I recently bought a second-gen Jeep Cherokee (not that anyone really calls it that; it’s the XJ!), something I’ve wanted since I was in middle school. That’s my new-to-me machine below, and as you can see, it’s a fine example of “the SUV that changed the world.” I haven’t driven it much, as I’ve been awaiting a new crankshaft position sensor from Mopar. Despite that setback, because I am an insane person, I immediately ordered vanity plates. I couldn’t help myself. My personalized plates finally arrived last Monday, and boy was I thrilled. The Internet? Not so much. Here’s a look at my $5000 Jeep and also at a little fun that I had with my new plates.
[Note: Welcome back Rob Spiteri, our 20 year-old occasional weekend writer, who took a bit of a break due to a health scare. He’s all better now! Or maybe not; you may read this post and decide he’s far from well. -DT]
I’ve been designated the license-plate wizard here at The Autopian (I gave myself the title) due to my obsession with plates, or “tags” as you Southerners call them. My coworker, everyone’s favorite salvage-yard scavenger Stephen Walter Gossin, nicknamed me “Plates” and hasn’t called me anything else since, which is awesome.
Anyway, ready for the big reveal? Here it is:
I just know you’re scratching your head right now, “Wait a second…” Perhaps you’re thinking, “But David has a YJ Wrangler, and Rob you just said you have an XJ–did you switch cars?” No, but I like that idea.
[Editor’s Note: I’ve consulted with the Jeep oracle, and can now officially designate these tags as 100% blasphemy. -DT].
Why Y?
Why does my plate say “YJ” and not “XJ,” like the model it is? Perhaps it was a DMV clerical error. I mean, X and Y are only four inches away from each other on a QWERTY keyboard, right? Alas, no. Did I transfer this plate from a YJ to my new-to-me XJ? Incorrect. “Ah ha!” you say aloud, startling your cat. “Perhaps the Y and J are not even Jeep-related, but are the initials of a beloved someone–maybe an uncle Yves Jolicoeur, of whom you have fond memories from childhood visits to Quebec!” Also a no, but Uncle Yves sounds wonderful. I chose this plate. That’s right, I spent my hard-earned moola on expensive, wrong vanity plates simply to entertain the Jeep community. And not even one day after having my YJ plates did I receive, uh, spirited reactions.
[Editor’s Note: That’s my YJ above. If I were a huge YJ nut (and I’m not not one, but it’s not my true love like the XJ and ZJ) then maybe I’d be a little disappointed that I couldn’t get a YJ plate just so Rob can troll, but it’s all fair. -DT].
The XJ Community Reacts
My first devious plan in assessing the reactions of the interweb’s 4×4 aficionados was to enter the wonderful world of Jeep Facebook Groups. The Jeep groups of Zuckerland are full of people posting their 7-bar-grille’d shitboxes for triple what they’re worth because a pristine example of the same model sold for ridiculous dollars on Bring a Trailer. “Find another!” they say. My man, I can find ten.
As soon as I had the plates mounted, I sent a picture of them to my friend Julian, a fellow Jeep nut and admin of the “XJ Preservation Society” Cherokee Facebook group. I’m sure I made him laugh, but when I shared my new plates in the group, the other admins of the group had other opinions.
I attempted to post this:
The post was declined almost instantly. Soon after, Julian sent me a screenshot of the admin’s reactions:
My apologies admins of XJ Preservation Society, I was merely joking–not trolling at all, let alone big-time trolling. Sorry, XJ people. [Ed note: You were 100% trolling. Why are we even publishing this post? – MH]
Meanwhile, In The YJ Community…
Posting in the XJ group was a failure, so naturally I took the action to the YJ group–which is public, to my advantage.
I copy-pasted the same post into the YJ group and received quite a mixed bag of reactions from the members, not only in terms of positive versus negative, but intensity. Keith here was really unhappy with me. I mean, for real:
Connie used her considerable observational skills to point out that my “YJ” was not, in fact, a YJ:
Man, I bet Connie can absolutely crush a Where’s Waldo book.
Derek gave me a fantastic tip on how to remedy the plate’s offending “Y.”
I’m sure the Sharpie correction would be totally convincing, and I definitely wouldn’t get booked for felony license plate obstruction.
