Year end wrap up.

Hard to believe, but the old year is finally over.

There was quite a lot of activity in my car hobby career this year. A real change of direction, a break from the inertia, and a slightly different focus. 

There was some serious revising going on.

The biggest event was the shake up of my established order. It started out slowly, then picked up speed, and by the Fall, three of my hobby cars were gone. This time, once the decision was made, I acted quickly and decisively to sell each car. The speed at which this occurred was surprising to me, but even more so to my Wife. She had heard lots (and lots!) of talk over several years without any action. Then poof! Cars suddenly started disappearing!

photo source: Almay

There were also two new additions to the hobby car fleet; a 2006 Mustang GT convertible in a very nice shade of blue, and a red Lincoln Navigator, ...just because!

One of my current cars has managed to keep it's place. My '96 Mustang has long been one of my favorite cars. Next to the cars that I bought new in 2007, this has been my longest keeper. It's the one car that I have made and kept an actual commitment to. The thought of selling this car did not go over well with me, but I really wanted and needed the space, and it seemed that I would never be able to sell the XJS. After a bit of internal debate, I finally decided that the Mustang was staying, no matter what, and the Jag was going. Even if I had to donate it!

I was lucky that the on line junk car site, that I offered it to, saw some value in it. The initial offer was over 2,400 dollars, as I was finishing inputting info they raised the offer to 3,200! I was ready to accept the first offer, but the higher offer sealed the deal. I quickly accepted it, and the tow was here the next day.

My focus with older cars has changed, at least for now. 

Earlier this year I rearranged my garage so that I could keep two cars  inside. As I always mention, there is a constant struggle to keep excess stuff out. My Wife always wants to put "something" in there temporarily. It doesn't take much additional stuff to crowd out one of the cars. Then there will be all that suddenly available "extra" space to store more household stuff!  

I built a "park under" garage table back in the beginning of the year.  Initially the XJS found a home on that side of the garage. Later, the '96 Mustang claimed that spot. Now the '06 Mustang resides in the space next to it. I can occasionally squeeze the Flex into the same space, when the '06 is being used.

Two cars in the garage, two cars in the driveway, and the truck at the curb. That appears to be a reasonable arrangement.

I suppose that even old dogs can learn new tricks, or at least learn to chase other kinds of cars!

All this change was needed and necessary. I felt some loss seeing a couple of the cars go, but the gain in freedom was well worth it. 

I had been stuck with two cars that I couldn't drive. One the '51, was a total project, because it needed so much work to even run, and the other because it needed quite a bit of work to bring it up to daily driver status. Even the XJ6 wasn't up to daily duties. Three cars just sitting around taking up valuable space. That just contributed to the inertia that placed me into a "gumption trap!" My '96 Mustang was my only reliable, good running, hobby car. Now the three Jags are gone and my two additions are good running cars. 

Following my "Vintage Lite" orientation, I'll be detailing and improving my recent purchases; the '06 Mustang and '05 Navigator. The same could be done for any other early Millennial age vehicle. Both cars are in pretty good shape as vehicles in this age bracket should be. They don't need much, which is the whole point.

Cars from this "period" are the new low hanging fruit. They are affordable compared to cars from the 50's and 60's. Plus they have the advantage of being completely usable on a daily basis as transportation. 

Fifteen to twenty year old cars? Isn't that what I used to do back in the Day? I guess that history does repeat itself! 

Though I'll admit that through my continuing involvement with the AACA, Antique Automobile Club of America, forum, I still get a steady exposure to more vintage vehicles. I'm much more realistic now, I don't anticipate buying a low priced example and fixing it up. My focus would be on good running and driving cars in good overall condition. Unfortunately a car of this caliber would set me back more than my two recent purchases, combined! So I can't see that happening anytime soon.

I've even been selling off what's left of my old Datsun parts hoard. All the really good stuff is long gone, but there is still some smaller stuff that is valuable to many Datsun Z and 510 owners. The funny thing is that I acquired this stuff back when you could buy a starter Z for around 1,500.00. I bought several parts cars for less than 300 dollars! Now a starter Z is around 15,000.00! That's quite the price escalation, so my parts are worth quite a bit more now. But my position is that I want to give the buyer good value for their money, and would like to clear out my storage. Being able to help someone with their project is just a bonus, and gives me a good feeling. My Wife has helped me with shipping some parts through the mail, which has been convenient for both the seller and the buyer.

