Tuesday, June 8, 2010

Another One Bites the Dust

My Expedition died yesterday morning.  It was running fine this weekend, so we had no warning of its impending demise.  Now, it needs major engine work and a new transmission ... too much to consider doing to a 12-year-old vehicle with 170,000+ miles on it.


Picking up retired greyhounds in North Carolina.


We spent all day yesterday and today trying to decide what to replace her with.  That vehicle was my everything.  It hauled my kids, and their friends, and all their stuff wherever we needed to go.  It could carry more cargo and lumber-yard stuff than either of our two pick-up trucks.  Most importantly, I could easily put seven rescued greyhounds in there for their trip to new homes and forever families.  All of this is gone now.


I don't need a big SUV often enough to buy another one.  Our red Jeep Wrangler is my everyday transportation.  We have two pickup trucks for hauling 'stuff', so that's not really a regular requirement either.  We only run dog transports every couple of months now, so it doesn't seem wise to buy a vehicle mainly for this. 




What we NEED is something that can hold two big dogs and a car seat.  It isn't often that we have both the dogs and the grandson in the car at the same time, but we need to be able to do it when necessary.  To accomplish this, whatever we buy has to have a split back seat that folds flat and level ... very few vehicles do this (except for big SUVs). 


This is my Daniel, when I was bringing him up from NC.


We zeroed in on the Ford Flex yesterday afternoon.  The salesman at the Ford dealership was very helpful, showing us the features and functions of the vehicle ... but I just couldn't make myself like it.  "Let's see what they have at the Chrysler dealership." my husband said.




As we drove onto the lot, the first thing we saw was a row of 4-door Jeep Wranglers.  We found them to be surprisingly roomy inside ... equivalent to the space in my mom and dad's Explorer, I think.  (The Explorer's seats don't fold flat, so one of these was never an option for us.)  I was immediately comfortable driving this Jeep, it met all our needs and looked cool doing it, so we decided to buy one.

This is the one I built on the Jeep web site, and it's exactly like what we bought.


Some time tomorrow, as soon as it arrives from southwest Virginia (via an inter-dealer trade, because our local dealer didn't have exactly the one we wanted), we will be the proud owners of a brand new 2010 Wrangler Unlimited Rubicon, in Deep Sea Blue Pearl with every option known to mankind ... just the way I like it.

I have to thank the staff at Safford Chrysler Dodge Jeep in Fredericksburg for making the purchase of this car such a positive experience.  They don't pay me to say nice things ... I just want everyone to know that you CAN and SHOULD have pleasant experience in a car dealership.  Everyone at Safford treated us with respect, and I appreciate that.

I'm still pretty bummed about the sudden death of my Expedition.  I'll go to the mechanic's shop later this afternoon to clean all of my stuff out of it before the tow truck takes it away.  This new Jeep should help take some of the sting out of it, I hope.

I can't help myself ... in my head, I keep hearing, "One Jeep, two Jeep, red Jeep, blue Jeep".  ... sigh ...

(written by Hartwood Roses.  Hartwood Roses blog.)

6 comments:

  1. I have been drooling over those for a while!!! I even called the dealership a few weeks ago and inquired about bringing my Dane with me to make sure he will fit in the back! ....

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  2. My Nissan Pathfinder is 8 years old with only 52,000 miles. Hoping it takes us well into retirement. We have 2 rottweilers so need the space to get them to and from vet appointment and it's pretty handy for hauling home project supplies from Lowes. No idea what vehicle I would get next... only know that I sure love NOT having a vehicle payment every month. Love the Jeep you ordered!

    Di

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  3. A bittersweet day for you, but I'm loving the Jeep you 'built' for yourself! Just need to get your hubby to paint a license plate for the front with one his gorgeous roses on it! You will look so 'cool' driving that:))

    We have a huge custom van that is 15 years old, and I dread the day it decides to give up. So many memories we make with our vehicles!

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  4. Dog transports are so rewarding. We volunteer when Anatolian Shepherds in rescue travel through the area. I love doing that.

    Sad about your Expedition. But, you did get a lot out of it. Many miles and lots of years.

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  5. Oh no, I'm sorry to hear about your Expedition! But that jeep is pretty darn cool! Ok, now I'm really heading over your way! Two babes on a shopping mission in a sweet blue jeep! Can you say Thelma and Louisa?! Just promise me we'll avoid any big cliffs! ;)

    Kat :)

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  6. I felt that way with each of our cars, over the years. It was nice being able to park something smaller, after we let our Suburbans go.

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