Sunday, February 26, 2012

I knew it

I just noticed the first car I bought new on a recent list. My very first car was a used one. But in late 1973 the decision was made to get a car with new tires (my relationship with flat tires was getting too intimate) and new everything else. I believed an engine would last longer than tires. I was wrong. I brought a Vega.


This car model has now made the top 10 worst American cars

We put our limited funds into a 1974 Vega station-wagon purchase. The engine durability of that car just sucked. Checking the oil was almost as often as checking the gas. I still like the body shape and handling of the car. During one pre-dawn drive in San Antonio I pushed it over 100 mph, so at least I got one or two thrills out of it.

The Vega description in the list gave me a little laugh - “a car built with contempt for its buyers”. Oh I can laugh about it now. 

John Lennon and Paul McCartney expressed it well: “Some kind of happiness is measured out in miles.”



In hindsight I would have been better off buying a bulldog.

another circus 

17 comments:

StarTraci said...

"A car built with contempt for its buyers"... too funny if it's in your past but too sad when currently owned. Thanks for the smile.

:-)
Traci

oceangirl said...

Interesting, and like you said, the body design is not bad at all.  I am buying a new car, it is coming early March.  It is brand new, fully imported, 3.7L engine, it is Mazda CX9.  I cannot wait, the car I'm driving now is a grand car but I've had it for more than 15 years!

W. C. Camp said...

My sis in law had one  too. I kind of liked them though I know they were far from perfect. W.C.C.

Hindi SMS said...

red color of car is fantastic

Shrinky said...

Haha, oh, the memories, eh?  Reminds me of my first ever new car - I thought I was sooooo cool, driving my soft-top Suzuki Jeep home from the showroom.  The VERY NEXT DAY, it was all over the news this model tipped over going round corners.  It was nothing but a tin box on wheels!  I traded it in at a huge loss for a Lancia Delta, in the end (sigh). 

Bearmancartoons said...

No...vega.  My first car was a use OMEGA

Barbara said...

Don't feel bad. The first car I was allowed freedom to drive was a Pinto, although mine didn't have a hatchback like the one they picture. I really put that thing to some tests, though, and as far as I know, it survived me. (But then, I was a teenager and pretty oblivious. Maybe it didn't survive me, after all! lol)

lisleman said...

As long as it was not last seen in a ball of flames I think you both survived ok.  

lisleman said...

 Oldsmobile ?  Omega is bad name for a car in my opinion since it's the end. 

lisleman said...

 Maybe it was just top heavy - wink wink

lisleman said...

 I wish I knew you then I could have made you an offer you wouldn't of refused.

lisleman said...

 Mazda - sports car?  convertible  top?  zoom zooom

lisleman said...

 you are welcomed - yes it is in the past and a lesson learned - styling is not everything.

oceangirl said...

No, big ol' seven seater SUV.  I have relatives to carry around.

Secret Agent Woman said...

I didn't buy my first new car until 1987 (a Nissan Sentra) - the 5 previous cars were quite used, starting with a '67 Chevelle I bought for $200 in 1979.

lisleman said...

 Did that '67 muscle car have any muscle left in it?
thanks

Neoconpunk said...

I had a '74 vega, red, automatic.  Didn't come with a passenger side mirror.  It was optional.  I drove it thru thick and thin, but never over 55mph.  Bought it for $1800 in 1976, sold it for $1700 in 1979.  It had 60,000 miles on it.  Still ran good.  My cousin, on the other hand, had an rear exploding Ford Pony.  

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