Allena–who I’m sure is just a delightful pleasure in real life–was absolutely not having my shenanigans:
I’m always working on myself, but come on, Allena–harsh.
The action wasn’t all negative, of course. Many got a kick out of my plates, as the sea of “Haha” Facebook reactions and many of laughing-crying-face Emoji comments prove:
Y Though
I’m keeping the yj plates. These plates are staying on as long as my Jeep is running, which might be a long, long, long time. No disrespect fellow Jeep owners, they’re just for “if you know, you know” laughs and I hope those who do know will get a kick out of them–though I’m sure wherever I meet other 4X4 fans, a few will enjoy informing me that I’m akshully driving an XJ. Fine by me! If these plates help me meet more Jeep drivers and car people, that’s a win!
Well I for one think that’s pretty darn funny! Anybody who is actually upset about that, needs to lighten up Francis.
Bingo.
I just read the whole thing thinking this was a David Tracy article.
David Tracy is above this immature edgelord nonsense.
That’s the definition of trolling.
I hope this edgelord kid stuff doesn’t become a common article topic on here.
I usually don’t like plates with the unimaginative choice of the model name (my neighbor has a Kia Stinger with “STINGER” plates), but I do like a good conversation starter. Maybe for my NB Miata I’ll get “TRIUMPH”
Best inside joke tag for a Miata: ELANSAN
This “joke” is less ha ha and more a stick in the eye for no good reason. You got what you wanted out of it though.
Disagree. I think it’s plenty “ha ha” and one of those, “if you know, you know.”
It’s like calling one of your friends a nickname that they hate because you think its funny. It might be an inside joke, and it may have an interesting story behind it but only one of you laughs. It’s your call, but I think getting angry responses shouldn’t be/isn’t a surprise. In the end, it doesn’t affect me so I don’t care, but I do think the reactions are expected.
PORSCHE would be an even better troll.
If that’s too obvious, LM002 is probably available.
Or COROLLA LE
Did that Nebraska bull s(h)it on David’s YJ?
That looks like a big oil stain on the real YJ (yes I know it’s mud). Is Torch going back to his roots?
You mean David “Rust” Tracy?
CREAKY was OK on the Disco. Wasted opportunity here IMHO.
YRU STUK, YMI STUK, or the classic best displayed on a micro bus OU8 ONE2
CREAKY was iconic. If I ever get another Discovery, I’m for sure re-issuing that plate.
I bought a YJ in 2020 that had been loved to David Tracy levels of rust. I considered many vanity plates for it: PD CASH, NO NOTE, DUMPSTR, etc. I settled on the name my wife gave it- garbage Jeep… GRBG JP
Re: article, the most unsettling part is the uncentered lettering. I get and appreciate the troll (call it like I see it), but I can’t get over the off center letters.
All I could see was uncentered lettering.
New York wouldn’t let me center it!! I tried and I tried.
Needs a plate frame that reads “ROUND LIGHTS SUCK” next!
Or “UNIBODIES RULE”
“LOL FRAME ROT”
Why are you trying to pretend this is anything but trolling?
Why is this even an article? I wasn’t aware this was a media outlet for weird edgelord “any attention” is good attention nonsense.
The real question. Is why any of us clicked on it.
My drive to consume media that angers me is both unending and unexplainable.
I was going to say.
It’s fun to poke the bear. Next year try YNOTJ or DUMDUCKS.
Oh, meant to say,
Glad your back, Rob—and that the health scare was just that it sounds
Along these lines, any suggestions for a tag for a Z3 M roadster? HUBRIS is taken, as well as POSEUR. I’m an old shitbox guy, so looking for a little irony here as I do feel a bit out of place behind the wheel in it. Tagged in Virginia
How about “NO SGNLS”?
It IS available-only I’m trying to break the stereotype.(found myself using my signal when I did my first honest donut in it: purely automatic)
thought about MY ETYPE as I’ll never afford a Jaaaag, but, like 3 people would maybe get it
A lot of people would read NO SGNLS as ‘no singles’ and think you’re a swinger, so maybe?
Ok, honest lol there
because I tell my buddies I don’t care what people think of my cars: “If you’re relying on your car to boost your sex life, well, you pretty much get what you play for.”
The more I think on it, the more I like that.