My home improvement projects have slowed to a crawl, but there is always next year. My biggest project will be painting the exterior of the house. I also need to finish up painting the interior. I should get this all done by the end of the next year... maybe. 

Next year will mark the start of the tenth year of producing my blog. I'm proud of my commitment to it. Keeping up the weekly postings has been fun and even if nobody ever read it, just writing it, is it's own reward. Well, it would be quite disappointing if no one ever read it, but it's just a hobby, there's no money being made by me, it's a labor of love?  I really appreciate that someone would spend the ten minutes it takes to read it. I know that blogs are now considered passe, but I don't think that a video starring me, would be that effective. Probably not that entertaining either.

I admit that I am an optimist, and hope that the New Year will bring better things to everyone. I plan to keep on doing what I've been doing, and reporting on my progress here.

Happy New Years to all!

 Replicas, Tributes, Clones, and Fakes.

Does it all come down to the intention to deceive? 

This is my newest watch. It certainly is a handsome example, the combination of stainless steel, black tachometer bezel, and gray watch face makes for a tasteful and expensive look. That is why I bought it. If you didn't know anything about watches, and didn't take a very close look, you might think that it was from a famous luxury watch manufacturer. Or should I say, that you might be fooled into thinking that.

They make a nice watch, though some models are a bit over the top.
The company has a very nice logo.

But that wouldn't be the case. This company is known for building inexpensive watches. Many are very close replicas of certain high end models. They offer quite an array of different colors, finishes and configurations. 

In fact, it sure looks a lot like this watch. This one was introduced in 1963. A watch that was worn by Steve McQueen, a fact that has made these even more desirable. This is the Rolex chronograph Daytona. It's very nice. And even more expensive.

A real Rolex Daytona starts at 25,000.00 and goes up from there! My watch was bought for about 24,940.00 less. That's 60.00 on line, plus shipping and sales tax. Mine is an Invicta Speedway. To be honest, I wasn't aware that it was so similar to the Rolex. I was actually channeling my appreciation of the Omega Speedmaster.

Compared to the Rolex these are almost affordable at around 5,000.00 Maybe that's for a used model, I'm not that up on high end watch prices.

If you see me wearing my Invicta, I'm pretty sure that you wouldn't mistake me for one of the 2%. You would be looking for other cues that would convince you that I was the kind of guy that could afford a Rolex or an Omega. My car sure wouldn't do it. My newest vehicle cost me 25K, it was four years old, and it ain't paid off yet. Not only that, but I buy my jeans at Walmart! 

I guess that this whole "Speedmaster" thing was started by seeing this in the Staur catalog.

Note the configuration of the push buttons, the beveled tachometer bezel,
and the three complications on the face. 

These go for around 125.00 through their catalog. I'm not convinced that it is even as good as my Invicta. If you've ever seen their catalog, you know that it is full of nice looking stuff that looks expensive, but really isn't. I've gotten several silver rings with semi precious stones as gifts, from this company. What can I say, I like pretty things. 

There has been a lot written about guys that build replicas of classic muscle cars. "Clones." After all, every muscle car was just a well equipped base model. There may have been some chassis enhancements to go along with the big block V8, but they were essentially the same. Wrap them up in a nice color, add the requisite stripe package, and Bingo! Another rare muscle car is born.

What's wrong with doing this? Nothing in my mind. It's the owner's car. If they really want a Shelby Mustang, or a GTO Judge or a Hemi 'Cuda why not get the same look, and probably better engineered modern performance? Only the VIN will tell the tale. Just one other thing, please don't misrepresent it as an authentic example. Especially when it comes time to sell.

There are other guys that cultivate a "Dress for Success" image by driving five, to ten year old, high end European makes. A nice Beemer, Benz, Audi, or Jaguar is still mighty impressive. One of these cars when immaculately kept, looks new to most onlookers. Unless you are really up on the current models, it's easy to believe that these guys are driving new, or almost new cars. That is the impression that some want to foster. Nothing is wrong with this, most enthusiasts can only afford these types of cars when several years of depreciation drops the price to their affordability levels. If you are lead to believe that they are better off financially than they really are, well that's your assessment. It's called image management.

There were two instances in my own life when I drove three year old Cadillacs that still looked like new. I wasn't trying to impress anyone, I was just a Cadillac lover that could finally afford these recent models as a used car. 

