Later Model Wheels

Over the last three months I have agonized over spending money on my old car versus trading it in for a later, different model.

The latter won. Last week I traded my trusty but lately unreliable, 10 year old, fast and fun car, when running, for a three year newer vehicle.

The not so new one, a 2005 Subaru Forester, like the old car, is fun to drive too, in a different way. I doubt it will go 105 mph like my old one, but it will go in the snow, unlike my old one. The old car had leather seats and many fancy options, but took two or three tries to get into my garage. The Forester, the plain version, has cloth seats and goes into the garage the first try.

In all, the trade-off makes sense. People my age should not drive 105mph. I will miss that excitement, and may live a little longer for missing it. I also may live a little longer by having all wheel drive. Living in Colorado it makes sense to have a car that goes in the snow. I remember the 360 degree turn I spun through on packed, slick snow in the old car. Now that was exciting. However, I would rather not do that again, and perhaps the Forester will keep me from it.

Also remembered is the terrible drive over Berthoud Pass in a storm, making it safely through a white-knuckle trip in the old two wheel drive, rear wheel drive vehicle without a positive drive axle. I saw no cars for an hour as I crept through the pass. Fortunately I learned snow driving at a young age, otherwise I may still be in the wrecked car at the bottom of some embankment of the Berthoud Pass road. Should I get into that winter driving situation again, in the Forester, I will fear no evil. Frankly, I would rather not get into the situation.

I will not miss filling the old car's gas tank, every 10 days, for $50 or more. I will enjoy filling the Forester on about the same schedule, but for $35. 

The dogs like the new vehicle. The rear space is adequate, and lower to the ground, making for easier injumping (is that a word?). From time to time Cue, my 78 pound Chocolate Lab, refuses the jump, like a horse in a jumping show, and I lift her into the car. Maybe I won't need to do that so often. And the lift IS shorter. She is not lighter though.

So, if all goes well, the Forester will last at least 10 years.

I will too.