I would like to pick up a Toyota FJ 40 from the late 70s early 80s. Not all redone and tricked out, but showing its natural state of aging. Great engine and easy to work on. Unfortunately their popularity outran my budget. Maybe one day!
I said the same thing about three years ago, so I picked up a reasonably priced, all original '70 FJ40 before the pandemic pricing took hold. Oh my... Now I know what it's like to own a boat. They are easy to work on -- if you can find the parts. Parts are now scarce and subject to pandemic pricing. Long story short: I have not gotten much use out of it. I eventually dropped $55k on a new 4Runner. :(
TBH, I'm disappointed in the new Land Cruiser. I was hoping for something much more Wrangler-like, like the old FJ40 was. Basically, an FJ40 derivative. Alas...
As for marks on watches, the first one IS tough, but after that they're love marks. Even (especially) on vintage watches new to me. I have an early 80s Datejust that I picked up in a pawn shop that has a well-worn (scraped and scratched) plastic crystal.
The first time I posted it on Insta, somebody advised me to polish the marks out with poly-whatever-it-is. To me, that amounts to erasing the life the watch had before me, and thus effectively erasing the life the previous owner lived before he gave up the watch.
In my mind, he only gave up the watch when he passed on after living a full life while wearing it for his last ~30-35 years. I would never want to erase that.
There’s something about the idea of sprawling expanses of perfect shiny paint that just… stresses me out. I know there are plenty of people who delight in waging war against Father Time when it comes to cars, but boy I am not one of them. Give me a few dings asap so I can relax!
I think I subject my expensive watches to extreme use more than the cheap ones. For example, my Aqua Terra--after a month, looked like it was a year or two already with scratches on the bezel and lugs. It must be that I knew it can handle it, being metas certified etc. Though I didn't do this intentionally, for some strange reason, the Aqua Terra seems to invite surfaces in more than my other watches. My Seiko on the other hand, as much as the bezel has naturally faded and a few hairline nicks looks more pristine and rarely hits anything.
Absolutely agree with viewpoint #2: If you can’t afford to lose it, you probably shouldn’t own it. That goes for just about anything from a house to a watch. And Bob reiterated the motto of WoE: Use your tools! It makes good sense and will make life far simpler. Do I have too much stuff? Of course I do. I have lots of gear. Could I do without it, lose it, or will I wear it out? Of course. Do I own anything that I couldn’t afford to lose? Nope. But that is because I’m a cheapskate not because I am a good Buddhist.
I’ve worn my watch running, chopping wood, diving, to other countries, etc. why wouldn’t I? We romanticize these watches and then are afraid to take them on the trips they were designed for. It would be a shame if I look back on my life in photos and am never wearing my sub while doing the notable adventures. 👍🏻
I’ve written about this as well. I don’t know that wearing my Fifty Fathoms in the pool does it any justice or is foolish in the long run, but taking it off feels more wrong.
Jason, well written, as usual (except for the double negatives :) )
As the proud owner and user of many things I should be afraid to beat but am not, this piece really resonated with me. I still own the first new car I ever bought, a 1997 Toyota 4Runner that has probably reached classic status, but I also own other newer vehicles that each have their own stories to tell. I don't leave the windows down in most, except for the old FJ40, but that's only to wash the dust out.
As for watches, you already know the answer. I like each watch to earn its own history. They are scratched, dented, some crystals are or have been chipped, and they all resemble their owner.
The quote from HST is appropriate for just about everything in life. I'd rather be a participant than an observer. And, as I like to say: "If you're going to be stupid, you'd better be tough." I can't see myself owning anything that won't stand up to my own stupidity.
I love hot rods. And that culture is all about shining them, and no ice cream inside etc. but I have an old ford Torino. I’ve cared for it well but it’s not precious. I get ice cream, go up pikes peak, and break down on I70. It’s my favorite car because I don’t have to treat it like a collector piece.
Also, reading watches of espionage really makes you think that some people still turn to luxury watches to perform and have their life depend on it!
Interestingly I’ve found the same with dive gear. Many of my fellow instructors refuse to wear their own expensive and high-tech regulators and BCDs while teaching for fear of them getting scratched and worn. This is despite their equipment usually being of a much greater quality than that of the students or customers. I’d rather use my own gear, whose service history and cleanliness I know than rely on cheap resort gear.
Jason, another great essay with a favorite quote from the good 'Doctor' Thompson.
I completely agree with you:
If something is too precious to use (with the exception of a family heirloom) there is no reason to own it.
Off-road your truck to see a sunset, eat everyday dinner on the "good china," get your tool watch muddy, frequently wear your suit and take your spouse out to an upscale restaurant - even if family budget means you can only split a desert and tip generously, crease your sneakers, get your "real" camera dusty while bouncing along with you overlanding, take your good skis out late in the season when the snow's gotten shallow.
"Dum vivimus, vivamus -- 'While we live, let us live' " ~ Horace
“I dare you to leave the windows down” is a great tag. Bravo
Better these things than you! Dad.
Everything starts “new”.
