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This is the last in a four-part series. The series began
here.
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Last week, I took you on the first
part of my search for a travel companion -- a new, used car. I was all
over the place... big cars, small cars. I even tried out race cars...
albeit minor league ones.
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I traveled to New York to test-drive a "previously-owned" Chrysler.
That's me in front of the New York Public Library. But that beauty costs
more than my Mazda RX-7 did... when it was new. That was an offer I could
refuse.
My father drove a Chevy... about 60 years ago. Heck, maybe it was
this Chevy...
Maybe these tires, too. Nope; this would require too much maintenance.
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I found a great-looking 1932 Ford Coupe over at Mel's Drive-In. But the
owner, a guy named Milner, had no intention of selling.
Just my luck.
The owner of this nifty vehicle made me an offer I found hard to resist.
He would give me the truck for free, if I would put his logo on the side,
and drive it up and down the west coast of Florida every weekend. Whadda'
you think?
Nah... I decided that my weekends were too important to give up... much
less my remaining sliver of self-respect.
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Ah.... the car of my dreams... the car of every boomer-guy's dreams: a
50-something Chevy Corvette convertible.
Heck, I don't have enough insurance to even crank the engine, much less
drive out of the showroom. It will remain a dream forever, I guess.
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Lemme tell ya', I was depressed. I had looked everywhere,
and come up completely empty. See... THIS is why I keep a good car till
it dies. The search for a replacement is long, painful, and enormously
frustrating.

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I was at my wits end. I was desperate. And, just when I thought that all
hope was lost, I took my search to "American Singles" --
www.americansingles.com -- "where people connect." At the precise moment
I joined, there were 13,510 singles... and one Mazda Miata... online.
Whoda' thought I'd find the perfect travel companion on the Internet?
Well, a coupla' clicks, and there she was, killing me softly with her
curves. It was love at first sight.
She's a 1996, Mazda Miata... convertible, in case you hadn't noiticed.
Five-speed, A/C, CD stereo (with speakers in the headrests), power
steering/brakes, cruise control... 111,000 miles.
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Oh, you're probably thinking that 111,000 miles is a little heavy. But
for a guy who had driven his last car over a half-million miles, 111,000
is just getting her broken in.
Could I see myself behind the wheel of this beauty?
You bettcha'! In a heartbeat.
Is that me... or what?
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It really is a used car for someone who hates used cars. No icky odors;
no odors at all. It has the original owner's manual; the cover for the
convertible top; the cover for the spare tire! Heck, look at the trunk
(what there is of it).
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OK, I know you all want to know. Six grand; total. No kidding. Great
deal, huh?
As a bonus, I get to keep Jeff, the chief mechanic at Maztech in Tampa.
Jeff is the wizard who nursed the Mazdamobile for about 20 years.
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I added a few touches of my own, starting with, of course, the fuzzy
dice. And then we went for a drive! We've been to the beach, across one
of the largest bridges in the state, and... well, all over. And yes,
Princess whole-heartedly approves!
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It really is like being a teenager all over again.
... except for the bad parts.

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Yesterday, we went out looking at Christmas lights. It really is cool,
seeing them with the top down.
So, there's my car story and update. I promise I will not brag about it
again... not until is has about half a million miles on it. Then, I
really will have a story, huh?
Merry Christmas!
And to all, a good night!
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The Mazdamobile story is a four-part series:
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Personal Stories of the Chicowitz:
Exploring My Roots: A Chicowitz History

A Trip to the Dentist

The Chicowitz Gets Dumped - Again!

Just Shoot Me!

He Sleeps with the Fishes

My Little Girl, Princess

Why am I Still Single?

The Plastic Surgery Saga

Our House is a Very, Very, Very Fine House... Not!

Middle Age and the Mazdamobile

Down for the Count

That Dirty Dancing

Me and You and a Dog Named Princess

Contemplations on the Hereafter

A Camping We Will Go

Travels with Princess - Part 1

Tool Time with the Chicowitz

The Chicowitz Goes Country

... and 120 other boomer stories




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