Throughout my life behind the wheel, I have never owned a car that was less than ten years old. There was the '79 something-or-other (I can't remember what it was but it would have been a classic muscle car if it wasn't a piece of shit); the '80 Volvo that I drove into the ground; the '93 Saturn that cracked it's engine block on my way over a mountain; the '92 Civic that got broken into so many times that I actually lost almost as much as the car was worth; and most recently: the '92 Mazda 626 that was like wrestling a bear anytime I wanted to go anywhere. The thing would actually die if I came to a full stop.
Well, I have had enough. So, I did some research. I asked around. I checked on sites like vehix.com and autotrader.com. Finally, I decided on the car I wanted: a 2007 Toyota Corolla Sport...burgundy, sun roof optional. I then spent several months actually trying to track one down. I found one once at a dealer in Petaluma, but when the salesperson handed me the key and I went to turn it on nothing happened. They were still working on the car when I left 15 minutes later. Or the time that I found one at a dealership and immediately emailed them to see if the car was still there. I quickly got a response that it was. Of course, when I showed up after having driven 45 minutes in crappy traffic and some light gang violence, the car was, in point of fact, absolutely NOT there. Then, what with practically working two jobs and having hardly any time off, my search kinda got put on the back burner.
Then this past Sunday, having very little to do until that afternoon, I decided that it was time. I was going to go get my car. I logged on to the website of the local Toyota dealer, did a quick search, and lo and behold: there was my car - sunroof included. I quickly showered and got dressed, and then walked the 6 or so blocks to the dealer. Yes, walked, so sure was I that I would not need to walk back. I got to the lot. There was my car. I walked into the sales office, grabbed the first sales clerk I could lay hold of, and said "Sell me that car or I'll make you wish you had."
Ok, it wasn't quite like that, but it would have been a lot cooler if it was.
I took the car out for a quick test drive, gave it the obligatory once-over, and said "Ok, let's do it."
It turns out I didhave to walk back home because I had to get a recent bill and a paycheck stub for the financial purposes of securing a loan. And then walk back to the lot and got my new car.
I don't know if you can appreciate what having a new car (yeah, I'd say 2 years old is pretty new) is like after over a decade of driving crappy cars. It's liberating. The car goes fast. And it does it quickly, if you know what I mean. The thing handles like a dolphin through water. And it's such a smooth ride. The other night driving home, and I was going 90 without even noticing. And it has a sunroof! Not only does it go fast, but it feels like it wants to go fast. For the first time in my life I actually enjoy driving my car, and its a wonderful feeling.
Happy Jenday and Happy Driving!