the Falcon has Landed!
Yup, I’ve finally gone and done it…
This has been a long week. Between work and car shopping, the earliest I’ve gotten home all week was 9pm and that night was the only one I got to bed before 11pm.
Been thinking about the vehicles I’ve owned and comparing my relationships with them to types of relationships with people. There are distinct correlations-a weirdness of my personality, I suppose, but then I think a lot of us anthropomorphize our cars.
First car: 1984 Chevy Celebrity (bought new, kept 10 yrs, 196K miles and still running reasonably well when donated to a high-school shop class). I learned to drive in this car, racked up a lot of miles between San Antonio and Milwaukee.
Relationship: sibling. Learning together, trusting each other, occasionally disappointing or annoying each other, more often a dependable if not exciting partnership. I was sad but not overly so to see her drive away. It was time.
Second car: 1989 Mercury Sable (bought used and kept for 2-1/2 years, sold as soon as I could manage it). The wrong car bought with the right intentions. Had been poorly maintained by previous owner, but more than that, it was a less-than-well-designed, overpriced Ford with all the baggage that carries. Handled like a drunken cow and practically no rear visibility for lane changes, etc.
Relationship: The psycho college roomie that you just know is either going to start the dorm room on fire or kill you in your sleep. Was relieved when it was gone.
Third car: 1994 Pontiac Sunbird Rally Sport (bought new, totaled in an accident at 5 years and 113K miles). Suited me like my own skin. Marvelous performance, comfortable and FUN. A poor man’s sports car that handled like a dream come true and knew how to get up and dance when you hit the gas. I used to go out and just sit in her-not even go anywhere-just because she felt so right. Hit at 40 mph from behind by a much larger car, while sitting at a stop light. The frame was severely bent, doors jammed and major ripples created in the roof-but the only injury was a bruise on my collarbone from the seat belt. Though if the door hadn’t jammed, there would have been more injuries because I would’ve gotten out and decked the idiot.
Relationship: soulmate. An extension of myself, one mind in two bodies. That idiot didn’t break my car--he killed my friend. I mourned for weeks.
Fourth car: 1999 Chevy Malibu (bought new, kept by ex). I was still grieving over the ‘Bird but was sick of the cheapo rental car. It was a practical and reasonable choice, but I never really connected with it.
Relationship: casual friend or co-worker. Nice to have had but can’t say I missed it when it was gone.
Fifth car: 1997 Dodge Neon (bought at 4 years/41K miles, traded in at 10 years/205K miles and still getting over 30 mpg). A lucky find even though we got off to a rough start when the head gasket was replaced twice in the first 18 months (glad I’d bought the warranty). A gutsy car, fun to drive though not up to the level of the ‘Bird, economical and practical. Amazing cargo capacity for a small car-a weekend’s worth of mundane camp gear, or my bike plus several boxes of stuff when Kat was getting ready to move. Many hours and many miles in her between Kenosha and Ohio (I think I slept in her in every rest stop between here and Dayton at some point or another) or trundling off to events. At the end she needed emissions work, another head gasket and most of her suspension replaced, the windshield had a stone chip, the dash was acting up, and the taillights were half full of water. But she started on the first turn of the key every morning.
Relationship: best friend. Shared good times and bad, took care of each other as best we could. I wore her out but she retired with grace and style and under her own power. I’ll miss her.
Sixth car (owned at same time as Neon but bought later): 1995 Dodge Dakota 4x4 V8 (bought used at about 100K miles, kept 3 years and will be sold at about 160K mi). A bit of a pig (never got better than 16 mpg) but one heckuva workhorse. The only real differences between her and Dan’s previous Dakota were the 4WD and the 4” lift kit-but they were huge differences. She was the first pickup I was ever comfortable driving, and Dan loved her. Put amazing amounts of crap in her, pulled the trailer loaded beyond reason, took her out on the highway and gave her the green light-she did it all. But again the previous owner’s maintenance was less than sterling, and combined with being a work truck it took its toll. She’s waiting for a new owner to either love her or finish her.
Relationship: good and valued friend. A lot of good times, some not so good but worth working through. I’ll miss her more for the link with Dan than for her actual self.
The new addition: ’08 Subaru Outback 2.5i Wagon. 4cyl with AWD and lots of little goodies. Blue and silver, of course . Acres of cargo space (over 6ft with rear seats folded down) plus a roof rack. A nice cross between economical, practical, and a little bit of fun, though not really sporty. Dan and I had agreed on the general model but he wanted the L.L.Bean trim package which added a lot of options that weren’t worth the extra cost to me.
Relationship: Time will tell. At the moment it’s a business partner. Chosen for rational and practical reasons, definitely alleviating the worry of driving a pair of failing old machines; hoping it will develop into a good friendship, but not really any big love/lust/YAY!-type feelings factoring into the decision.
Hope to have pictures up soon.