1999 Jeep Cherokee XJ

To commemorate my first post of this automotive journey that we are embarking on today, I would like to take some time to share with you the story of the vehicle that piqued my interest in this wonderful world of cars: my 1999 Jeep Cherokee XJ.

This vehicle, to me, is more than just a mode of transportation, it is a story of firsts. My dad first bought this car back in November of 1999, a month before I was born, (bone stock, much to my dismay), and this was the car that brought me home from the hospital, my first ride. I cannot say that this was the point at which I fell in love with cars, as I do not remember much from those days, but I can say with confidence that my dad’s decision to buy this car led me to that point.

Fast forward to December of 2015. My dad began his search for a Wrangler (we’ve always been, and currently are still a Jeep family), with the intention of selling the Cherokee to me at some point. With this assurance, the modifications began. Now, at this point, I was a high school student, with a very small budget, so naturally, my first modification was LED lights in the footwells of the Jeep (I know, very tacky). Over the following months and years, I began to make it my own, first with LED Lights (you know what they say, “lightbars before lockers”), a budget lift kit that is still on the truck to this day, a couple different front bumper variations, a spare tire carrier, etc… All of this to say, this was my first project, something I could call my own.

I took this Jeep with me when I went off to college, making the incredibly long trek from South Texas all the way up to Golden Colorado and I can confidently say that this was the most time I had spent driving it at one time, a record which I hope to never break. From there, the Jeep and I became Colorado residents as I began my time studying Mechanical Engineering at the Colorado School of Mines. From here we got involved with the Off Roading club and went on our first trail, Red Cone Pass, a wonderful yet terrifying experience: if you know, you know.

It has now been almost 5 years since this and I have fallen more in love with the car and everything it was built to do. No, I don’t care for the way it drives, or how loose the steering is, or how loud the cabin is, etc… I love it because it tells a story, a story of firsts.

My first ride

My first car

My first project

My first experience going 100 mph (yes it was terrifying, sorry dad)

My first time breaking down and getting stranded (a story for another time)

My first date with my now wife

The list goes on..

I will end with my favorite Jeremy Clarkson quote,

“It’s what non-car people don’t get. They see all cars as just a ton and a half, two tons of wires, glass, metal, and rubber, and that’s all they see. People like you or I know we have an unshakable belief that cars are living entities… You can develop a relationship with a car and that’s what non-car people don’t get… When something has foibles and won’t handle properly, that gives it a particularly human quality because it makes mistakes, and that’s how you can build a relationship with a car that other people won’t get.”

I want this website to be a place where I can share my experiences with you about all things cars, how they work, what they can do, and how they impact the lives of everyone around us. I cannot promise that all of my stories will be as emotional as this one, but I want to be able to show that every car is more than just a mode of transportation. They all have a story and a purpose, whether it is glaringly obvious, or yet to be seen, and I hope to share that story with you. Thank you for reading.