Memory Lane

The Cars I’ve Loved (and One I Hated)

Before I was a watch guy, I was a car guy. I used to “flip” cars almost as frequently as I did watches. It is a little embarrassing to actually count the number of cars I’ve owned since getting my driver’s license back in 1986. The pace of my buying and selling has slowed though, and now I am pretty content with my two old Land Rovers, both of which have been with me for the better part of a decade. I now subscribe to the same philosophy about cars that I espouse about watches: “I can appreciate them without actually having to own them.” Maybe it’s a maturity finally achieved in my fifth decade, combined with a shift in life priorities, and the lack of a proper garage. Or maybe it’s because I discovered that watches are a lot easier to store and use, even if they may not be any more economical.

I’ll admit to casting longing glances at 1980s Porsche 944s that I see for sale, or lingering over posts for old British roadsters. I also have a growing itch to test drive one of the new Defenders, despite my purist reservations, but common sense prevails and I move on from these dalliances. My aged Land Rovers fit my personality and lifestyle better than anything else I’ve driven, and buying a third vehicle is simply a bridge too far, even for me. Besides, I’ll always have memory lane to cruise down in one of the many cars I’ve had over the years. Here’s a brief survey, not in any particular order. I’m sure I’ve forgotten a few.