I've had 4 cars that were actually my own. First was a 1957 Morris Minor 1000 Traveller wagon, real wood trim (think even part of the frame was wood--is that possible?), black w/red leather interior, 5-spd.
Then came many years of driving one of my auto-nut husband's endless string of cars--Morgan, MG TD/TF/A, Austin Healey (2 at least), Cadillac Seville, Mercedes (3), etc. etc. etc.
When the kids got to driving age I got so sick of having them take all my stuff out of the car I considered mine (clothes to go to the cleaner, library books to return, sunglasses, etc.) & change all the auto settings on the radio if they just drove 3 blocks for a gallon of milk, I demanded a personal car--all keys to be in my possession. It was a 1986 Toyota Cressida wagon, silver w/grey leather. Beautiful, wonderful, car. Wrecked it on ice in 1990.
Third was my 1991 Isuzu Trooper II I drove for 13 years & loved like a child; just lost it to frame rot this winter.
After driving the new Subaru Forester & Outback, Hyundai Sante Fe, Honda Element, & others I've mercifully forgotten, I stumbled on a mint condition 1996 red XJ Classic w/decent mileage (90000ish) & fell in love w/it because it looks & drives so like my Trooper. Same firm ride & steering, great visibility, MANUAL d/w/sunroof, beautiful boxy shape. (Sure hope it's as reliable as the Trooper: besides tires & LOF, that car cost me almost exactly $1500 in maintenance over 13 years!) I read every Jeep board on the web for several weeks before I bought it, doing research; & now that it's mine I've joined two of them (Ultimate Jeep &

) for help in making it my LAST car. I hate auto shopping.
Sorry to run on so. Got caught up in reminiscence.