I was out for dinner with a person who has not been in my life for very long; we've known each other for a few years but only as general acquaintances so we didn't know a whole lot about each other. That changed about six or so months ago and since then it seems a lifetime of understanding has unfolded. It's been nice, peeling back her layers and revealing some of my own and I look forward to more of the same.
Anyway recently, the subject of vehicles came up and she was surprised, amazed, confused about the fact that I've had somewhere around fifty five vehicles in my life - I lose count...it's fifty four or fifty five. Each had a purpose and I sometimes had multiple vehicles at the one time but as we were talking I guess I saw it at arms' length and realised that it was truly a lot of vehicles to have owned.
Over the last week or so I've been thinking on it as the conversation made me think about why I've had so many, why I bought each one and what benefit each had. That led me to thinking about which I liked the most.
I've had some amazing vehicles and have enjoyed each one for various reasons but thinking about which are most favoured doesn't take long at all. As someone who loves the outdoors, hunting, camping, hiking, kayaking and so on, it's very important I'm able to get to where those things take place so the vehicles I've liked the most are those which have taken me there, that means four wheel drives.
It wasn't too long ago that four wheel drives were rudimentary, uncomfortable, noisy, black-smoke-puffing diesel-engined beasts without much refinement at all. That's changed slowly along with the technology behind them in an ever-evolving process of improvement.
That said, four wheel drives have become so refined that they've lost a lot of their ruggedness and that means effectiveness as well. I don't think that's a good thing, certainly not for me as I need my off-road vehicles to be tough as nails because I use them pretty hard. It is what it is though, and the softening up of four wheel drive vehicles has brought rise to a multitude of aftermarket options which is an industry in itself and while it's costly, it means I can enhance the factory offering with a gazillion performance improvements...and I do.
In the image is one of the four wheel drives I used to own doing what it did best and I recall such great times had in this vehicle although some of them broke it. It's been the same with most of my four wheel drives; going where I go and doing what I do in them is always eventually going to break something, but even when that happens there's a certain enjoyment factor from it - being there, not breaking the vehicle. Sure, it hurts the back pocket and causes no end of problems considering these breakages usually happen in remote areas but life exists to be enjoyed and because I find enjoyment from being in such places I have to accept that things will go wrong. Being prepared for them is the key.
I've enjoyed all of my vehicles and bought each one for a specific purpose whether it was looks, performance and handing, load or towing capabilities, off-road use, professional presentation or just simply because I thought it was a cool vehicle...but the ones I've loved the most, those which have given me the most all-round value and enjoyment, have been my four wheel drives; they've allowed me to get out there and to live life to its fullest and that's what it's all about for me.
Design and create your ideal life, tomorrow isn't promised - galenkp
Want a free Hive account? Click Here
[Original and AI free]
Image(s) in this post are my own
Awesome photos! -as always-
Long live to the ruggedness 4WD! I loved the Ouch! sticker—pretty clever 😂.
I have a question... what model is that car?
55 can be a lot for some people, but I hope I reach and surpass that number, and especially have as much fun as you’ve surely had with them 😁
Haha, yeah I put that ouch sticker on the UVP (under-vehicle protection plate) because it often gets battered and bruised. It seemed appropriate. I had a Bandaid sticker on there originally but it got scraped off.
The vehicle is an Isuzu D-Max but was branded Holden Rodeo here in Australia (It was a product-share vehicle between Isuzu and General Motors - Holden). It was one of my 4x4's from back in the day.
Looking back on the 55 vehicles (that doesn't include my motor bikes) all I see now is a lot of lost money...although that's just my logical side speaking. I'm a car guy so don't regret buying any of them. I guess the regret revolves around selling some of them which I wish I had not. (My Ford F100 for one! - Loved that truck!)
I've only owned one car, a German-made left-hand-drive Ford Capri, black with a white roof and all wood and red leather interior. It was a thing of beauty and I got it cheap because it was left-hand-drive and we drive on the left here. I gave up driving after about 4 years as I was useless at it. Not dangerous but certainly annoying to other motorists.
One car? I had double that in my first year of driving at the age of 16/17. Both were piles of junk though. I can't imagine not driving to be honest, but I know many don't. I guess it depends on where one lives and their job and so on.
