Car Culture: Exploring the rides of Moeller - Evan Lehane
Photo by Evan Lehane
Have you seen that old jeep on the lot? You know, the one that is painted in faded black bedliner, makes the loudest noises, and is like 20 feet off the ground? Well that Jeep is Evan Lehane’s. “People hate the Jeep because they are jealous -- hey my car may be loud, but who is having more fun?” Evan commented.
I reached out to Senior Evan Lehane to find out what makes it worth it to continue breathing life into this 1999 Jeep Cherokee XJ. Which begs the question… what makes us so attached to our cars?
Evan Lehane said that his relationship to his Jeep is one more of love rather than of attachment. Most people use their cars as a tool. They get from point A to point B, but Evan doesn’t necessarily follow this line. “My jeep is an extension of myself. We both look rough on the outside, but under the hood, we both run in sync. It is an unique representation of myself,” said the senior. Evan said that this is the perfect car for him; he gets the feeling that he can take on the world, just like how his Jeep can take on the trails. The Jeep also represents what hard work can produce. Evan saved up and bought every part for that jeep; he has upgraded parts like the suspension, brakes and tires. He can truly call it his.
Photo by Michael Your
I asked Evan about general the phenomenon of growing in love with our cars. Evan said, “Any car can be original as long as you put the effort into it. Don’t let others tell you what you can’t do.”
His name for his Cherokee is Karen. He has assigned a persona to the Jeep because it makes him able see it as an individual. He chose the name Karen because, “She has a lot of problems just like a Karen, but she doesn’t take anything from people either.”
He says he does not plan of getting rid of it anytime soon. With just less than 2000 miles on the new engine, he has many years of memories ahead. I asked him if he were to pick any car in the world and trade it for Karen, what would it be? Evan specifically said that his beloved Jeep is invaluable, and he would not take any offer on it. No amount of money could replace her.
In early Summer this year, the engine’s head gasket blew. This meant that his car would be totaled. After five previous owners and 200,000 miles on the old engine, it was bound to happen. Without hesitation, he dropped the entire car’s worth into a new engine. “My parents thought I was crazy for not getting a new working car, but some of my best memories were made with Karen. I wanted her to stay.” Evan will drive this car until the day he dies.
We all have special connections with our first cars. What memories will you make with it?