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mara williams
on Jun 18 2013 - 06:00 AM
Hey, manchild, mama says: clean your room, wash the dishes, don't drink and drive.
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Emily Parnell
on Jun 16 2013 - 06:00 AM
Eating fresh, local produce is good for body and soul
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Jim Cosgrove
on Jun 13 2013 - 06:00 AM
I just want to buy some pants. Please, turn down the music.
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- kim nakahodo - Profile | Pictures | Blog
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Ho, Ho, Ho! Merry Christmas! What did Santa have in his bag for us? An unwanted car payment!
On Monday, I was hit by a woman who, “Oh my God! I didn’t even see you!” Yea. I know. I saw you driving toward me, but there was nothing I could do. It’s a tale that has been told hundreds of times over the last few weeks; I was T-Boned in a poorly designed parking lot. I was in the drive lane, she was headed out of the parking area unaware that she needed to yield to cross-traffic. There are dozens of these types of parking lots around the metro. I have yet to meet anyone that hasn’t almost been hit by an unaware motorist in a newer shopping development.
Big picture of this wreck is that neither of us were hurt and we both had insurance. I was VERY thankful that I was alone in my car without my kiddos. My car was struck right where Ryker would have been. Very scary. Big metal things can be replaced, people cannot. I was sweating a bit before her insurance company assumed liability. Wrecks in parking lots are like gunfights in the Wild West. No laws. No rules.
I survived the wreck, but my poor little car did not. Honestly, I knew the second I opened my eyes that I was now sitting in a totaled vehicle. I HAD a tiny sub-compact car. Not exactly the ideal family roadster, but she was paid off and very reliable. We eventually planned on replacing my car – AFTER Ryker got out of the baby room. Until then, we had hoped to make our current cars work. As many of you know, having TWO kids in daycare is VERY expensive. Like, more than a mortgage expensive.
It seems that fate had other plans though… my car was totaled on Friday. I had a tiny feather of hope that this was not the case, but I knew better. You know that the insurance company is planning to total your car when they tell you not to take it to a body shop: “Ma’am, we will be sending a field agent out to assess the damage before we authorize repair.” CODE: Your car is SO old that we don’t even want to pay for the gas to drive your car to a body shop. We know it’s totaled without even looking at it, but we will send someone out to take pictures to make you feel better.
So, we are car shopping. We are looking in the crossover/hatchback/mini-suv or mini-minivan world. So my question is, what do you drive? Do you love or hate your car?
We have a Ford Fusion . . . doesn't really fit in with what you are looking for, but it didn't fit with what we were looking for either! But after I drove it we loved it! It fits the 2 kids great and there is still room for a 3rd little person to sit between their car seats if needed. We just got it in September from Gary Crossley in Liberty and we love it and the dealership has been awesome to work with! (We bought a 2009 so it would better stay in our budget!)Oh and glad to hear that you were alone and that you are doing okay! Have a safe and Merry Christmas!I bought a 2008 Saturn Aura this summer and I love it. Has lots of bells and whistles and fits my four kids beautifully...though I miss my minivan since I have had occasion to add another to the mix. But, it works out well most of the time since my oldest is in college and I have had mostly only three kids in the recent months.The Chrysler Town and Country mini van was wonderful when our kids were little. Drove well and kept them separated.If you want safe, I recommend a Toyota. I know you don't want a full on minivan but the one we have had for 12 years saved my kids lives. We had someone run a red light and hit us broad side. Not a scratch on any of us! We have been fans ever since! It is a Sienna, the 2001 version.You have to tell us more about what you are looking for - ie, price range, new/used, etc. When I purchased a new car in 2008, I looked at gas mileage/warranty & ended up with a Kia compact that eventually could be used as a kids car. My Kia Rio now has 65K miles and all I've done is the standard maintenance. The Kia Soul wasn't out yet, but that would have been a vehicle that I would have test driven at the time. At the car show, I liked the Hyundai Velostar, but it recently had a recall (don't know what the recall was about). The Hyundais & Kias have a 10yr/100K mile power train warranty & a 6 yr bumper-bumper warranty. I liked that. Are you looking at mileage? The Prius has a nice line up, and the Ford C-Max hybrid is a nice larger car that would fit your family. I"ve driven both, and neither are luxury, but both get great mileage.
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