The end of an era
The Chevy Cav is gone.
It was time. For me to feel comfortable driving it this winter, I would’ve had to spend at least $750 on it, and I know it’s worth less than that. I was finally at the point where I was unwilling to put any more money into it.
So I’d been casually looking online for awhile and yesterday, I bought a new(er) car. I looked at cars.com on Wednesday, using my extremely limited search parameters (under 50,000 miles and $11,000 and sold by a dealer less than 20 miles from my house), scrolled through hundreds of listings that featured the same models (PT Cruisers, Aveos, Kia Rios) before I found my dream vehicle (a 2002 orange Saturn Vue with 44,000 miles for $7,991), and printed out the description and excitedly called Jason to tell him I found my car.
Then I sat back and began daydreaming about all the new adventures my Vue and I would have, like sitting in traffic during my commute, or it waiting for me in the parking lot while I attended Twins games, or me lovingly handwashing it every week, etc., etc. (There was sure to be a music montage in the background during these sequences.)
Then I pulled up the online description yesterday so I could once more gaze upon my dream vehicle, only to see a screen that said, “This listing has been removed.”
NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO.
I called the dealership, who informed me that yeah, that car was gone, but they had another one with 70,000 more miles for two thousand more dollars, was I interested? No, dudes. I wasn’t.
So, my Plan B was a kiwi green Ford Focus, which I was only mildly enthused about because while the Focus was one of the Cars I Was Willing To Drive, it wasn’t an orange Vue and would never be the orange Vue, and damn you person who bought the orange Vue!
I called to verify the Focus was still available and it was, and the sales guy also said he had a maroon one for $1,000 more but with 16,000 fewer miles and I could look at them both if I wanted. So I made the appointment for a test drive.
And the green one was nice. But the maroon one was nicer. It felt nicer, it rode nicer, and it already had license plates, so I wouldn’t have to spend the money on those like I would’ve for the green one. It had new tires, a new battery, new brake pads, and a new alternator. Plus, I was amazed at every little thing: the visors stayed up! The glovebox shut properly! All the windows went up and down! The A/C worked on every level instead of just on high! Random pieces of plastic weren’t floating around on the floor, their origin a mystery! It was so quiet in there! I could let go of the steering wheel without my car heaving itself to the left! This must be how rich people live!
And then after test driving the maroon one, the sales guy pressed a button on the key fob – and the car started from across the parking lot. It had an automatic starter.
I was already leaning toward the maroon car anyway, but as a person who hates winter in Minnesota, that pretty much sealed the deal.
After that it was a flurry of paperwork, and while waiting for the financing guy, I saw my Cavalier sitting outside. And I started to feel nostalgic for it. I bought that car in 1997 when I was fresh out of college. It was a former rental car and had 33,000 miles on it. I remember thinking at the time that the car payment ($225) seemed ridiculous.
Sure, now the car was creaky and slowly falling apart, and the window motors burned out with alarming regularity, and the leaky rear struts made my commute feel like I was riding in a haywagon over pointy boulders, but overall it had been good to me. Didn’t it deserve to achieve its dream of making it to 200,000 miles? (Never mind the fact that it took two tries for the engine to turn over when we left the house to come to the dealership.)
And right then, the dealer came back with my trade-in offer: “I’ll give you $100 for it.”
Apparently not.
As I emptied out the Cav and cleaned out the glovebox (after having to wrench it open and watching the door latch fling itself somewhere under the passenger seat), I took one last look at my car, the car that was with me through so much, the car that had served me so well that the dealer was absolutely flabbergasted it had made it to 192,000 miles.
“Thanks, Cav,” I said. “Thanks for everything.”
And then I drove home in this:
It’ll have some big brake pads to fill.
Bittersweet, for sure, but what a great new car! Excellent work. Sorry about that orange Vue, though.
Comment by Jess — August 20, 2010 @ 11:39 am
I would sell my left arm for an automatic starter in the dead of winter. Right now I’m not willing to put the money into it (especially knowing we are going to have to sell the Echo and get something bigger in a couple years), but in January when it’s 30 below zero plus windchill I would give anything for it. My old car had one (91 Ford Probe!), and I LOVED it. *sigh* I miss that.