M HUBRIS is also available….
should stop obsessing & just order something. But I’m betting the hive mind here can come up with something better than I can
should note that the ‘My Other Car Is A Shitbox’ Autopian plate surround looks good on it -blue contrasts nicely with the silver car
ND2 XLR8
Hey, I like that-thanks!
and it prompted checking XLR8ION
which nicely describes 2nd gear in the twisties 🙂
ITSANEV
MYMIATA
BMWBDE
NO BRKS
BONDJB
ME OTTA
Hmm
I’ve been fascinated by otters since reading Ring of Bright Water;
OTTER BE
Yikes! That takes me back. I think the Disney short “Flash the Teenaged Otter” was my initiation into all things otter.
Missed opportunity – you should have gone with “FJ.” Get the Jeep and Toyota crowds both riled up.
I got a black on black with black bow tie 2017 Chevy Colorado and sprayed plasti-dip on all other logos. Pulled off the ZR2 stickers. Bought Toyota medallions and installed over Bow Ties… The YOTA fan boys think it is a Hi-Lux. I have TRD stickers for the bed and a red orange yellow stripe for front fender. All in.
“Trolling – (verb), as it relates to internet, is the deliberate act, (by a Troll – noun or adjective), of making random unsolicited and/or controversial comments on various internet forums with the intent to provoke an emotional knee jerk reaction from unsuspecting readers to engage in a fight or argument”
I could not stop laughing. Rob, well done.
It bothers me that YJ isn’t centered on the plate.
That’s definitely the most egregious part of this situation.
You just tell people the other letters fell off.
Maybe the prisoner who made it is ALSO trollin!
Hi Rob!
I get it. Good one. Troll away and please act shocked and surprised at your raging stupidity every single time someone points it out like you had absolutely no idea. But then totally act like it doesn’t matter and you couldn’t possibly care less. Ear steam may ensue 😀
(Signed FKA Twigs, I mean Thad)
I applaud this level of car based humor. Maybe not everyone gets the joke, or maybe they don’t find it funny, that’s fine. But people who take genuine offense to this really need should take some time to consider their priorities in life.
Rob, this is a one-paragraph article. The photo is the punch line. It’s got more random filler than a casino buffet. Keep it light on the weekends!
I strongly disagree and feel that you need to explain yourself further. Say 700 words?
I concur with Mr. Shaft here. As a Shop teacher, I normally don’t grade papers, but I’ll make an exception here. I expect your essay on my desk by class time on Tuesday Mr. Marz.
How about a wooden bong instead? That’s just about all I learned to make in shop.
No, I don’t need to see any more of those ever again.
Also a town in northern NSW: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Woodenbong
We also have the Bong Recreation Area in nearby Wisconsin. Which apparently they’re “rebranding” the Richard Bong Recreation Area, but I assure you, the frequently stolen road signs don’t say Richard on them.
This is the pop quiz equivalent of a joke, everything will be fine if you were paying attention, but no one is having fun except the teacher.
Can’t wait to use this on my future students.
As a teacher, I don’t see the problem.
This is absolutely hilarious, doubly so because it elicits such a reaction from some of these Jeep people.
Yup! And I’m still getting comments.
Which is why it is so funny. “Those” people in any fandom deserve what they get, and if they don’t like it, they should just stop being “those” people. “They” are simply too much fun to screw with.
I think it’s amusing.
I’m also surprised that a two-letter combination that actually means something car-related was still available. Maybe there aren’t a lot of Jeep folk in the Empire State.
I’m shocked it was still available! I see hundreds of Jeeps a day. Living near the beach means folks think they must drive a top-less Wrangler.
this!
I guess it’s a Jeep thing as I don’t understand it.
(and I used to own an XJ)
Thank you: this is the comment I was scrolling down for.
-anyone care to spell it out/draw a crayon diagram for the Jeep-impaired here?
I’m not an expert, but I’m on the Internet, so I’m an “expert”: various JEEP models and generations have internal development codes made of two letters. The car featured here was developed under the code name XJ. The YJ on the plate refers to a completely different car model. Hence the hilarity/anger…
So, trolling-not trolling?
I was trying various things: ‘Yeet-J? Nah…’
Probably over-thinking here. Something like putting Camero on your F-body
YTHO?
It’s a Jeep thing? I guess? You obviously get joy out of it and it’s not hurting anyone (I mean, not really), so it’s fine?