23 years later. It finally hit a milestone number on the clock. 55555 miles.
89407 km for the Imperially Impaired.
I was sitting at a stop light in Pompano Beach. Southbound on Federal Highway, US1, and Mc Nab Road. Seems like that's been my history for quite a while. Always heading south on US1. Always carving a groove in US1.
I got into Jeeps back when AMC was a going concern. I had a friend who was influencing me. I commented that I was tired of "Fussy Cars" that had problems. I wanted something I could fix if I had to but had to be well supported.
He took me out into the NJ Pine Barrens with his own CJ 7. I was hooked.
I got myself a CJ 7, charcoal with a hard top. I had that car for about 3 years and enjoyed it until I drove it to Indianapolis. It ruined my back. So I got a small car and drove that back home.
That was a mistake. I never stopped missing that CJ.
So after I wrecked the small car and had a mistaken flirtation with a Ford Taurus, I got a Chevy Nova. Mind you that was basically a Toyota Corolla and it fit me well for 10 years. It started having issues with rust and someone who I was seeing was being cranky about being in a small car so I was pointed to the new Jeeps.
"It's a Jeep TJ. The Wranglers. They are actually comfortable unlike your CJ and you never stopped talking about that one."
So I test drove a TJ. Bought it that day. Only draw back was it was an Automatic.
I don't know why anyone wants a Jeep with an Automatic. It's just not... Jeeplike.
I need to "Row My Own". I need to be in touch with what I am doing.
It has the nicest sound when you drive it on the road. Between 30 and 50 it sings to you in third gear, purrs in fourth. I should know, I put it in that gear myself.
It's also a thirsty beast, and has always been. 16 MPG is a good time for me. The best I ever got was 23 mpg and that took a tail wind and a trip to Key West, FL to do it.
Pro Tip is if you ever are going to Key West, plan your trip to hit the Seven Mile Bridge at sunset and make sure you have a convertible car. Put the roof down and enjoy that ride. One of the most beautiful rides you can ever have, I did it both in that Jeep and a Honda GoldWing Interstate motorcycle. If you plan your timing right the stars come out like someone threw glitter in the air.
No, really, it is truly that beautiful.
I'd even consider driving you there, if you talk nice to me, and pay for gas, food, and lodging. I may be nostalgic and a bit of a travel romantic, but I am not stupid, Key West is damn expensive!
If we do go, you had better be comfortable with my choice of music. My Jeep, My Rules. No country, none of that "Album Rock" crap.
But let me get the old boy serviced. 23 years is a long time and the hoses are starting to crack. That's why the engine light is on the dash board. It has been for about 10 years. I suppose I should get that looked into, but the code is the gas cap code, and I am tired of buying new ones.
For the most part, it's been a good friend. Mechanical friend that only let me down once. Ironically at that self same intersection, the clutch master cylinder failed on me. I limped to a dealer and they did repair the clutch. I told the advisor what was wrong, and after a week they found the part and replaced it. It's been good ever since.
I pulled in and the service advisor said "we don't have a loaner or a driver for you". I had just come south from the park and a workout. Pointing at the bike on the back of the Jeep I just said "You are only 6 miles/10K from my house and I just finished a marathon, a little bit more will be fine". It was the look of astonishment from all the service advisors that convinced me that remaining in shape all these years and being able to ride 38 miles in one day on a bike was well worth it.
Yes, that old dusty Jeep is a friend. A good ride. They don't make them like this any more. They got big just like every other car on the road. They are transitioning to hybrid which would be nice. That 16 MPG is tough to take but I have been told to hold onto my old boy.
I do talk about it like a cowboy talks about his horse. Funny thing about all that. I see a lot of cars on the road but nothing really catches my eye. Prices have tripled and quadrupled. But I still have my old Jeep and I'm comfortable in it. Nice not to have a car payment for the last 20 years.
I may even be convinced to take it in for service to have that gas cap code looked at. I know what has to be done and I am not finding the idea of lowering a gas tank for an inspection to be attractive in my own carport.
More than I would like to attack. I did replace the stereo more than once and made a bezel and a mount for the speaker out of a laundry detergent bucket. I am still picking up bits of blue plastic in my kitchen that flew off the Dremel from that day.
Better to make your own microplastic waste than absorb it from the environment I guess!
If I can find a truly good mechanic who knows old cars, I may be able to relax enough to trust my old friend to.
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