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I bought my first vehicle for $1200. It had around 150k miles on it. It lasted me nearly 8 years. During that time it provided me a way to get on my feet and start making something of myself. It carried me for fifty thousand miles, kept me warm when I had to sleep outside, and paved the way for where I've ended up today. I replaced all four tires twice, went through three batteries(the first one had exposed wiring and subsequently blew up during a storm), and put in a new radiator.

It was a tiny two door Toyota, but it served as a moving truck several times. I crammed five people into it and drove across the state. I made love in that car. I ate so much fast food in that car. I almost died in that car.

It was a good car. Now the engine seized in the middle of traffic and I pushed it to its final resting place. Repair bill of $9k. I never knew how much it meant to me until last night, when somebody dropped me off at my home and the parking space was empty. I had expected to see it there, where it always was.

I find myself looking for it in parking lots, jingling my keys hoping that it would appear. Sounds really dumb, but I think I developed an attachment to it. It was a part of me for so long, and now its dead.

Thanks for reading my story.

I bought my first vehicle for $1200. It had around 150k miles on it. It lasted me nearly 8 years. During that time it provided me a way to get on my feet and start making something of myself. It carried me for fifty thousand miles, kept me warm when I had to sleep outside, and paved the way for where I've ended up today. I replaced all four tires twice, went through three batteries(the first one had exposed wiring and subsequently blew up during a storm), and put in a new radiator. It was a tiny two door Toyota, but it served as a moving truck several times. I crammed five people into it and drove across the state. I made love in that car. I ate so much fast food in that car. I almost died in that car. It was a good car. Now the engine seized in the middle of traffic and I pushed it to its final resting place. Repair bill of $9k. I never knew how much it meant to me until last night, when somebody dropped me off at my home and the parking space was empty. I had expected to see it there, where it always was. I find myself looking for it in parking lots, jingling my keys hoping that it would appear. Sounds really dumb, but I think I developed an attachment to it. It was a *part* of me for so long, and now its dead. Thanks for reading my story.

11 comments

[–] KillBill 1 points (+1|-0)

Did it have a name?

It was a Celica. I called her Shelly.

[–] KillBill 0 points (+0|-0) Edited

I used to like the old Celica looks especially the blue model they had here and that seems a good name for one. Hopefully you never stop naming your cars. If you do, give yourself a slap.

Here's the type I'm talking about.

https://barnfinds.com/28179-miles-1976-toyota-celica-gt-liftback/

P.S My car's name is Cedric.

Oh man that is a sexy looking Celica. Looks more muscle than sport, which mine was.

I'm currently driving a shitty PT Cruiser, salvaged title with a seriously ripped up passenger side. I have no idea what to call it besides "the cruiser". And that name does not fit. These things don't cruise, they are just ugly behemoths.

[–] revmoo 1 points (+1|-0)

I mean you could just fix it. An engine for a generic Toyota sedan might set you back $1500. Rent an engine hoist and watch some youtube videos.

[–] jobes 1 points (+1|-0)

RIP little toyota. I never had a car for that long. I've had my current car for almost 5 years now and put over 100k miles on it, but I don't have much of an attachment to it since it's a very unexciting Prius. It never broke down and it made me feel like a dick multiple times since you are never ever supposed to jump anyone with that car since it can easily fry the electronics. I really liked my little 6-speed Hyundai I had for ~4 years just before this one, but I had to give it up because of the cost of gas

My first car caught fire. I got off the freeway and stopped at a convenience store. When I came out there were little tongues of flame poking out from under the hood. Nothing left under the hood but the engine block. Battery, air intake, wiring, all gone. I got $500 for the metal weight.

[–] [Deleted] 1 points (+1|-0) Edited

i just cried. reminds me of my ol'girl Denty.

2009 Gs, manual.

i absolutely hated her (and my dad at the time for forcing me into a stabdard car.), but when her trunk got slammed into my backseat, I felt something.

[–] slwsnowman40 1 points (+1|-0)

I went through the same thing with my 2001 Lumina...120k miles on it by me over 14 years, I had gotten it as a gift with 70k on it. It finally gave up the fight backing out of the parking space to head to work when a crankshaft pulley failed (which screwed up the serpentine belt, power steering and who knows about the internals). Re-manufactured engine was $4,000, plus labor. Took that and paid one third down on the 2014 Cruze I'm currently driving I got at CarMax.

It deserved better than dying in a parking lot, I had planned to put a cage in it and send it out in style at 24 Hours of LeMons.