Here We Go Again....

Welcome To.....This?

I know it sounds rather cliché, but “I really doubt anyone is ever going to see this” seems to be the standard line for pretty much every first post on a blog.  However, I really do think that aside from my girlfriend, no one is really going to be reading this.  Unless you’re interested in reading about poor decisions that lead myself into emptying my wallet, pounding my head against a wall and occasionally crying myself to sleep, then this blog might be just for you.

BTW, thanks to my awesome girlfriend.  She designed the look and setup the blog for me and I'm very happy with the way it turned out.  She has a blog as well that deals with running.  So if running voluntarily for long distances is something you enjoy, you should really check it out at: Reinventing Crazy Beautiful  

So What's With The Name?

  It's a play on the fact that some older Japanese cars are referred to as "J-Tin" and some Domestic Vehicles, are referred to as  "American Steel" or "Detroit Steel" by different people.  While I have a preference for Japanese vehicles, especially for RWD  or AWD Turbocharged models, I do like and respect Domestic vehicles as well.  So, I combined the name.

Besides, all the "good" names were taken.

 

 So Why Do A Blog Then?

All the cool kids are shooting videos on YouTube, searching for Internet Glory.  I’m too ugly for YouTube. 

For real, like hideous and stuff.

Honestly, I just wanted a place to document my car hobby without too much effort. Also I occasionally do enjoy writing sometimes, but it’s one of those things where if I have to deliver on a set schedule it’s not fun anymore.  Besides anytime I get on camera I have a tendency to say “umm” a lot.

No one wants to see that.

So, What’s This All About?

  It’s going to be all about my activities with my current fleet of cars, and the associated issues with living in an apartment in a new city, being lucky enough to have a garage on site and finding time to do all this while working way too much at night at my real job.  I’ll also probably do write ups on cars that I’ve owned before, and my crazy ideas for cars that I would like to own, perhaps one day.  Mods, maintenance issues, tips and tricks to try and help out other owners with their cars.  Plus it’s kind of therapeutic to get all this stuff down, and on record.  Also track the progression of the cars as I continue to work on them and maybe help a few people out while being slightly entertaining.

A “Fleet”?   Really?

Well, it's a really small fleet.  Currently the lineup consists of:

2005 VW Golf TDI “The Helmet”-   

My current Daily Driver and MPG Champion.  I have plans for this one down the road, if only it'd stop breaking little things here and there.  At least it runs and the ABS light stays off....most of the time.

1999 Mazda Miata “The Turtle”- 

 My current fun car, and devourer of most of my time and money when the VW isn't broken.  I also have some plans for this, that involve driving this thing in anger on a track.  It's fairly new to me, so I haven't decided if the name will stick.  Coming from a quick turbocharged AWD car before, this is still taking some getting used to.  They say it's more fun to drive a slow car fast rather than a fast car slow, so this is my foray into that realm.

2006 Mitsusbish Raider DuroCross “The Doorknob”-   

You might be able to figure out why it's called that, but despite the crass nickname, I do love this truck. It’s my current hauler of parts and the tow vehicle of  the broken and damned.  It’s got a V8 too, so it likes gas stations.  It's been with me the longest and is probably the most reliable one of the bunch.  I really should treat it better.

  So,  that’s pretty much it for now.  I plan on doing write ups on the vehicles to document where they came from and where they are currently.  Hopefully it's slightly funny too.

Until next time,.

Alpha Mike Foxtrot…..