I have today and tomorrow off | Main | Garden Talk Time
May 20, 2004
New Donovan Vehicle
John and I are very cheap when it comes to our cars. We would rather spend money anywhere else. But today, as I drove out to Manhattan, Kansas - to pick up 1/2 of Andy's stuff from the dorm, I realized that Spot had no power anymore.
After 286,652 miles, I could not go uphill and keep the speed even - even if I floored the accelerator.
I called John on my cell phone and told him that we need a new car. Now.
When I got back from Manhattan, we went to a pretty darn good sale that a local Leavenworth dealership was having and we bought a brand new vehicle.
They had $5,000 in rebates - which was damn good - made the new car the same price as a used one.
So, we got an Aztek - I know, lots of people think it's the ugliest thing on the face of the earth. The rest of us think it's so ugly that it's cute.
This is the first new car we have purchased as a couple - I'm so excited!
We have been spending at least the car payment every month on car repairs - it was time!!!
Posted by Beth at May 20, 2004 9:38 PM
Comments
Wow. 286,652. I've never been over 110,000 in a car before. That's impressive!
Posted by: Michael at May 20, 2004 11:55 PM
Gee, Michael - I won't go into why... but the trade-in was the Ranger with 166,000 on it!
Posted by: John of Argghhh! at May 21, 2004 6:46 AM
Congo-Rats on the new car! Doesn't look ugly to me. The interior looks very nice. I kinda like it. :)
I have over 120K on my Grand AM and my Cherokee also. I have been mulling the idea of getting a new car. I really want a hybrid though.
Posted by: Calliope at May 21, 2004 7:16 AM
I want a hybrid too, but damn if I need a new vehicle now and they have those wait lists. Get on now if you want one. I've got 160K on my mini-van and long trips are making me nervous. I was going to push to 200K, but it's just not worth the mental stress of worrying about being stranded anywhere with 3 kids. My husband and I have the philosophy that a car is a functional tool. We never get rid of a car unless we have to. We appear to be in the minority down here in Palm Beach County. Everyone gets a new BMW or Mercedes when they hit 20K. We don't get it.
Posted by: Boudicca at May 21, 2004 7:21 AM
Congrats!! :D
Heck, we've got 198,000 on Grandma! [Blazer] ;)
Posted by: pam at May 21, 2004 10:30 AM
So ugly it's cute?
That's high praise! Maybe I'll try that line on my wife this evening.
Posted by: Big Dan at May 21, 2004 11:54 AM
Congrats on your new cute wheels :)
Posted by: Uptown Girl at May 21, 2004 12:37 PM
Seriously, this is a blog for retards right?
Posted by: DrReverend at May 21, 2004 9:30 PM
There are HILLS in Kansas? I read somewhere they proved mathematically that state is actually 'flatter' than a pancake. I drove through last summer, and I must've missed the hills.
(I seldom know how many miles my vehicles have - odometers break and too much hassle getting them fixed.)
Posted by: Glenmore at May 21, 2004 10:03 PM
There's a big write up on Hybrids in Time this week Boudicca. I don't know if its worth buying it at the drugstore though, and they only have a couple paragraphs on their webpage.
Anyway, it says GM is hooting to produce 1 million hybrids in 2007 - and that's just GM. Total hybrid sales last year were 100,000.
Posted by: Calliope at May 22, 2004 6:46 AM
Replies to comments - in no particular order
1. There are hills in Kansas. And if you drove on Interstate 70, you drove through parts of the Flint Hills. Kansas gets pretty damn flat when you go out west past Salina, though. It's just like Eastern Colorado. I will put up some pictures of hills in Kansas.
2. I'm not a retard. My IQ was 137 when I was in high school. I scored in the 98th percentile in the LSAT when I was 40 - didn't go to law school, just wanted to see what my score would be. I am not a genius, either, but I'm smarter than the average bear. My husband, though, is a bonafide genius. My commenters are mostly pretty smart, too.
3. We decided to keep Spot. Even with her 286,634 miles and dubious paint job, her a/c still works and the engine still runs pretty well. We got rid of the hated Ford Ranger to get the new vehicle, which remains unnamed.
4. Thanks for the congo rats!
Posted by: Beth Donovan at May 22, 2004 7:07 AM
Calliope, it's funny you should say that about GM. Every year Toyota/Lexus introduces another of its vehicles in Hybrid form. This year it's one of their SUVs, next year it's the mini-van, etc. I am sure Honda is doing the same. My husband and I have been having great discussion with regard to the Big 3 and what they're going to do if they don't jump on the bandwagon. One of them is going to go under, the Japanese auto market is going to eat their lunch, if they don't do the hybrid thing... quickly, especially with gas as expensive as it is and no end in sight. So it's good to see one of them got the religion and is making great strides. That tells me the others probably are too. Unfortunately since I need a car now, I'll get the next generation of hybrids, but I look forward to finally getting one.
Posted by: Boudicca at May 22, 2004 11:42 AM
/does the chicken dance
Posted by: Calliope at May 22, 2004 1:41 PM
Everybody should go visit the DrReverend and judge for themselves who the retard (not to mention serious pottymouth) is when it comes to blogging.
Methinks there is a reason he's been blogging for 11 months, and has 1,588 visitors... gee, almost 5 a day.
If it's irony, it's overdone - if it's not, well, dude, I can see why you don't like anyone besides yourself and "Mrs BloodyDiapers".
Yer a first class ass.
Posted by: John of Argghhh! at May 23, 2004 7:44 AM