I was twenty-one years old when I got my first car. My parents could not afford to buy me one, and discouraged me from doing do until I was almost through with college. We finally reached the point where they thoroughly had it with me using Mom's to commute back and forth an hour each way to school five days a week, to work a few days a week, and to stay out till four a.m. with friends as often as I could. They caved.
It took forever to find a vehicle we could agree on... See, I was still in school and living at home, so they tactfully played the "my house, my rules, my insurance" card. After a six month search through every used car in a twenty mile radius, we finally found something responsible, reliable and affordable...that wasn't a butt-ugly granny-mobile. A teal blue Chevy Baretta. We put down a deposit and headed to the bank. I was absolutely thrilled...
Until the phone call the next day. Apparently a drunk driver fell asleep at the wheel and took out about eight parked cars. My soon-to-be Baretta was one of them. We were back to square one and I was about out of patience.
Soon after my mom and I went car shopping alone to a dealership in another city. The stars aligned and I left there with my very first car. Finally. A brand new 1993 Chevy Cavalier. Bright red. They made one us one heck of a deal, I could afford the payments, it was a reliable vehicle, and although it didn't scream "hip, cool chick" it wasn't ugly enough for me to be embarrassed driving it.
My dad wasn't exactly thrilled when we pulled in the driveway with a brand new car, but I think my mom was tired of all the searching and caved just to get it over with...hehehe. I spent the summer washing and waxing that car at every available opportunity. The newness wore off come fall, but I still took care of it. I was paying for it after all.
It lasted until 1999 when a head gasket went and the motor cooked. I was on my own then so I had the freedom of choice for my next car. I was spoiled by having a new one as my first; I wouldn't even consider a used one the second time around. Especially not after the six-month ordeal it was last time. But, I was also poor. Student loans, rent, planning a wedding...I had to settle for practical if I wanted something new.
A 1999 Chevy Tracker. Also bright red. I know, right? What the hell was I thinking? It ended up being a really reliable vehicle. Four wheel drive for the winter, soft top for that wind-blown look in the summer, incredible on gas. Most of the time I owned it I was working literally a few blocks from home. When I finally traded it in in 2007, it only had 40,000 miles on it and was in excellent condition. But this time I was prepared. I did my homework. I saved my money. I knew exactly what I wanted and how much I needed to put down to afford the payments.
In April 2007 I bought my current vehicle. A Mercury Milan. And I absolutely love my car. All-wheel drive, V6, dual exhaust, sunroof, spoiler, fantastic on gas, all the options available (except leather seats, I don't like burning my A in the summer and freezing it in the winter), and finally an adult color. My car has spunk. It's fun to drive. It's comfy as hell and that matters to me with all the driving I do these days. It screams business professional yet young and sporty at the same time. Did I already say that I love my car?
No doubt about it, I was planning on buying another one in a year or two. I've already been saving my pennies for a nice down payment. There's no way I would even consider buying a different vehicle. No way in hell.
I got a letter in the mail last week and was almost driven to tears.
It said, and I quote, "The final production on all Mercury vehicles will take place in the third quarter of this year. The brand is being discontinued."
Not only no more Milans. No. More. Mercury. Period.
Dammit.
I've spent the past week mumbling, grumbling, whining, and cursing. Now what the hell am I supposed to buy? I love my car (in case you missed that part) and there's no way I can afford a new one by the end of this year.
I have a few choice words for the Ford Motor Company.
Shitheads.
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