New car

Wow, I have been slack. There have been a lot of stressful moments since I last wrote. On August 8, my truck transmission conked out on me (or it may be the clutch, either way it's stuck in fourth gear). I got home okay, but it won't be traveling under its own steam for a while. So I resumed driving my Sunbird, but it kept running hot, and I kept having to add water every time I drove. Finally it was nearly pouring water out as I poured it in, so I took it to the mechanic. In the meantime, of course, I had been looking at cars. But I didn't think I could get financing and I didn't have enough cash to buy anything even semi-decent, so I was hoping to fix the little car. My mechanic changed a hose, but discovered the water pump was leaking, so I was to bring it back the next day for that (he didn't have time to get to it that day). Well, the next day it ran hot on the way to work, even though it had plenty of water, and I had it towed to the mechanic after I got to my job. He called me, way too soon for the water pump to be replaced, and gave me the bad news. Head gasket at least, but most likely a cracked head. Well, that did it. I love that little car, but I couldn't justify $1200-$1500 when it had other problems, such as a leaky manifold and a mysterious oil leak. So I bit the bullet and started serious car shopping.

After trying to buy a 2001 Taurus (too old for financing, great shape, low mileage but overpriced), a 2003 Focus (again, too old for financing, but great shape, low mileage and great price) and a 2005 Taurus (got financing, but dealer sold car before financing was approved, it was at the other dealership owned by same people), here is my result. A deep red, 2006 Mustang (not a GT, though). Since everything fell into place for me to buy this particular car and not the others, I figure it was meant to be my car. And I so love it! The interest rate is ridiculously high (not a long credit history, I haven't bought anything big on credit besides my house for 30 years), but hopefully I can get it refinanced after a year or so, and hopefully can sell some trees from the farm to help pay it off. It gets about 20 miles to the gallon just driving to work and around, don't know yet on the highway. It's clean, one owner, 36000 or so miles, great shape, with a 100,000 mile warranty on the engine and drive train. I am thrilled.