What Kind of Car are You?
I wish this was one of those clever quizzes, but it’s simply my rumination on all things automotive. You see, I spent a good deal of time at the dealership this month, trying to iron out some problems with the detailing I had done to my car. I’ve also just started a new book and invariably, I had to decide what kind of car my hero drove.
Cars, like music and clothes, reflect a person’s personality. A hero who drives a PT Cruiser is not the same as one who drives a Porche. My hero in my upcoming Blaze drives an old, beat-up Ford Mustang fastback because my heroine talked him into buying it. (Which you will see later on is no big surprise, judging by my own dream car.) When I’m creating a character, I think hard and do research into cars and trucks before I pick the vehicle said character will drive. I remember that Angela Harris, the heroine of my first book, drove a practical SUV. Made sense since she was a mom. My heroine of my book, What’s Your Pleasure?, Devon Michaels, drove a Cadillac Escalade. She was also a mom, but a rich one, hence the luxury vehicle. Her best friend, lusty Sydney Coburn, drove a convertible Corvette. Again, no surprise to anyone who reads that character. Hers was red and convertible and if I remember correctly, a collector’s item. Again, of course it was! She was the ultimate little red Corvette.
Whenever I purchase a new car, I think about how the vehicle will reflect me. Is this vain? I’m not sure, but it’s the way it is. I remember so clearly shopping for my first car the summer before my senior year of high school. This is the car I wanted. A Ford Mustang.
This is the car I got:
(Okay, this isn’t actually the car…it’s a model of the car type. As you all know, all my pics from high school were destroyed. But this is as close to the car I had as I could get. Mine was red, had custom-pin stripes that were orange and yellow. It is no wonder I had many speeding tickets from this era…cops could spot me from a mile away.)
I should confess that my grandfather bought me my first car. He bought cars for all his grandkids when they turned 16…except me, I waited until I was 17, but that was by choice. I have to say that buying me the 4-cylinder Corolla rather than the 8-cylinder Mustang probably saved my life. My nickname in college was Andretti. It was on the back of my sorority jersey and it was not an exaggeration. I won every road rally we ever had. I was fast. Why I’m still alive at the speeds I drove just goes to prove that there is a God.
My second car was the coolest. A Toyota Celica, black, with a spoiler around the bottom…very much like this one, but black. It was the first car I bought myself right after I graduated from college. This car was not only fast, it was a five-speed. I think I bought black leather racing gloves…or maybe someone gave them to me as a gift. Oh, the stories I can tell you about that car. Again, it’s a wonder I’m still alive.
I have to say that I did start slowing down right around the time that I got married and in a bid to save money, we sold my Celica and I started driving my husband’s truck. You just can’t go that fast in a Chevy Blazer. The car was SO not me. I hated driving it. But it got me where I was going, that’s for sure.
After we moved to Atlanta, my husband decided to buy me my first-ever brand new car. (All the others had been used cars.) He spoiled me and got me a Pathfinder. I can’t remember the year. 1995, I think. I drove it until my husband fell in love with the Jeep Liberty. He travelled all over town until he could find a dealership that would sell us one in the color we wanted–they were so new, most dealers were holding on to the one or two they had in order to take orders.
I loved my Liberty. It was an SUV, but not. It was fun. Cute. And for a little while, unique. It reflected me. But it wasn’t safe. The car we had (first generation) had problems with the wheel base that made it very easy to loose traction. I had a baby in the car. It had to go.
I decided to go back to the Pathfinder. It’s a solid SUV and for a short person like me, I love the height and weight of a great big sport utility vehicle, but I don’t want a Hummer or something I can’t park! I like the car. Does it reflect me? Well, since being a mom is now my main focus, yeah, it does.
I wish this car (my dream car from my youth) reflected me, but you know…all I see when I look at this car now is a death trap. Time changes everything, I guess.
But one thing doesn’t change…my dream car from college. The one I couldn’t afford. The one I certainly still can’t afford, but a girl can dream, can’t she?
