So it's time for an update
2026-07-28 20:49
There's not really a lot to update. I ended up buying a 2026 Honda Passport TSE in August last year, it's got about 7000 miles on it now. I decided to get this very light gray color rather than the dark blue that they offer, mostly because the gray is almost like a pale sky blue. The Toyota trucks & SUV's all have high-strung 4cyl engines & the Passport still has a solid V6 with a 10 speed transmission - no CVT to worry about. Of course it is technically an American car since it's made in Alabama. That means the fit & finish aren't all that great, a few little loose plastic trim pieces here & there, and of course the fuel economy isn't all that good either.
Of course the first car I really drove regularly was my fathers 1979 Jeep CJ7 and I always miss it in some ways. Every time I've considered getting another one like it, I remember how unreliable it was & decide I could just light the money on fire & be better off. The Passport though, is basically the Jeep I always wanted. It's got a 6cyl instead of a 4cyl, it's automatic, selectively AWD, incredibly comfortable, and has all the nice bells & whistles that go into a modern SUV.
Come around November I finally got my Lexus too. After an 11 month wait, I now own what is probably the only IS 350 F-Sport in this configuration. The thing is so unique, I'm actually a little afraid to drive it for fear it'll get smashed up. I took it in for the 6 month service recently and it only has 3000 miles. I gave the key to the concierge and waited a few minutes in the little sound proof box for the service advisor. He opened the door & the first words out of his mouth were, "How in the world did you get them to build this thing without a moonroof?" I thought for a moment & replied, "Persistence."
Our good friend John H. was involved in a rather serious crash in his 2004 Mazdaspeed MX-5 that Chris had given him, and because I hadn't been driving mine very often I sold mine to him in January for a very reasonable sum. While the AC system is abysmal in the summer heat, I'm happy to say he's still very much in love with it and has thankfully not had many mishaps. Because it's sat quite a bit for the last 3 years, some bits of rubber & minor emissions related issues cropped up for a while, but otherwise continues to be a solid daily driver.
I've rediscovered my love of target shooting & have purchased a couple of range toys. Of course I won't be posting photos or videos of any of them here but I've really enjoyed spraying "Freedom Seeds" all over the range. Not that I would ever disrespect Father John, but I've also rediscovered my love of double-action/single-action pistols over the venerable Browning 1911. The best news for me though is I can buy ever DA/SA gun on the market today & still not spend more than about $10K. If I were into DS1911's I could dump that much into just two guns.