I was talking to my sister today and she was telling me about her new car and how my dad had helped her through the whole process (big fan of online car shopping “Why go through the hassle of haggling with a salesperson!! Let your fingers do the talking and make the salepeople haggle with each other for your business”). It reminded me of my first “new” car purchase.
My very first car was a 1986 Ford Escort that I bought off an uncle for $500, money I slaved away for bagging groceries at Safeway then hostessing at Country Kitchen. It was originally a maroon color but was so oxidized that every time it got wet the paint literally ran. The driver side door didn’t open. I used to have to crawl in through the passenger door. Lincoln could open it. Magic touch or brute strength, one of the two. It was a stick so of course my dad had to teach me how to drive it. On the hills of Globe. Yes, many tears were shed.
I didn’t get the car until my junior year. Somehow I managed the majority of my high school life without one. Granted, I didn’t get my license until I was almost 17. I was determined to remain a pedestrian for as long as possible.
Anyway, so this Escort was a piece. Smoked real bad, no a/c, stalled out all the time. I used to just coast down hills in Globe and take turns without using the brake, just so I wouldn’t stall.
My brother Brian borrowed it the summer after high school. He lived in the valley. It had no a/c. Gross... I wasn’t taking it to college with me (would never pass emissions at UA). Then we sold it to the mailman.
After my “wonderful” semester at UA, I moved to QC to live with my sis and go to MCC. I bought another old car. Honda Accord maybe 1988? Loved this car. It had a moon roof and a shiny new paint job. But it also had a milk cap for a radiator cap. It leaked coolant and water all the time. I used to have to keep jugs of water in my car to make sure I wouldn’t overheat.
So one hot June Saturday morning, I topped it off with some water. Loaded up my brand new Mister Baby Kitty Ru (sweet Rufus, not quite 2 months old), left my fabulous Cricket cell phone (since reception ended in AJ), and headed up to Globe so my dad could work his magic and fix the Honda up real nice.
At this point I was living off Arizona Ave and Baseline at the Palms. I made it to just the edge of Mesa on the 60 when I noticed my temperature gauge rising. I decided I better turn around and get some help. Poor Mister Ru was not liking this car ride. And it was dang hot.
I made it to Gilbert Road when the car overheated. I had no cell phone and not enough water for me, the kitty, and the car. Fortunately people were gracious enough to pull over and help. I borrowed a nice stranger’s cell phone and called my roommates and my brother. The nice strangers pushed my car into the parking lot right off the 60. Then they poured water on my engine which was smoking to high heaven while I waited for my brother (I think my roommates stopped by to check on me and the kitty).
Well, the water poured on my engine cracked the head. Brian took me and the kitty home so I could call my dad. My dad and uncle drove down from Globe and hauled my poor dead Honda back up. It wasn’t worth what it would cost to repair.
Brian’s girlfriend (now wife and baby mama) Judy took me out to Phoenix to test drive some cars. And I found the one. But I needed my daddy’s approval. So the next weekend or so, we went over there and my dad worked his magic and got me a decent deal on a 2000 Civic with 30k miles on it. From that point on I knew I never wanted to go through the whole process of buying a new car.
And I haven’t.
I have had the same 2000 Civic for 7+ years now. 142k miles. I remember when we were looking it over, my mom said “You’ll want the 4 door for when you have kids.” I was 19 and I probably rolled my eyes. But lookie now, having my first baby and still driving the same dang car.
Besides the a/c compressor, one bumper replacement, some random repairs, this car has done me good.
So thanks Daddio (and of course, Lincoln. Of course).
9 comments:
My mom said the same thing about 4-doors when we were buying my car. I was 22 and I rolled my eyes and got the 2-doors. We didn't want kids for another 6 years (made it 4) so I figured I'd stick to my 2-doors. Man do I regret that now! But I still love my little civic and I will deal with it until we can get a 4-door! I will make sure if my kids have choice they take the 4-door vehicle, b/c you never know!
if I still had my sweet little 84 sentra, I'd be writing odes to it every week.
Jana remember when you would drive to globe you didn't know that you had to shift gears in the mountains, and you wondered why your sentra would only putt along at 20 mph.
why don't you want to buy a neutered car ddd?
i think car sales guys can be shady. like dentists. yes, i'm anti-dentite.
yah, and I made all the kids get out of the car and get into mom and dad's car because I thought all your weight was slowing the car down.
Oh good. I thought the story was going to end badly - as in your honda dying, or something. Mine is a 2002 and had almost 157k miles on it!
how are dentists shady? just cuz talmage never goes to one doesn't mean its shady.
I remember that! We were checking on you AND Rufus! =D I still have my Xterra that I bought a month before you bought the Civic (from the same place) and it has 195,000 miles now. I still have the dang cat, too... =D How funny!
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