This one. Man, isn’t this sweet? 1965 Mustang. (Janelle, don’t remind me that you once owned one of these or I may have to hate you.) This car in this picture, black and sleek…I swoon when I see it. Convertible is nice, but fastback is better. Florida is hot and you only have a limited amount of months to keep the top down without getting a sunburn on your head. I like this. Someday…
In the meantime, my characters drive the cars I love. That’s one definite perk of this life as a writer…being able to live vicariously through people you’ve created and control. I have to research these things because though this blog might make you think otherwise, I don’t know or care a lot about cars. It’s like my attitude toward wine and art…I don’t know much, but I know what I like. And I love this car. It reflects my attitude toward life…and now, I’m actually old enough and wise enough to drive it without killing myself.
So, what’s your dream car? Why? Do you have anyone in your life, including you, who drives a car that reflects their personality?
Don’t forget! Tomorrow is our guest blog with Harlequin editor Brenda Chin! You don’t have to be a writer to ply her with questions about books, so be prepared!
My first car was a bright green 1978 Ford Pinto which had been hit by a deer. It was hideous, but I loved it because it meant I could drive myself around and I was no longer dependent on other people to take me where I wanted to go.
Fast forward twenty years and I’m in a Trailblazer. I like being a little off the ground, the weight and the room. (And Julie, you’re new car is my “next” car. :-) My dh has the Titan Quad Cab in Red Braun–no other color would do, being an Alabama fan–and that’s the shade I want as well.)
Right now the plan is to give my son–who will be 16 in two years–my car and me get a new one. Would you believe he doesn’t want my cool SUV? I was appalled. I pulled up a picture of the Pinto and said, “Okay, sweetie, would you rather have this?”
“Er…I think I’ll take the Trailblazer.”
I thought so.
Comment by Rhonda Nelson — March 14, 2007 @ 8:08 am
LOL, Rhonda! That’ll teach him. You know, I was thinking about my older brother’s first car, remembering a cool white Camaro. He reminded me that his actual first car was a mint green Ford Fairlane or something like that…about 10 years old and rusted to the core. I guess he deserved the Camaro next!
Comment by Julie Leto — March 14, 2007 @ 8:40 am
cars.. what a fun topic.. have to say i grew up around cars.. you are all plotmonkeys well i grew up a grease monkey..lol.. my grandpa owned a service/gas station, and my dad bought it from him before i was born, and just retired due to health here about 3 years ago.. it was a tiny 2 stall small town place.. but i loved every minute of being with my dad under the hood of a car. one of his favorite pictures of me as a baby is me laying on the floor on a creeper holding my baby bottle under a car..lol..
my first car i got right after highschool, my folks didnt have alot of money so i joined the army national guard and while i was at training i sent all my checks home and Dad had an awesome 74 monte carlo waiting for me when i got home.. this was in 1986, but boy was it a cool car, 2 door, vinyl top, white bucket seats, automatic on the floor… this car could haul down the road.. this thing was all souped out.. like you i should have been called andretti and its a wonder i didnt kill myself in it.. i had that car until i got married and pregnant, and when it came time for a car seat, it didnt take me long to figure out that bucket seats and a 2 door werent a good idea.. so we traded my dream car for a chevy cavalier.. not my choice of cars but it was all we could afford and that was a stretch.. we drove that car forever until about 7 years ago actually, and by now i had 3 kids and decided it was minivan time.. again no money so i found an 84 plymouth voyager… drove that a few months until some teenagers decided to hit us nearly head on one night.. then up graded to a 94 plymouth. I was suprised i got the loan but by then my hubby was active duty with the national guard and had a bit better income..
This last year a job opportunity knocked on my door, my kids school called me and offered me a job in the kitchen.. i had been a stay at home mom, my youngest is in 3rd grade this year and had thought of working part time again anyway..
I also clean house for several elderly folks i know in town from my church.. so i now drive my dream vehicle.. I bought myself a 2006 GMC Envoy XL.. it has the 3rd row seats, and my very first cd player and it has a built in dvd player for the kids.. every dime i earn at my jobs go to the bank for the payment.. but i can say im earning and driving my dream SUV.. its a pretty gold color.. stilll cannot believe that im driving it… i still like to go out and just look at it..lol..