Comment by Becky — August 20, 2010 @ 11:40 am
Oh, I cried when my parents sold my Chevy Cavalier when I went away to college (and didn’t tell me about it until afterwards), so I totally get it. But your new car looks awesome (and seriously, automatic starter is AWESOME!)
Comment by sarah — August 20, 2010 @ 12:25 pm
When we traded in the 99 Solara last year, it was very hard for my husband. He bought it brand new after college and it gave him 201k good miles. But it was tired. It was a two-door and we were about to have a baby. It was time.
Congrats on the new car!!! I am so jealous of your automatic starter. I hope it kicks the Minnesota winter’s ASS!
Comment by stephanie — August 20, 2010 @ 12:40 pm
Cute car! It suits you.
Man, I am seriously hoping to get no less than 300,000 miles out of my Honda. Mostly so I can keep socking away the car payments after it’s paid off so I can buy my next car with cash. We’ll see how that goes.
Seeing as how our truck hasn’t moved in weeks and has tires pointing in OPPOSITE DIRECTIONS. That car payment may turn into a truck payment, dang it.
Comment by Artemisia — August 20, 2010 @ 12:55 pm
I always get sad when we trade in our cars. I don’t know why, they don’t always love me back, but my car is my sanctuary. I always feel like I’m abandoning the car. Will the new people love it as much? Or will it feel betrayed when it is stripped for parts? I’m such a loser.
Comment by Shelly — August 20, 2010 @ 1:08 pm
Oh I just went thru this with my 1998 Chevy Prizm (because the Z screams classy)…it was my first car…bought it with 33K on it. It made it to 136,756 before we parted ways (stupid catalytic converter and emissions tests!) Ended up with a Ford Fusion (one of the cars I was WILLING to drive)…the sales guy had a great chuckle when I was amazed with power windows, locks, cruise control and remote start. I LOVE this car..and am still shocked that I do not have to use duct tape to hold any part of it together!
Enjoy your new ride!
Comment by Becky — August 20, 2010 @ 1:41 pm
Can I get A HELL YA for you!!! I am so very happy for you. We gave away, er I mean, traded in my first car right out of college and I was sad to see it go because it meant something but I was much happier driving the new car (still am
!
Comment by Christina — August 20, 2010 @ 1:42 pm
Oh how I will miss your crappy car posts! I traded my last car in for $75. No shit. And my current car is on the same path. Also, I laughed at your comment about the visors, because my visors come off when I MAKE A SHARP TURN or brake too quickly. True story.
Comment by Tessie — August 20, 2010 @ 2:16 pm
New car, how exciting! I’m sure it was hard to part with a car you’d had for so long…I’m going to have the same problem whenever it is time to replace my beloved 4Runner. Nine years, 117,000 miles and still going strong, so hopefully it will be a while.
Enjoy the automatic starter!!
Comment by nonsoccermom — August 20, 2010 @ 3:14 pm
Looks like a Matchbox car.
Comment by Jason — August 20, 2010 @ 4:55 pm
I had the same scene when it came time to get rid of my college and my law school cars. You get over it really quick when you realize you can sit at a stoplight without your car smoking. Congrats!
Comment by slynnro — August 22, 2010 @ 1:55 am
Spa-orty!
Comment by Ellie — August 23, 2010 @ 8:38 am
So happy that I got to see you and the new car in person on Sunday!!! Was undoubtedly my best day of vacation. Here’s hoping that the Focus will take you many many many miles in happy bliss.
Comment by Emily — August 23, 2010 @ 3:13 pm
this post had the odd effect of bolstering my resolve to keep my civic until it’s at LEAST as falling-apart-y as your cav. i was just feeling a bit blue about all the repairs i’m going to need to do before it will pass inspection next month, but! heck! all the visors are still on, and the windows work! i can get it in WAY worse shape before i have to trade it in!
Comment by Alice — August 23, 2010 @ 3:29 pm
Jealous! But glad you can drive this winter without fearing your call will fall to pieces around you.
Comment by Buster — August 23, 2010 @ 6:46 pm