We are handing off DH's Mini Cooper (Stella) today at noon. For some reason I am really bummed about it. The time is right, the price is right...yet I'm feeling sad! I don't particularly care all that much about cars so I'm confused. DH had always wanted a Cooper and was so excited when he found one. He had a lot of fun in that car and I know part of him will be super bummed she's gone. ACK I hate this. It's just a car Jenny.....
On the other hand I think we arrived at a car we're interested in last night. We checked a few off the list and something we hadn't even considered came into the picture. I'm going to go see one tonight after work and then we'll decide. Fingers crossssssseeeedddddddd.... One we drove last night was *perfect* BUT a smoker drove it. That's a deal breaker for me. I would always know and smell smoke even if it was cleaned out really well (there were still ashes in the ashtray. Barf on a cracker). :-/
(And please don't let me cry in the middle of the DMV when we pass off Stella's keys today.....)
Re: Confused about my reaction.
Haha, it's silly isn't it? I think I'm definitely attached to the memories in the Mini. Thinking about a stranger driving it though is weird to me. We've never done a private car sale before so maybe that is part of it. When I bought my current car I traded in my other car and we drove off with it sitting in the service garage so it felt less personal.
But now part of me is really excited to go test drive the one we're considering tonight. I'm hoping the rain means less people will be out car shopping and won't buy it!!!!! :-) Eeeeee! I'm a basket case today!
I cried when we traded in my '99 wrangler for a more "fuel efficient" and "practical family jeep"...it was a sad, sad day...and to add salt to the wound, we traded it in back in 2008, and I just saw it on the road two weeks ago...looked like it was well taken care of, but still felt bad that I wasn't the one behind the wheel.
And yes I know it was mine because the license plate was TJW 022, and I always remembered it because it's model was a TJ and my initials are JW, so it was like it was meant to be
When we bought our SUV in '09 and traded in my Chrysler Sebring, I cried driving away from the dealership. Like big alligator tears. I cried even more because I couldn't figure out why I was so emotional. My car didn't really work for us anymore, it was super tiny and we just felt like we needed to upgrade. We wanted to start a family and knew that the tiny 2dr coupe I had wouldn't be feasible.
I bought that car by myself. I picked it out, I test drove it, I loved it. I never had any issues with it. I loved my car. Not to mention, it had great gas mileage. It was such a cozy little car. I felt good in it too.
[ok, thanks alot Kiz... now I'm getting weepy typing this out. I am so lame!]
I think it was just the memories I had. The ownership, it was mine. My first big purchase in life. It was the car I had when I met DH. The car I had when we got married. The car I had when I moved out of the house. The color of my car actually turned out to be his favorite color too, flake red.
Ok, here's a funny story now...
I think it was last Fall, we were at the Eden Prairie Center. While walking in, I noticed a sebring that looked a lot like my old car. I was so happy! DH and I totally stalked the car. We went over to it, looked at it from all angles (people probably thought we were ca-razy). After looking for a few distinct markings ... I just knew it was my car. Although we're in EP a lot, I haven't seen it since.
Now I am really feeling lame. I'm rambling like an idiot too. My point is, I totally get where you're coming from Kiz. As strange as it sounds, it's hard to let go of the car.
Just for old times sake... here's a picture of my fist [owned] car.
We are keeping my old car for my daughter, so I'm not having that feeling towards selling it, but if it makes you feel any better, I am having a hard time bonding with my new one.
It doesn't help that there was a clunk I didn't notice when I test drove it, so that had to be fixed and we had it looked over with a fine tooth comb right after I got it, so it's really spent more time at the shop than with me since I bought it. And it's not the car I went out looking for and I have a hard time seeing myself in it when I picture it in my mind.
It's all in my mind, head games, because I do like the car. It's just very different. Maybe it needs a name? I've never named a car before but maybe that would make it feel more like mine.
Maybe! The Mini's name is Stella. The guy who bought it just moved here from India 8 months ago and he bought it "for his girl". He totally didn't get it when DH told him what her name is. I think that is a very American thing to do. :-)
My Ion's name is Max. Maximili-ION. :-) Haha. Before Max I had Sam The Grand Am. Sam was a great car.....sigh. So many memories. :-)
My sister just traded in Neecy the Nissan for a new Nissan Rogue who has yet to be named... Hmm.
I cried when I traded mine in, too! It hit when I was pulling out of the dealership and saw my jeep in the rear view mirror. I felt completely ridiculous but it's like my heart was breaking. We had some good times together, me and my jeep and I worked my @ss off to buy it. Whenever I see a red one with a tan top with some paint peeling off the side mirror, I wonder if that's it.
Tired after a long morning of hiking and swimming.
I'm thinking Vicki Volvo. Maybe Vanna Volvo? What do you think? I have no experience with this. lol
I have a friend who had Polly Pontiac. She names all her cars too.
I like Vanna! :-)
Friends of mine have had cars name Mel, Stu, Herbie, and Satan (it was made by the devil, no joke.) :-)
And a F/U: I didn't cry at the DMV. I got misty when we got in our cars to drive away and they were excitedly playing with all the buttons and gadgets. And THEN we pulled up next to them at a red light and they held our garage door opener out the window!! HAHA. DH jumped out and grabbed it quick making us hold up the lines of traffic! And then it was byebye Stella when we got on the highway and they didn't.
we named my jeep "Ruby" because it's a Rubicon and lars' truck is "Deuce" because it's a Range Rover (two letter Rs).
we exclusively refer to our vehicles by their names. it's just how it is. : )
Awww I totally get the attachment to a car. The first car I drove was just a family car, but when I totaled it (whoops), I was REALLY bummed. Not just because I wrecked it and would no longer have a car, but because I would no longer have THAT car. I since got a VW Jetta who I consider to be like a defiant teenager because she's been more of a pain in the ass than anything. Her name is Joan. Joan Jetta...and yes, she loves rock 'n' roll.
My SIL has a little Alero that she named Peppermint Patty...lol.
MY BMs in their dresses
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Married Bio and Blog: Updated 7/25/2011