Comment by Jolene Fehr — March 14, 2007 @ 9:06 am
My dream car is a Porsche Carrera (sp?) I love that car. I have since I was a young teenager. For my sixteenth birthday I got it, of course it was only a matchbox size, but who cared I got it. My first car was called the “Midget Mobile”. It was a Ford Festive and it looked like a clown car. I could get seven or eight friends in it and we could actually pick the thing up if we had to. I loved that car. Now I drive a Ford Freestyle, not my first choice but with carpooling and gas prices it is a great car. I had to give up my Mercury Mountaineer for the Freestyle and I left a little of my heart behind. :cry:
Comment by Patty L. — March 14, 2007 @ 9:11 am
Hmm, I think age is getting to me, too. My dream car used to be something luxurious. Now I dream of a car that’s paid for and gets fantastic gas mileage. Dh even–to please my desire for a “smart” car–suggested a minivan, but I couldn’t do that to him. I mean, to my car-loving husband, driving around in a minivan is the vehicular version of castration. It was sweet of him to offer, but we’ll probably compromise with a hybrid SUV instead, just to keep the testosterone levels in check. lol!
Comment by Lori Borrill — March 14, 2007 @ 9:24 am
I just like a small and simple car to drive. The smallest the better for parking spot. I drive a white toyota corolla 1999. still looks like new and its comfy. Oh one more thing, It has to be Toyota.
Comment by barbara — March 14, 2007 @ 9:32 am
Jolene, congrats on the dream car! You obviously deserve it! That’s a lot of work, but it paid off for you. Awesome! And it must be great to have all that car knowledge…I bet nobody f*cks with you at the mechanics, LOL!
Patty, that is so funny about your friends picking up your car. I remember all of us piling into my bf’s Volkswagen Rabbit. Hers was a convertible…boy, the fun we had in that car!
Lori, you’re so enviromentally conscious…I’m impressed. I have to believe that someday, we’re going to switch over to biofuels…I just hope they make the cars look cool.
Barbara, I loved my two Toyotas. They were great cars that never needed repairs. At one point, my entire family, except my mom who will only buy American cars, drove Nissans. All of my brothers, me and my father. We could have made a commercial!
Comment by Julie Leto — March 14, 2007 @ 9:41 am
One word Janelle and we will form a club!!
I want an orginal Shelby Cobra so bad I can taste it.
My first car was a 1970 Olds 88. I lived in the country still. It would do 110 with no problem, especially on dark, straight roads. I loved it when some guy would give the challange at a stop light. They usually lost. This thing could fly. I only managed to get one tix the whole time I owned it. How, I will never know.
I should say here that my mother taught me to drive- and drag. She was known for it when she was younger. It must run in the DNA.
ONe of my fav cars was a Fiat Spyder. I even drove it in the winter. I didn’t care, it was a great car. I have owned a Gremlin, Datsun, Mazda GLC, 2 other Oldsmobiles (which are by far my all time favs for big cars). One had the engine blow and I had it rebuilt by 2 guys I know- who do race cars. It flew.
I have had 2 new Mazda 626’s before my current truck.
I love speed. Hubby has a Chrysler 300C with a Hemi 5.7. Thank god for cruise control. I drive a 2002 Toyota Rav4. I love it. I hate that the new ones are bigger, cause I was going to get one and give this to the Daughter. Now I don’t know what I am going to do. I live in a city and parking the small SUV is easy. I don’t want a car- I’m too short and can’t see over the snowbanks in one.
I would go for a pickup, but the family won’t let me have one. Pickups have to have a rifle rack in the window. They are afraid I would keep a rifle in it. Duh.
Comment by ev — March 14, 2007 @ 9:45 am
LOL Julie, don’t give me too much credit. I’m more concerned with my wallet than the ozone layer. Do you have any idea how much gas costs in California? I think we’re nearing $3 a gallon this week!
