It’s been over a year now, since my trusted and loyal car was rear-ended by an absent minded driver. I miss it still. I grew up in that car. It was my first car, handed down to me from my father who was the original owner. I still remember the day he bought it at the dealership. I kept pushing him to get the bright red coupe. Or at least a car with a spoiler. Dad, the ever practical accountant bought the gold four-door sedan. Years later, I can’t imagine having driven anything else.
It was the car of my college days. My young adulthood. It was the car the took me to and from school. The car that traveled distances with me, loaded up with all my prized belongings, my clothes packed into the shells of my drumset.
It was the car of many adventures. It was the car of many dates, as I strived to woo and impress young ladies with my ability to drive a car with manual transmission. It was the car of heartache, and was a loyal confidant through long and lonely drives home. When I lost my college apartment and needed a home, I slept it my car. My car never let me down. My car always stood by me.
Everything I ever learned about cars I learned from fixing and repairing my golden chariot. As the car aged, it began to show signs of wear. The ceiling sagged horribly until the headliner became shredded entirely. A side-view mirror became cracked and damaged and remained fastened to the side of the car only with the aid of copious amounts of Shoe Goo. A window was smashed and replaced with a piece of cardboard. The belt tensioner wore out and the car made a horrendous screeching noise every time the car started or the air conditioner was turned on. This was my car. And then I took matters into my own hands and decided to fix it.
Money was tight, so I researched and purchased parts that could replace ailing pieces. I began to fix the car myself. I replaced a side mirror. A friend helped me jack up the car and replace the tensioner. I took apart the the back door and replaced a missing window. I measured and cut fabric and reconstructed the entire interior headliner. I bought seat covers to hide the threadbare seat cushions.
And an amazing thing happened. Not only was the car beginning to look like new again, but I found myself loving it more than ever. The car had taught me to care for it. It taught me to be self reliant. It taught me to fix things myself and to be a man. As I replaced my brake pads I proudly smiled to myself. I was never going to replace this car. What would be the point? I could continue to fix it forever! It had already lasted almost two decades. Nothing could stop me from driving it for several decades more!
And then, suddenly it ended. During my first week of a new job the car was rear-ended to the point of collapse. I could sense there might be no coming back from this. My beautiful car had completed its last heroic act, by protecting me.
The insurance company gave me over twice what the car was listed to be worth. I could only assume it was because all the repairs I had done made it look like new. Even at the end, my car was still teaching me the value of hard work. An astute observer commented that it was interesting how the car lasted literally until the day that a new job secured a healthy and steady income for me thus allowing for the purchase of a new vehicle. I suppose it is interesting. Perhaps my car having finally gotten me to this point in life, knew its job was finally done.
Saying goodbye was more difficult and emotional than you might expect. I imagine I must have looked rather foolish speaking to my car with tears in my eyes and thanking it for all our adventures. For its service. For being there. For listening to my hopes, my dreams, my frustrations, and my prayers. And always for keeping me safe.
Thank you Epoch, for everything you gave to me. You were the best car. I’m so very glad you shared this road with me.
The Epoch
1996 Saturn SL1
29 mpg city, 40 mpg highway
158,331 miles
$13,130.00 new
9/13/95 – 8/28/14
6,925 days (almost 19 years)
Final totals: $1.896 per day
$0.0829 per mile
Great car.
I had a 2003 Honda Civic which lasted until last year when it threw a rod. 1150,000 miles. Bought new. Before that a 1991 Geo Prizm. Transmission went out at 137,000 miles, also bought new. This time I got a used 2012 HHonda Civic. A couple of heaps before this. Never got sentimental about them though.