CARS

I have been having trouble with the transmission in my car for quite some time.  I have been babying it along.  But yesterday at the Flower Show when I went to park in the garage there was a very steep ramp and my car was grinding, shaking and rolling backwards.  There has also been a very distinct smell of something burning -- sort of like oil on hot metal.  Joe and I have talked it over and even though we don't need another bill we have decided it is time to get another car.

Both of us looked into used cars today (me at work, Joe at home) and we came up with the same dealership although Joe was looking at the Ford Fusion and I was looking at the Ford Focus.  We went to look at the cars after work tonight.  I told Joe we would not be buying, just looking.


We looked at a red Fusion first.  My last three cars have been red and I like red cars.  It was larger than my little Ford Escort, but not huge.  But then we saw one that was a beautiful blue.  We started looking at that, then saw a Focus that was an even prettier shade of blue.  The Focus was smaller than the Fusion, but still bigger than the Escort.  I thought I could handle it better.


Then we saw a red Focus.  The salesman opened the car and we both sat behind the wheel and tried the engine.  It had a moonroof, power everything, alloy wheels, side airbags, a spoiler and leather seats.  Very nice.  But something just didn't feel right about it.  Both of us felt that way.  While the salesman was getting the keys to the red Focus, I had wandered over to a kiwi green Focus.  It was a year older than the red one and had 1,000 more miles but was $3000 cheaper.  It did not have all the bells and whistles the other one did.  At first I thought it was an ugly color.  But the more I stood there, the more I liked it.  I prayed and asked God if this was the one.  I had a good feeling about it.


So I asked to see that one.  Joe and the salesman wandered over and opened the door and I sat in it.  It had all the same dashboard, but there was no spoiler, no moonroof, and had cloth seats.  The seat was very comfortable.  I had Joe sit in the driver's seat and he liked it too.  So we put a deposit on it.  We are waiting to see if we can get credit.  Because I was out of work my bills are behind and my credit score is horrible.  Joe's was better. The salesman thinks he can get us something if we are both on the title.  We are praying and asking God's will in this matter.  If we can't get a newer car, we will have to put about $2000 into getting the old one fixed and then who knows how long it will last.


We are not going into this blindly.  The dealer is taking the car to my mechanic who will check it out for me.  We are taking a test drive in the daylight on Tuesday morning before work.  I don't like driving a car I've never used before in the dark.  People drive crazy in the dark.  Especially around that area.  If we are not happy with everything, the deal is off.


I will hate to see my little red car go.  I have had it for 10 years and it has given me a lot of pleasure.  But there always comes a time to move on.  I will let you know what happens.