Comment by Lori Borrill — March 14, 2007 @ 9:47 am
Geez…my first car was a used Honda Accord hatchback (carmel colored), used and I had to share it with one of my brothers. It got totalled (I got ran into by a jerk in high school, not my fault) and it was never the same. In college, I had a Ford Tempo sedan (used, again, they don’t make them anymore). My folks liked it because it was nice and safe. It got ran into by a campus garbage truck outside of my sorority house (again, I parked it perfectly fine, it was THEIR fault). I drove that thing until after two rounds of college (I got a second degree), after I got married. Then, hubby and I had to each get new cars and since I had the baby by then, I got a nice Toyota Camry (which hubby still drives). I get the Honda Odessey mini van, which I love because it gets us all to where we need to go safely (and this is before the hybrid suvs) and reasonably good gas mileage (okay, I do have the luxury editions, so I feel it is a little luxurious). I figure when my three boys are teens, I’ll get myself a HUMMER. LOL. I figure since no one will fit in the mini van by the time I have three teen boys (this is a LONG way away). Or, else, I’ll get one of those BMW/Lexus/Mercedes fancy shmancy SUVs. LOL
Comment by katie — March 14, 2007 @ 9:51 am
I’m a Toyota girl. Although my first car that I bought was a Geo Tracker(right out of college). I drove it for 3 years until one day my sister and her girls were in the car and I didn’t feel it was safe for the kids. I got rid of it a couple of weeks later and traded for my first Toyota. I’ve driven Corollas ever since and plan to someday upgrade to the Highlander or Avalon. I love that with my Corolla the only thing I have to have done is change to oil and buy tires as needed.
Comment by Liza — March 14, 2007 @ 9:55 am
Julie, you’re probably one of the few women who actually know who Eleanor is (lol). I used to think my fascination for Mustangs came from my first crush. I was 13, he was 21 and he drove a Fastback, but I’ve come to learn that I just love the Mustang in general.
When I was 19 I had a Mustang sedan, not the convertible because my brother worked at the Ford dealership and said that year (’86) wasn’t a very safe model for convertibles. I had the racing interior (dashboard), 4 speed. And like you, I loved to go fast. I always wanted to be a racecar driver and my little Mustang was as close as I was going to come.
Then I met hubby who had a “Mustang Fund.” He would save all his money from birthdays, etc. so he could get his dream - 64 1/2 convertible. 2 years ago he changed his mind on the 64 and ended up getting a 2001 Cobra Convertible. My heart pitter-patters at that car!!! It’s beautiful and I love it as much as he does. And boy is it fun to drive!
Now, we’re saving for one of the new Shelby GT500’s. I’m sure it will take years to save enough and I’m pretty adament about it being a hardtop. I’m not comfortable with 500 horses under a convertible. I know what our 320 are like, and that’s a plenty!
As for personality, if our Cobra was red - it would be me. A little sassy, a little fiesty, but a little class as well. Fun, fun topic!
Comment by Jodie — March 14, 2007 @ 10:04 am
My dream car has always been a Ford Mustang Convertible. Someday I will have one I hope. I current;y drive a Dodge Durango that all my nieces and nephew call my “monster truck” LOL!! I never really thought of myself as a “truck” or SUV girl, but we used to have some pretty bad winters and now that I have a child I wanted something I would feel safe driving her to the Doctors in if it had been snowing. BTW…off topic, my baby turns 3 today. We are off to Build A Bear to make a little lamb then to her favorite place to eat, Bugaboo Creek. Thank God, it isn’t Chuck E Cheese. LMAO!
Comment by Kelly F. — March 14, 2007 @ 10:07 am
Almost forgot…my first car was a 1978 Lebaron. That had white leather interior and a tourqoise blue paint job. Talk about a “pimp mobile” LOL! It ended up dying the weekend I bought it while I had my whole family at Salisbury Beach. What a nightmare! Then of course I brought it back and got my money back, went straight to a dealership with my Aunt and bought a brand new Ford Escort. That I couldn’t drive because it was a standard. But it was all I could afford. LOL!
Comment by Kelly F. — March 14, 2007 @ 10:13 am
Yes, my very first car, at the age of 16, was a 1965 Mustang my father rebuilt/restored for me. It was gorgeous and like brand new — a sparkling kelly green, restored pony interior, and fast, fast, fast! I could SHOOT MYSELF for selling it to buy a Mazda RX7! What was I thinking?
