Something About Those Sporty Imports

When I was in College I got a new car, my father LOVES car shopping, so we went and I got a Saab 93. I loved the way it looked and the way it drove. I LOVED that car, but then I graduated and the repair bills were all mine. For some reason, that car missed the shop when it wasn't in it and would break down.

Prior to any of the break down, my first week of ownership, a High School kid hit my car that was parked in the parking lot. Got that fixed, then on the way home from school one weekend, a log flew off the back of a logging truck and into the hood of my car. True to the make of the car, it got me home - the turbo was shot, but I made it. I remember I called Dad and told him (I think he made out what I was saying through my sobs). My Dad said, "are you okay? Is the car drivable? Don't call your Mom. She is in Bible Study and we will let her know when you get home." That was hard. I wanted my Mommy. :) So, I slowly made it home and pulled into the drive. Mom was home, she ran out the door, hugged me and said, "sara, you could have died!" I cried. She cried. Dad was in repair mode. The Saab (Claire was her name) was repaired and got a new turbo and everything!

After graduation I moved to Greenville, SC where there is a Saab dealership. I quickly became friends with the service department there. I did not have the best relationship with the service department in Augusta - one man in particular. However, since I had my first "real" job, I was responsible for car maintenance. I sure wish I had asked about how much it costs to maintain the Saab. Every oil change, $80. But, every oil change uncovered new problems. Brakes, $600, Tires, $900. The car started to just shut off for no reason as I was driving..we would hook it up to the diagnostic test and everything was fine. That car was too electrically driven, and boy did I pay for it.

When Wes and I got married he had a truck. Long story short, we traded his old truck for a new truck. Then, I got pregnant and the Saab was costing about $800 a month to maintain - it was still breaking down. So, we traded the Saab and I got a Rogue. Then, Trenton came and with his medical complications, we were looking for ways to cut costs, so Wes made the ULTIMATE sacrifice and traded his beloved truck. We went car shopping and he decided he wanted a car. He test drove bunches, but ended up with a VW Passat - yes, it surprised me too.

Well, apparently, this Sporty Import has a target too. Since getting the VW, Wes has been in 2 accidents - close to each other - both his fault. Then, he went to a meeting last week in Savannah and calls me to tell me he got pulled over. I was not excited. Thankfully, he didn't get a ticket. He was pulled for illegal tint. The tint wasn't illegal, so he was let go. As we are on the phone, he goes, "I have to go, the cop is pulling me again". I am a NERVOUS wreck. I have no clue what has happened. About 10 minutes later, he calls me and tells me the dispatcher had entered his information incorrectly and they thought he was a different person - um, not cool. Wes called me all nervous too - that had to be a little scary, pulled twice by the same cop within 3 minutes. Thankfully, it was all straightened out and he continued home.

So, while my car, Claire, had a tendency to break down and cost a lot of money and be hit by other people/things, Wes's import tends to be the offender. Apparently, if there is an import around me, you can bet it will be a headache. Needless to say, we are NOT buying another sporty foreign import again. As foreign as I will go is Nissan! (sorry, Dad, love you!)