49 things about me

49. I’ve never owned a new car, and probably never will.

Yes, I finally did it. After my car finally ate itself this past fall I decided it was time to look for a new vehicle. I did the research on safety, drivability, and comfort (Consumer Reports) and on price (edmunds.com), and then I started the test driving.

The 2006 Honda Civic, while being gorgeously designed and appointed and having the extra added cache of being available as a hybrid, made me feel like I was in a clown car.

The Volkswagen Jetta was slightly bigger inside but all the stalks on the steering column (lights, turn signals) were oddly too short for the diameter of the wheel.

The Mazda 3 drove like a supercharged dream…and it was too damn small inside for a five door.

And then there is the Pontiac Vibe…the Vibe is a General Motors and Toyota collaboration. As near as I can tell from all my reading, it’s a GM frame with a Toyota engine, seats from the Toyota Corolla, which are uncomfortable as all hell for me, and styling from Pontiac (round gauges and red back lights among other things).

The Vibe, which is identical to the Toyota Matrix save for some exterior styling differences, is considered a small station wagon but it sits like an SUV, a bit higher above the road which gives you more visibility here in the land of drivable buildings. The problem is that it is a small station wagon, and I’m not ready to grow up.

So, after many test drives, and having to make small talk with way too many automobile sales associates, I finally decided to replace what I had with the newer version of itself.

2006 Acura RSX

Even now my baby sits at the curb, temporary tag and no residential parking sticker. Silly, isn’t it, the relationship Americans have with our cars? And yet, there is something sublime about a new one. Maybe this is what consumerism is all about, the joy of having done the research carefully and gotten not only the right tool for the right job but also something that is a little bit fun. Or maybe, just maybe, having a new car is just totally neat.

Either way, it’s definitely a kid on Christmas sort of feeling which I’m hoping will last even after the loan payment coupon book comes in the mail. Until then, I’ll be trying really hard not to get any speeding tickets.