Back in the summer when Chloe was born (2002), my five year old Passat was suffering from issues that had us at the repair shop weekly. The troubles were somewhere in the electrical system, and no amount of diagnosing helped. The AC would only work at traffic lights. The battery would be dead for no reason. I couldn’t count on the car and was spending more time fixing it then driving it. We finally caved in and sold that car that I loved driving and had only just finished paying off and bought a new car. A new car, last year’s model. With a 0% loan. There were no choices, it was what it was. I was giving up the car I had wanted for years for one that would do.
And do it did. For 11.5 years, the red Subaru wagon hauled us around the country, never stranding us (except for the flat tire incident). Back and forth from DC, Texas, Chicago and FL. Off to LEAF. And around town: off to newborn doctor’s appointments, ballet, gymnastics, girl scouts, the library, the High, Young Sprouts, Fernbank, homeschool classes, and more. We’ve even moved four times since we bought it.
But age was starting to take its toll. Mostly minor issues but more and more of them. A spark plug. The AC. And the list was growing. So it was time. I didn’t think I was going to be sad about selling her off to Carmax until we did. My girls grew up in that car, just like in the Subaru commercial. We made some great memories with her. And now she’s off to be with another family.
Having had such a great experience with that car, I decided that the only car to replace her was another Subaru. We’re still debating on a name. I’m slowly getting over my fear of driving this brand new car.
