200, 000 miles PLUS

Well, well, after 200, 000, this CRV still keeps going strong. The most we have had to put into so far was replacing the radiator 4 years ago which cost us $400 or so. I remember the day we brought this car home after spending all day at the dealership. It was 1997, mid August, when our baby was not even three months old. It is a bit nostalgic to look back those days. I can almost hear the clicking noise of he baby car seat being locked in place. The car grew old with us and also with our son. We, the adults are 13 years older and gained a few pounds and inches here and there along with additions of wrinkles and grays. The car has a few dents on the exterior and chocolate stains in the interior roof. (Erik and his buddies at age 4 watched hot fudge splatter on the ceiling when they all flicked the spoons together. )

My husband was in graduate school and we considered this CRV a major luxury those days. It really was! It gave us an incredible comfort when we traveled far and wide. The car has taken us across many states in the south, midwest, east coast and even the southern border of Canada from Windsor to Montreal. We have memories and memories of fun times associated with this vehicle as well as tough days of illness. Crazy? that I am speaking of my car like it has been our family member? It really has been, as far as I am concerned.

My husband laughs saying, that many students on campus drive vehicles nicer than his old CRV. Sometimes, I think we should get him a nicer one and he certainly deserves much nicer car to drive around in town. "I don't deserve a thing, What is wrong with it? It is the best car, one without any car payment!!!" We are very fortunate to own two cars without any car payments right now and that is hard to give up! The door would be falling off before we let this CRV go. Besides having no car payment, we will have yet another reason to hang on to this car in only a few years, and that is hard to believe.

My very first car that I bought in Japan at age 18 cost me approximately $100 and it was 10 yr old Toyota Corolla! I worked part time at a car repair shop which gave me an advantage for getting an excellent used car. Insurance was several times more expensive!

During the years in college, I bought a used escort for about $1000 from an elderly I lived with and took care of. I hang on to that car managing to keep good friends around who could change oil an oil filter and such. I was always fortunate to be surrounded by friends who were willing to lend helping hands to a helpless college student. I was involved in a rather serious car accident in junior year but I was again, saved by a helpful auto body shop owner who rescued my almost totaled little red car. I sold this Escort for $300 or so to a high school student when I had enough money saved up for my next car. I worked overtime occasionally and saved 8 grand in less than 6 months. It was 1991. After writing a check for $6300, I became the proud owner of 4 yr old Civic with 75, 000 miles on it. The little maroon civic was perfect for me especially when I commuted between Baltimore and Greenville, SC every few weeks while working at John's Hopkins.

Wow, did I really do that? Yep, I drove 10 hours one way every other week for several months. My Cockatiel (that bird was so sweet), my civic and I, three traveled everywhere like three musketeers. I loved going to a new City with a map in my hand.

My Civic served me well keeping me on the GO. I did well that I got three grand out of this Civic when I traded it in 6 years and 80,000 miles later. The dealership only offered 1800, but I could not insult my 'Civic" that served its master so well in perfect condition. I succeeded in negotiating for $3000 to honor my Civic at the end of the day and handed them my key saying good bye to my car, and a friend.

For several weeks, I would go by the used lot at the dealership where my old Civic sat alone waiting for the new owner. On one of those trips when I drove by, she was gone. I cried quietly hoping that someone nice took it home. I hoped that new owner would cherish it and enjoy its company.

Not because of its performance but simply due to its age and the general concern for its reliability, our CRV became more of my husband's vehicle when we acquired our Toyota two years ago.

Cars are such personal things. Our CRV has always been with us. I will be such a wreck when the day comes that our CRV is no longer parked in our drive way.