This is Sue from Utah. I have a station wagon history. My first car was a 1958 Dodge wagon and I loved it! Carried all my friends and pets. My Mom always had a "larger" vehicle too...from a tan Plymouth wagon (I've forgotten the year, make and model on that one. Just remember the trips to the shop for carb problems and wishing it would stay fixed.) to a 1958 Caddy that I wish we could have kept. Our best friends had a '60's model chevy wagon that was red and white that brings me to MY wagon.... drum roll please... I've owned for two years now a beautiful 1988 Custom Cruiser Oldsmobile that was garaged kept most of its life. Low miles. Know I should have wrote all the particulars down before I started here but it's taken me a while to get on. (my computer illiteracy, not the forum's fault). It is white with the beautiful maroon interior in great shape. Sure it has dingys and some little ideosyncrasies but BOY do I love this car. I love driving it and talking to it and piling the kids and their friends in it. The kids think the rear facing far back seat is da BOMB!!! I wanted to give it to my 16 yo but she's aching for a small car. Dumb kid!! Anyway, hope to find a loving home for my baby (we call her the Ella Fitzgerald >>affectionately<<) when I can bear to part with her. (not yet). After all...my daughter may come to her senses. I will take pictures as soon as I can get help (from my kids) to put them on here.
Welcome Sue. Fine story. One of the other members threw out a good question about updating big wagons with newer technology. Your kids might be surprised at how much can be done: http://www.stationwagonforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=5094 Nice to have you come and see us.
so true... Thanks for the warm welcome. Yeah, she's 16 and all she can talk about is this "rebuilt" honda civic. That's all I know about it so far. She's already got money saved to buy it (when it is "ready" )...so...maybe I can interest my 13 yo son in my wagon. He thinks his sister is stupid for not taking Ella. Ahhhh, the ignorance of youth.
Tell her Honda means Hold ON DA Goes a real car! Send her to a skid school or some obstacle training. They get stuck in potholes, at dead skunks, and when somebody steals the catalytic converter at the 'fart-can' (AKA Muffler! )
rice burner..or..$400. mistake 'fart-can'...oh gosh, man you're killing me. LOL. yeah she's got to learn the hard way...or that is how it always seems with her. If she's really got that much money saved WHY oh why throw it away on someone's "project". Not even someone you can get back at, ya know? Somebody her boss knows has been tinkering away with this car forever and now they just want to unload it. Or that is my honest opinion. Anyway. I'm pissed because she drives my wagon just fine. And maybe it will keep her safe for the first year or so. I know I trust it to get me around. Today it started just a little unsteady while idling. Probably just needs another round of carb cleaner. That's all it takes. Runs strong even with the AC on and these 100 degree days around here. dumb kids I always loved old cars. Muscle cars. Hot Rod mags. Dates with my boyfriends (millions of years ago) involved setting the timing, gap on spark plugs, stuff like that. Easy enough stuff then. Now, you can't even work on cars anymore. The guy who did our gasket replacement (oil leaks) had to actually raise the motor!!! Or said he did. Four hour job took eight (he said). And he's a real good guy. My husband can't do the heavy stuff anymore. He's got a 1973 Ford Camper Special truck with old camper on bed that we still all go camping in. Five of us and three dogs. If gas weren't so bad we'd ride along in my wagon (in style) while he drove the camper/truck. Ok. Enough about youth being wasted on the young. >sigh<
My dad used to have a good line. "We grow too soon old, and too late smart." We caught up with each other when we graduated together in Engineering. He was 50, and I was 25. He was more charming though!
