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So I've been driving the same car for almost 13 years, a used 1999 Honda Civic LX that we got in 2001. It's been a good car to me. It did get in two minor accidents-- one when it was parked, when someone crunched in the front fender, and then when I rear-ended someone on a wet day in stop-and-go traffic. Apart from that, it ran pretty well. There was some issues with a leaky oil pan for a time, but until the last year or so, I didn't have any problems.
Then last summer the A/C started to go. I live in Northern Virginia. It can get pretty beastly in the summertime, with the heat and humidity. Couple that with my having to park my car in the street because the house's garage is full? Yeah, it could get miserable. Last summer, the A/C started fading, and so I got it fixed. It was a pricey fix, too, and that basically told me "I should think about getting a new car."
Then this winter hit us, and during the "polar vortex," my car had some trouble starting up a couple of times. The "check engine" light even came on, although after the weather warmed up some, the light went away. But even so, I started noticing a sort of stuttering coming from the transmission when the car had been sitting idle for a couple of minutes. I took it to the dealer for service, and they replaced a drive belt tensioner, but the problem didn't go away. And when the A/C started fading a bit as well, I decided, "Time to get a new car."
So Dad and I went down to the same dealership that we'd gotten my old car from, and that my sister had gotten her new car from last year. Met the same salesman, and we went looking at new Civics. Took one for a test drive, went over to their inventory lot to look at colors, and I picked out one in "crimson pearl."
The salesman wanted to cut me a deal like the one he'd cut my sister-- which would've knocked a couple thousand off the price-- but my credit score took a minor hit recently with some late payments, so they couldn't do that for me. But, I still think I made out pretty well, and now I'm the proud owner of a new 2014 Honda Civic LX.
After driving an older car without all the digital doodads most modern cars have, it feels like driving in a jet fighter. Which is effing cool. Plus now I have built-in USB and Bluetooth support, so I can play my iPod or the MP3s on my phone directly through the car stereo without having to buy any adapters.
Then last summer the A/C started to go. I live in Northern Virginia. It can get pretty beastly in the summertime, with the heat and humidity. Couple that with my having to park my car in the street because the house's garage is full? Yeah, it could get miserable. Last summer, the A/C started fading, and so I got it fixed. It was a pricey fix, too, and that basically told me "I should think about getting a new car."
Then this winter hit us, and during the "polar vortex," my car had some trouble starting up a couple of times. The "check engine" light even came on, although after the weather warmed up some, the light went away. But even so, I started noticing a sort of stuttering coming from the transmission when the car had been sitting idle for a couple of minutes. I took it to the dealer for service, and they replaced a drive belt tensioner, but the problem didn't go away. And when the A/C started fading a bit as well, I decided, "Time to get a new car."
So Dad and I went down to the same dealership that we'd gotten my old car from, and that my sister had gotten her new car from last year. Met the same salesman, and we went looking at new Civics. Took one for a test drive, went over to their inventory lot to look at colors, and I picked out one in "crimson pearl."
The salesman wanted to cut me a deal like the one he'd cut my sister-- which would've knocked a couple thousand off the price-- but my credit score took a minor hit recently with some late payments, so they couldn't do that for me. But, I still think I made out pretty well, and now I'm the proud owner of a new 2014 Honda Civic LX.
After driving an older car without all the digital doodads most modern cars have, it feels like driving in a jet fighter. Which is effing cool. Plus now I have built-in USB and Bluetooth support, so I can play my iPod or the MP3s on my phone directly through the car stereo without having to buy any adapters.
on the new toy. Enjoy that new-car smell!
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