My sweetie is between homes (long story) and, thanks to a few runarounds from shops that should know better, between cars. That's one reason he was free to come out and help me drive across. We had a wonderful time and got our communication styles well in train, so it was a useful trip in many ways. But, on our return to Central California, it was time to face the more humdrum realities.
The first item on JC's agenda was sorting out transport. First we had to decide whether it was sending good money after bad to continue trying to resurrect his old one (and here, as an honest reporter, I have to put in a very good word for Thurston Toyota's Service Dept, managed by Rod, who pulled strings and called in favors and pulled off some minor miracles to help us out).
In the end, he had to pull the plug on his faithful steed. He decided to go straight for his dream car: a VW Passat wagon, V6 with heated seats and leather interior, mileage under 100k, ~10 years old or less ... for around $4k.
You realize that doesn't exist, right?
After a particularly slimy salesman, many hours of driving, and sniffing out a lot of dead ends ...
Where was I? Oh right, used car salesmen and dead ends...
I called a number in a town I'd never heard of and found myself talking to a sweet young man who was describing JC's dream car -- and wishing he could make it better.
For real.
And then he knocked 15% off the asking price just because he was sooo glad to talk to a nice person after a busy morning of Craigslist trolls.
So 6 hours away from home (but 3 from where we were in Sacramento), we found his dream car, with a lovely young family of the warm and hard-working kind that you can't help but be glad to give your money to.
We made it back to Clear Lake with breaks at the loveliest places JC has sussed out over the years. He gently scolds me for being too trusting and keeps an eye on the sketchier characters at the gas stations and -- I just noticed this -- slides up to me when he thinks they're looking too hard. I've never been with someone so protective and mindful.
JC says it takes the two of our screwy brains to make one, and then we come out pretty good.
The first item on JC's agenda was sorting out transport. First we had to decide whether it was sending good money after bad to continue trying to resurrect his old one (and here, as an honest reporter, I have to put in a very good word for Thurston Toyota's Service Dept, managed by Rod, who pulled strings and called in favors and pulled off some minor miracles to help us out).
In the end, he had to pull the plug on his faithful steed. He decided to go straight for his dream car: a VW Passat wagon, V6 with heated seats and leather interior, mileage under 100k, ~10 years old or less ... for around $4k.
You realize that doesn't exist, right?
After a particularly slimy salesman, many hours of driving, and sniffing out a lot of dead ends ...
Incidentally, if you find yourself in Stockton and you're hungry, consider hitting the Creamery at 5756 Pacific Ave #3. There was some confusion about my order, and it didn't help that I had mentioned gluten allergy but not made a loud, firm pronouncement. The waitress was absolutely angelic, sweetly insisting on taking everything back and bringing something that I could eat, and would want to; and the kitchen turned my revised order around in record time. I expected a Chili's type of meal -- decent but unremarkable -- but it was better than the price led me to expect. If I'm ever stuck in Stockton again, I'll remember it.
Where was I? Oh right, used car salesmen and dead ends...
I called a number in a town I'd never heard of and found myself talking to a sweet young man who was describing JC's dream car -- and wishing he could make it better.
For real.
And then he knocked 15% off the asking price just because he was sooo glad to talk to a nice person after a busy morning of Craigslist trolls.
So 6 hours away from home (but 3 from where we were in Sacramento), we found his dream car, with a lovely young family of the warm and hard-working kind that you can't help but be glad to give your money to.
We made it back to Clear Lake with breaks at the loveliest places JC has sussed out over the years. He gently scolds me for being too trusting and keeps an eye on the sketchier characters at the gas stations and -- I just noticed this -- slides up to me when he thinks they're looking too hard. I've never been with someone so protective and mindful.
JC says it takes the two of our screwy brains to make one, and then we come out pretty good.
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That's cute.
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