Hammer Time: Why Keep It?

I have always been a ‘keeper’. Even though my inventory varies these days from muscle car’s to minivan’s, my own daily driver has always been a long-term affair. It’s an addiction that goes well beyond cars. Quality, stewardship. An opportunity to make your professional work enduring. Keeping and preserving your ride usually goes well beyond the economics of the car itself. That’s why the most fervent of horse traders in any business will eventually find a personal keeper or two. And chances are it’s not always going to be something that is flashy or popular.

It’s hard to let go of what you know. I have a friend of mine that’s always driven a Pontiac Bonneville for the last 15 years. It doesn’t meet any Eurocentric definition of a good car. The plastics are a bit cheap to put it kindly. The supersized exterior is riddled with bulbous curves and cheap body cladding. Let’s face it. Most of you will automatically hate this type of car. But you know what? I like it. He loves it… and that’s how a keeper car is kept. Reasoning be damned.

It’s irrational. Even a bit on the weird side. The nice stuff, Mustang Police Interceptors, 300ZX’s, and old school Benzes will always make an enthusiast smile. But they’re never kept as daily drivers for the long run. Why? Because they simply cost too much to keep up with.

I would rather not buy anything than fall victim to ‘ automotive compulsive disorder’ with a barnacle bitch of a driver. It’s nice to drive a fancy and temperamental car. But to keep? Screw that. Keepers can’t be expensive because as keepers, we have a habit of sparing no expense. Price? It does matter. But only as a long-term consideration.

The best oils. The best filters. The best tires. Yes, there are those keepers that are thrown to the wolves of teenage drivers and new owner neglect. But an enthusiast’s keeper is usually given the equivalent of fresh fluids and vitamins whenever it’s required.

It makes a monumental difference in the vehicle’s quality and longevity. Even though my first keeper was a 1994 Toyota Camry, a refrigerator incarnate, I considered my car to be all kinds of awesome. After 12 years and 240k the Camry still shifted and rode like brand new. That was because I changed the tranny fluid every 30k, kept up with whatever was needed, and never dogged the damn thing. .

Irrational you say? Well doing 7 of my own tranny fluid changes turned out to be cheaper than 1 at the dealership. Plus my car is still on the road years after I sold it. While most of it’s contemporaries are either molderizing near Murilee Martin or changing themselves into Chinese exports.

Not too long an old ‘keeper’ was symbolic of a weird guy or an old fart. Today a keeper car is a status symbol of sorts. You, Mr. Keeper, have essentially outsmarted the conspicuous consumer culture. You own the car. You may even have equity in your house… and who knows? You may even become the millionaire next door.

I would hazard to guess that most of you have keepers that are seen as cheap, old… perhaps even a bit crappy. But beauty is found in many things. For the keeper, it’s the pleasure of being the car owner instead of the debt holder. You may be as poor as dirt when all the depreciating dollars are added up. But at least you own what you got… and that’s what makes a ‘keeper’ rich.