The intention to deceive, that is the most important factor.

I like what I like, I buy what I like and can afford, and I will offer no excuses. Nor should anyone else. 

I got to thinking about this subject after writing an earlier post about Antonio's Rolex. Then I bought a 17 year old Lincoln Navigator. Was I now a poser, trying to look like some rich old fat cat? What's next, should I start wearing a big gold chain and smoke a cigar? 

And that watch! I said that I would never buy a fake Rolex. There are so many Submariner copies out there. I get it, they are good looking timepieces, and you gotta have some money to burn to buy a real one. These watches just scream " Fake Rolex!!!!!" 

High end products exert a strong influence on the market for general merchandise. Design cues from these products are used in more attainable mass market products. We see this in fashion, jewelry, home decor, and automotive styling. All this makes sense, as the high end products are aspirational, things that we would like to own. If we could afford them. So we try to grab some of that cachet by buying similarly styled items, or maybe even by acquiring the actual item purchased second hand! 

Yeah, that dreaded word: "second hand." That is a favorite word of the detractors. A word that is supposed to fill you with shame and the dreaded fear of social rejection. Those glee killers that try to spoil your enjoyment of the things that you had to stretch to buy. Why is it their business to critique what you choose to own? 

Of course they have no business. Some people are just mean spirited, and want to ridicule what they see as poor people putting on airs. Some are smug, self righteous types that think that we should all stay in our little castes. 

Whatever. I wanted a watch that looked nice and tasteful, and maybe a bit special. I bought it as a birthday present to myself. I'd never try to fool anybody. But I'm not gonna preface any compliments that I might receive while wearing it by telling everyone, "it only cost me 60 bucks!" I don't apologize for my Timex.

If anyone wants to say that my old Navigator is a bridge too far, well I won't be able to hear them. I'll have the stereo turned up too high!

The Holidays are here, and I hope that everyone has a pleasant time as this year wraps up. 

 More of a candy apple, than a penny from Heaven!

That's just a reflection on the front bumper.

To think that I thought that I've had enough red cars! These photos are from the CL posting. The car looked just as clean and shiny in person.

It's all about the bass!

These things have always struck me as appealing. I really like the way they look, these second gen Navigators still feature the "Mark" Style chrome grille and the most attractive interior design since my '94 Cadillac Seville. This color combination really clicked with me the moment that I saw it on CL. It just struck me as cheerful and fun, and it looks like something that will fill me with pride of ownership. It looks like  it will make every trip into something special, just like my Jaguar XJ6 did, it makes me feel good just to look at it!

Those dual exhaust pipes are not just for looks, they are part of a cat back performance exhaust that allows the engine to breathe a bit more freely and allows a nice tone to escape to the atmosphere. Will they improve the fuel economy? We will see soon enough.

Boomer's Hot Rod!

I'm going to make one clarification, for the record. I know that this is really a truck, an SUV to be precise. But they were not designed and built to be thought of that way. They were designed as a luxury conveyance, their primary aim was to transport their owner in comfort, silence, convenience, with an air of exclusivity and prestige. At one time I was one of those guys that would incessantly proclaim, "That's not a real Lincoln, a real Lincoln is a Town Car or Mark V!" Well, those days are over. This is the real Lincoln, the Navigator is the top of the line from Lincoln Motor Company and it carries on the grand tradition of great road cars. From now on I will refer to this vehicle as a car. I will even extend that courtesy to my Ford Flex. Both are examples of the vehicle configuration that has displaced the traditional sedan.

As soon as I saw this color combination, I was hooked. The combination makes the car look like something special, and like something that it's owner will cherish. When I went to look at it, it was love at first sight.

Nice job, Lincoln!

This is the interior that set Lincoln back on the path to success. It was this dual cockpit themed dash that initially drew my attention to these cars. It harkens back to the '61-'63 Lincoln Continental. That model was one of Lincoln's high points. I was able to drive my Dad's '63 Lincoln back when I was in high school. This fine design combines flowing contours, and a beautiful mixture of colors and textures, and of course the warmth of real wood inserts. It really makes this vehicle something special.

Ford pioneered these glass "Moonroofs" and I have always loved having one in my car. I love to have the sun shining down on me on a crisp, clear, Autumn morning. 

Looking at this, I no longer miss my Jag.

These door panels remind me of those that were in my Jaguar. I have become spoiled and have been looking for a vehicle that could evoke that same feeling. A beautiful interior has become an important feature to me.

Cavernous. That's the word that applies. There is plenty of room to carry anything and everything needed on an extended vacation trip. If that's not enough, just fold the second row seat. Taking everything that you want, without it encroaching on your passenger's space, is part of the definition of luxury. The third row seat is power activated. Once you become accustomed to the luxury of space, it's hard to go back.

This particular Navigator features the three across, second row seat, which I prefer. Instead of the twin Captain chairs with a large center console. This provides for five passenger seating which is perfect for everyday use. The third row seat is spacious, with plenty of headroom. More importantly it has more foot room than my Flex. Both the second and third rows have split 2/3 seats which can be arranged in a multiplicity of combinations depending on your needs. 

As a point of comparison, the Flex has a more spacious second row seating, along with a bit more cargo space behind the third row, when it is in use. The Navigator takes a bit of space from the second row, and adds it to the third row. I think that it would have been ideal if the Flex had an adjustable second row seat that could be moved forward to provide greater foot space when needed in the back. 

Haters are gonna say. "Isn't it just a big gas hog?" Then flash a self satisfied smirk.

Maybe so, Maybe no. 

Apples to Apples, Oranges to Oranges. My Frenenemy! It's all about the context. All vehicles consume fuel to provide the service that their owner's desire. So does public transportation, and even that Tesla, the electricity that it uses doesn't come from the air, or from magic, it comes from burning natural gas at a power plant augmented by solar energy.  It's a trade off, fuel used in exchange for work provided. 

You cannot honestly compare it to a Nissan Leaf, or a Honda Fit. It can't even be compared to a Toyota Highlander or a Nissan Four runner. It can only be compared to other large SUVs. Or all of those large, full sized crew cab pick up trucks.

Fuel economy numbers are not outstanding, 12 mpg. around town with 17 mpg. highway with 14 mpg. combined. It has enough power to provide relaxing, stress free, high speed touring. These are EPA estimates, I'm curious to see the mileage that I'll achieve. I've always been able to beat those EPA estimates. 

It is a large vehicle, capable of carrying eight passengers, lots of cargo inside, or any combination thereof, all while towing a boat or trailer! You can pick up your relatives or friends at the airport, or squire a small group to a sports outing or other event. 

What luxury sedans have provided in the past was exclusivity and prestige, as well as comfort and space for four passengers and their luggage. As well as effortless performance.

These Navigators and other large luxury SUVs provide the same qualities of prestige and comfort combined with the real luxury of enhanced capabilities and flexibility of use. That is what has made them so popular. 

What really surprised me, was that when I pointed out a new Navigator on the highway, my Wife found them appealing and attractive. I've been advocating for a newer Aviator, but I settled for my Flex as a second choice. It may turn out to be the best choice. ( A new Explorer would have been my third choice.) I guess that she really did like our Seville, I know that she liked the XJ6. 

I'm buying this red Navigator as a hobby car, so it won't have to be used as a daily driver. It is in good condition and only has 109,000 miles, so it might turn out to be a good runner. That all remains to be seen, but I have high hopes. I told my Wife that it's a birthday gift to myself, as well my retirement Tonka Truck!

My Wife also likes it, especially since I quit talking about that '53 Cadillac!

                                                   --------------------------------------------------------

Postscript:

My thoughts about the Navigator have been based on what I've read in magazines and on line. Today I finally got to drive it on a fairly long trip. We had gone to check out the Navigator on our way to a long weekend at Clearlake. It appealed to me right away. The seller and his Wife were very nice people. We did a bit of an inspection and a test drive, where we checked out the features, in the parking lot of a supermarket a couple of miles away. The mileage is low, 109,000 miles, and the car started and drove well. It looked really good in and out,  though there was a damaged clear coat area on the front bumper. There's a small worn area on the passengers seat bottom, maybe it's a burned spot, the sellers were smokers. However, the interior looks great for a 17 year old car. Still, we were in a bit of a rush, but I decided that I wanted it, and made an offer. We quickly came to an agreement. 

We arranged to complete the sale five days later when we would be on our way back home.

During that time I didn't exactly second guess myself, but I kept wondering if it was really as good as I remembered it. I had plenty of time to mull this over, maybe too much time. Did I just rush into the purchase due to my excitement? Even my Wife was enthusiastic about it. That sure doesn't happen often!

