A new (to us) car!

[alicebentley]

The last six weeks have shown that we really can get by without a vehicle, even in this rural woodland.

It meant getting up extra early to walk to town (2 miles) and catch the bus. It meant planning out the grocery shopping - can't get milk and kitty litter in the same trip. And it did result in skipping a few events that we would have had fun attending (Vanguard, SFM lecture,...). But it is kind of comforting to know that a car did not difine who we were or what we could do.

On the other hand, I'm very happy to now have a shiny red 2002 Toyota Echo, with only 33K miles on it. Yeay!

Comments

[minnehaha.livejournal.com]

Did the Four Runner die?

K.

[alicebentley]

While still running well, the body was slowly decomposing - a common happenstance for Chicago cars. At some point it would have been unsafe. So we donated it to Oakton Community College, where they completely rebuild failing vehicles (or strip them for parts) and then resell them.

Mike really loved that car, but it would have been too small to hold all the stuff we needed to move from Chicago, and it really had very little time left anyway. Instead we bought a used Chevy Express van - which did the job, but required constant repairs. When it spontaneously combusted on New Years Day I think we both felt a bit of relief, along with the massive loads of disbelief.

The Echo is everything I was looking for: cheap, very reliable, great gas milage, and can still seat five adults (as long as three of them are pretty friendly).

Echo

[jimf42.livejournal.com]

Those are pretty nice cars...I had one for a rental for a weekend and I kind of liked it. Great mileage..drove decently. Only real negative was the styling.

Jim

hi!

[happyelfling.livejournal.com]

hi Alice, it's Julian! I found you online.

If you don't mind, could you email me (js2054 at barnard dot edu) with your current phone number? I'm graduating in a few months (crazy the way time passes...) and will be on the job hunt soon, and you remain one of my best references.