Living Without a Car

I just realized that it's been over a year since I drove a car. The last car I owned was this lovely 4-wheel drive Tracker, which I sold along with the rest of my possessions just before I moved out of the country last year.

Since then, I've gotten accustomed to life without a car. It's certainly environmently friendly, & it's much cheaper since I don't have to spend money on gas or repairs. It's probably even good for my health because of all the extra exercise I'm getting. Still, there are definitely things I miss about driving.

I miss being able to get from Point A to Point B by myself, without the aide of a bus driver. I miss road trips, singing at the top of my lungs to road tunes as I cover the miles to nowhere. I miss the feeling of operating heavy machinery, especially if it has a clutch.

It's funny how something so basic as driving can be nostalgic. Perhaps those of you who are still driving through rush hour traffic every day can help to remind me just how annoying driving really is.

The Kar is Kaput

I bought this car last March for $2400. The price was high & I knew it at the time, but I was ready to be done with the car search. I had spent several days driving around in my friend Jay's pickup, looking at cars, asking my friends to go with me for their opinions. I was ready to be independent again with my own car.

In the beginning, I had problems passing emissions, but that was taken care of by my favorite mechanic. In the summer, the AC didn't work when the outside temperature was over 100 degrees (that's a problem here in Arizona). & I've always had a problem with the clutch, occasionally having to get it adjusted.

The last time I got the clutch adjusted, the mechanic said that the next time it starts acting up, I would have to put in a new clutch. Since it's a 4-wheel drive vehicle, that means about $700 for a new clutch.

So now my delimna is this: Do I replace the clutch in a piece of crap car? Do I buy another car? If I buy another car, do I buy another piece of crap car? Do I buy a decent car which will have to be financed? Do I lease a car?

I can't really afford any of these options, so maybe I'll go back to not having a car at all. My roommate does it, & he seems to be able to work it out just fine. With the light rail on its way, maybe I can get away with it until I figure out what I'm doing with the rest of my life.