I would like to pick up a Toyota FJ 40 from the late 70s early 80s. Not all redone and tricked out, but showing its natural state of aging. Great engine and easy to work on. Unfortunately their popularity outran my budget. Maybe one day!
I said the same thing about three years ago, so I picked up a reasonably priced, all original '70 FJ40 before the pandemic pricing took hold. Oh my... Now I know what it's like to own a boat. They are easy to work on -- if you can find the parts. Parts are now scarce and subject to pandemic pricing. Long story short: I have not gotten much use out of it. I eventually dropped $55k on a new 4Runner. :(
TBH, I'm disappointed in the new Land Cruiser. I was hoping for something much more Wrangler-like, like the old FJ40 was. Basically, an FJ40 derivative. Alas...
As for marks on watches, the first one IS tough, but after that they're love marks. Even (especially) on vintage watches new to me. I have an early 80s Datejust that I picked up in a pawn shop that has a well-worn (scraped and scratched) plastic crystal.
The first time I posted it on Insta, somebody advised me to polish the marks out with poly-whatever-it-is. To me, that amounts to erasing the life the watch had before me, and thus effectively erasing the life the previous owner lived before he gave up the watch.
In my mind, he only gave up the watch when he passed on after living a full life while wearing it for his last ~30-35 years. I would never want to erase that.
There’s something about the idea of sprawling expanses of perfect shiny paint that just… stresses me out. I know there are plenty of people who delight in waging war against Father Time when it comes to cars, but boy I am not one of them. Give me a few dings asap so I can relax!
I think I subject my expensive watches to extreme use more than the cheap ones. For example, my Aqua Terra--after a month, looked like it was a year or two already with scratches on the bezel and lugs. It must be that I knew it can handle it, being metas certified etc. Though I didn't do this intentionally, for some strange reason, the Aqua Terra seems to invite surfaces in more than my other watches. My Seiko on the other hand, as much as the bezel has naturally faded and a few hairline nicks looks more pristine and rarely hits anything.
"Use your tools", and to me, everything is a tool!
Great piece, as always Jason!
Jason,
As always, a great piece of writing!
Absolutely agree with viewpoint #2: If you can’t afford to lose it, you probably shouldn’t own it. That goes for just about anything from a house to a watch. And Bob reiterated the motto of WoE: Use your tools! It makes good sense and will make life far simpler. Do I have too much stuff? Of course I do. I have lots of gear. Could I do without it, lose it, or will I wear it out? Of course. Do I own anything that I couldn’t afford to lose? Nope. But that is because I’m a cheapskate not because I am a good Buddhist.
I’ve worn my watch running, chopping wood, diving, to other countries, etc. why wouldn’t I? We romanticize these watches and then are afraid to take them on the trips they were designed for. It would be a shame if I look back on my life in photos and am never wearing my sub while doing the notable adventures. 👍🏻
I’ve written about this as well. I don’t know that wearing my Fifty Fathoms in the pool does it any justice or is foolish in the long run, but taking it off feels more wrong.
Jason, well written, as usual (except for the double negatives :) )
As the proud owner and user of many things I should be afraid to beat but am not, this piece really resonated with me. I still own the first new car I ever bought, a 1997 Toyota 4Runner that has probably reached classic status, but I also own other newer vehicles that each have their own stories to tell. I don't leave the windows down in most, except for the old FJ40, but that's only to wash the dust out.
As for watches, you already know the answer. I like each watch to earn its own history. They are scratched, dented, some crystals are or have been chipped, and they all resemble their owner.
The quote from HST is appropriate for just about everything in life. I'd rather be a participant than an observer. And, as I like to say: "If you're going to be stupid, you'd better be tough." I can't see myself owning anything that won't stand up to my own stupidity.
I love hot rods. And that culture is all about shining them, and no ice cream inside etc. but I have an old ford Torino. I’ve cared for it well but it’s not precious. I get ice cream, go up pikes peak, and break down on I70. It’s my favorite car because I don’t have to treat it like a collector piece.
Also, reading watches of espionage really makes you think that some people still turn to luxury watches to perform and have their life depend on it!
Word👊
What's the point of owning something if you cannot use it doing the things you like?
Interestingly I’ve found the same with dive gear. Many of my fellow instructors refuse to wear their own expensive and high-tech regulators and BCDs while teaching for fear of them getting scratched and worn. This is despite their equipment usually being of a much greater quality than that of the students or customers. I’d rather use my own gear, whose service history and cleanliness I know than rely on cheap resort gear.
Jason, another great essay with a favorite quote from the good 'Doctor' Thompson.
I completely agree with you:
If something is too precious to use (with the exception of a family heirloom) there is no reason to own it.
Off-road your truck to see a sunset, eat everyday dinner on the "good china," get your tool watch muddy, frequently wear your suit and take your spouse out to an upscale restaurant - even if family budget means you can only split a desert and tip generously, crease your sneakers, get your "real" camera dusty while bouncing along with you overlanding, take your good skis out late in the season when the snow's gotten shallow.
"Dum vivimus, vivamus -- 'While we live, let us live' " ~ Horace