There's a new car in my garage. Well, it's actually old, but it's new to me. Being a creature of routine and habit, I told Chip when it became clear that we were not going to get the beloved van back that all I really wanted to get was a new beloved van. And that's what we got. To replace our 1998 Chrysler Town & Country minivan we got...another 1998 Chrysler Town & Country minivan.
Boring, aren't I?
The main differences between this van and the old one is that this one has all-wheel drive and is a different color. But driving it feels more or less exactly the same. No new controls to get used to, no quirky electronics to puzzle out. And that's how I like it.
We ended up buying the car from Taylor's AutoMax in Great Falls, and in a stunning display of beyond-the-call customer service, they delivered it to us in Livingston. (For those of you not familiar with Montana geography, the two places are about 200 miles and a treacherous mountain pass apart.) I bought it there in part because the salesperson I talked with the day I was calling around the state trying to figure out a decent valuation for the old car was entirely friendly and willing to help me, even though at that point I was nothing more than an unknown person on the phone asking for information that wasn't probably going to lead to a sale. (God knows the guy I talked to at Denny Menholt in Billings didn't feel the need to be nice. Needless to say he didn't get a call back when I knew we were going to have to buy something else.)
Thus ends the saga. Strangely, I'm looking at the clock right now and realizing that it was exactly two weeks--almost to the minute--since we hit the deer and kicked off this great learning experience.
What did I learn? And how can I help you, The Internet, with my newly acquired wisdom? Here's my list:
--Check your auto insurance. Do you think you have rental car coverage? Check again. Do you think you understand how your deductible reward works? You don't. Oh, and just as you can't fight City Hall, you probably can't fight your car insurance company. If they say it's totaled, you're just out of luck.
--If you do own a car and drive it with any regularity, do not let your AAA coverage lapse. It's like an invitation to fate. God laughs when your AAA membership expires--and then, being the white male Republican with a bad sense of humor that he is, sends disaster your way and necessitates hundreds of dollars of towing that you will now get to pay out of pocket. Because you wanted to save $82 on your AAA membership.
--Although the most important thing in an accident is that no one got hurt, about the 15th time someone tells you to thank your lucky stars that it wasn't worse you will still want to punch them. Even though you know it's true.
--Stress and pregnancy are not a great combination, unless you enjoy weeping and raging against the fates.
--Even though you punched the last guy who said it to you, it really is the case that a car is just a car. No matter how much you liked it. It can be replaced, while the contents can't.
--Oh, and don't leave your automatic garage door opener in the car that's being junked. It's not doing anybody any good there.
Safe driving, all.