Boys Buying Cars...And Trucks

 For the past couple of months our family has been in search of used vehicles. My youngest son wanted a truck--he's looking for a job in construction. My other son...he needed a car, even though he'd like a truck. I took the boys on many trips to check out both cars and trucks.

These photos show two vehicles that they did not buy.

Of the two, the Pontiac was the better vehicle.

Up until recently, our family was not a "car-buying" family. I bought Donk, the Subaru in 2020. Before that, we bought our minivan and our Vibe around 2010. We've been lucky with those cars. They've been great for us--especially, the van.

Then, the kids grew up and needed cars. The last two carless children finally needed transportation. I went on many a trip to check out cars and trucks in various state of decomposition. My son wanted a 4x4 truck. The red one was not. We didn't do know that before we headed out. Had we known it, we would not have driven south to check it out.

The Pontiac was a good car, a good, solid car. The miles were relatively low and the price was right. Still...we thought we'd check out another car and we ended up getting it.

There's some excitement in car shopping. Are we getting a deal? Are we buying a lemon? All unknowns solved only by time. 

I hope they got some good ones.

One Of Those Things You Do...

 I know people who love cars. They love to drive them, they love to check them out when they drive by, and they love to see how much they cost when they will be in the market for a car, truck, or other mode of transportation.

We  have a couple of boys in the house who have turned their attention to cars. They've also approached their parents for advice. That's always nice. Because they've asked, I have done some searching. Haven't done that for a while.

We've never been a family that goes through a lot of cars. When we get a car that's reliable, we tend to ride it into the sunset. I hope my children can find similar cars. Anyone who has owned and driven (and repaired...) cars knows finding a good reliable car is like winning the lottery. 

The search has just begun, but for their first cars, but what may turn into a life-long obsession. Then again, they may look at a car like any other things they own, like a shirt, or computer keyboard, or a toaster.

Not a lot of people fascinated by toasters...

At least, that I know of.

To Buy, Or Not To Buy...That Is Her Question

Being a parent of adults is full of new experiences. I remember when I graduated from high school, got my first job, and bought my first car. 

I never thought about what it was like for my mom.

Not that you necessarily think about what your parents think when you go through these things, but I find myself doing just that. The latest adventure in Adult Parenting happened tonight when my daughter and I drove to a friends house so she could look at a car.

A car she might buy.

It reminded me that parenthood isn't just about a child's first words, first steps, first dates. It's about their first cars, jobs, day at college/first day on a new job. It's about watching them weigh the pros and cons about the big decisions, and like my friend Shane says, "seeing the people they're going to be."

I don't know what decision she'll make. I'd like to think I know what I would do if I were her, but she's better with money than I was at her age (or even my age, sometimes...). And the thought of getting a car to someone who has never had their own car is intoxicating. 

Today it's a car. Tomorrow it'll be bigger decisions--where to live, who to marry--stuff like that. And it will remind me that they're no longer kids, but adults. 

Like us.