There's more than one way to get a new car!

In February I bought 4 pristine tires for my car. In May I had all its belts replaced. Including The Timing One people are always groaning about. Somewhere along in there - I want to say between the tires and belts but who can say for sure - I got new front brakes. Several weeks ago I got a new battery. Friday when I picked up my 18 year old Toyota from the goodnatured fellas who will fall over from shock if I ever walk into their shop with something from this century, it had new rear brakes and a new hose that was somehow related to those brakes but I don't do mechanical stuff so who can really say what it was for? It also had a bunch of new light bulbs to keep the ones company that I added, also in May, just before the belts. And an air filter. Fresh oil. Some other stuff, surely, 'cause a bill of that size couldn't have possibly only covered the aforementioned.

And today? Yea. I got me a brand new alternator.

Frequently people look at my car and chuckle. They wonder - sometimes aloud, sometimes non-verbally - why in the world I still drive the car I bought in my early 20's. It isn't, after all, a very pretty car anymore. It's been hit by people who failed to bother telling me, twice now this year. The paint is fading horrifically and let's not even talk about the issues inside.

But pretty soon? Yea, my car will be much, much newer than most of yours. Seeing as how I'm rebuilding it from the ground up.

It's hard to want to commit to a car payment when you can't actually remember what a car payment feels like and your ugly old car has, it must be admitted loud and proud, been very, very good to you.

Not that I wouldn't love to have something new and shiny and more dependable than this baby has been these past weeks. But still...the more I have repaired, rebuilt or replaced? The less anxious I am to want to part with it.

Up next: the muffler I'd planned to get last week, the budget for which got quickly used up on aforementioned More Pressing Matters. One, two, three - breathe in. One, two, three - breathe out. At least life isn't dull!

Comments

[tamara]

I had a vehicle like that....Bret finally said "it has to go". Not that I was ever in love with the thing but I just hate car payments. Now I have loved 2 vehicles in my life.....is it odd to have sentimental feelings for a motorized possesion?

[Melody]

Don't let me fool you, darlin'. I would walk into any one of several dealerships today and get myself a brand new automotive treasure if things were aligned just so. If, say, Bret told me "it has to go" with the same emphasis with which he said it to you, for example. :) But yea, not feelin' the idea of a car payment just at this moment. I don't think it's odd to have sentimental feelings for a motorized possession whatsoever! I know tons of people who do!

[Dad]

Ah, Melody, it should be good for another hundred thousand miles now, especially after you get that brand spanking new muffler. But get another new timing belt in 60,000 miles, and you might need a new clutch somewherer along the line. When you get to longing for a shiney new one, think of all the places that one has taken you--New Yourk, Ohio, Kentucky, Alabama, Mississippi.....

You know the one that I had trouble parting with. Just a plain, simple 1978 Ford Fairmont. If I had spent money on it like I have on other cars, It would still be with me. But there came a day when it was 23 years old that I new it was time to let it go. And I gave it to the buyer for less than what he offered me. Don't even miss it now, but it really got us around, didn't it? (She drove it a lot before she broke down and bought the 90 Corolla).

Wishing you happy driving! (get that muffler, and you can even drive it to see Mom and me!).

Dad

[Melody]

How you loved that ugly little car... :)