Cars

There are two types of car people; those who are obsessed with anything and everything to do with cars, and then there are those who want their car to get them to where they want to go.

I am in the second group. I want a car that is very reliable, that will get me from point A to point B without breaking down. I want a car that is safe, and one that does not require more than the normal maintenance.

You know the other group: My husband and my brother are in that group. They love a ‘driving experience.’ They love checking out all different kinds of vehicles on the road and in car lots. Fast cars are cool. Old cars are ‘classic.’ They love to read about them. They join car clubs. They love to talk about cars.

Here is my list of cars I have driven over the years (best I can remember.) I learned to drive when I was 16 in my parents’ Chevy Malibu. And then I started driving my parents’ Pinto wagon. When I got out on my own I got my first car, a used Plymouth Horizon. (Don’t be jealous! Ha) It was black with a red racing stripe (ha) and a bright red interior. I kept that car until I got married. We traded it in for a cute little red Sunbird convertible. I liked that one very much but then I had my first baby and realized 1. I needed a 4 door car to access the backseat easily. 2. Convertible tops down will be too much wind for a baby! Ha. So, I got a sedan, blue, and I can not even remember the make of it! Really. I can picture it. But, I don’t know what car company it came from. It worked well for two car seats and that’s what mattered!

After that, we moved to the Atlanta area and my hubby needed a big car. He was driving around a lot at that time while helping out the ‘family business’ of apparel sales. He went to independent clothing stores in small towns around the state with clothing samples in the car trunk. So, my blue car was traded in for a Cadillac. Yes, really, a Cadillac. It was like a boat! He used it often so we got a used Toyota Camry for me to drive…. With a stick! I had never driven a manual vehicle before so it was quite the undertaking in a hilly northern Atlanta area, and I had two young children in car seats in the back. I remember when we sold it I was happy to see it go!

Next, I had a wonderful (blue again) Highlander – and I absolutely loved it. It was an SUV but not too big. I kept it for many years and racked up the mileage. I finally needed to turn it in for something newer. Have I mentioned my hubby loves cars? He loves to research cars for me and for other people too. He also does not like to keep any vehicle too long, believing it’s not worth pouring money into them for repairs. So, I would have loved another Highlander when I was ready for a new car but the look had been changed and it was bigger. (Why do car companies do that?!?!). So, we turned to Jeeps. I had a green Jeep SUV, followed by a nice, upgraded white one. Both were the right size for me, reliable, and easy to drive. We were living in snow country by then so a 4 wheel drive was handy.

Somewhere during that time I also got a Durango. I thought I would like it because it had a third seat in the back and my daughters were older and we sometimes took friends with us. But, it was too big and it sounded and drove like a loud truck.

Once we moved to South Carolina snow was no longer an issue with picking cars. Thank goodness!! I got a Honda CR-V – and loved it!! Again, a small SUV, reliable, easy to maneuver. There are a ton of them on the road and it’s because of all the reasons I mentioned. They are not gas guzzlers. And, Honda was also good about some free maintenance.

I would still have that car today if my hubby (who I mentioned loves to learn about vehicles, right? ) ‘out of the blue’ bought a used electric car to try. It’s a BMW I-3, cute, small but with enough room for me at this point in my life. I was not even thinking about an E-vehicle and to tell you the truth I was a little afraid of it. Will it drive normally? Will I have trouble finding places to charge it? I live in a rural area, not exactly progressive, so charging stations are not popping up everywhere yet. But, I have been driving my e-car for two years now and I have learned to truly love it. I charge 100% of the time at home. I have never once run out of charge or gotten stuck somewhere. I can do all my usual errands and daily travels in it. The car is about 5 years old so it does not have as far a mileage range as newer e-vehicles. So, I do still drive my hubby’s truck if I go on a long trip. But, my cute little e-car has become a favorite! So much so that I named it “Blue Belle.”

I love a car that gets me where I need to go, without fear of mechanical problems, a car that I can maneuver easily, on the road and into parking spaces. I want one that feels safe. I am happy to have “Blue Belle.”