"Who the f*ck are you?"

An amateur, an enthusiast, a hobbyist, a day dreamer, a late bloomer, a "car guy". I have been considering writing a blog about my automotive adventure for a while. Maybe a journal for my own thoughts, maybe a place to receive some feedback, maybe some history for my kids to read. Who knows? Recently I have developed a "Don't talk about it, do it" mentality. We'll see where it goes.

I said I was a late bloomer, not physically, thankfully, I guess? (Maybe mentally..) Nope, I was a late bloomer getting into cars. When I was driving age my parents were able to talk me into practicality over fun. I have a rational, practical, state of mind now. Great when you grow up, but youth was meant for mistakes.

I remember wanting a Pontiac Grand Am GT so badly for my first car. Yes, I realize now how lame that was, but growing up in Michigan you have a predisposition for the Big Three. When many of your family members work for them, or know someone who does, you can get that sweet, sweet A-Plan discount. You tend to end up with a lot of Made in USA™ vehicles. Unfortunately, I guess that was still not practical enough for my parents who were generous enough to pay for half of the car I got. So I got a '98 Chrysler Cirrus. ...In Purple. Not exactly the coolest vehicle to show up to class with.

The Cirrus was so pathetic that I think it may have steered my direction even more so to get something "cooler." Next try was a '07 Chevy Cobalt.

.... Not exactly an improvement, this wasn't fast or fun or exciting or cool. Or even practical? It was manual everything. My Cirrus was boring, but at least had auto locks. The Cobalt was manual and that was all I cared about. It was my first 3 pedal car. After I taught myself how to drive it around my neighborhood, I could actually drive stick (mostly). Unfortunately, after about a year and a half of ownership, I was on my way to work 2 days after Christmas and the probably very old, very bald, all seasons and... slid right into the car in front of me at a red. Yikes.

I was still young at this point, making my own money, but still needed some direction from my parents. They were able point me toward a 2015 Chevy Cruze. Nothing special, but a much nicer car than I was used to. Somehow, we were able to get an insurance return from the totaled Cobalt for more than I paid and it was enough to put some away and put money down for a lease.

The Cruze was great, boring again, but great. Power everything, better speakers than anything I ever had, but I really missed my stripped down car's manual. I ran out my lease and when it was time to say goodbye, I started shopping. (I promise I am getting to the MR2 at the top)

It had been drilled in my head that I needed something practical, something that could handle the Midwest winters, but it was going to have a stick, dammit.

I ended up with, arguably, one of the best combinations of practical and performance it doesn't get much better than a hot hatchback. I LOVED my Focus ST, I truly never thought I would get rid of it. This was the first car that I modified in any way. Little more of a "bought" not "built" kind of modified, but remember I said I was a late bloomer, and I really meant that. 3 cars in, and I'm just now starting to modify them. At this point I have a mortgage and I bought this 2017 ST new. (That was dumb, don't do that).

It may have been years overdue, and the "build" may have been throwing money at small aesthetic parts and baby's first performance mods but I was in love. With the car, the process, the community, and making it my own.

I said I was in love with my Focus, and I was, but something fell into my lap. My brother was in the opposite situation. He finally had his fun car, but it wasn't practical. Basically at all. Not for a Midwest winter at least. He tried to make it with a winter beater, but he really did not have a place for his own pride and joy, a '90 Mazda Miata. He offered it to me for what he paid, $3000. I was paying for my new house and my new car, but decided I could help him out and took on one more small monthly payment.

I had 2 absolutely amazing vehicles, both an incredible joy to drive. I was super proud of what I had and everything was looking up.

The Miata was breathtaking. ..Or maybe a breath of fresh air? It was my first non-American vehicle, my first convertible, my first rear wheel drive car. It was a taste of something new and after that, I knew I had to taste the rainbow. Variety is the spice of life. Ironically, despite how great this car was, I knew I wanted something else. It will always feel like my Brother's car, even though I ended up owning it longer than he did.

The Miata was in great shape for a Michigan vehicle. About 85k miles when I sold it, some minor surface rust, but nothing too bad. For being a 30 year car, not in a museum, it was pretty mint. I decided to fix any issue I found and return it to stock as it was meant to be enjoyed that way.. (it wasn't, it was sold to a California 16 year old that probably drifted it into a wall by now) This was the first car that I began fixing myself that wasn't brand new. Rusted bolts, destroyed rubber and all.

I sold the car on Cars & Bids for a decent profit, as you know seeing my purchase price (Realizing now that I still owe my brother a matching Miata tattoo in its honor).

And so we reach the.... well, not so current time... I purchased this... uhh... "looker" in June of 2021. For a the steal of $11,000. I mean steal from me, not steal for me. I have a reputation for lacking patience. While I was searching for a bit, I jumped at the first local MR2 Turbo. I was watching the car market close enough to know it was going to get more and more expensive with time this has become a slightly better deal, but my MR2 is ROUGH.

Thank you for reading, this is where I will leave you and I will pick back up with the current state of my MR2 and my future plans for it!