When I was a kid, this was a common question. Not in terms of real cars, but more like the Matchbox semi-trucks. I had a massive collection of trucks. Moving trucks, Racecar haulers, Shipping and Transportation trucks, you name it. I had a shelf on the wall with all the trucks on it too. It was my thing. Everyone knew I was into cars and semi’s. So of course, that translates to who I am today. A driveway full of cars, a garage full of cars, and the urge to pick up more as well, because they are cool. The real question is, how many cars has a self-proclaimed “garage rat” actually had? This, is the official breakdown of the cars I have owned.
#1. 1996 Ford Mustang
This was my first car. I was probably the only person who didn’t want this car, if I’m being honest. My dad sweet talked me into it, my friends congratulated me for it, and my classmates thought that I thought I was cooler for having it. The realization was, it was a 150 hp automatic V6. Not exactly something to brag about in 2006.
#2. 2004 Ford Mustang
As if once wasn’t enough, I doubled down to really learn this the hard way. The 40th Anniversary Edition wasn’t much nicer, or faster. Granted it had the 3.9L V6 versus the standard 3.8L, but that was the only real difference, besides the body being more aggressive, and this time in red. It looked good, but it wasn’t a fast or fancy car.
#3. 1992 Buick Century
Now this, was a car. Bench seat in the front, clean white paint, whitewalls, black tint, and two 12″ subwoofers in the trunk, it was worth its weight in gold. The car was basically a Cadillac with a smaller footprint. The A/C was ice cold, and aside from a small issue with a ECU failing, it was solid. Still miss this car.
#4. 1970 Volkswagen Beetle
I bought this car for $600. It ran and drove sort of, the floorboard was more aligned to swiss cheese, and scared the living crap out of everyone that rode with me. Ever done a turn at 65 mph with someone in the back of an interiorless bug? I did. They all thought it would roll. They don’t. I tested it.
#5. 1993 Ford Escort Wagon
This was a fun car, passed around the friend group as collateral for stuff. Band equipment hauler. Not exactly the best of the bunch. Didn’t stay with me very long.
#6. 1992 Toyota Celica
This was another fun car that was passed around by friends for collateral. It stayed between me and another friend for a little bit before selling it off for pretty cheap.
#7. 1996 Acura Integra RS
This is where things went wild for me. I bought this for $5,000 and drove it forever. The car never fought me, and I still miss it. I wanted to fix it up, but knew nothing about aftermarket stuff for Honda’s. This thing was bone stock, and after a headgasket I raced my friends Mini Cooper S, and held my own against him. Definitely wish I kept it.
#8. 2001 Toyota Camry
If anything on this list is considered the “worst trade deal in the history of trade deals”, this is it. I traded the Integra RS in for this car, because the A/C stopped working good on the Integra and this thing froze you out. Only down side, you definitely became a grandpa with it. The bumpers on these things always have a dent, can confirm.
#9. 2006 Honda Civic Coupe
This is where I had enough of the comfy life and wanted something fun again. I traded the grandpamobile back in for the Civic, and was starting to figure out what I wanted with the car collection stuff. I thought this was as good as the Si, it wasn’t. I kept it for a while, and started doing research, hoping to get something better later.
#10. 1998 Acura Integra GS-R
I picked this up pretty cheap, and still lost a lot on it. I bought it at night, drove it home, and parked it. It had issues, and eventually found out it had jumped timing. No wonder it was never running right. Had I still had this car today, I could have had it fixed in a week. Talk about kicking yourself.
#11. 2002 Acura RSX Type-S
This is the redemption arc. After getting rid of the cars I wanted, I needed to find something I could love, and keep forever. This is the car. I still have it today, and refuse to let it go. The 2006 Civic Coupe was the sacrificial goat for this one. Don’t regret it one bit.
#12. 2006 Ford F-150
It was a truck. It did truck things. Like haul bumpers and exhausts and tow other cars home, mostly Marcus’ Volkswagen’s when they ate pieces of 4L80 tailshaft’s on the freeway at 90.
#13. 2003 Honda Civic Coupe
This was named “Claptrap”. We dragged it out of field in Prescott, and rebuilt it, only for me to sell it a few months later, and it get totaled. RIP.
#14. 1996 Dodge Neon
This was a free car for us. It didn’t stay very long. Threw a fuel pump in it, and sold it.
#15. 2013 Toyota Tacoma TRD Off-Road
This is the new daily. It’s a trooper in rare form, a 6 Speed Manual. It has taken me across the country twice, and has barely even shown signs of if. Love this truck.
#16. 1995 Honda Civic Hatchback
Its “Junk”, the junkyard rescue. When I got the RSX the engine was in need of help, and I started building a new K series engine for it, but when it came time to tear it apart, the engine was still doing just fine, and I saw a friend trying to sell this hatch for $500, and I passed. When I saw it for $350, I jumped on it, threw the turbo K series in it, and now it sits in the garage. I need to get it tuned.
#17. 2003 Nissan 350Z Performance
I wanted to join the others in their drifting adventure, so I picked this up. As usual, it was kind of rough. It needed some help in the clutch department, which is now taken care of. I just need to get it on track.
So were up to 17 so far. The only question is, how many more will there be?