So next month is my FINAL car payment. For 35 months I have been sending $351 to Ford Credit of Canada every month. This, in addition to my insurance, makes my car cost me $512/month. This doesn’t include things like gas, oil changes, and deductibles because my car fell victim to a 360º keying.
That was fun.
You may have just done the math and may or may not be wondering why my auto insurance is $161/month for a 2007 Ford Focus… All enquiries can be directed to Kenny and that’s all I’ll say about that.
Nevertheless, I’ve been quite excited these last few months at the prospect of being up at the very least $500/month. That’s a lot for this single-income girl with a provincial government salary and two cat-children. I have to play my cards right though because in the world of Andrea, $500 more a month could mean better quality oil paint brushes and Costco-size lint rollers. In other words, I need to keep reminding myself that $500 more a month doesn’t make me any Liliane Bettencourt.
On the flip side, although I sincerely am looking forward to this extra amount a month, I can’t help but feel like I’m going to be missing having a car. Yes, I know this makes me much less of a tree hugger but do you know how hard it is to haul a 50lbs box of cat litter from Costco to my front door? What about skiing? Or taking road trips to San Francisco? These are things that make me feel human.
I’ve been contemplating the idea of getting myself into a little, rattling, shit-box. I’ve never had a shit-box and I feel as though the best stories of growing up come from adventures in shit-boxes – almost like a right of passage. When you have a new vehicle, there’s no character. Shit boxes scream character because they’re adorned with home-made things like clothes hangers and cardboard wedged into the stereo housing because the deck isn’t fitting snugly enough. It’s getting your hands dirty because nothing under the hood will be clean. It opens the door to logical thinking because you’ll feel comfortable doing your own repairs as there is no warranty to void. It’s being able to put a bumper sticker on it and not caring because there’s no paint left on the bumper anyway.
My plan is to set aside $500 for March, April, and May; just as if I were still making car payments. What’s three more months after 36 months of payments? This way, I’ll have $1,500 to spend on my very own shit-box! I’ll be payment free. I shouldn’t keep calling it a shit box because I will take my used car very seriously and I will most certainly ensure that my vehicle is safetied, stable, and with doors that really do lock. I will cherish my shit-box.
Here are just a few of the ones I have my eyeballs on (make here, not these exact ones)…
Frankly, I’m excited to get my bum into something all worn, and vinyl-smelling.
Keep you posted.
1993 Honda Civic Si - Photo: Edmunds.com
1991 Volvo 240 - Photo: Edmunds.com
1992 Volkswagen GTI - Photo: Edmunds.com
My vote is for shit-box no. 2 (no pun intended).
The best thing about shitboxes out West are that they last forever, not having to contend with Winter. Sounds like a fun project!
once you are carless you will have to invite us to your place for dinner!
@ Cathy… I know! You’ll have to come to me now… And you can bring Franklin too. He likes it at his auntie’s place.
No Kyle, you can’t leave him here.
@ Keira… It’s the one I like the most too. I’d love to be driving around in a grandpa Volvo. But wait I like the idea of a 180hp Si. Oh, and the GTI – if I can find it in a VR6. Maybe I’ll get all three.
@ T Quack… You’re so right, no salt corrosion here.
Get a bicycle. You’ll get fit and save the planet while you’re at it.
Oh, and the GTI… it’ll look great when it’s not up on a hoist.
Volvo??? snooze.
Get an older model honda or toyota and don’t get all sporty/fancy-like. Remember, it’s a shitbox. Do you need a high-performance shitbox.
And while we’re at it. A “box” is a type of container in that you put things in it. In this case, it implies that you’re putting shit in the box. Don’t be so self-deprecating, or is that self-defacating?
@ c’est… Thanks lawyer. How did you get to work this morning?
I have two bicycles.
… and it’s defecating.
Are you going to help me carry the cat litter in your SUV?
Well Miss A, I am not surprised at 2 out of 3 of those. As I seem to recall you always wanting to drive my Si and saying “lets buy a GTi VR6″. I taught you well I see. Is the Volvo in honour of Eddy? He loved his 740.
j
@ j… haha no, the Volv is not in honour of Eddy, although I never thought of it that way. I just like the grampy cars.
Now, give me your Si!
Then again, Volvos are known for their safety and that’s a good thing. Actually, I kinda like Volvos. Particularly ones that look as good as the one in the picture. Yes, go with the volvo, but for the record, if you do, I would hardly classify it as a sh*tbox. They’re fine automobiles driven by fine people.
The end.
…beautiful friend.
The end.
Precious.
Save $2000, buy one in O-town and drive it home!
That makes no sense to me whatsoever!
VW’s are the shit…(and not in a shitbox way). You will look tres sexy driving one. The GTI is my next automobile of choice..we could match
Was the Focus just a lease?
Or you could get a cool pink basket for your 2 wheeler, that would be very stylish to carry kitty litter in.
@ Rox… ha. I miss you Josée. xo
I definitely vote for shitbox # 3! It was funny reading this post, I felt like I was reading about my own life. Instead though I have no car payment just a ridiculously high insurance payment. I’m trying to take the insurance off of my car, and like you, in taking my car off the road I would save 500 bucks a month or more. However being car-less depresses me greatly. My car is slowly becoming my very own little shit box. I’m gonna drive that sucker into the ground! hahaha
I bet you that Volvo has airbags…
I hate the thought of you driving around bagless in that Civic…Why don’t you spend a little more and get a newer car – when were airbags made compulsory??
Maman, if I had a little more, I’d spend a little more. Unfortunately I don’t. So I won’t.