This week my car gave us a scare. Somehow or another a valve bent in the cylinder after I started the car and put it in reverse. We couldn’t have seen this coming, I was told by our mechanic, so therefore, I am not to blame.
Now for the decision making process…to keep the car or find another. It’s like shopping at the grocery store—so many choices to consider—but the cost is a bit different than what type of coffee to buy. Buying a new car is one option but the sticker prices seem outrageous. Most middle of the road, well equipped automobiles range in prices from ‘ridiculous’ to ‘almost sinful.’ However, some have the opinion that buying an expensive car should be considered a status symbol. Perhaps that’s true for some but not for me. I’ve driven expensive cars in the past and dealt with the worry which comes from such a responsibility and I don’t wish to do it again. There’s something to be said in having the freedom to drive a car whenever and wherever and not be afraid of a scratch or potential damages. I have kept my current ride since November, 2006. I am content with my vehicle because it filled a need for my family and me. It has a nifty bicycle rack on the roof which provides me with an ability to take two bicycles to wherever I need to go and it indicates where I’m parked in a superstore parking lot. Being vertically challenged, it helps to simply look up and identify my car from the masses. I have the option of repairing the valve or not and placing myself in the market for a new chariot. The options I consider are a. vehicle must be fun to drive; b. must be easy to exit in a skirt so a Hummer is out; c. must have working air conditioning. This list is not exhaustive nor is it listed by priority. Priority would list cold air as most important. My nice husband directed me to a 1980 Z28 as a consideration. That’s what happens when a mechanically inclined person gets involved in the decision process. It may have a 3.8 liter V6 under the hood, but I’m not so sure the sunroof wouldn’t leak or would the air conditioning work, so, no thank you.
This article originally appeared on Santa Rosa Press Gazette: Decisions to consider when purchasing a car