My Cars

1997 Honda Civic LX – Li’l Green

Bought in April 2015, retired in July 2018

Engine: Honda D16Y7 1.6L inline 4-cylinder

Transmission: 5-speed manual

Mileage: 181,000 to 214,000

The Story: My first car. Bought it the week I got promoted up from express tech at the Toyota dealership. Front subframe was rusted out when I bought it, spent a full day replacing it on my day off at work. Drove to Missouri and back in 2017, passed 200,000 miles during that trip. Right rear toe arm broke shortly after, eventually leading to its retirement and replacement in 2018.

Current Status: Retired, out to pasture

1990 Ford F-250 – Monroe

Bought in December 2017, scrapped in 2025

Engine: Ford 300 4.9L inline 6-cylinder

Transmission: 5-speed manual

Mileage: x06,000 to x10,000+ (5 digit odometer)

The Story: While looking for a replacement for Li’l Green, a friend told me her brother was looking to sell his truck. I went and took a look at it, and while it wasn’t what I was looking for as a daily driver replacement, I bought it as a second vehicle as a project and utility vehicle. It was painted camouflage by the previous owner. Despite the all-terrain tires, it’s only a rear wheel drive. I’ve definitely spent more time working on it than any of my other vehicles, which makes sense with its age. I’ve replaced the starter twice, starter solenoid four or five times, and done a complete rear brake rebuild, among much else. I don’t put a whole lot of miles on it, but it’s a fun occasional drive, and I’ve used it to haul wood and scrap metal enough times for it to be worth owning. After getting too rusty, I scrapped it.

Current Status: Scrapped

2007 Toyota Corolla S – Michael

Bought in July 2018, wrecked in December 2019

Engine: Toyota 2ZR-FE 1.8L inline 4-cylinder

Transmission: 5-speed manual

Mileage: 109,000 to 121,740

The Story: Replacement daily driver for Li’l Green. Couldn’t find any Hondas that fit my desires, but found this Corolla for a good price. The S model has a spoiler and body kit, but otherwise isn’t any sportier than the standard models, but I thought it looked good. After a year I needed new tires, so I took the opportunity to buy a set of steel wheels to replace the alloy wheels. In December 2019, on my way to work, I was rear ended, totaling the car. I took my brand new wheels and tires off and let it get taken away to the junkyard.

Current Status: Destroyed

2014 Honda Civic LX – Yvonne

Bought in January 2020

Engine: Honda R18Z1 1.8L inline 4-cylinder

Transmission: 5-speed manual

Mileage: 90,000 to 147,000+

The Story: After the Corolla got wrecked, I was extremely lucky to find this manual transmission Civic. As expected with the newest car I’ve owned, I haven’t had any problems with it. When the tires wore out, I was able to use the ones I’d bought for the Corolla to save some money. I have some minor appearance modifications planned, but otherwise, since it’s my daily driver, I have no other big plans for work on it.

Current Status: In service

1993 Chevrolet K2500 Cheyenne – Mortimer

Bought in October 2024

Engine: Detroit Diesel 6.2L Indirect Injection Diesel V8

Transmission: Automatic

Mileage: 180,000 and up

The Story: My F-250 was still running, but was getting more and more rusty, and I was never confident in the engine starter system, so I decided it was time for a new truck. I had wanted another F-250 or F-350, but extended cab, diesel engine, automatic transmission, but I didn’t have any luck finding one, so I ended up finding those specs in a 1993 Chevy. I drove an hour into the middle of nowhere to buy it, stopped to fill the tank, and broke a starter bolt and had to have it towed home.

Current Status: In service