Vehicular Concerns
Today we got the bad news about Mike's car's prognosis. It was a broken head gasket. The minimum it would cost to repair would be $1,300, and it would probably be more.
RIP, car. We'll miss you!
I had made up some long-range plans in terms of getting a replacement vehicle. I figured if we could get by with one car this spring and rely on the bus system and our bikes this summer, by fall we could take out a second loan for a used car for Mike.
His parents, however, had a different idea. They apparently can't stand the idea of their youngest boy on a bus because they're willing to get a new vehicle and give us their old one on the condition that we'd reimburse them for the remainder the vehicle's loan.
There are several hitches and details that need to be ironed out before we take them up on their offer. The biggest being that their current vehicle...is a minivan.
A minivan. A MINIVAN. I'm only 27 years old! That's too young for minivandom!
Mike is a lot more enthusiastic. His email to me was full of the possibilities that would be opened to us as minivan owners. We could haul wood! We could help people move! I'd be one step closer to soccer dad-dom!
No! I want to take a step away from soccer dad-dom! This is terrible timing, seeing as how just this weekend we started discussing when to start trying for a baby. I could feel my world closing in around me. I could see myself giving up my long commute, my trendy neighborhood, my late nights and my impromptu road trips with Mike. I could almost envision parenthood, suburbia, family life, settling down. In a flash I felt 40 instead of 27. I'm not ready to start scrubbing my toddler's vomit stains from the carpet of my husband's van! I'm just not ready!
But it's been well-maintained, and there's only about five grand left on the loan. We'll never find a vehicle in better shape for that amount of money. Taking the van may be the smart thing to do.
We still have a lot to talk about, including where we're going to park the van in our trendy neighborhood, and whether I could use it on my long commute. I know I'm growing up, but I want to do it a little at a time.
posted by Danulai @ 5:50 PM
7 Comments:
As someone who fights in vain and insanely against maturing, I feel your pain. Hopefully this will fall through?
Haha. The first thing I thought was 'Minivan! You can haul stuff!' That in itself is a luxury for me. You could also put one of those car DVD players in it, and have drive-in date nights in the back. Sounds like fun! ;-)
Minivans aren't so bad. They're perfect for hauling band equipment. Mike does have a giant upright, right? See... Just what you need.
It doesnt have to be for toddlers. Band-Mobile!
Also, could you accept the minivan in all it's well maintained glory and trade it for something else, hoping the trade in value would be more than your 5k payoff investment?
On the other hand, Mikes parents remind me of my own (in many ways) so a trade-in would be considered very rude and out of the question.
Eh. Well at least you have an offer to consider. Better than no options at all.
I have a kid and am so not ready for a minivan yet. Good luck with whatever you decide!
wow, a minivan. bran and i had a station wagon with genuine-real-fake wood paneling on the side before we were even married :) the practicality of the car won out before style did. i doubt that the van will be better on gas than your car is.
Just saw this...I commented on the last entry a bit too late. Bummer about the car, but it happens in one way or another to every vehicle at some point.
I too rail against the idea of a minivan, having had to spend waaaay too much time in one growing up. When kids are on the agenda, it'll be wagon time for me. A 97 Accord with a stick would be nice.
That said, the practicality of a minivan is AMAZING. You can haul SO MUCH STUFF. Like a bass. No, not the wimpy electric one I play. The real thing, like Mike plays.
It could also hold roughly one metric fuckton of teaching aids, should a pile ever fall out of the sky in proximity to you, and require transport.
There are always upsides :-)
Would it make you feel better if we painted flames on the side, added a spoiler and neon lights on the bottom?
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