Current Mods:
TRD Intake
Plastidip Chrome
GrillCraft Upper
Schrockworks Engine Skid (repaint)
Schrockworks Front Bumper (and wiring in LED turn signals)
Integrating GrillCraft with Schrockworks
Bumper
Spidertrax Wheel Spacers
ICON Stage 2 w/ heavy coilovers, overland springs and tubular UCAs
BFG KO2 285/70/17 on American Racing Baja Wheels
Powder Coated Shackles and Devil Horns Toyota Emblem
Budbuilt Bump-out Sliders
Midland CB Radio
Small Projects:
Wiring and soldering lights
ICON UCA Dust Caps
Dog Crate Storage Box
Trail Edition Fender Caps (to cover up those colorful pink clips)
Backstory:
I have always loved my cars and taken good care of them. Not typical for most chicks. Whatever.... I'm not like most. I started driving in 1995. My first car was a beat up 2 door 1985 Ford Tempo. The paint was horribly oxidized and somehow before junior prom I made the burgundy paint shine like glass. It was an automatic with what had awful mechanical issues. It stalled frequently in intersections. I believe my mother sold it for $400 when I purchased my first 4cyl 1989 Mustang coupe. I loved that car. It was sold after I graduated from Marine Corps boot camp and went to Okinawa Japan. This is when my love affair started with Mustangs.
My second Mustang came in 1998 after my return from Japan. It was the first new car I bought from the money I had saved overseas. Because I had no credit built up, my mother co-signed with me, telling me if I missed one payment, that she would fly to California, take the car, drive it home and sell it. I agreed, and never missed a payment. I had it for three years before I ended up overseas again on Embassy duty, in Frankfurt, Germany. The car was sold upon my departure.
While overseas in 2002, I became hungry for another Mustang. Marines were not allowed to own a car as Marine Security Guards, so I searched far and wide for something to purchase when I returned home on leave. I found a 1968 coupe that had an engine swap and custom paint. It was beautiful and in decent shape. I probably paid too much for it, but my mother and I borrowed my grandfather's suburban, rented a flatbed trailer and hauled the car from Kansas to Northern Indiana in some of the worst rain I have ever driven in. I enjoyed the car for eighteen days while on leave, rented a 10X20 storage unit, and put it into storage to return overseas to finish my Embassy duty in the United Arab Emirates.
When I approached the end of my tour in the UAE, I knew I would be heading to the Pentagon in DC. I knew that the '68 would not be practical and I neither had the money or the time to work on the car. I needed something reliable. I decided to put the car up for sale. I had saved some cash so put a decent down payment on a brand new 2003 Mustang GT Premium in Dark Shadow Grey. One hitch... it was a manual. I did not know how to drive a manual. I returned on leave to Indiana for six days before I had to report to duty in DC. My mother taught me how to drive it in six days and sent me on my way. Within six months I was at the drag strip in Crofton meeting some amazing people and learning as much as I could from them.
After my year tour in DC, I headed to North Carolina to Camp Lejeune. I purchased my first home and brought home a Ridgeback puppy. Things changed. I soon realized my love affair with Mustangs might not be practical. It became more than evident when I could not fit a screen door into the car and my 70lb dog was quickly outgrowing the backseat. In 2005 I traded in the GT for a used F150 in the same year and color. This was about the time I became involved in canine performance.
The truck was nice but I quickly learned that traveling in the truck to events was putting a dent in the bank with the amount of fuel the truck was sucking down. Another vehicle change was in order. I did lots of research and stumbled upon the Toyota Matrix. At 31 Hwy MPG, it was exactly what I needed. I bought a silver manual and named it Hooptie. For five years all I did was change the oil, rotate tires and replace tires. Not so much as a light bulb needed to be changed. This was completely different that what I had experienced with my domestics.
I left active duty in 2008 and moved North to Maryland in 2009. I purchased my second home in Pennsylvania in 2010. In 2011 the amount of dogs in my house had grown to 3 and I needed a bigger vehicle for dog shows. I still kept the Matrix and brought home a 2001 Ford Excursion Limited Diesel. It was a beast. I dumped thousands of dollars into the truck, mostly on maintenance that had to be done... ball joints, sway bar, air conditioning, hubs, brakes... the list goes on. It got old fast. Within 18 months (and 40k miles later) I sold it. The Matrix was paid off in March of 2012 and by October it had 96K miles on it. I was ready for something bigger and Toyota reliability. Enter the 4Runner...
My first 4Runner was a used 2011 Black SR5. After six months I realized I would never purchase another black vehicle again. But I loved it.
In summer of 2013 I went to the dealer for my free oil change. There were three grey 4Runners on the lot. I had just sold my PA house to move in with my fiance. I drove home a brand new 2013 SR5 Premium in Magnetic Grey.
I love this truck.
First thing I did was tint the windows. 20% in the front with a visor strip. Of course I moved from PA to MD.... had to remove tint, get inspected and re-tint, but whatever. Oh here's a good tip... those of you with a sunroof.... Limo tint. It's worth every dime.
Here's a link to my album with previous cars.
Currently what she looks like:
