is canceled out by the Mustang that is actually “your brother’s” (even though it is definitely yours).
I also thought the Nash was already gone. Donno what happened there.
good for you David, very sensible, tho I would have kept the k1500 over the J10 cause of CARB. Love that Elise (NHRN) told you to keep the wrangler, I always wanted one!
He can actually sell the K1500, the J10 is radioactive in California for exactly that reason. Well, that reason and the multiple rust holes.
Fact.
So who’s going to call the over/under on the day DT buys something else ridiculous to add to the fleet? (Like that Comanche in today’s Shitbox Showdown)
I give it less than 6 months, definitely.
And he’ll tell us all about it too. Gotta keep those clicks coming in!
I’ll keep clicking. I’m a sicko like that.
We’re his excuse. He needs to buy all the old Jeeps for “content”.
I’ve been buying old Jeeps since I was an engineer at Chrysler. It ain’t for content.
Just wait til you find another FC-170.
3 months, tops. He’ll have a reason for the new thing, like he’s going to part ways with one of the current six – but then somehow that won’t happen for a year. Or the new thing will be a planned-time-limited experiment he doesn’t plan to keep for long, and then he’ll keep it 3x as long as however long he said.
I say this as someone who’d love to read about all of it, too.
He has a deposit on a Scout, but that is further out.
He wouldn’t go for that Comanche, gotta have the 4.0, but yeah save this post, we will need to refer back to it in no time when he’s suddenly trying to justify car number 9.