Now, I drive a Black Chevy Tahoe — and I LOVE it. It’s a 2000, but runs like a dream and I’ll keep driving it until it doesn’t drive any more, LOL! However, now that my 16 year old is driving and will need a new car, she will get the Chevy Malibu that my husband is currently driving, and he’s looking to buy . . . you guessed it, a MUSTANG! But a new one.
Julie, don’t hate me, but my father (who is retired and LIVES to restore old cars — Mustangs and Corvettes from the 1950’s (that are absolutely GORGEOUS when he’s done with them!), has rebuilt and restored another 1965 Corvette. This one a beautiful cherry red, and it’s a CONVERTIBLE!!! He’s had hefty offers for the car, but I already placed dibs on it, and being the only girl in the family and the baby at that, well, it gives me all kinds of leverage, LOL! So, Julie, one day when it’s mine, you can fly out to California and I’ll drive you wherever you want to go in a 1965 Convertible Mustang. 8)
Comment by Janelle — March 14, 2007 @ 11:18 am
Janelle, I’m so there! I can imagine us tooling down the PCH…we’ll wear scarves and big sunglasses and look ultra cool!
Comment by Julie Leto — March 14, 2007 @ 11:21 am
I’m just not a big car person, I guess. To me a car has always been a box for me to move around in.
Maybe because of the cars I’ve had…lol! My first was a green GMC Pacer. Yes, a bubble car! My Mom handed it down to me after I wrecked it about 6 weeks after I got my license. A year or so later, I bought my own car, a new, cute little Nissan Sentra. I liked it, small, a little zippy. But (as usual) I wrecked it. Then, going out car shopping without the parental influence, I went for something a little sportier and got a Honda CRX. I LOVED that little car! It got 60 miles to the gallon and was just fun to drive.
Then hubby wrecked it. (Not his fault, we got rear-ended.)
After that came…hmmm…a Chevy Cavalier with major electrical problems that used to leave me stranded on the side of the highway (someday I’ll have to relate the spaghetti sauce story, which started with that stupid car.) Then a Volvo 240 DL. Nice, big, safe for when i was hauling little girlies around. Then a minivan. Ultimate Mama mobile. Then a Suzuki XL7 which I drive now. I love it because it’s a small SUV, drives like a car, but when we need the space, the back does fold up to seat 7. (Tightly…but it can do it!)
I guess if I got to pick a car for someone to just give me, I’d like a cute little Mercedes convertible 2 seater like my Dad has.
Comment by Leslie — March 14, 2007 @ 11:30 am
What I wanted for my first car was not what I got. I was in love with the Porsche 2 seater that was shaped like a box which the Porsche emblem on the side of the car. oh yea! Instead my parents bought me a 1976 Buick Apollo.
You ask yourself, a Buick what? That’s right, it was such a memorable car, that GM only may it for one year. It was the perfect car for a “Granny” about the age of 90 but definantely not for a 16 year old.
When I turned 18, I showed my parents what a car should be so I bought a brand new 350 V8 Firebird. What a sweet car. Lovely to look at and oh what fun!!! I cried the day that I sold it to get a “family Car”, a Honda Accord. I got the Honda and Hubby gets to drive the 300ZX. Did I miss something here?
About this time, my sister starts dating this guy from Las Vegas. He shows up to my parents house one day with…… you guess it???? MY WHITE PORSCHE 2 SEATER. Talk about unfair. They fall in love, get married and move to back to Las Vegas. The End. NOT
Two years ago during one our family adventures to Las Vegas to visit my sister and brother-in-law I find out some distrubing news. My brother-in-law did such a excellent job at his work that his boss decides to give him a bonus. Could it be money? a trip to a really exotic place? you guessed it. This time it’s YELLOW.
How much can a girl take
Well so much for dreams. Time for reality. One daughter in college and my other daughter is about to start. There goes my Porsche money. I guess I will have to spend my time pretending that our 4Runner or our Lexus really are that absolute, fabulous, any color 2 seater Porsche.
Maybe I should file for visitation rites??
