Swiftly On to Greener Pastures
Jul. 2nd, 2014 09:57 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
stormdogMy former vehicle, Percy the Swift, had been sitting, untouched, in my driveway since the Fall of last year. As Swifts are prone to, he had developed serious enough rust in the front passenger-side frame member that anchors the wheel to be unsafe for regular use.
The second party (actually two guys) who looked at him today decided to take him home with them. I warned them that the battery had been dead since the Fall, and that they'd need to put oil in if they wanted to start it up and test it since it was reading empty. They looked the car over and liked what they saw enough to pour in some petroleum while I disconnected the battery charger. I sat down, stepped on the clutch, and turned the key. I expected to have to bring their truck in with jumper cables, then crank it around a few times pumping the gas pedal while hoping it would catch.
Percy started right up. No problem whatsoever. The engine cranked for a couple seconds, the plugs fired, and he was sitting in the driveway in a smooth idle.
It almost made me cry. I loved that car so much. I still do, really. It's rare for me to be in a position to actively discriminate when buying a vehicle, and Percy was practically everything I want in a car. Watching him happily start and run while knowing that I have a boat of a car parked in front that I feel mediocre about at best made me sad. And at the same time, irrationally, I felt proud of my old car. Aptly named, Perseverance was the car that never gave up. I was happy, too. The buyers talked about possibly cutting out and replacing the bad frame member; he may even be on the road again someday.
I thought of the day that I drove the creaking and scraping and howling new-to-me Swift home after buying it from a Craigslist seller. My ex was horrified that I'd bought the car. Absolutely horrified. Rarely do I let myself indulge in feelings of vindication. Tonight though, I feel vindicated. For a long time, I said that my old Delta 88 was the best car I'd ever owned. But I think Percy holds that title now. I got a hell of a lot for my $350 Craigslist car. He took me to New Orleans and back, all over the dirt roads of the Keweenaw Peninsula, and more places than I can remember besides. So you know what? I was right. And I'd do it again in a heartbeat.
Thanks for the miles and memories, Percy. I'll miss you.
The second party (actually two guys) who looked at him today decided to take him home with them. I warned them that the battery had been dead since the Fall, and that they'd need to put oil in if they wanted to start it up and test it since it was reading empty. They looked the car over and liked what they saw enough to pour in some petroleum while I disconnected the battery charger. I sat down, stepped on the clutch, and turned the key. I expected to have to bring their truck in with jumper cables, then crank it around a few times pumping the gas pedal while hoping it would catch.
Percy started right up. No problem whatsoever. The engine cranked for a couple seconds, the plugs fired, and he was sitting in the driveway in a smooth idle.
It almost made me cry. I loved that car so much. I still do, really. It's rare for me to be in a position to actively discriminate when buying a vehicle, and Percy was practically everything I want in a car. Watching him happily start and run while knowing that I have a boat of a car parked in front that I feel mediocre about at best made me sad. And at the same time, irrationally, I felt proud of my old car. Aptly named, Perseverance was the car that never gave up. I was happy, too. The buyers talked about possibly cutting out and replacing the bad frame member; he may even be on the road again someday.
I thought of the day that I drove the creaking and scraping and howling new-to-me Swift home after buying it from a Craigslist seller. My ex was horrified that I'd bought the car. Absolutely horrified. Rarely do I let myself indulge in feelings of vindication. Tonight though, I feel vindicated. For a long time, I said that my old Delta 88 was the best car I'd ever owned. But I think Percy holds that title now. I got a hell of a lot for my $350 Craigslist car. He took me to New Orleans and back, all over the dirt roads of the Keweenaw Peninsula, and more places than I can remember besides. So you know what? I was right. And I'd do it again in a heartbeat.
Thanks for the miles and memories, Percy. I'll miss you.