Hi Galen, those photos tell me that having had so much car makes a lot of sense. I imagine not all of them have been 4x4s, but I'm sure they've had their reason too.
Greetings.
Nope, not all for wheel drives, but all with a purpose, even if that purpose was simply making a statement.
Good morning, Galen.it was not hard to imagine that not all cars are 4x4, no wonder everyone has a purpose.
Have a great day.
Yeah, I had sometimes two at once, and a few times three as I used to tinker around with cars, build them up and all, as a hobby.
I don't find this surprising either, I seem to remember telling you that as a child I spent time with an Italian mechanic, a Ferrari fan, who spent a lot of his time repairing cars, and then selling them or keeping them for himself. He loved everything related to the world of cars. So as I said, I am not surprised by your comment.
Wow, that is an impressive number, but if you have had a use for all of them then it has been worth it for sure. I've owned probably about 8 vehicles in my life if you count the ones that my wife and I paid off together or the ones that we bought after we were married, but she drives mostly. Not a huge number, but they were decent. I think the one I miss the most is my old Jeep Grand Cherokee, that was a sweet ride, but it had a ton of problems and I had to eventually sell it off.
I've never owned a Jeep but have driven a few. You'd think a company that established would work out the issues though. Everyone I know who had one says they had issues.
Yeah, sadly I would never buy a Chrysler vehicle again, but that Jeep was fun while it lasted.
I hired one a while back, a Jeep Wrangler, when I was on a trip to the Gold Coast. Stuck a surf board in it and went up and down the coast. Loved it...still, wouldn't buy one.
If I were to get a Jeep again, it would be a Wrangler. I wouldn't get one of the other ones. Though the new Wagoneers with the McIntosh stereo systems look pretty sweet. I'd actually prefer to get an older Wrangler that I can maybe fix up a little and add some modifications to it for off roading.
Yep, older the better as it means less electronics.
I've really owned only 4, not counting a parts car or two.
I know people who are my age and have owned even less than that; maybe I'm just abnormal. Anyway, I own it, my abnormalities. Lol.
They've all been either gifts of second-hand cars or used cars paid for in full. No new new cars for me! I'll take ongoing maintenance costs over monthly payments and debt.
Yeah, I agree with that strategy, I don't get loans for cars either.
Those are gorgeous photos. I really like how you were able to bring out the beautiful contrast in them. The truck looks like it's seen a lot of things, but if it is able to take you to these awesome places, then it's done its job well. We have a Toyota Hilux that's been with us for almost 10 years. It hasn't been through wilderness as much as yours, but it is very useful when we go to a farm and bring back produce with us.
Yeah, the truck did a good job. I sold it years ago (it was starting to get too old for my needs) and have upgraded a few times since, but this one was a pretty decent vehicle that took me many places.
I've had a few Hilux's over the years, none of them I left standard though as the standard version of any four wheel drive simply won't do what I need it to do. Good vehicles though, however here they have lost ground to the Ford Ranger which hugely outsells it.
I've heard the new Hilux isn't as good as the old ones as well. Those were hard to 'kill', and it's fun watching the different 'tests' they did to see its durability.
Yep, they're all getting softer.
Woww 55 vehicles is a lot! An incredible number, but they have had a good mission, to do what you like the most.
Those pictures are great, very good and the ones of nature even more.
That personal satisfaction is what counts. I am very happy about that.
It's a few yeah.
$PIZZA slices delivered:
@danzocal(4/10) tipped @galenkp
The photo collage is amazing! 54/55 cars! Man, you love your four-wheelers!
Yeah thanks, I've been to a lot of nice places thanks to my 4x4's.
Hello galenkp!
It's nice to let you know that your article won 🥈 place.
Your post is among the best articles voted 7 days ago by the @hive-lu | King Lucoin Curator by keithtaylor
You and your curator receive 0.0311 Lu (Lucoin) investment token and a 7.73% share of the reward from Daily Report 453. Additionally, you can also receive a unique LUSILVER token for taking 2nd place. All you need to do is reblog this report of the day with your winnings.
Buy Lu on the Hive-Engine exchange | World of Lu created by @szejq
STOPor to resume write a wordSTART