Cars. What an American obsession and essential part of Americana. We here at Buddhist Catnaps (Josh and Carl) have owned some pretty incredible cars. Our cars have ranged from boats to bullets, station wagons to sports cars, gas guzzlers to hybrids. Our cars have become a small part of our image and we wouldn’t have it any other way.
Carl’s Cars
- 1978 Dodge Aspen (years 1995-1997)
The 78 Dodge Aspen, slant six or inline six engine, vinyl baby blue bench seats. This thing was a screamer! This car treated me so well during my senior year of high school and my freshman year of college. The car was named “the love machine” out of simple high school immaturity. I’m not sure why my dad and I decided to paint it black with tractor paint and then I completely ruined it by trying to wax it (such an idiot) you don’t wax if there is no clear coat!!! I then foolishly bought some white rims and totally turned a nice blue car into a clown car. Oh well it was a great car that only cost $1 dollar from a family friend. No shame driving that beast 6 hours to Rochester NY either on the NY thruway.
- 1987 Jeep Cherokee (years 1997-2001)
The dark grey Jeep Cherokee with maroon interior was purchased because the aspens rear gear box was going. Purchased on the side of the road as you are exiting Claremont NH heading up the steep hill towards Newport. I think is was $4600 maybe less with 82K miles I believe. Body was good and my dad is a huge fan of Jeeps. He currently is running two Jeeps now. The 87 Jeep Cherokee worked out great during these years because I was always moving around because of school or co-op. It made many trips to Rochester’s 6 hour drive one way and twice to Charlotte North Carolina for two different co-ops with IBM. I recall my jeep packed full of things on one of my trips to North Carolina and I ended up getting a flat tire in CT. The Jeep was so jammed packed that I couldn’t get to my jack and wrench which is under the rear bench seat. Ask me about 4 wheeling in North Carolina one day.
- 1998 Volvo S70 T5 (years 2001-2004)
Summer of 2001 the Jeep did not like the stop and go traffic of MA. It would constantly stall and ruining our once perfect relationship. I had to let the Jeep go and gave it to my father who continued to drive it for many years in NH. The Jeep loved the NH roads and driving conditions and did not cause him the same heartaches that I experienced in MA. I was looking for an upgrade and went with the 98 Volvo S70 T5, black with tan interior. This was the nicest car I had ever owned. Sun roof, Lots of Turbo being the t5, stick shift, lots of horse power, comfortable seats. The S70 started to move away from the boxy look of the 950’s you see on the road. I enjoyed my time with the Volvo but started to get worried that major things were going to go wrong so I sold it after changing the clutch. Looking back I think that guy got a great deal at 112,000 miles. Also this guy worked with a high school friend of mine which was totally random so it was comforting to know my Volvo was going in good hands.
- 1990 Nissan Sentra (years 2004-2007)
While selling the Volvo I found this great deal on craigslist for a 1990 Nissan Sentra two door. This was a no thrills vehicle, small, looking outdated and incredibly only had 32k miles. I had to buy this car because of the low miles and low price of $1800 I think. The Nissan turned out to be a GLC or Great little Car! My friend I think April coined it the “Tuna Can” and so it stayed as the Tuna Can. 14 inch tires, great in the snow, a four speed stick. Light blue interior. No car payment was now the luxury… I was now saving for better things to come.
- 2001 Audi TT (2006-present)
I had decided probably in 2005 that I wanted a Audi TT and always liked the car from the first day I saw it on the road. I kept searching for one until I found it. The Audi TT had 32k miles when I bought it. At the time I really wanted black on black but opted for the silver with black interior. I had looked at a black one with a few more miles but the engine was not as clean running as the one I ended up buying. Audi makes great cars! Its given me minor problems but also given me the confidence to buy another Audi. I’m at 102,000 miles and I’m looking to drive this car as long as possible.
The Future – I’ve got an itch for a sport wagon. Most likely the Audi A4 Avant. Would love the TDI version to come to the A4 line.
Josh’s Cars
- The Silver Bullet (1993-2000)
You never forget your first. I loved the Silver Bullet with all my heart. A beautiful Toyota Corolla station wagon. Great mileage. Countless adventures and trysts. This baby was a 1989 piece of beauty. I learned to drive on it and eventually became mine once my parents no longer needed it. The Silver Bullet outraced a local thug, brought a beer die table to SJC, transported me and my friends to countless practices, parties, runs to Diamond etc. etc. A true Classic.
- The Black Lightning (1993-2001)
Another Beer family classic. Another automobile that saw its fair share of road trips, trysts, adventures, out racing of local thugs etc. A black beauty, this Mazda MVP had unlimited storage for teenagers or pumpkins, brought the Beer family to FL and back and everywhere around New England. And yeah a tree fell on top of it and it still kept on kicking. They don’t make ’em like that anymore.
- 1994 Volkswagen Passat (2000-2002)
This was a short-lived affair but it got the job done. Keeping with my love of station wagons this black VW got me to and from Cali on two incredible cross country trips. Utilitarian to its last.
- 1996 Toyota Corolla Sedan (2002-2010)
Gets the job done. 234,000 miles. Highly reliant. Minimal money invested in repairs. Great mileage. Always dirty and never enough room. A few phrases to descrbie this great servant to the JB. This beige automobile got me to Cali and back, multiple trips to DC and NYC, a zillion trips from ME and UNH to home and back. Would never win any awards for “Most Aesthetically Pleasing” but a true blessing and it will be missed.
- 2005 Honda Civic Hybrid (2010-Present)
With the death of my old Corolla I was able to luck into Grammy Beer’s 2005 Honda Hybrid. Things couldn’t have worked out better. Though we are in the honeymoon stage of our relationship things are great (49.5 MPGs for my first tank of gas) and I look forward to a bright future for me and the Hybrid.
The Future- Undoubtedly back to a station wagon. My true passion.
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