I was able to get my Son to help me pick it up after he got off work. We picked him up at his house and drove to Vacaville  The plan was to bring the Navigator back to his house in Martinez, and return later at another time to  bring it the rest of the way home. It's 70 miles between our houses and it takes anywhere from an hour and fifteen minutes to an hour and a half for a one way trip.

This morning my Wife dropped me off at the train station and I took Amtrak up to Martinez by myself. I would walk the couple of miles from the station to my Son's house, and pick up the car and drive back. I went around in circles until I asked for some directions. 

I really enjoyed the train ride, I can talk about this at another time. 

I stopped at a low priced gas station that had been recommended by my Son, 4.89 a gallon. I had read that the car should be run on premium, however I figured that if I put regular in my Mustang GT without a problem, it should be fine in the Nav.

The biggest question on my mind was, "what kind of gas mileage would it return?" This was a good 70 mile run with light traffic. I reset the trip computer and resolved to keep it at the speed limit, like when I drive my truck. I set the cruise at 65 mph. and stayed to the right, I always make it easy to let the hot shoes pass me. 

The Nav ran, braked, steered, stopped, and tracked perfectly. When I left the freeway in Fremont to go to the In and Out Burger, the trip computer advised me of 20.00 mpg! I was impressed as well as relieved. It's not a Prius, but the mileage matches my F 150, and is only 2-4 miles less than my Flex. No problems running it on regular gas. 

After running around in the city, then completing the trip to San Jose, my final mileage was 18.5 mpg. That's still a mile and a half over the EPA estimate. This thing is fast, too. It will rocket up to 80 mph. with a minimal application of throttle. The Nav is equipped with a cat back, Flowmaster dual exhaust set up. It replaces the stock muffler with a less restrictive unit that exits through two pipes. Sounds good, but it's still  quiet. I do love a set of chrome exhaust tips sticking out from under the rear bumper!

Overall I was quite impressed. It felt great on the freeway and it has good tires all round. 

The operative philosophy when driving this vehicle is "Make Inertia Your Friend!" Short trips around town, or constant stop and go traffic, will bring the mileage way, way, down. Restraint when accelerating is also required. It's a heavy vehicle with a powerful engine, it's perfectly capable of jumping away from stop lights or cruising at extra legal speeds, but you will pay for your indiscretions at the gas pump! 

Summing everything up, I love it! It is that "something special" that I've been wanting. It wont take much to cherry it out and bring it as close as I can to perfection. Lot's of content for future posts. I'm not feeling any buyers remorse!

 Pennies from Heaven, Again!

Everybody loves Wally Gator, or they should!

Or, How I became a Gator Guy!

In the vein of "When one door closes, another opens, though sometimes, it's just a window!

I guess you could say that this is going to be an awful big penny! 

I initially was strongly attracted to an Aspen green, with tan interior, 2003 Navigator that I found on CL. The only problem was that it was in the Sacramento area, Rancho Cordova to be exact. I have described my attempt to buy that particular example. It didn't work out, and after looking I found an Aviator for sale in Sacramento proper. 

How would you describe this color?

No more black interiors!

Whatever. No more kids in my backseat.

This Aviator looked really good in the pictures and the mileage was acceptable, at 154K. It was a deluxe model with just about everything that was available as an option in that year, including a built in video player and 4WD. The body and paint were as good as they looked in the photos, the interior wasn't perfect, but the seats were just a bit worn without any tears or holes. The dash finish looked almost completely intact. Overall, it was pretty presentable, but as an older luxury vehicle it had gone through the hands of second and third owners who had let the condition slide. This figures into the rest of the story. 

The car was a lien sale. The seller of the car was a small independent auto mechanic service shop that also had a business selling aftermarket wheels. The lady that owned the car had let it sit after it developed several problems, notably a lit CEL. She didn't want to spend too much money on the repairs, but she brought it in to the shop to have the problems addressed. The seller showed me the work order.

