Plagued by cars…………
Comments(4) My daughter (dd2) was promised a servicable car as a graduation present. She graduated in the spring and has been driving one of our junkers for the summer. Yesterday after a really nice trip up the Royal Gorge canyon with my hubby on a train (a birthday present), we went looking for a car we had seen on Craig’s list. Everyone is looking for Toyotas and Hondas with low milage and well priced. With gas at unbelievable prices, anyone who has a SUV is unloading it for a dependable, high MPG cars. Sooooooooo these cars are hard to find. In fact many in only fair condition are commanding huge prices. We found the car. It was at a dealer. It was $3995.00 with 136000 miles on it. This, no kidding, is considered a good deal. Having owned a Honda before I can vouch for their dependability. BUT, and this is a big but, we maintain our own cars. You would be surprised at what many people do with cars. Who knows how this was maintained.
Then we saw an old oldsmobile. Just a generic, but not bad looking 1994 Achieva. Generally considered average in all catagories. BUT it only had 28000 miles on it. Who drives only 280000 miles in 14 years. I clear that in 9 months. Long story short……… we bought it. Hope we don’t regret it. I think she’ll be happy. Man, it is like brand new. Sooooo shiney, perfect inside and out. Must have been the proverbial old lady owning it and only driving it to church.
Now here is my “cars” story. Maybe you can relate. In our marriage we have had an 1800 volvo, an old buick, 2 old 220 volvos, an old chevy citation, a new HONDA civic hatchback (yea), a used older Ford Taurus, a used newer Dodge caravan, an old Saab, an old honda civic sedan, another old saab, another old saab, an old buick, an old old old International pickup, an old old volvo wagon, a newer Saab 900s, and now this Achieva. At many points we owned up to 7 cars at the same time. Some people have stray cats. My husband has stray cars. He loves cars. He sees them as people. He can’t remember the children’s names, but knows any car, any year by grille pattern alone. But for a man who can fix anything mechanincal and loves cars, he/we always have old junkers. It’s sad. We have a decent income, but we are neck deep in old cars. Each with registration, Insurance, parts, repairs, tires, etc. We spend $17000 a year on a fleet of old cars. This would go a long way toward 2 new cars and we could afford the payments. Instead of being under one car or another every weekend and evening of a 25 year marriage, he/we might find time for other interests. Occasionally he wonders out loud about what he is doing wrong. Why do other people have new cars, but it physically pains him to sell a car.
All our discussions revolve around cars. And to me a car is like a dishwasher. I want it to run when I want to use it. That’s it. It is an appliance. Cars were never discussed in my home growing up. When they needed fixing we took it somewhere. They didn’t have personalities or feelings. I don’t get it. I don’t like it. whaaaaaaaaaa. Ok, I’m done.
Fell off the “station” ;o) wagon again, as I frequently do on the weekendsand my plans have changed for the day. My daughter (dd3) and I work retail for a friend every other Sunday. Today is her day. She sounds awful. Guess today will be my day.
;o(yarrow
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