Goodbye Old Friend

Last Saturday afternoon I said goodbye to my old friend here. With so few miles driven over the last two years, I've decided to get a car that suits my driving needs a little better. Basically something that is strong in the Tahoe snow since that is where most of my driving happens these days.

After negotiating site-unseen from my craigslist ad, a family of 5 showed up to check out the car. It's mostly for the teenage son. I walked them through the features, showed them all my maintenance records, and talked fondly of the car. They inspected the car, took it for a test drive, and were sold. It was actually very simple. I drew up a bill of sale and signed over the title. About an hour after they got there, my car was the possession of someone else and I was the owner of a fatter bank account. They left it in the driveway for a few hours which made me a little nervous but after a long lunch came back and took it home. I haven't seen the little guy since.

So endith 7 years and 4 months with my first new car. Potentially my last new car. I can't see myself spending "new car" money to have $2000 of it flush away the second it's off the lot. I think I'll be a lifetime used car buyer. Sure there are risks and pitfalls but a low mileage used car still under warranty is a pretty good bet.

At any rate, it's strange the attachment you develop with your car. At any moment it could be hit by a careless drive and totaled. You never know when it's last day will be. As for my part, I had been planning this for a while so was ready to have it go. But still, it was a great car for me and loads of fun. Goodbye old friend, I'll miss you...