A new battery, an oil change, plugs, and a couple of ignition coils. Diagnostics, several emission sensors, two window regulators, code resetting and few other things. The total for this work was over 2,800 dollars. Shop labor is at least 140.00 an hour, so it all adds up. The car was now running okay, but it was still tripping a code for some type of evaporative emission sensor. When the shop contacted the owner for an okay for the additional work, she never called them back. This went on for quite a while. It became quite apparent that she wasn't going to pay the bill. They went through all the proper procedures, sending the notices through the mail, finally initiating the lien procedure. This all started in April, the lien sale became cleared in June, and we are now in November. The shop was trying to recover their expenses. They hadn't been able to sell it quickly. The current high price of gas is keeping buyers away from these older V8 powered SUVs. Another thing that didn't help was the color, an unusual hue called Ash Gold Metallic. It is kind of a gold/grey mixed with light sea foam green pearl. Distinctive yes, combined with an ivory interior. It looks much better in person than it sounds. Though it was listed in the ad as "yellow." That probably kept some potential buyers away! I actually liked it because it was uncommon, and I don't want anymore dark colored cars. 

Unfortunately, the shop never completed all the work needed to have the car smogged. The seller told me that they preferred to sell it "as is." It was obvious to me that it could be bought that way, quite a bit below the 5,500.00 current asking price. The seller was very honest, they needed the car gone because it was just taking up space that they could use for a paying customer's car. They couldn't leave a customer's car or the Aviator parked outside because the neighborhood was kind of sketchy. It was really becoming a pain in the neck.

The lien sale paperwork wasn't really a problem, it was all sorted out and it maintained a clear title, I had done a little research prior to going  up to look at the car. The problem was the lack of a smog check. I told the seller that I wouldn't buy the car without a clear smog check. He didn't want to invest any more money into it, but agreed that if I gave him a couple days that he would look into it, and give me a call, once it was smogged. Never, I must empathize, never, ever, buy a car without a clear smog check. Once you've bought it, then you are stuck with it. If it can't pass smog, then you can't complete the transfer and registration in your name. 

I went home and I never heard back from that seller. It was his mistake not to have the smog ready, I liked the car and probably would have bought it that day. 

This opportunity didn't pan out either, and I was getting a bit discouraged. 

Most of the earlier Navigators that I found typically had 200+ thousand miles on the clock, and an interior condition that reflected that length of service.  This is not a criticism of the sellers, they bought the car to use, not to preserve it for the next owner. I know that these vehicles are tough and long lived, and even with 200K on the clock, there's still a lot of life left in these beasts. 

It really didn't look that bad!

It was the painted dash that looked the worst.

It was clean when they first listed it.

I had found a similar 2003 'Gator for sale in Fremont, it looked okay in the photos, and it was certainly cheap enough at 3,999.00. I figured that it would be a good idea to go look at this one, since it was close to home, and take it for a test drive. I'd never even been inside of one of these before. Mileage was low, only 125,000. It must have been a hard 125K! It was parked behind an auto repair shop along with several other forgotten and forlorn candidates. It was filthy, the tires were low on air, and the battery needed to be jumped. Once it started, it actually ran and idled quite well. The seller told me that it had been bought at auction. The body and paint were actually very good, only needing a good wash and wax. The interior, not so much. The seats were worn but not torn, but the dash had a lot of that "satin nickel finish"  (read that as silver painted plastic)  worn off around the push buttons and dash controls. Did the previous drivers tape sandpaper to their finger tips?  Those same drivers had also managed to break a couple of the control knobs. But I wasn't there to criticize, I was there to test drive!

It may have annoyed the seller but I repeatedly asked, "The brakes work, right?" I didn't want this thing to run amok in traffic.  

I checked the brake action before I left the parking lot anyway, just to be sure. Surprisingly, the thing didn't feel particularly gigantic, since I'd been used to driving my own F150 for years. While it was old, it didn't look particularly gargantuan or old fashioned in the traffic mix. There were lots of equally sized crew cab pick ups, Expeditions, and Tahoes in traffic all around me.

The experience was about what I expected, the steering pulled a bit to one side, but it didn't dart when I applied the brakes, no screeching either. Acceleration and braking were both strong, though a succession of warning lights flashed on the dash. The four wheel drive system appeared to work. Most of the power goodies and accessories also seemed to work. When I brought it back it idled as smoothly as a Lincoln should. 

Was I seriously considering making an offer? Heck no! But I'd gotten what I wanted out of this encounter. 

This was an example that could be saved, rehabbed, and returned to service as a presentable hobby vehicle. Or it would most likely be bought to be used as a big work truck. Plenty of size, grunt, and a lot of life left in it for that function. 

