Meet Lola!

Since my surgury I have not been able to drive stick. This has meant me rolling in the family mini-van while Sara is left with my well aged 96 Cavalier. We have been talking about me getting a new car for at least a few years but her having to drive the Cavy on a regular basis has intensified things. So we have been car shopping.

We got a sitter last weekend and went to the car lot. We went to every major dealership. Sara liked the Volvos but I couldn’t afford one. I liked the Challenger but figured a bike rack would ruin it’s good looks. We ended up at the Honda dealership. We test drove a Civic. It was nice. It was practical. It was in our price range. But it just wasn’t me. No offense to Civic owners, but I just couldn’t drive one. It was just a little too main-stream. So the hunt was still on.

It is my nature to get over enveloped in things. I was spending more time than is healthy on every craigslist in So. Cal. If you know craigslist you know you have to act fast to get a good deal.

This week I got left home from Disneyland with Jillian and my crutches. I don’t know if Sara meant it or if she was just feeling bad for me but the last thing she said was, “You have my blessing to buy a car if you find something good.”

That was the kiss of death.

Jilli had even become familiar with my craigslist addiction and would cry as soon as I sat down at the computer. But it wasn’t long before we had a hot one and were out on the road. The guys house we ended up at had a parking lot of classic cars in his backyard. The one I had driven out for was not worth the trip, but the vehicle right next to it was. I don’t know about Jillian but for me it was love at first sight.

“Are you selling that?”

“Yeah, I was going to throw it on craigslist for 45 hundred I just haven’t gotten a chance yet.”

Two hours later the hunt was over. We reached a price of $3800. (Maybe I do have a little of the Ricker in me.)

Meet Lola.

Ain't she a beauty!

Once he said he would throw in the personalized surfer plates I was a goner.

Inside the bubble top. So much potential. So much head-room.

Sweet wood floor, two 110-outlets, a bench that folds into a bed, sink, propane stove, icebox. She's the swiss army knife of automobiles.

If you have seen Ghostbusters, it isn’t hard to imagine the scene when I brought Lola home. (If you haven’t seen Ghostbusters, please stop reading my blog. Permanently.) Imagine the scene when Ray brings home the Ecto-mobile for the first time. Sara playing the role of Peter Venkman and me as Ray.

Sara: “You can’t park that thing here!”

Me: “Everyone can relax I found the car. It needs some suspension work...and shocks...and brakes, brake pads, linings, steering box, transmission, rear end…”

Sara: “How much?”

Me: “Only 3800.”

I guess to end up with a 1970 bus when you were secretly hoping for a Volvo most wives would have reacted quite a bit worse than Sara did. Sensing my excitement she bit her tounge and didn't say one single mean thing. Sara is a horrible liar and could not keep up the facade forever. Her excitement for Lola was not quite what I had hoped. Upon me probing a little further she finally shared her feelings. I don't remember the exact wording but this was the gist of it:

"Of all the cars that I saw you look at or ask me about on craigslist that is by far the ugliest one."

That hurt a little but I guess I probably deserved it.

I know I should have given Sara a chance to weigh in on the purchase of a 1970 bubble top VW bus, but the temptation was too great and I conceded. Sara is not quite able to visulize Lola's full potential yet, but give her some time. Venkman eventually warmed up to the Ecto-mobile, right.