Ever wonder what the best car on earth is? Well, it’s the 1997 Toyota 4Runner SR5. Sorry to break your hearts, crazy people who purposely only buy American-made cars.

Because I’m no fool, this is what I drive…and I have done so since I got my driver’s license in 2002. Her name was Champagne back in her stripper days (i.e., when she was under ten years old), but now she goes by Myriam. We’ve had our ups and downs, but this only strengthened our love for each other.

Myriam put up with my tacky teenage phase when she had a pink fur steering wheel cover. She even looked past the rotated 20+ embarrassing bumper stickers that urged people to “Do Your Dream” or to let everyone know that “My Dog is Smarter than Your Honor Student.” She didn’t hate me when I allowed a stoned 40 year old man to rear-end her at a stop sign. She forgave me for when an idiot borrowed her and crashed her into a telephone pole.

She supported my move to Savannah, Georgia when I went to college:


She didn’t make fun of me when I dyed my hair a stupid color while in college:


…or when I didn’t know how to tie a bicycle to her rack:


Plus, she even finds it endearing when I take several versions of the same picture in her:




Myriam, I promise to always change your oil, rotate your tires, and repair your brakes. You’ve stuck with me, and I’ll stick with you.