Still, as a mental exercise, I mulled over how this thing could be rehabbed. I thought that after a careful cleaning the dash could be masked and resprayed with matte silver paint, and the push buttons could be treated with some clear polyurethane. The seats could be reconditioned and re-colored, and various broken bits could be replaced by wrecking yard finds. I didn't find the paint color to be that attractive, a dark heather grey/green but it looked like it could easily be touched up and waxed. Over all it could be fixed up, but I wasn't looking for that much of a project. 

Sensing my disappointment, my Wife helped by showing me the vehicles that she had found on Facebook Marketplace. We were primarily looking for Aviators. They were about what I expected. Higher mileages, several with aftermarket big booming sound systems or DONK like wheels. Along with the mandatory worn out front seats, covered by those awful stretch nylon seat covers, as well as a badly worn and stained steering wheel. Yuck!

Then I decided to look on Sacramento area CL. 

And this is what popped up!  As shiny as a new penny! But would it be as nice in person? 

Stay tuned for another chapter in the Gator Guy chronicles.. 

 

 Stuff.

This is the Rolex model that most are familiar with. 

All of those things that clutter up our lives. The older we get, the more we have accumulated.

Some of these things are necessary, and they're things that most other people have. Things that help us to live our lives. 

Things that we need; a car, a house and all the furnishings.

Things that we have wanted for a long time and finally got.  I would say that my "06 Mustang GT falls into that category.

Things that we want, but still haven't gotten ...yet. These are things that I used to dream about, like a big house with a big shop out in the country. Or the Aston Martin DB7 that I still find myself daydreaming about. 

Things that we will probably never get. Like the house in the country and the Aston Martin!

Things that we should probably never get. Funny how both the house in the country and the Aston Martin also fall into that category! 

I have just finished watching a video on "Real Men Real Style," Antonio Centenio's menswear and lifestyle channel.

The question posed in this video concerned whether or not the ownership of an expensive, 28,000.00 Rolex  watch, will bring the owner happiness. Antonio opines on his experience with his Rolex. (actually one, of his Rolexs!) 

I found this video kind of odd, because it appears that Antonio is showing off a bit, which I found unusual. He bought his watch for a bit over 11,000 dollars some time ago, to celebrate his company's first million dollar year. He told us that it's current value as a used watch is 28,00.00, pretty impressive, from an investment standard alone. 

Antonio sez:
"Dare to be the best dressed Man in the room!"

I'm not one to play the hater game, and I actually admire Antonio for what he's accomplished, and certainly don't begrudge him his financial success.  A Rolex, or any high priced watch, is certainly something that exists outside the orbit of my experience. Which is really as it should be. My Father would would have described it as something that is not appropriate for someone of our circumstances. 

Sometimes we can stretch and make a concerted effort to attain something that we really want. For most of us regular folk, that is how we manage to buy our house. Saving, scrimping, putting in the overtime, or working that extra job on the side. Selling off a motorcycle, car, or boat or anything that we had wanted at one time. Accumulating that down payment. This is probably the most rewarding thing that you can accomplish, as it provides a family home as well as the basis for an improved financial future. 

Sometimes later, we will be at a point where we may be able to afford one additional luxury item. Upgrading and renovating our house, or maybe a bigger, fancier, house, college for our kids, travel and vacation experiences, or maybe a special car or boat. I've always thought that wealthy people don't have to limit themselves to just one choice, they can have it all, and usually at a higher level than we can imagine. I suppose that's what it really means to be wealthy! 

Does merely owning something expensive bring happiness? Is it merely because it is expensive? Or is it because it is something that is of higher quality, performs better, is highly sought after, or is more exclusive? 

Is what it means to you what gives it its importance, or what its possession communicates to others? 

These items are usually seen as status symbols, or as displays of conspicuous consumption. As some people like to declare that they have more and better things than their peers. It also declares that they have the means to enjoy and engage in this type of consumption.

This usually turns out to be peer group oriented, for as we all know, there are many higher income groups than our own. No matter how high you can get, there will always those above you. Conspicuous consumption is on full display in the media, internet, and social media. We are all exposed to it, unfortunately, some folks get wrapped up in an "envy economy" where everything they do turns out to be a desperate attempt in their quest to "Live Large."

As a young person we usually have more unrealistic, unfettered expectations for the future. This is as it should be, why put limits of your hopes of achievement? That is the time in your life to dream big. 

