Bad Carma
Relationships are hard to end, and this one is really tough.
I remember the first time I saw my 1997 Eclipse, glistening in the sun in the dealer lot, her Cayenne Red Pearl-ness outshining all others. It was love at first sight. We were as one from the moment I shifted into first gear. Even the first scratch, the first dent, made no difference. When she was sick, I took her to the shop and paid the price without complaint. The first six years were marvelous. I never once looked at another car, even when she started losing her looks. It was when we moved to Austin last year that things started to go bad. She wanted a new clutch, a new starter, several new batteries, new fuel and water pumps. I did my best to make her happy, but doing so was rapidly putting me into debt. Nothing was ever enough.
When she pitched a fit and threw a tie rod in Rowlett a couple of months ago, nearly killing me in the process, I realized that the great love we'd shared was no longer there. I just didn't feel safe around her anymore. We'd shared 127,000 miles of fast driving and swoopy maneuvering, all of it sheer pleasure, but that's behind us now.
Still, her demands continued: new tires, and now a new starter. Well, enough is enough! I've spent over $10,000 on her in the past two years, money which could have gone to a new car. My loyalty disappeared on that Rowlett highway, as the tow truck driver pantomimed the fireball that could very well have killed me. It's time to break up.
USAA, my insurance company and bank, has told me that I'm pre-approved for a new car loan for the next month. I was hoping to hold out for another year--pay off my credit card debt (most of which is car repairs) and build up at least a small down payment--but I don't think that will be possible. My car is in the shop AGAIN, leaking oil like a leaky thing and refusing to start reliably. Even though I don't have to drive to Dallas every month anymore, I still need safe, reliable transportation.
I've been looking at cars online today. Car and Driver has a nifty search tool. According to my initial parameters, I should have a Miata. I also like the RX8. And, of course, there's always the new Eclipse. This is hard; I'm just not ready to start dating again, I guess. But I've got to get out there.
Sigh. It was a beautiful thing.
I remember the first time I saw my 1997 Eclipse, glistening in the sun in the dealer lot, her Cayenne Red Pearl-ness outshining all others. It was love at first sight. We were as one from the moment I shifted into first gear. Even the first scratch, the first dent, made no difference. When she was sick, I took her to the shop and paid the price without complaint. The first six years were marvelous. I never once looked at another car, even when she started losing her looks. It was when we moved to Austin last year that things started to go bad. She wanted a new clutch, a new starter, several new batteries, new fuel and water pumps. I did my best to make her happy, but doing so was rapidly putting me into debt. Nothing was ever enough.
When she pitched a fit and threw a tie rod in Rowlett a couple of months ago, nearly killing me in the process, I realized that the great love we'd shared was no longer there. I just didn't feel safe around her anymore. We'd shared 127,000 miles of fast driving and swoopy maneuvering, all of it sheer pleasure, but that's behind us now.
Still, her demands continued: new tires, and now a new starter. Well, enough is enough! I've spent over $10,000 on her in the past two years, money which could have gone to a new car. My loyalty disappeared on that Rowlett highway, as the tow truck driver pantomimed the fireball that could very well have killed me. It's time to break up.
USAA, my insurance company and bank, has told me that I'm pre-approved for a new car loan for the next month. I was hoping to hold out for another year--pay off my credit card debt (most of which is car repairs) and build up at least a small down payment--but I don't think that will be possible. My car is in the shop AGAIN, leaking oil like a leaky thing and refusing to start reliably. Even though I don't have to drive to Dallas every month anymore, I still need safe, reliable transportation.
I've been looking at cars online today. Car and Driver has a nifty search tool. According to my initial parameters, I should have a Miata. I also like the RX8. And, of course, there's always the new Eclipse. This is hard; I'm just not ready to start dating again, I guess. But I've got to get out there.
Sigh. It was a beautiful thing.