For the first time in my life, I am at a point to be able to afford to buy a brand new car instead of something used. So after my trusty ten year old Eagle Talon had a major mechancial failure too expensive to repair in a car that was also starting to have many minor issues as well, I decided to go car shopping early last December and get me something as a birthday/Christmas present to myself.
Of course I was thinking sports car. I have a particular fondness for Pontiac Firebirds and am still pining away over the loss of my beloved 77 Formula Firebird that I had bought used back in the mid 80's (350 engine, duel carb/duel exhaust--zero to 90 in a heartbeat) and drove until the body on it just started falling off and the price of gas got too expensive to keep it on the road.
However it turns out that even used sports cars were out of my budget range, but my favorite Saturn Dealer (I've bought my last two cars from their used car department and they were total gems to own) told me that I could afford a NEW CAR. Ok I said rather scepticly and they trotted out this black 2007 Saturn ION for me to puruse. It's pictured above.
OMG it's so...conservative looking was my first reaction to this boxy thing on wheels sitting in front of me waiting to go for a test spin. Where had the sleeker, sportier design of the Saturn gone to! (meanwhile their sexy version of a sports car sat in the corner of the showroom mocking me with it's outragous price tag).
Putting my reservations aside, I got in and took the ION for a test drive. Yep it was definitely conservative. Meanwhile my favorite Saturn Dealer was extolling the virtures of the car. It had ONSTAR, it has a Satellite Phone, it has a button to call an ambulance..'but where is the cassette player' I asked looking around anxiously. The only place I'm really serious about listening to music is in the car. How was I going to enjoy the music of she who is legend to me?
No cassette tape player, my dear. Those are obsolete now. I was beginning to feel obsolete too
"But your car can send you emails." FSD said with smile.
"It can do what?" I had immediate visions of KITT the Knight Rider car suddenly turned into a conservative boxy thing that would be filling my inbox with whiny messages about being too cold, too hot, too lonely out in the parking lot without me. But no, it was not to be anything even that exotic.
It will send me status updates on oil, the engine and other mechanical issues. Lovely. I'll get Boring technical emails from a car..as if spam wasn't bad enough.
In the end, however the boxy, conservative black 2007 Saturn ION won me over and he and I drove off the lot together with me glancing back at trusty little black Eagle Talon sitting forlornly off to the side of the lot. Soon he would be going to the auto auction like an old horse to the glue factory. Yes, I cried. I'm the kind of woman who gets emotionally attached to her cars (except the much hated and much reviled 1986 Ford Taurus I owned for a brief time. I was so glad to see that piece of money grubbing junk go away that I zoomed off the lot in my 1990 red Pontiac Sunbird with a smile on my face).
I'm also the kind of woman who names her cars as well. From Old Blue (1973 Chevy Nova), Prince Baron the 77 Formula Firebird, right up to Teal'c the Talon (btw, just a tip, never name your car after a Clint Eastwood character and think that will make it tough and dependable..yes the Taurus was named Rowdy Yates) I've always given them names. And yes I have 'guy' cars and don't even try to give me that hoohaw about all cars being female because of the way gas is put into them. Gas is fuel which is food to the car and you name me one guy who doesn't put a spoon or a fork in his mouth to eat with.
This one has a name too, but I'm keeping that to myself. One day when he is gone to the auto auction, I'll tell you what it is. I will say that so far it's been a good name and the car seems to like it alot.
Wonder if he's sent me any emails today:)
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