I admit I really, really liked my little Hyundai Accent, bought it new, got a really, really good deal on it and had it almost 10 years before some stupid ass, in a hurry to get to the bar before it closed, tried to pass me going out of the company parking lot. That little red Mazda truck was the replacement, and it worked for me, in reasonable shape, and suited my needs and I liked it. But that impatient and careless, thoughtless man in a hurry totally did in that truck, his own life and really, really changed mine. Almost 8 years ago, yes, i keep track, it’s never very far from me, I live with the changes to my body and the life changes it has caused.
And for all these years since I have lived with ‘just above junk’ vehicles, that I have kept repaired, taken care of, added to my debt load keeping running and not really liked but took care of. Ben now has that truck, and he’s the 1 who damaged the front grill, with his own careless not paying attention at a Street intersection. He’s supposed to be buying the truck from me but I have yet to see a penny on that $500 purchase price.
I’ve had that 2005 Neon for almost 2 years now and put a lot of money, some of it credit with high interest, into that car, and it is ok, but it’s old and rusting and going to keep costing me and needing new parts and still will be something I can’t be confident to take a long trip in. And it’s not a car I love, but it has met my needs and so far I’ve been able to afford the cost of repairs. Yes, some of the first work on it went on credit and yes, the interest is just keeping me in poverty.
So, I’ve pulled funds from my 401K and will pay down some of that debt, and I have been looking on line at new and near new used cars, not expecting or planning to buy anything until after my taxes were filed and I had my federal refund and had paid in what I expect to end up owing on my state income taxes. Plenty of time to get my financial house in solid order and be ready for a new or nearly new car and the costs that would involve.
But I’ve found a little red Fiat, 2016, under 18,000 miles, standard tranny and under $8,000, which I did check, is well below book on that car. The carfax is good, it is a 2 owner car, with the 2nd and current owner being the dealership where it was traded in, less than 500 miles ago.. It has been kept serviced and it would suit me wants and needs. This is not when I planned to be buying my new/near new car but I think I’m going to buy this little red buggy.
I want a car that will meet my needs and wants in a car and last me for years and years. I am really not hard on cars, those times other people run into or over me are hard on my cars, but I’m not abusive, and I do believe in maintenance and upkeep. So, barring accidents, this little Fiat should make me a good little, very economic car for when it’s not bike season or I just need/want a car instead of taking 1 of the bikes.
It might not seem smart or sensible to anyone else, but then, no one else is paying the bills here either, nor will they be. And if/when I buy this little red buggy, I will put the Neon up for sale, with a reasonable and fair price and be glad to have bought it and have put the $ into having a dependable car that will haul more than 2 people.
I don’t want something big, I don’t want to get a vehicle to make ‘family trips’ in, and I don’t want something easy for others to borrow, and I like shifting gears so this car with it’s standard tranny is just what suits me. I think I’m buying a little red Fiat.
