Stoner!

Nahh, I was too broke for that... I had to pay my own tuition! Too bad it was Wildlife Management and I couldn't ever get a job... (yes dad, you were right....) but I have to say, the cash crop did keep the economy going there.

Which means some people own tons (tommy, I'm looking at you), because I'm certainly not doing my share of the heavy lifting.

Heh.

Let's see - I've owned:

• Three Fords
• Three Mercurys (still have one)
• One Lincoln (still have)

There is a car dealership near me that has a car I've always wanted - a '69 or '70 Mercury Marquis convertible. Now I'm trying to decide if my big old car buying days are over....

Dodge Omni haters UNITE! *high fives Scola*

Such a terrible car. I remember having to rebuild the doors a couple of times because the latches kept giving out. And then my dad & I took apart the engine to replace the water pump, which was mounted at the very bottom of the engine. (This was back in the day when I actually worked on my car: now I just pay other people to do it all.)

I drove the Civic into the ground, though: I had it for ten years and only got rid of it when it was old enough to vote. I just can't get my brain around spending a good chunk of a year's salary on a car, which loses value the first time you put the key in the ignition.

That said, I do sometimes wonder what it's like to buy a new car...

I've owned 5 cars, two of which I still have. Pontiac Sunbird, which got donated to VoA when I couldn't afford to fix something that broke, Pontiac 6000 that got taken away when it didn't run anymore (we couldn't donate it because no one actually held the title, but a couple of guys made it disappear), Toyota Tercel eaten by Katrina, Toyota Corolla currently in the driveway, Volvo 940 currently parked on the street and in need of a smog check. That's in ~20 yrs, but I don't expect so much overlap in the future, but I still might make it to 12 if I keep driving long enough.

12 cars in a lifetime? I can see that - let's assume most people don't buy their first car until 25, and stop driving at 85 (just for round numbers). 12 cars would mean upgrading every 5 years, which doesn't sound too unusual to me. (I've never owned a car. I've driven two, both of which were owned by my parents.)

Too bad it was Wildlife Management and I couldn't ever get a job...

But you just wanted to help the little woodland creatures!

I do sometimes wonder what it's like to buy a new car...

They do smell nice.

And hopefully you'll have at least a few months where the car is unscratched and in perfect condition.

Someone's got to be making up for my zero!

I didn't have a car as a teenager. In the 23 years since, I've had four cars. I'm hoping to keep my current one ('08 Honda Fit) for 10 years or until a practical electric alternative is available.

But you just wanted to help the little woodland creatures!

Yeah, me and about 6,000 other people, most of them with advanced degrees willing to work for peanuts (almost literally!). My degree is useful in impressing/grossing out 15-year-old boys so it was totally worth it! (Really, my wildlife diseases text book has some horrid pictures, so my son grosses out his friends... so funny!)