Mortality

For the past six months I have been mentally car shopping. My favorite car was edging closer to the magic 90,000 miles. My warranty is up at 100,000 and it loses all trade in value. I love my Pacifica but they don't make it anymore. The Dodge clone just didn't make my heart pound and the Mercedes sister was way to expensive. So I started the process of oogling cars in the parking lots.

One of the criteria was smaller. Our garage will house both our cars but it would be much happier with two regular cars. Mine was a little too wide for a comfortable fit.

I thought about how I used my vehicle, how much I drove, any special requirements. I decided that if I needed a third row of seats I could rent a car for that special trip.

Hubby encouraged me to drive a Pathfinder from his dealer. They promised a great deal and that it was totally new and drove more like a car.

Finally I was ready and when Hubby was home for several days I said I was ready for a test drive. Always a sweetie he said why don't we start with a Chevy since I had really liked a Traverse I had driven for a few weeks while my car was in the shop. We headed out to the GMC dealer on the way to the Nissan dealer because they had some nearly new possibilities on the lot so we stopped there first.

Long story shortened after test driving several options the sales man left me to meditate on my choice. The two final candidates were parked facing the windows just waiting to be chosen. One was too macho and the other made great sense. Good price, all the options I wanted, low mileage. But - something was missing. So I said okay you had another option a new Buick. It had all the options on my must have list so he pulls it up and I settle in for a test drive. By then I had given up on the long route and was into the basic test. Pull out of dealer, turn into my Dr parking lot and pull into space, back into space, do a u-turn, gun it to leave lot. Somewhere between the dealer and the parking lot I knew it was my car. So what was the feature that sold me?

I will be 70 when I trade this vehicle in - four years 80,000 miles - maybe 71 if I drive less in the next few years. I could not see myself getting in and out of the GMC. It looked like a truck, it was tough and durable and practical. I wanted something slightly elegant, safe, great visibility, a few bells and whistles and enough seats to be the designated driver on "girls night out". So there it is. I could see myself at 70 inching this vehicle into a parking space at the grocery store. It's a Buick and yes the driver's seat is very comfy!