After a 13 year hiatus, I'm back in N.E. and back in an Xterra.
While on semester break, back home in TN, I re-found my "dream" 2001 SE 5-speed and still in pristine condition.
The X was originally purchased in Hawaii and 8 years later came to TN w/ a military family move. I remember talking to to owners when they arrived to NSA Mid-South, and told him if they ever wanted to sell it, I'd buy it. Who would have guessed 8 years laters after a few trips down range to "The Suck", low and behold I find it at a local dealership. Quickly run the carfax on the VIN, and it was the Hawiian X.
As I was getting ready to sign the papers and fork over my $4,500 cash/"as-is", I looked out the window and saw some fresh coolant drips. I pointed it out and they promised to "take care of whatever it was no charge". That was before they new it was the lower intake gasket. too bad for them, good for me!
Literally picked it up from getting the intake manifold gasket replaced, I changed the oil, packed my school stuff in it, and drove 1,200 mile the next day, on blind faith. Since Seafoam was on sale (2/1) I Picked up 6 cans of it and added a can to every tankful of gas on the trip.
First tank (Memphis to Nashville) averaged an abysmal 12MPG, and I vividly recalled why we sold our X when we moved to TN, but every tankful it steadily increased, and from Buffalo to Montpelier, I averaged 18.5 MPG as it rolled past 177,777 miles on the odometer.
I was going to call her "The Coconut Express", based upon the provenance of her Title history, but after fully realizing just what amazing mechanical shape it is in, (owing all to being formerly owned by a Nuclear Submarine Officer, and driven by his wife) I started thinking "Cream Puff" since I'm studying to be a Pastry Chef, it seemed only fitting....
So without further ado, here is the "Coconut Creampuff":
--
John Gunterman
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