It occurred to me today (as I was scrolling thru the posts) that our Rovers that we have come to know and love over time have most likely been involved with many people over the years. In other words our Rovers have had multiple relationships; have made some people very happy and others just as sad. We can imagine the feeling of the first owner when the vehicle was new and straight off of the dealer lot. The fresh vehicle smell, all of the toys that work just as they should, the beautiful body with no dings or dents (perfect imperfections), no old worn out tires, no leaking sunroof, a steady zippy acceleration without any miss-starts or stops, the front windshield just as clean as the rearview mirror, and the vehicle is named for the first time.

As time goes by things change and the ‘little Rover that could’ maybe can’t do what it could do the first day it was driven off the lot. And so it is put on another lot – not as shiny but still worthy in its own right, and having traveled many a road where other vehicles haven’t, the headliner sags, the new vehicle smell is long gone and a hint of coolant and leaking oil takes its place. Sometimes the Rover isn’t even put on that second lot but handed down to a friend of a friend or an ad is placed on Craigslist or in the local paper. Someone spots a good deal, buys it for a song (albeit a different song than the first owner) and steadfastly goes about trying to fix the issues that plague ‘the little Rover that could’. And the vehicle is named again.

So this continues… the Rover being passed along from one enthusiast to another until ‘the little Rover that could’ can’t count the number of bandages and zip ties worked into her underbelly. She has been intimately studied, photographed, and discussed thoroughly on forums all the while under many different aliases. The part that is curious and interesting to me is wondering if paths ever cross or if data is ever shared?....it's amazing to me that one person’s 'Olga' may have been someone else’s ‘Irma’ or ‘Gertrude’ or ‘Gemma’, ‘Beauty’ or even ‘Oscar’ for that matter (sidenote: why is it that most vehicles are named after women?). Knowledge should be shared so that Rovers don’t have a break-down of a non-mechanical kind and find themselves fighting an identity crisis. I think that is why I was most impressed with jfall’s heartfelt comments and advertisement regarding his Rover when he passed it along. He wanted to know that whomever received her would love her and take care of her and appreciate her for what she is and what she can be.

There are so many members on this forum. Many of the handles on here crack me up to no end (yes Dusty I’m still on the subject of names). I think I enjoy perusing this forum for the creativity it offers more than the answers I get to some of my silly Rover questions (although they are very helpful, thank you). I love to see who is new on the forum and what creative (or uncreative) handle has transpired. I can’t help thinking, however, that perhaps one of these newly created names each day is the next eager enthusiast who just stepped up to the plate to try his or her hand at Rover ownership with someone else’s discarded project. Let us just hope that they don’t name it ‘Pat’.

 

Well said indeed. AFAIK my "Frankenstein" (brought to life with parts from the dead ones) has had six owners before I decided it would be a great college car for the offspring.

 

I agree. There is something of a 'mystique' about 4x4's in a similar vogue to Italian sports cars, you either love them or hate them. Environmental issues are not part of this equation so some have their exotic sports cars or circuit race these cars and other have 4x4's and offroad them. Although completely different pursuits they are very much cast from the same mould.

With regards to naming cars or 4x4's it's something I have never done or thought about but I can see why they are usually named after women...........but I won't state it here as it's just in my mucky mind..................something about 'riding'..........

 

a very fitting name methinks

 

Lovely!!!!!! You could be onto something there Offroad

 

I did see a vanity plate the other day on a 4X4; "MYMINK"; that gal has the right attitude. Even if she was driving a Jeep.

 

Yeah, well, I have a lot more respect for Jeep drivers lately after seeing a pretty blonde girl with long hair sitting in her Wrangler while I was on a walk this past Friday. She waited until no one was around, got out of her Wrangler, lifted the hood, poured in some coolant, checked out the other bits and pieces under there and then jumped back in, revved it up and headed down the road manually shifting as she passed me. I was mighty impressed with her aptitude! I chuckled to myself as I could relate to adding the coolant in the Rover (minus the manual transmission) all the while acting like it was a covert operation. She had it going on, knew what she was doing and looked like a pro