eBay Motors recently flew me from LA to Vail, Colorado, where I had my choice of four machines to off-road: A Porsche Taycan Crossturismo on all-terrain tires, a Lexus GX, a Toyota Tacoma, and a Jeep Cherokee XJ. As much as I loved the Lexus GX (as I wrote about earlier), it was the XJ that has my heart, even though it may not actually be objectively better than the Lexus. And that’s simply because the XJ — more than any other vehicle ever built — just makes me feel at home.
The first car I ever owned was a 1992 Jeep Cherokee XJ that I bought from the Scott Stadium parking lot in Charlottesville, Virginia for $1,400. It had 220,000 miles on it, rusty rocker panels, and an exhaust leak, and I was pretty nervous because I had just turned 19 and I had absolutely zero experience working on cars.
What followed, though, were years of me simultaneously learning how to wrench on cars and learning about mechanical engineering in college. The combination of hands-on and theoretical engineering work — at the same time — was life-changing, and gave me a profoundly deep understanding of how cars work.
I drove that Jeep from 2010 until I moved to LA in 2022, and right now it’s sitting abandoned in the woods in northern Michigan. Hopefully I’ll rescue it someday.
Anyway, I mention my trusty old XJ because my drive in eBay Motors’ XJ — one the company had purchased from eBay Motors and modified using parts obtained through eBay Motors — had me feeling all nostalgic.
Yes, the eBay Motors XJ is built to a much greater extent than my XJ. I had just 31-inch all-terrains and a three-inch lift; this white Jeep out in Colorado had 35s and probably a 4.5 inch lift. Plus, the eBay Jeep was a 1999, with the facelifted interior and exterior.
And yet, it still felt so familiar.
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The trail took us through gorgeous Rocky Mountain woods, with the dirt having been eroded and worn away by previous trekkers. This allowed the Jeep’s solid axles to show their stuff, just flowing right over the terrain with alacrity:
 
Even though I’m fairly sure the vehicle hadn’t been re-geared, the 4.0-liter motor’s prodigious low-end torque, combined with the Jeep’s low-range gearing and light curbweight, meant I barely had to touch the gas pedal to get up steep grades and over large boulders.
When I look at that engine bay, when I tap that throttle pedal and feel the instant response, when I turn that steering wheel and feel that vague but buttery power steering, when I tap on those marginal brakes, when I look through the huge greenhouse at my clearly-visible surroundings — it all just makes me feel at home. It’s the Jeep that taught me everything — how to off-road, how to wrench, how to drift in the snow, how to rip donuts, and on and on.
It’s not an objectively great vehicle when it comes to ride quality, noise, fuel economy, and I could go on and on. But it’s got soul, it can off-road like a monster, it’s cheap, parts are available (on eBay Motors, my hosts would probably like me to remind you), it’s small and lightweight, and most importantly: It feels like home. If it were possible for one to have a “best friend” automobile, the XJ would be mine, and as was made clear when driving this white one in Colorado, I don’t think that will ever change.
What vehicle makes you feel the most “at home” when you’re behind the wheel?
The 1994 Toyota Aristo turbo. Smooth manners but has a nice punch when needed. You wouldn’t think you’re running a 2JZGTE because stock it runs really quiet.
Datsun 610/Bluebird (Datsun 180B in Australia).
I learned to drive in my parent’s 180B GX auto, which was a hand-me-down from my grandparents.
Over later years, I owned quite a few, from basic 4 speed Deluxe sedans, up to SSS Coupes, including one with a 4.4 litre alloy V8 from a Leyland P76 coupled to a Celica 5 speed, and another with a Nissan FJ20ET/5 speed transplant (2 litre twin cam 16 valve EFI turbo) and a lot of suspension mods, rollcage, harnesses and race seats.
I spent so much time behind the wheel or under the hood of one that I can close my eyes and recall all the little details of the dashboard and the variations across the models, the little rectangular blanks that replaced warning lights that only appeared on JDM versions, the little turn knobs that replaced the door lock buttons on the coupes, and the little fibre-optic cables that were used to illuminate the headlight and wiper knobs on the higher trim levels.
Ford Rangers/Mazda B Series trucks for me. My family always had one way before I could drive. We used to road trip from Pennsylvania to Wisconsin or Georgia and I would be stuffed in the back jump seat.
Once I could drive, I beat the snot out of those trucks and they just kept going. Had a 96 Ranger that went to 360K with relatively little work. I don’t have one now but those are my home.
Same here David. 1989 XJ Laredo. I too learned everything from my Mom’s old XJ. How to install a stereo system, how to offroad, how to slide in the snow, how to work on vehicles. The visibility is unmatched compared to modern vehicles. It was like a boxy glass fishbowl. I almost learned how to crap my pants when I was standing on the brakes and still gaining speed while descending the Lion’s Back in Moab.
I’ve also got to go with the XJ Cherokee. My first car was a 91 2 door 5spd that taught me the difference between reliable and durable. Many things that should function on a daily driven vehicle did not on that, but 17 year old me beat the crap out of it and never had to walk home (except for when I got it stuck in the woods).
I’ve since had a 96 and two 99s and would love another. The biggest thing that feels like home for me is when I see that pre-facelift dash with the speedo that tops out at 85 and the sort of dull red color for the redline on the tach.
home will always be a 90s s10 or blazer. I really need to get another one soon!