Tradin' 'er in!
 

I've decided to follow in the steps of my Box O' Hero, Ron Mummert, and trade in the ol' Caravan. She's been an asset. Bought 'er brand, spankin' new on Dec. 13, 1994 (1995 Caravan with 5 miles on the clock). She hasn't given us an ounce of trouble to speak of, but she's beginning to use a bit of oil and is losing compression in cyl. #6. It's time. She has 186+K on the clock now.

I presented it to the family in a unique way. We had gone to church on that particular night in December (it was a Wednesday). After church, I said to the family, "Let's go look at new cars, for the heck of it." Everyone agreed - though my wife agreed reluctantly as if to say, "why tempt ourselves?" We drove onto the Dodge dealer's lot, where the Caravans sat. We got out of the car and my wife immediately saw a Red Caravan that she liked, and walked to it. I walked over to an Emerald Green Caravan -- "Look! This one's open!" I said. Everyone came running. "Maybe we should leave, before we get in trouble," my wife said. "Nah. Hop in. See how it feels." I said. She gets in the seat. "Nice." she whispers. "It's got . . ." and she names the features. "Hmmmm." I said. "What's the tag in the window say?" She reads it: "Red Tag Sale." "What's it say on the other side?" She flips it over and reads: "Merry Christmas Shari." -- The look on her face was priceless. My daughter's jaw dropped, her eyes bugged out ( After purchasing the van, earlier that day, I had arranged to have it parked on the lot and the sign placed on the rearview, and had unlocked the door with the key while no one was looking). Suddenly, reality hit my wife. "You didn't." She said, with a slight tone of contempt. "Yes I did." I said, "So, you may as well enjoy it." My daughter squealed with joy, "It's ours! It's ours!" My son, who was six at the time (now a 230 lb. High School Junior), jumped up and down and matched the tone of excitement of my daughter. I handed my wife the key. She started it up. My daughter made her way to the rearmost seat and sat, hands in her lap, like a princess in a limousine, smiling from ear to ear. I closed the door, my wife drove the van home and I followed in our Peugeot that had left them stranded many times with a starter relay problem that no one could seem to fix. It was a great evening.

As I mentioned in another thread, my daughter was 9 when we bought the car, and she was so happy to get the new van. Ironically, she learned to drive in it, took her driver's test in it and has been driving it for the last three years.

My son got his permit yesterday. As a final tribute, he drove the van to school this morning. He had been the only member of the family who hadn't driven it. It was his first day in public school (he had been in a Christian school for the past four years and homeschooled prior to that). It was a fitting trip for "the ol' girl."

Meanwhile, mother and daughter will have the emotional task of cleaning out "Ol' Trusty" (as my daughter has come to call her), today.

Tomorrow morning, I'll drive her to work, then, at lunch, I'll take her over to the Kia dealership and leave her. I'll drive out in a new, 2004 Sedona EX with all options but leather (Shari said the leather was too slippery and didn't "hold her" very well. So, we opted for cloth). For the price, extras and warranty, it was a practical choice.

It will truly be like losing an old friend. But, she has served us well. This will be better than the fate of previous automobiles -- watching the wrecker pull them out of the driveway after they've completely breathed their last breaths. I can drive away knowing that she'll make it to the "bull pen" under her own power, and may possibly live a while longer, cheaply purchased at an auction, or sold for tens of dollars to a salesman's "friend of a friend" who just needs to get from point "A" to point "B."

We live our lives one page at a time, in chapters. Tomorrow, the page will turn, a new chapter will begin.

neat story, randy. makes me think about my "old trusty", a 1993 geo prizm. it had a 193,000 miles on the clock when i sold it to a co-workers daughter last december. it's been a good car for her and i missed it so much that i bought another geo prizm. unfortunately, i don't have the same fond feelings for it and can't wait 'til it goes away next week.

Great story Randy!

-Chike

You almost scared me too Randy.... :eek: :eek:


:p

No, if I ever have to lose an SVX, I hope to emulate my REAL hero and accidently run it into the side of a mountain. :D

Hahahaha :D:D:D:D


Common Randy, ya know that the President is MY HERO.... :D:D

Geez
 

You dent ONE mountain, and they never let you forget:mad: :D

Re: Geez
 

"Mountain Denter" sounds so much better than . . . oh, never mind. :D

my gawd, you scared me randyman...shesh...

sorry to hear about the lost of your trusty buddy, just think, it is like donating organs...lives on with someone else...new life...new memories...

say hi to the misses for me!

Kelli

At first I was like :eek: then I was more :( and then I read enough to be :) and once again randy is :cool:

I think I shed a tear:( and then I got to the mountain part:D :D :D

Great story Randy!

In a way it reminds me of that Mercedes commercial from a year or two back. I think it was mentioned here back then...... the one where the whole commercial is from the "eyes" (interior shot) of a 1970-something Mercedes Benz....... it shows it's whole life "flashing before its eyes" - from the day it was purchased brand new back in the 70's (complete with a red bow on it given as a gift to a wife much like Randy's story) - to all the special occasions the couple had in the car, being sold to new owners, etc, etc, until we see that its life is flashing before its eyes because the car is in the final moments as the car crusher at the wrecking yard is smashing it. :( As a "car guy" that commercial literally brought a tear to my eye.

But then in the end it "opens its eyes" again and realizes it has been reborn from the recycled scrap metal as a brand new 2003 Mercedes, ready to live a new life all over again. :)

Troy, I remember that commercial. IT was very emotional, yes.

The Caravan has been cleaned out. I did a quick "idiot check" tonight, to make sure nothing was left inside. I looked around, and reminisced. Our first big trip was to Florida -- my kids first time seeing the ocean -- I won't bore y'all with the rest. I've already bored you enough.

Meanwhile, I'll have a hard time sleeping. Those "mixed emotions" when you become excited about getting the new vehicle, then, start stressing out about the payments. Funny thing is, with interest and all, I'll only be paying about 2,000.00 more for THIS van, than I paid for the Caravan, almost a decade ago -- with LOTS more extras and and a GREAT warranty. :D

Great Story Randy.

When I bought my suburban 5 years ago, I left it at the exit of the car lot. I picked up Emett (my sone who was 7 at the time) and as I was driving him home, I asked if he would like to look at a few rigs that were for sale. He said yes (thank goodness) and we stopped outside of the car lot after it had closed. I said to him "gee, that one looks like what we have been looking for." He said yes, lets look at it. I tried the door and it was unlocked (I had unlocked it when he wasn't looking). I invited him to get in. He looked at me and said "is it OK?" I said - sure, that is what they are here for - for us to look at. He said Cool and jumped in. I got in the drivers seat and said "gee, the keys are in it - lets take it for a little spin". I started it and he said "Dad, I don't think we are supposed to be doing this". I said - It is OK. He said - I don't think so! I then said it was OK, because it is ours after I was driving down the road towards home. He squealed with surprise and excitement. I will never forget the look on his face during all of this.

There seems to be a good story with all of our cars. That is whats fun when you look back on the experiences that we have with our vehicles. :D

Great story Randy,
Best of luck with the new Sedona, hope you enjoy it as much as the old people mover!
Almost a shame you aren't in N-Central OH, there is a dealer up here that had a promotion going on with the Sedona's, buy one and get a Rio for free........
After (the wife) driving it for a while, update us as to what you really think of it. :)