Cole's Cars

Phase 1:

My 1969 Buick Skylark (aka The Blue Bomber)
(1992-1994)

You never forget your first love. She was temperamental and
only a 3-speed auto, but she was fast. I blew the engine so my
dad and I replaced it with a brand new 350ci small block V8 and
added a 4-barrel with dualies. Then she could get up and run!

Phase 2:

My 1992 Ford Thunderbird (aka The Thunder Chicken)
(1994-1998)

The Bomber was fun, but she broke down all the time even with
the new engine. So before I went off to college, we traded in the Buick
for the T-Bird. This car NEVER gave me any trouble. It was a great car
for long trips back home from college. I loved her, but she never had the
rumble the Bomber did.

Phase 3:

My 1999 Chevy Camaro Z28
(1998-1999, RIP)

This car was fun while it lasted, 5.7L, 305HP, you get the idea.
Unfortunately the Z28 had an unfriendly encounter with a guard-rail
and is no more. 

Phase 4:

My 1997 BMW M3 (that's me going around the Cyclone at Thunderhill)
(1999-2007)

After the Camaro accident, I decided to get something that handled better.
First thing to come to mind: BMW M3.  A brand new one was out of the 
question, so I did a bunch of shopping and found this used steal in LA (still
under warenty).  This thing was on rails, kept her for 8 years and MANY track events.

Phase 4.1:

My 1985 Nissan Sentra (aka PoS)
(2001-2004)

I put 24k miles on my M3 in one year, that's what commuting from SF to South Bay
will do to you. To keep the miles off my baby, I got a daily runnabout.
She started 192k miles and I got her up to 213k before I sold her,
but the lack of power eventually got to me even though the price was right
(traded a Palm VIIx for her) and I sold her to a friend.

Phase 4.2:

My 1995 Lincoln Mark VIII LSC (aka Garnetta)
(2004-2005)

I tend to go from extreme to extreme when it comes to cars, so in keeping
with tradition I replaced my undepowered (70HP) small Nissan with an
overpowered (290HP) huge Lincoln. I only managed to keep her for a year before giving up due to parking

Phase 5:

My 2005 Mini Cooper S (aka Jane)
(2005-current)

Lincoln: too big, Nissan: too slow. Solution: Mini Cooper S!
I had to order it from a dealer in NY to avoid the west coast mark-up,
but it was worth it. Small, quick, and brings a smile to your face.

Phase 6:

My 2008 BMW 335i
Jeanie took a liking to the Cooper, so I dedicded to upgrade.
Perfect combination of power, handeling, practicality, and confort.