I have led a somewhat unusual life in a number of respects. Take, for example, the matter of automobiles. I was markedly less enthusiastic than is usual for an American teenager about the whole business of driving. I did learn to drive and got a driver’s license, but I never bothered to get a car of my own. I went off to college in Chicago, and while there I neither needed nor wanted a car. After graduating, I got my first job in Washington, D.C., and I was perfectly happy to get around that city on foot or via subway, occasionally bumming a ride from my landlady if I needed to stock up on groceries or something. When I moved back down to Atlanta, I actually did without a car down here for a while as well, but that’s really hard to do in this town, and about four years ago I finally broke down and bought an '88 Honda Civic. Which means that, until today, I was in the odd position of still driving the very first car I had ever owned at the ripe old age of 33.
It was a good little car, but it started to develop more and more mechanical problems. I’d go and throw money at it–for a while last year it seemed like I was having monthly car repair bills, each one costing a few hundred bucks. But then I guess everything that was going to break had broken (and been replaced), and it sort of steadied down. And I really resisted buying a new car, just because I hate the whole idea of going and dealing with car salesman. On the other hand, each year when I’d take it in for its annual emissions test, it would pass–but each year the numbers crept a little closer to failing; this year, it literally missed being flunked on one measure by 0.01%, and it was awfully close on another one (1613 out of 1678). For a while now the “check engine” would come on if, say, I was on the highway with the air conditioning on; later, it seemed like it would come on even driving on surface streets if it was humid out. Then last month the “check engine” light started coming on all the time, as soon as I cranked the ignition. I guess I could have gone and thrown more money at it, but I knew it was time to go. There was a definite sentimental pang; I felt sort of like I was taking the faithful old nag to the knacker, but it had to be done, so I did some online shopping, picked out a few likely candidates at one of the local CarMax locations, and today I went and bought a new (to me) 2000 Honda Civic. (They gave me $400 bucks for the old one; I suppose it will likely be broken up for parts. Well, being an organ donor isn’t a bad end.)
I like the new car very well so far–which is a good thing, since given my habits and inclinations about cars, I’ll probably be driving it for the next ten years.
I felt the same way last Feb., I traded my faithful old 1990 Geo Tracker that I had bought brand new in on a Jetta. I had that Tracker for 13 years, and it was always dependable. It always started on the coldest winter days, and apart from a muffler, a new soft top, a little rust, and a few other (cheap) minor things, never had any problems.
I still wonder what happened to my Tracker, whenever I see an older white one on the roads I do a double take.
Bought my Dodge Omni new in June 1985; drove it until November 02, when I sold it to buy a new Suzuki Aerio. The Omni was reliable, roomy, powerful, and a faithful friend. Blew a head gasket at 153000 miles, so I had a new engine put in it, drove it to 227000 miles. The guy I sold it to is sending it to college with his daughter.
Incidentally, the upholstery in the Omni was the best I’ve ever seen. Some kind of corduroy-looking material that looked brand new after 17 years. Wow.
Rocketeer, what do you think of the Aerio? I’m currently driving a '94 Suzuki Swift - I bought it used in '96 and have had no major trouble (except for anything to do with the tires because they are an odd size…). It’s been a great car. I’ll finish grad school in May, and depending on where I end up living, a new car/new to me car may be in the works. I’ve considered tha Aerio, but don’t know anyone who owns one.
Sorry 'bout the hijack, folks.
I had an 88 Civic as well. Mine was a 4 door. I really loved that car. It was very roomy inside, while being rather small on the outside. It was easy to park, fun to drive, and it made pleasant sounds when i accelerated. It got totalled in 1994, but mercifully neither myself or the passengers were injured.
I’ve driven tons of cars since then, but none I’ve ever enjoyed as much.
ya know, last year (last year this month, actually) I went out and bought a brand-new Toyota 4-runner.
I kept my old Civic. I thought “I’ll use this to run around town in, and keep the 4-Runner for special stuff”.
The lil’ old guy seemed almost affronted that now he had to be parked out in the yard, while the gleaming new Toyota was in the garage.
Several times I thought " I should just sell the old Turtle". But I didn’t
And now I’m GLAD because …
A couple of months ago my son totalled the Toyota.
So, now I’m zipping about town in a 13-year old car … which still has as much pep as it did when brand new.
I don’t think I’ll ever be able to bear to part with it. Yep, one day I’ll have to figure out how to turn it into a planter or something.
Lsura, I thought enough of the Aerio to buy another for Mrs. R
On the upside, it’s roomy, quiet, quite powerful (145 HP), nimble (short wheelbase), economical (29 mpg on my daily commute), has a simply colossal trunk, and is endearingly goofy-looking. The standard six-speaker stereo/CD is better than my home sound system. I have the sedan in high-level trim (GS?) and Mrs. R has the miniature station wagon (the SX).
On the downside, it has a rattle in the RH rear door that I can’t seem to get rid of, it moves around a bit if there’s a crosswind (high, flat-sided body and short wheelbase), and the door armrest is hard (you can tell I’m reaching here).
You oughta go drive one. Our other contender was the Mazda Protege, but it seemed a bit harder-riding, not as powerful, and more expensive.
Go visit www.suzukiaerioforum.com and poke around a bit for other people’s opinions. The posters there are pretty enthusiastic about the car.
I drive a 1987 Nissan 200SX with (almost) 110,000 miles.
I have no car payments. My full-coverage insurance runs me 80 bucks a month. 98% percent of the time my engine starts every time I turn I turn the key. 1% of the time I have to bang the gear shift to properly put it into park. The remaining 1% of the time I walk well away while saying unkind things about my only possible mode of transportation.
Yes, only possible. I live in the sticks. Taxis, buses, Els, trains, and subways are not an option.
While I would love to have a new car, my bank account sits over there screaming things like “IDIOT!” and “NO!” and “ARE YOU SANE?!”
Someday, if I ever finish this degree, I am going to move someplace where I do not - nor will I ever need - to own a vehicle of my own.
Yeah I still have my first car – a 1989 Chevy Corsica. I got it back in 1996 for a bargain deal. Or rather my parents did. I was going to my junior year of college. They picked it up for $2900 and it was in good condition with 54,000 miles. Turns out it had been stolen from it’s previous owner to rip out the stereo and then dumped and the claim had been paid off and then the car war recovered by the insurance company so they had a car with no title or tags they just wanted to get rid of. So my parents knew this and knew they were desperate to get rid of it so they offered 2000 cash but they didn’t bite but 2900 was still good. It did take 2 months though to get a new title as a reconstructed vehicle and then registration and tags but it was worth the hassle (which was why other people didn’t buy it because of the time and paperwork needed to get the thing back on the road).
The car was mine to drive through college and then it was signed over to me in 2000 and has been mine since. It is getting old now and has been a pretty good vehicle (it has only died on me once) with annual repairs and maintenance between $200-600 although this year has been bad with a new starter, ignition switch, and fuel pump for $800. Also the driver side window has partially come off it’s track but for now I got it mostly closed and I doubt I’ll get it fixed. Just won’t be using that window again.
I was going to get another vehicle (probably a new Cavalier as I am a Chevy person) but this one is still very reliable and gets decent gas mileage (25-26/city and 29 highway) and has enough power to get me around. Also I found out my insurance would go from $49/month with the old clunker to $150/month plus payments ($200-250/month) so for now the old clunker will keep on keeping on…I will miss it when it’s gone though.
