When Is It Time?

When is it time to say good-bye to your old car and make room for a new one?  For months I had been thinking about getting a new car but just never got motivated enough to go look for one.  I would see cars on the road and two cars impressed me.  One was a Honda Civic and the other was a Subaru Impreza. I had purchased my 2000 Subaru Outback in September of 1999 and it was getting old and sick!

The day I drove off in my Outback

My license plates were expiring at the end of February and on February 28 I took my 2000 Subaru for an emissions test.  It failed.  I was told to take my car to a mechanic and get the problem corrected.  I took the car to a mechanic that works on my car and almost fainted when he told me that repairs would be around $1500 for a front sensor, rear sensor, catalytic converter, front gasket and rear casket plus labor. Of course, I have no idea if what he tells me is true and an even less idea of how those parts function on my car!  Knowing how mechanics (so I've read and seen on television) are so ready to fake repairs, especially to a woman, I decided to get another estimate.  I took my car to a Subaru dealer. 

The Subaru dealer gave me a list consisting of a knock sensor, A/F sensor, radiator hose, rear brakes, alignment, a tie rod and rack boots and tires. He informed me that the rear light was out and it was not a bulb as he suspected, but something to do with the wires which would cost about $300. He mentioned that my ties were in need of repair which added another $900 since on an all wheel drive all four tires need to be replaced! The total bill came to $3269 plus labor. I made a comment that all I needed was for my car to pass the emissions so I could get my now expired plates. He told me that if I drove my car a long distance, that maybe I would pass the emissions test because the catalytic converter needed to be hot when an emission's test is done.  I drove from Golden to Arvada and waited my turn in line to have my Subaru tested. Once again I failed the emissions test.  This was all the motivation I needed.


I headed to a Subaru dealer to look at the Impreza.  When I sat in one I liked, the seat was not comfortable.  They did not have the color I liked and after hiking through ice and snow in a back lot, I could not find one that spoke to me.  The salesman tried to convince me to lease a car.  I let him know I was just on a looking spree and still had other places to go.

I named my car Jazzy

Passing Nisson, Kia, Hyundai, and Toyota dealerships I kept going until I saw a Honda dealer.  When I told the young salesman what I was looking for, he went to the lot and got it for me.  The minute I sat in the seat I liked it. The color was black and I told the salesman I would prefer another color. Before long, a dark grayish-brown was brought to me.  It had more bells and whistles than I needed or wanted but the price was right and I could almost hear it saying, "Buy me, buy me!" In 4 1/2 hours I was driving home in my new Honda Civic.
 
Now, not only do I have a new smart phone to learn how to use, but I will have to learn all about my new car!    It seems a bit noisy and it is not as big as my Subaru but I believe Jazzy and I will get along fine!


                                                                                          

 Sometimes, one knows when it is time.  My time was today and now I have a new car.  I traded in my Subaru, said good-bye by cleaning it out, and never looked back! Today I saw a green Outback, just like what I used to have, and a pang of sadness pierced my heart.  But, only for an instant, because just then the phone rang and on a small screen on the dash of my Honda, I could see who was calling.  "Hi," I said and continued talking as I drove. I didn't even have to get the phone out of my purse! Wow, what luxury!!

Hi from Jazzy