Comment by Ardie — March 14, 2007 @ 12:37 pm
Oh, Ardie! I feel your pain. Life is unfair! Tell your daughters they have to become doctors or corporate CEOs so they can buy you a two-seater Porsche to thank you for your sacrifice!
Comment by Julie Leto — March 14, 2007 @ 12:49 pm
Ok, so I must be the only 40 year old in America that doesn’t drive
. Yes you heard me, I don’t drive. I took a few lessons a few years ago, didn’t care for all the crazy people on the road, and decided I’d rather walk. Driving just wasn’t that big a deal to me, till now…Now my 18 year old daughter wants to teach me how to drive
God help me!
Comment by Tina Martinesi — March 14, 2007 @ 1:05 pm
My dream car is just to be finished with the SUV stage. I have no idea what I’d want next … But I’ll think about it!
Comment by Carly — March 14, 2007 @ 1:27 pm
Tina, my daughter that just turned 38 doesn’t drive or own a car. She can drive but by using public transportation she saves a ton of money & has done more traveling than me–her Mom!!
Cars, I love cars. Right now I own a 2002 Hyundai Elantra. I love the car, it rides well, handles great out on the road & gets decent gas mileage. It is not my dream car but I am happy with it. Lori, I paid $2.979 for gas at Costco yesterday–ouch! For me there is not just one dream car but several to fit the mood, weather, travel etc.!! Hydunai has a pretty little sports car that I wouldn’t mind having providing it was red. I love a Mercedes, great car, very comfortable, great reputation! I have to confess to hating SUV’s, gas hogs & I can’t see around them when I’m driving (don’t mean to tick off anyone that is just my humble opinion)! My first car, bought by me, was a 1956 red & white Ford convertible. Joe Montana drove a car like it in a Hanes commercial a few years back, only that one was blue! It was a sweet car & I loved it, had a lot of fun in that car & got a couple of tickets!! It had electric windows which at that time were not real common, I was in 7th heaven!
I must go get myself in gear for the day! Fun discussion.
Comment by Donna M — March 14, 2007 @ 1:37 pm
We had a red ‘65 Mustang when I was growing up. Some of my best family memories were tooling around Davy Crockett park with Rhinestone Cowboy blaring from the 8-track. Dad all cool with his sideburns, Mom tricked out with her big sunglasses….
Cool topic, Julie. I like taking this little drive down Memory Lane.
Comment by Rhonda Nelson — March 14, 2007 @ 1:45 pm
About 20 years ago, I got a raise at work and ended up buying a Porsche Turbo. Three months later I met Jill, my future wife. Even though we had some rough times financially, she wouldn’t let me sell that car. Now it sits in my garage until I can find time to bring it back to life.
In the mean time, I decided I wanted a car in addition to the Chevy Blazer I was driving. I was tired of its size and the way it handled. I got on the waiting list for a new Shelby GT 500 a year before they actually started making them. But when I found out that most dealers were adding $20,000 to the sticker price, I decided it was a bit too pricey. And while the kids liked the idea of having a sporty car, the back seat was too small for them to take on a long ride. So it was back to the drawing board.
Then last summer I stumbled on an interesting compromise, a BMW M5. It looks like your average four door sedan - no racing stripes, no big wings hanging off the back, no loud exhust, but it can outrun my Porsche! 8) . A short test drive was all that it took to convince me it was the perfect car. Unfortunately, we left on vacation the following day and by the time I got back it was sold
.
Then about a month ago, I found another one at CarMax for a reasonable price. We went to look at it and to make a long story short, we brought it home that night. My 14 year old son is looking forward to driving it, which means I guess I’ll have to sell it in a couple of years, just before he gets his drivers license. But in the mean time, I plan to have a little fun with it and I’m looking forward to driving it Dallas this summer to the RWA conference.
In my stories, I usually spend more time agonizing about the hero/heroine’s choice of wheels than I do with their hair color
. But than what would you expect from a guy 
Take care…………….Wayne
Comment by Wayne (aka Trybble) — March 14, 2007 @ 1:51 pm
LOL, Wayne! I do, too. Hair color is easy! I actually went down to the Jaguar dealership once to do “research.” Such a hardship, I know.
