I am wearing the new L.L. Bean fleece bathrobe my sweetie bought for me. It’s red and comes from China. This is a fine thing, even if I am a little too hot.
No, we don’t have a new car. We sure need one, though. This afternoon I took a phone call from the same lady, who reported an accident or event involving the ’89 Dodge Spirit’s exhaust system: “It’s really loud!” was all I really understood, but that was enough. From the sound of it, the pipe had let go between the muffler and the cat (catalytic converter). Could be cheap, could be expensive, depending — when your vehicle’s trade-in value is around $300, you keep an eye on that — but I knew that if I took it to the same guy who offered to bust out the guts of the converter on my Ford truck while he was installing a new glasspack, he could probably do a little cutting and welding and make it all work. That would happen next week, however. My immediate job as husband was to start looking around for a new set of wheels.
I went to the Ford dealer, parked my truck, and stood next to an electric-blue Mazda RX-8 on the edge of the used car lot. The “come on” machine, you understand. Within 20 seconds a friendly fellow came out, and we proceeded to become acquainted. He had all kinds of cars to show me, most of them just a year or two old, and they were all too expensive and dull as sofas. Not a car on the lot had a manual transmission, either. I did end up driving the Mazda down the street and back, but that was a given. A little cramped for my taste, seemed tighter in the cockpit than I remember my old Nissan 240SX SE to be — the best car I ever owned, by the way — but it’s a dandy touring machine, except for having no damn luggage space. Purty, though.
It’s been a few years since I’ve done this little song and dance, the old hunting-for-a-car trip. I don’t know how we can afford one, but then I never have: you just buy now and cry later. I mean, this is America. You gotta have wheels. Interestingly, there’s a very real possibility I could win a car next month: there’s a local lottery for a Ford Escape, and I bought a ticket ($100) with my birthday money back in August. I don’t particularly want a Ford Escape, but it is red, and I could forgive a lot in a new vehicle that only cost a hundred bucks. They’re cutting off sales at 300 tickets, so the odds aren’t too bad.
I need careful watching at times like this. My predilection is always to hunt for something special, something different, and soon I start fantasizing about hot sports cars, classic land yachts, or wacko foreign curiosities. But the next car will be my wife’s daily ride as well as our road car, so it has to be decent. Please God, no Corollas or Camrys. My wife’s sister just leased a loaded Camry, so guess which make my honey favors. Maybe I shouldn’t be so prejudiced, but have you ever driven a ’91 Nissan 240SX SE??
Four-wheel disc brakes, a strong DOHC four-cylinder engine with hydraulic lifters and chain-driven cams (so you never have to change belts or adjust the valves), and the road manners to give me Corolla-sneering rights for life. Lord, I loved that car. We’d take the back roads through Kansas with the cruise control on 80 mph, what a joy. And guys, the best thing about a car that good on a road trip is that my wife liked to drive it just that fast! Because it handled so well and stopped so quickly, you understand, and stayed firmly planted on the pavement, it made her feel confident.
Me, I can take something like the Dodge careening around if I have to — I know how to, that is — but a sane person wouldn’t, and it isn’t any fun. A Japanese Buick would beat the hell out of the Dodge, but virtually anything can.
It’s time, though, and I’m on the hunt.
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{ 3 comments… read them below or add one }
The same way you felt about your 240SX is how I feel driving my ’03 Miata. For nine years prior, I drove a ’91 Camry that was first owned by my Grandmother. Trust me – nothing was wrong with that car or the way I drove when I had it – until malmaintenance (is that a word?) caused the engine to die. I’m 41 yo, single, and occasionally had to drive my parents’ older Miata whenever my car needed maintenance.
I went car shopping and saw my Red toy in the last car lot I visited that day. I negotiated and finally after walking out of the deal until they met my price, I found I had bought not only a new car but a new lifestyle. This was mid 2006 and I’m still reaping the benefits of my buying decision… and I just joined the SCCA after having attended a novice autocross school a couple months ago.
Good luck!
Just for the record, that new car that you’ll be winning from the Ford dealer is “Burnt Copper”, not red. What color is that new robe you’re wearin’ anyways?
I like Kelly’s attitude toward her Miata, but I give my vote for a ’57 Chev. Some of them must still exist out there in desert country. Anyhow, you gotta have wheels, whatever Al Gore thinks. (Of course, he’s got plenty of wheels, plenty of airmiles and a mansion or two to boot- doesn’t matter, he got the Nobel.)