New (to us) car

We have another car.  At the end of May, the Buick Regal we had went back to the car lot we were buying it from, for reasons I prefer not to share.  Suffice it to say, it was no great loss (other than we had only my dad's van as our sole source of transportation for the month of June and part of July).  We had paid more in repairs during the 12 months we had it than we made in payments....so, even though we juggled our schedules to fit with one vehicle, it was really no great loss.



On the 9th of July, my husband had an appt (more on that later).  On the way to the appt, we missed the turn (we had not been to this clinic before, but thought we knew the general area well enough to find it...We were wrong).  So, we are in the turn lane to back track...and the van dies.  In. the. turn. lane.  The light was red. Steam pouring from under the hood.  But not overheated, according to the indicator on the dash.  And we checked the oil before we left (that van drank oil like water...so we always checked/added if needed before we ever left the city limits).   We sat there through a couple of lights, waving people past around us, on the phone with the tow truck company...and it starts.  Running rough, but it started, so we were able to get out of the intersection.  Stupid people honking at us, throwing their hands up...guess they didn't notice the flashers on.  Whatever.



So we park in the parking lot of the hospital we were near (not our destination).   My cell phone dies, so I walk back and forth a few times to make phone calls...to my mom, to the doctor's office that is not open yet (but we had to be there 30 minutes ago), and trying to find a ride.  The tow truck gets there in record time...because even though I was on the phone with the dispatcher when it started, he neglected to relay that information to the driver, who rushed because he thought we were in the intersection still. 



Then we wait for our ride.  We get home and discuss our options.  I make some calls and find a car lot willing to let us test drive 2 cars and choose one for the money I had available for a down payment.  The first car we test drive was a no go pretty much from the time we started it up....my daughter's boyfriend is pretty knowledgable about cars, and  they took us up to the car lot, so he was quite helpful.  The second car, however, was in much much better condition.  In fact, the only work it needs is some brake work, which the car lot is going to take care of. 



Here is our new mode of transportation:

It's a 2000 Mercury Sable...and so very nice.  Smooth ride, not "bouncy", functioning a/c, functioning am/fm radio and cassette tape player (apparently at one time it had a multi disc CD player, but that is no longer present)...and a sun roof.  Sweet!

I like it.  A. Lot.

It has leather seats, only one set of keys, and is still our only source of transportation, but it is better than nothing.