Baby, You Can (Now, Maybe) Drive My Car

Happy May Day. Alas, it’s grey, cool and wet.

I put on Tauer Sundowner this morning. It fits. It also reminds me I really want to sample the new Neela Vermeires post Portia’s post last week. That unctuous boozy vibe on Purpurea. Certainly fits today.

And today is Joe the Lab’s ninth birthday. Sang him happy bday song. He exhausted himself this morning chewing on his new rope giraffe. Dog appropriate cake made and enjoyed (oats, carrots, bit of yoghurt plus cream cheese icing — see pic).

The past week has been a bit trying. Right now, I’m surrounded by paperwork … for selling current car and buying new one.

I have never felt fully comfortable in the current car. It was an insurance write-off (ie, would have cost 50% of value to fix so not worth it) which my then mechanic had bought and refurbed. My car at that time was starting to complain and I’d always wanted a Fiat Panda so I traded the misbehaving car to and got this cheap from Selwyn (the mechanic – he then refurbed my misbehaving car [clutch failed a week after he took it] and gave it to a nephew) and it’s managed for six years — but it now seems to want fixing way too frequently.

So, I did some research. Buying new right now would mean a five-month wait, beyond the fact my father thought buying new was mostly silly given a new car depreciates significantly in value immediately on purchase (an opinion I appear to have absorbed, though if I had unlimited dosh who knows what I’d do). Anyway, so, a newer used car and buying from a reputable dealer as I get a warrantee. There’s not a lot of stock out there – due to our current economic mess people are holding on to cars longer.

Did test drive on Friday (got lost in area I’ve lived in for over 10 years – clearly, was a bit stressed) and picking up end of this coming week.  Was like night and day doing test drive (ie, much more stable vehicle, better pick-up, etc) which put paid to any idea of not doing the deed. (Motorway driving in the Panda was always on a wing and a prayer.)

And I get a sort of window in roof of car that lets in light but which has an interior shade when the world is very sunny. Doesn’t open but I’m not bothered by that.

And because it’s a three rather than a five door the front seats move forward enough for the dog to hop into the back and then on to the seat rather than having to leap into the back seat as he does now.

But I’ve got the sads about saying bye to the current car which is my own damn fault. My mother had a string of small used manual transmission cars which she always named and talked to. I picked up the habit (on all my cars bar the huge Berlingo which I hated), and because I am very fond of the current Panda, I now feel guilty about letting it go. That’s what you get for anthropomorphising steel, rubber, glass and plastic. I keep thinking ‘I hope it gets a good new home’.

I’ve never been excited about buying cars. I think the only ones that might prick up my ears would be either a Porsche Boxster or a Lotus. I had actually considered buying the latter very used and letting my current garage loose on the engine so it would last and last. And since there are so many Porsches, Ferraris, Lotus and Teslas here it’s ok to park on the street. But in the end I decided to be more practical. Is that sad?

(Lotus Emira — clearly, I would have gotten an older version of whichever model, but this gives
an idea of what a Lotus looks like; Wiki pic)

So, do you own a car? Do you love it, hate it, wish you could replace it, treat it like royalty so it will last forever? And do you have one of those pine tree air fresheners looped over the rear-view mirror?