The sales people were great…they knew I wasn’t there to buy, but they had a great time showing me cars anyway. It was a slow hour, I guess. I hope you get to rebuild that Porsche.
Rhonda! I could just picture your family. Ah, my dream car. The 8-track tops it all!
Tina, I’m sure a lot of people don’t drive…esp. those who live places that have decent public transportation. Alas, in Florida, you’re screwed if you don’t have a car. It’s too hot to walk anywhere most of the time, the buses are few and far between and the same for taxis. But if you’ve gotten this far without driving, why start now? I’m sure your life expectancy is much higher than the rest of us!
Comment by Julie Leto — March 14, 2007 @ 3:11 pm
Donna, I paid over $3 in Laguna Beach last week. I believe it was $3.23. Unbelievable. But then, everything in California was more expensive. I paid $7 for a glass of orange juice at my hotel…and I don’t think it was fresh squeezed! Can you imagine? I kept thinking it was probably Florida OJ, LOL!
Hey, any car with Joe Montana is sexy. That man is hot.
Comment by Julie Leto — March 14, 2007 @ 3:12 pm
My first car was a 1986 Nissan Sentra. Everything manual. No A/C. No radio/tape deck. I had a radio and cassette deck installed but my girlfriends had to roll down the windows, manually pumping that always too stick handle, for relief from the heat. Needless to say, no one was thrilled about riding in my car, particularly in the summer months.
I don’t really care that much about cars. They just don’t excite me. But recently I’ve owned a Ford Expedition, which came close to being the perfect family vehicle for me. Kids loved the DVD. I loved the spaciousness, the handling (great for a car that size!), all the electronic warnings (about mileage, oil changes, and the like) and the sliding middle seat on the 2nd row, which meant I didn’t have to strain my short arms to reach my toddler son.
I occasionally allow myself, however, to envision driving down a highway, the sun shining, a gentle breeze blowing, headed to the beach in my candy-apple red Mercedes convertible. I’m at least 14 years away from not having to chauffeur kids but a girl can dream, can’t she?
Comment by Patricia W — March 14, 2007 @ 3:44 pm
Great topic
My first car was a white Subaru after that I took out a loan from the credit union and got a Hyundai when they first came out red 2 door with a black bra and spoiler on the back I drove that car into the ground 11 years the outside looked like crap, but it got me where I had to go. Hubby kept saying it looked like i had been in a demoltion derby
and said it was unsafe for our son to be in it. AFter 11 years I had to part with it and since it was good to me I went to the Hyundai dealer and got an Elantra 4 door (99) and after 5 years I had to trade it in because I fell in love with the Hyundai Sante Fe so I got that in 2003 and that’s what I have been driving since.
Comment by Cherylann — March 14, 2007 @ 7:14 pm
Ya know Janelle you used to be one of my favorite authors until I just found out that you owned my 1965 Mustang !!!!!!
If I had my dreamcar it would be a Mustang convertible and it would have a personalized nametag license plate that read RAGDOLL (what can I say I like Aerosmith?)
Now if I could have ANY car in the world that I wanted I would have a Ferrari GT - just like the one that Magnum drove. Man I loved that car - no Magnum wasn’t too bad back then either.
And I’m going to stop now before my age reallys starts to show !!
Missy
Comment by Missy Andrews — March 14, 2007 @ 8:11 pm
My Supernatural fixation has me wanting an old muscle car, but I’ll take a new FJ Cruiser
. My first car was a 1973 LTD. It was a tank. Now I drive a Scion XB. I do love those Toyotas!
Comment by Mary — March 15, 2007 @ 11:46 am
Julie,
My first car was a Ford and I learn the lesson the hardest way. I had it for 1 1/2 and by the end of that time we had spend more in repairs that what we paid for the car believe or not?
My husband had a TOY RAV 4 2006. We are Toyota People to me that it’s the brand, not a lot of luxury but reliable
Comment by barbara — March 15, 2007 @ 12:28 pm
My dream car is a metallic blue Dodge Viper with gray leather interior. mmmmm, yummy!
Comment by Vivi Anna — March 15, 2007 @ 6:55 pm