new to me car!

Since last may when i moved back home from California, i haven't had a car. In the summer it worked well because my dad has a classic 1964 Simca that he drives to his drum lessons since there 30 seconds up the street and i would have his jeep but once winter hit and the Simca went back into storage, i was out of luck. My dad and i would trade and barter his jeep, whoever had more important stuff to do got the jeep, or sometimes he would drive me to work and take it for the day. Then my ex husband got a DUI (idiot) and since he couldn't drive and i co-signed on the car, he handed the keys over to me. I had the car for about 4 months from november till march, which worked perfectly. Then he got his driving privelages back and i had to hand over the keys..which sucked. That was the same week Blaine came into town, however my best friend was out of town the same week and she let me use her car. I have been very blessed to have so many generous people handing over their keys to me...butttt i have been longing for my own car. Something that is strictly MINE!
For the past month i have been perusing craigslist for hours on end searching for the perfect car in my 3000 budget....although i have to say when it comes to cars i am quite picky. Growing up with my dad and brother as car buffs i've learned quite a lot. I was searching for a Saab, but not just any Saab, i wanted the PERFECT Saab.
   My family loves Saabs, My grandpa owned one, My dad has one (being restored), My brother has had a few and has one now, My sister and brother in law own 3 (2 being restored) Sooo we know the car well... to say the least.   I was being quite picky with my search and also had my dad and brother on the hunt....until we found this gem.  A 1989 (same age as me) Saab 900 turbo convertible with only 75,000 miles that has never ever seen a winter..... downfall.... It's stick. We went to see it this past friday and i fell in love, i had to have it.  My dad had to test drive it since i couldn't drive stick...till today, and my dad also fell in love with it. I have a feeling it will be going to Carlisle for their annual Saab car show this may...
  So today i became a proud owner of a Saab 900 turbo..

She's allll mine!

People may not think she is pretty and heck she's kinda old, but she is perfect to me, were bonding over our age!
Luckily, right after we bought her we went to dinner at my brothers house, and he needed something from the store so he handed me my keys and said...come on lets go. Of course i said no, i don't know how. He laughed and replied, yea, and now your gonna learn...come on. So he pulled it out and took it around the block explaining things the whole way. Then it was my turn. I stalled out...alot but once i got going i had no problems shifting, down shifting or breaking....just the stopping and starting.. At one point on a side street (yes we only took side streets) I came to a stop and a truck pulled right up to my bumper, i got nervous and started to panic , and stalled out...then stalled out again, and again.. After about 3x i was almost in tears because i had actually been doing pretty great till then. The truck floored around me and the driver screamed "Learn how to drive strick *******. I had tears in my eyes and yelled..thats what i'm doing.. However my brother got out of the car and screamed ITS HER FIRST TIME JERK! My big bro can be quite protective. After that things went smoothly. After we left the store we practiced some starts and stops in the parking lot and i got a LOT better. Still having trouble with the whole feathering off the clutch giving a little gas thing. But, i have to say, Blaine would be proud of his fiance if he saw how well i did. After dinner my dad drove the car home and i took it around the block a few times all by myself..and did perfectly. I think i'll be ready to start commuting in her in about a week.  Until then, i'll keep practicing, and admiring my pretty new car.

ahhhh perfection...