Miles: 6,821
Mood:
Confession #22- I get nostalgic sometimes.
You never know when a car might become a classic. It makes sense then that every car you own, you should take care of it as much as possible. I certainly do, I keep them clean, keep them running in top shape, have any physical damage fixed. We spend upwards of twenty-thousand-dollars on a car, why shouldn't we do everything we can to keep it in like-new condition?
I get nostalgic sometimes. I miss my old cars, the ones that were traded in or sold so I could buy the next toy (and all cars are toys, beyond being the 4-wheeled, or 2-wheeled transportation devices that they are, the rest of it is just for fun). Ever wonder where that 1975 Ford is? That 1991 Sundance?
I saw a mercedes on the freeway today. Okay, not a huge event that deserves a celebration, but it was a cute little car, a small early 90s 4-door sedan.
And as I was looking at this car, this beaten up old mercedes with a missing hubcap, busted and duct-taped taillight, banged up doors and purple & bubbly tinted windshields with jagged strips pealed away (I shudder to think what it smelled like inside) I thought to myself, 15 years ago this car cost $40,000.
It would have had that new car smell, perfect paint, shiny wheels. Bought no doubt by a wealthy couple and parked next to the mercedes station wagon in the 3-car garage of the 2,300 sq ft 2-story home. It was probably washed at least twice a month, given full service by trained mercedes technicians, and the keys handed over to be parked professionally by the valet of the metropolitan opera house.
Yet now its hood vibrates because it is held down with a string of yellow rope.
There is absolutely no reason why, with some time and effort (and, well, some cash) a car cannot last half a century and still look beautiful. Why then, does a $40,000 car now cost only $500 and no one would ever actually pay that anyway unless they absolutely had to?
I wonder where my first car is. I kept such good care of it, it ran like a top, and it shined like new. Who knows? It may be in a junk yard, or it may be rattling down the road with the muffler sparking along the pavement.
I suppose its impossible to take care of everything you owned forever, especially when you have to get rid of it to make room for the newest and coolest. But, I think, it sure would be nice if the next owner would take the same pride in it that you did.
from me. 
