My 17 year old cousin and I were having a conversation of nostalgic sorts today, at least for me. He was laughing at his car, which to his credit he paid cash for. Cash he had saved himself. True enough, his car is no woman magnet. It’s an older model, practical, and not the stuff of 17 year old dreams, for sure. I remember back in the day my dad coming home with the first car he bought me when I turned 16. This would be it: (not the actual car, but same color and model)
My 16 year old self felt pretty much “eh” about it. It wasn’t a beauty or anything, but darn if some of my best memories weren’t made in “Betsy” Not those kind of memories…just riding around with my friends kind of memories. Everything soon started falling apart on this car. At one point my muffler had to be rigged back into place with a coat hanger while out one night! And I was trying to explain to my cousin that all kids need to first drive a hooptie to appreciate a better car someday. Of course, you couldn’t convince me of that at his age either.
Eventually, I turned 21 and Daddy came home with another car.
The stuff of my dreams. A 1994 white Ford Probe SE. I could have died, y’all. Sunroof, power everything, 10 disk CD changer. Roomy and practical? Heck no, but darn if my friends and I didn’t take some awesome trips in that car! Ah, the memories. And I kept that car for 6 more years, until I graduated college. And then Daddy had another bright idea.
Meet the current car:
In hindisght, I can see now this was a smart move. My mom got a new car and they traded in my Probe on it. I got her old car, the 1996 Ford Taurus, which I drive to this day. At the time it broke my heart to give “Baby” (the Probe) away. To this day I can still see a Probe somewhere and have a sudden urge to ask the owner if I could just sit in it…drive it around the block…anything? At the time I poo-poo’d the need for a 4 door car. And 3 years later, we had EB. Thank you God for the Grocery Getter GT, my new name for this car. Do I feel smokin’ hot in this car? Does it turn heads? No and no. But I’ve made peace with that. Sort of. It’s been pimped, mom style:
So that’s how this mom’s car has evolved. What’s your car evolution story?
That Probe was a beautiful car.
My first car was a 1976 Monte Carlo that I purchased my junior year in high school and drove for six years. Then I sold it and purchased an 1984 Monte Carlo SS. I loved, loved, loved that car! IT was fast, it drew the attention of everyone who went by (and it was the only car I would have given up my original Monte Carlo for at the time). But it was an expensive car to repair when it broke down, so in 1989, I purchased the one and only brand new car I have ever owned: a 1989 Mitsubishi Precis. Great gas mileage, 3 door hatchback.
It was totalled in 1994 and then my car style changed. I was driving a 1978 blue Ford station wagon. I never felt safe in that car and was happy when I switched up to a 1988 Full Size van. The kids loved the van, right up to the day the engine died.
Then it was a 1988 Suburban. We still have that, but don’t drive it much. Four years ago, I was given a 1992 Chevy Caprice by my mom. I loved that car and was very sad when the head gasket began to leak last year. Then my mom and stepfather blessed me with a 2003 Xterra. I love the vehicle (but wish it was better on gasoline, especially these days).
So there’s my evolution…
I am a utilitarian at best. I like a car with a fast engine. But my Ford Freestyle doesn’t have a fast engine, but it fits our family.
My first car was a ’66 VW Bug that my dad painted Candy Apple Red. I loved that car! I drove it way too fast!! My next car was another VW called Quantum (my boss called it the Quantum Heap). A few cars and 3 kids later, I am now driving a Dodge Grand Caravan (does the Stow N Go make it any cooler?).
I was a small-town girl and I have a massive old burgundy pick-up truck that I drove to my big-city university. I was somewhat mortified but I nicknamed it Chester and drove it around like it was the coolest thing int he world – hoping to make it so…
okay, i’m starting to feel bad for any woman named “betsy”…that was my mom’s black chevy nova’s given name! she used to pat the dashboard and say that infamous chant “come on betsy, you can do it”…like the little engine that could! so funny!
My car history is no where near as interesting, but it is much longer. I had to buy all my own cars, so it’s been a steady climb upward along the car food chain. I’m starting to descend it, though, thanks to gas prices. No more premium fuel for me.
Brief history. Family sedan in college. Minivan with birth of first child. Newer minivan when expecting third child (needed the dual sliding doors). I now drive a smaller car, two more kids later. 5 kids and 2 adults in one Ford Freestyle, which is now the Ford Taurus, which is almost a station wagon but not quite. I love it.
Oh my god…great post…love this.
My first car was an ’84 Pontiac Fiero…that had been on fire, hardly ever started and finally junked.
Second car was a ’90 Pontiac Sunbird….at the end, it had half a key, headlights stuck up, was only running on three cylinders, the windows would not go down and the radio was stolen!
Then my Dad bought me a new Hyundai Accent…the cheapest car out there!
After kids….well….came the minivan…nuff said…it’s not sporty, but it does the job!
Indeed, our life stages reflected in cars gone by. Sigh. My late high school/college and beyond car was an Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme. Those were the days.
OMG I remember the day you got the probe. You drove one street over and parked it in my parent’s driveway, got out and stood back with me to admire its beauty. Then you kissed the hood. More than once I think.
I had fun in that probe of yours on several occasions. Not that you ever contributed to my delinquency as a minor, but you turning 21 and that car showing up was awesome!!!
I loved the video…
As far as car stories, in Nov I traded in my favorite car ever, the “car love of my life” an 2004 RX-8 for a Mazda CX-9. 7 passenger seating official mommy mobile. So I went from unlimited power rotary engine, 0-60 in 6.8 secs to… well, it is comfortable and roomy.
Hmmm… could’t afford my own car, but Mom and Dad let me drive around a beater of a VW Rabbit in a mustard yellow color. It was da bomb, I tell ya. 😉 Went away to college… still no car. Was a bummer to not have a vehicle as I couldn’t drive home and got pretty homesick. I either walked, rode the bus, or called my boyfriend who drove a Jeep Wrangler. We had a lot of fun with that thing… driving around with the top down in the summertime. I drove it around for six weeks straight when he herniated a disk in his back and was bedridden. Good times. Just before we got married, we traded it in for a ’93 VW Passat. We drove it until it died and traded it in for a 2001 VW Passat which we recently traded in for a 2008 Saturn Outlook. How’s that for evolution? 😉
where on earth do you find this stuff???
i need help over on my site:) Let me know when you have a free minute,,,haha!!
Oh, Honey!
You don’t have time to listen to my car stories.
That being said: my current ride is an ’07 Honda Civic. 🙂
Wow…your dad bought you real cars? Do you realize how lucky you are?
I drive a minivan.