As maturity sets in, it usually makes us more realistic about our possibilities, and we know that we can and will, only achieve so much. The goal is to become comfortable, and to appreciate the good things that we have in our lives. 

It's all about striking a balance, as each possession of ours exacts a price, and exerts a pressure on us. It is possible to get buried in "stuff." That situation can reduce or eliminate all of the enjoyment.

There is the concept of intrinsic versus extrinsic value, though it is usually not an either/or dichotomy. It's like a continuum, but both qualities can be found in most things.

Cars are intrinsically important to me and to other car guys. Maybe not so much to regular people, except as a transportation device. Being able to afford newer, worry free transportation is a real practical achievement. It does make life simpler, and allows for more spontaneity in travel plans. 

Being able to choose between more expensive models that make their use more pleasant is also nice. At one time, items like power steering and brakes, automatic transmission, a/c, and a powerful motor were reserved for the high priced marques. 

Now most of these items are available on almost every car, and standard on many, if not most. 

Currently, I am just not in the car loving state of mind. In fact, I'm sort of at the lowest point of automotive interest that I've ever been at.  I sure don't feel like going to a car show, or a Cars and Coffee get together. I don't feel like reading car magazines. I don't have very much interest in looking at new cars either.

But the funny thing is that I still enjoy driving my cars, it doesn't matter if it's one the Mustangs, the Flex or even the truck. On the numerous drives home from Sacramento, I really enjoyed driving both of my Mustangs. They are both fun cars to drive, they sound just right and they have a cozy, compact feeling. 

On my drives I passed a lot of cars. and I also got passed by a bunch. But I didn't feel like I wished that I was driving one of those other cars. It probably sounds somewhat disingenuous, but I really don't envy anyone else's car. Mercedes, BMW, Audi, Jaguar, no thanks. Chargers , Challengers, Camaros, whatever. I know that there are a lot of cars that are much quicker than mine, most are nowadays. But it really doesn't matter to me, I'm not going to be racing anyone.  My old Mustangs will easily cruise at 100 mph. if I want to, I've driven on a lot of trips where I maintained an 85 mph. average. They go around corners pretty good, maybe not like a Porsche, but plenty good enough. Even my '96. Yeah, there's absolutely no prestige in driving or owning it, but who would I be trying to impress? There isn't a lot of ego tied up with it, but that doesn't mean that I don't value it, because I do. 

I wanted my '06 long before I bought my '96, even before I bought the '07 back when it was brand new. This retro style impressed me when it was announced, and it still does. While my favorite vintage Mustang is the '70 Mach One, I don't have any real desire to buy one. I know that I am much happier with the '06. I revisited vintage Mustangs with my '70 coupe, not that long ago, and I discovered that these older cars left a lot to be desired. 

My interest in owning a truly vintage car is steadily decreasing over time. I've had a pretty good selection over the years, but don't think that I'll be repeating that process.  I think that my focus will definitely be on cars of the new Millennium. Truthfully, any car from the early 2000's is already going to be around twenty years old. That's kind of "Vintage Lite," but at least the cars should still be in reasonably good shape. These are the cars that can cleaned up, detailed, and lightly restored to a good appearance. The prices are also much lower than all those used up older cars.

That's the kind of "stuff" that still looks like fun to me!

I'm sort of surprised that the Holiday season has snuck up on me. This last month has been quite busy for me, and my Wife has started up her crafting business again. I help her in different ways and that takes a bit of my time. Then there's the house. Sometimes I will put off household chores but I have to find time to fit them in. I wanted to reseed my front lawn before the rainy season started. I was hoping to let Nature irrigate the yard and I finished up a few days ago. We just got a heavy rain storm today.  I have been very busy around the house, but I still find time to play with my cars. My vehicle line up has changed and it's a bit leaner. I've hinted at some of the changes in my stable. 

As 2022 comes to close, I am also quite aware that I will be starting my 10th. year producing this blog. That is a pretty long time, and I have consistently made it a priority to make new postings every week. Producing this blog is a major part of my automotive hobby, as well as a very enjoyable activity. It's a weekly writing assignment that helps me develop my writing skills and lets me share my experiences and insights with anyone that cares to follow it. I'm obviously no expert, and not a Jay Leno type of enthusiast, I'm just a regular guy trying to enjoy being a car enthusiast, on my terms.

So I thank everyone who takes the five minutes to read my postings and hope that I can continue to provide a little bit entertainment and humor in the following year.