Showing posts with label cars. Show all posts
Showing posts with label cars. Show all posts

March 16, 2013

(Almost) Dream Car

Saturday, March 16, 2013 Posted by Mary , No comments


I've always wanted to own a sedan. To me, they look so chic and sophisticated. But of course, my parents never wanted one, so we never had one in the Philippines. They were either too small, too low, too long, too impractical... so I drove an efficient hatchback, and then a big-ass SUV. Fast forward to small town Canada, I found myself in need of a vehicle.

Owning a sedan has always been big on my list. Back home, that is. It's even on my bucket list. So you'd think it'd be my first choice of vehicle in this new search. Actually, not anymore. In Canada, Alberta especially, people love to drive big vehicles--big SUVs, big trucks, you get the picture. So if you drive a not-so-big vehicle, you seem to be at a disadvantage.

Now since my husband and I are just starting out, we found that we could not afford another SUV (he already has one), not to mention a truck. The Hyundai Tucson, a dream of mine for the past few years, was just a little bit out of our financial reach, so we looked at sedans. My first choice was the Chevrolet Cruze, mainly because of its 5-star safety rating and on*, the amazing communications technology that is available on all vehicles made by General Motors. But the more I looked at the Cruze pictures online, I realized that the body on this car was not my type. Then, I remembered the Hyundai Elantra.

I almost smacked myself on the head. Why did I almost forget about the Elantra? When I looked it up online, the decision was immediately made. Sleek, fuel-efficient, 5-star safety rated, multi-awarded, and with sexy curves all over, this was the car for me. Two days later, I drive one home, and it's a dream. In fact, even if it's not classified as a luxury vehicle, it's amazing. It's almost my dream car. If it had navigation (like the limited edition) and a rear camera, it certainly would be. Of course, there's the slight issue of having to pay for it for the next eight years, but I think it's worth it. And yes, with this purchase, I can finally cross out one more item in my bucket list: own a sedan.


February 25, 2011

I got hit

Friday, February 25, 2011 Posted by Mary , No comments



After driving for four and a half years, I had my first car accident yesterday. And I'm still seething from it.

This 50-something man, in his easyride pick-up, just merged into traffic from the opposite side. He checked the traffic coming in his direction, but didn't mind that I was driving along on his blind side. I didn't even have time to stop, because although I saw him (stopped somewhere on my left side), I didn't even think I had to stop! Who in their right mind merges with traffic when there is an oncoming vehicle? In most countries all over the world, if two vehicles arrive on a certain spot at the same time, the vehicle on the right has the right of way, which in yesterday's case was me. And this wasn't even an intersection! I was just driving along in almost bumper-to-bumper traffic, and someone tried to run me off the road!

I guess he didn't see me coming, or else he wouldn't have tried to merge. But now my car has a huge dent on the driver's side door and right above my left front wheel. And the thing that infuriates me the most is that this man had the audacity to get out of his car, yell at me, tell me it was my fault, and then drive away in a hurry. I didn't even have time to get his plate number! I wanted to call the police, have them investigate the scene and see whose fault it really was, but how could I, when the other vehicle already got away? If it was truly my fault, then why was he the one in such a hurry to leave?

I feel so bullied by that man and it makes me so angry! So to all drivers out there, especially women (and especially if you're in the Philippines), let my experience be a lesson to you. Don't ever let anyone bully you in a traffic accident! If you're physically okay and there's no traffic enforcer around, immediately get the plate number of the vehicle who hit you. Forget about arguing, get the plate number first. I wasn't expecting the person who hit me to drive off, but he did, and I'm left to deal with this dent on my car alone. My only consolation is that I wasn't harmed and I was on my old Kia, not on our new SUV. But I am still extremely pissed off, and there's nothing I can do but let karma deal with that bastard who hit me. Now that is just a bitch.