retrorockets

My friend and fellow car junkie H. recently posted up his automotive resume of sorts, listing all the cars he's owned over the years. That of course led me to think about my own rides and... (start shimmering dream sequence effect) it's time to take a spirited drive down Memory Lane...

1) 1991 Toyota Tercel (a.k.a. Rice Rocket I) (1991-2002)
For a car guy, you could say that their first car is like their first love. It may not be the best or the one you stay with, but it will always have a special place in your heart. So it is with the original Rice Rocket. It was painted white, had kind of rounded edges, and being Japanese the name wasn't hard to come up with. The 4-speed long-throw stick shift helped make the most of the mind-numbing 82hp of the 4 cyl engine up front. Armed with 2-door coupe design, a sweet-looking black vinyl interior that one chick even thought was leather, and a "RELAX" bumper sticker on the back, it was the epitome of cool in 1991 for a high school senior. So what if it didn't come with a stereo? That's what a passenger is for, to flip the tape on the boombox when side A is done. It even had a dealer-installed sunroof. Unfortunately RR1 met its untimely demise when it smashed into a freeway offramp divider. Miraculously my sister-in-law who I had lent it to for her college commute escaped with only minor injuries despite RR1 not being equipped with an airbag. By then I had already acquired my next two rides so it didn't mean so much to me, but I will always remember it fondly.

2) 2000 Toyota MR2 Spyder (a.k.a. Stealth Fighter) (2000-)
Growing up my family was very fond of Toyotas ... we had some bad experiences with various American and European makes, but when we started buying Toyotas we found they were economical and reliable. Even when I was in school I became enamored of Toyota's first and second generation MR2s -- they combined sporty performance with rock-solid reliability. No wonder that when I started working and making a little money, I lusted after the new concept MR2 that Toyota displayed in 1997. By the time it went into production in 2000, I had met V. and she encouraged me to pursue my dream. Driving a mid-engine 2-seat roadster opened up my interest in cars and motorsports -- I tried my hand at autocross and then open track days, and got into the import tuning craze. The Stealth Fighter remains in my garage today, and although I no longer drive it every day it makes a great pick-me-up on the weekend drives and the occasional track day.

3) 1992 Toyota MR2 Turbo (a.k.a RedShark) (2002-2005)
As far back as high school I had already fallen in love with the 2nd-generation MR2 which had according to some auto magazines, Ferrari-style looks and Toyota-style price and reliability. And a standard-setting 200-hp 2.0 liter turbocharged engine providing the oomph. Unfortunately Toyota discontinued this model in the U.S. in 1995 and I never had a chance to buy one new. Well with a little extra cash available I was able to finally pick one up used. It was a fantastic ride with plenty of power, stylish looks, and superb mid-engine handling. It held its own at the racetrack, but it was also a practical car that I could drive every day. Unfortunately I eventually sold it because we didn't have the space for so many cars. I still miss it, and maybe someday I will own one again.

4) 2005 Scion tC (a.k.a. Rice Rocket II) (2005-)
When we got married I decided we needed a more "practical car" that we could take everywhere and haul a little more than a few small bags of groceries. But being who I am, of course it still had to be somewhat sporty yet comfy. The sporty ride of the MR2s was getting a little too harsh for the daily grind of my commute. At first I was thinking about an Infiniti G35 but I kind of recoiled from being so extravagant, and decided to look at something more economical. The new Scion tC fit the bill perfectly with its sporty 2-door coupe/hatchback profile and a surprisingly ample set of luxury, convenience and comfort features. And to a certain extent, I felt it was a spiritual successor of sorts to my first Tercel. Eventually V's Mercedes started to fall apart and it just wasn't worth fixing it, so we sold it and V took over the Scion as I started searching for another ride.

5) 2006 Lexus IS350 Sport (a.k.a. Silver Lexstasy) (2006-)
When we got rid of the Mercedes C280 it seemed logical to buy another car to fill the same purpose: another 4-door sedan. But V was happy to take the Scion off my hands, so I was free to shop for another car for me! Woo-hoo! Performance and style were my key criteria. Oh, and made by Toyota of course. At this point though, Toyota itself had gotten a little boring in their offerings. The Japanese equivalent of GM, some call them, but without the Corvette. They had discontinued sporty cars like the Celica or MR2, and a Camry or Avalon wasn't going to cut it. The real exciting or interesting cars were to be found in the Scion and Lexus brands. Well I certainly wasn't going to be rolling in a Scion xB so I went to look at Lexus. The IS350 was the standout performance sedan with a fresh new look and an impressive 306-hp V6 motor driving the rear wheels. It makes the daily drive to and from work just a little more bearable, maybe even entertaining.

Looking back at all these rides, it seems kind of modest and actually a pretty short list considering I'm supposed to be a "car guy". Aren't I supposed to have like 5 cars at once, at least two up on stands or cinder blocks in the front or back yard? And surely at least one truck to haul or tow them, and something with a V8. No muscle cars? Obviously my automotive resume needs some beefing up. I guess I'm coming to the realization that I am more of a driver than a mechanic -- I have tinkered with my rides to a fair degree, but I get much more enjoyment out of just taking them out on the open road or on a closed track.

So what's next in P's garage? I'm not sure yet -- maybe it's time to stray from the Toyota fold and see what else is out there. I'm definitely feeling the mid-engine magic might take hold of me again. I'm running out of affordable options there though. The Audi R8 seems like a solid choice but the Porsche Cayman is a bit more affordable. Then again, there's that new Lexus LF-A that will be coming in 2010. Maybe I should just start saving up for that. But reports say it might be priced over $300K. That's a pretty huge chunk of change for a Toyota!