A turtle's shell

Did I mention that I got a new car? It’s a used car, of course, but it’s new to me. My older son’s car was on its last legs and he was going to get a new car, and then my husband suggested that we give my old car to him and then trade in his car to get a new car for me. I didn’t think I wanted a new car until he mentioned the idea, and then I was all for it. 

The new car is a 2022 RAV4. My old car, which is now my son’s new car, is also a RAV4, which I bought when my younger son got his driver’s license. He needed a car to use and so we gave him my old Subaru Forester, which he was thrilled to have. His friends teased him about his suburban mom car but my son has his head on straight. He understands without anyone telling him that receiving a family car for free is a great advantage and privilege. He grew up riding in the back seat of that car, and was happy to keep it in the family. Four years later, he’s still driving that Subaru. 

I always thought that I’d just replace that car with another Subaru. Then I test-drove a RAV4 and it was perfect from the moment I got into the driver’s seat. I am now a RAV4 driver for life. I love them so much. 

I bought my RAV4s at CarMax. When you shop at CarMax, you don’t go in looking for a super-specific thing. You see what they have, and you buy the car that’s closest to your requirements. There’s only ever going to be one of any particular car so it’s best not to get hung up on minor details. That said, I knew that I wanted a RAV4, and that I wanted a black interior, and that I wanted automatic everything and lane assist and a back-up camera and satellite radio. Within those pretty reasonable parameters, CarMax had several options, and I chose the one that was closest to the mark. 

The lane assist and camera and satellite radio are pretty common now but they seemed like the height of luxury to me after years of driving a solid but basic Subaru. I became accustomed to these luxuries very quickly, and now I never want to be without them again. The new car is also a hybrid. I give you my word that I drove that car all over the place for a week before the needle on the gas gauge dropped even a little bit below F. I’m getting mad gas mileage, yo. It’s amazing. 

*****

You never know how much you love your car until you’re forced to drive a subpar loaner, I tell you what. The new RAV4, as great as it is, has a slightly misaligned hood. This is apparently a known issue with late-model RAV4s. I didn’t notice it when I bought the car, but when my husband pointed it out, I couldn’t not see it. As it turns out, he noticed it when we were buying the car and I really can’t say why he didn’t speak up at the time but that is water under the proverbial bridge. 

Luckily, CarMax will fix anything that’s wrong with your new car for the first 30 days, free of charge. When they couldn’t adjust the hood perfectly, they sent it to a body shop. 

Also luckily, the loaner car is free, because the car has now been in the stupid body shop for at least a week. My husband tried to convince me not to bother with the loaner car. “They’ll be done with it in a day, and I can take you anywhere you want to go.” First of all, that man is never home so how is he going to take me anywhere and secondly, I have never put a car into a body shop and gotten it back in less than two weeks’ time. A body shop is a veritable black hole. It’s the Roach Motel. Cars check in but they don’t check out. So even though this car is subpar (but perfectly serviceable), at least it’s a car. At least I can still come and go as I please. 

*****

From the outside, these two cars are not very different - they’re both very basic, practical compact SUVs, like you see a million of every day. But the RAV4 is orders of magnitude better. It feels safer and it’s more fun to drive. And it has a certain indefinable turtle shell quality that makes me feel completely at home the minute I get behind the wheel and close the door. I know that there are fancier and nicer cars out there, but there’s nothing like a turtle shell on wheels. 

*****

I wrote all of that about a week ago. I picked up my RAV4 yesterday and God willing, I won’t have to be without it again for a long time. It’s so nice to be behind that wheel again. A turtle hates to be without her shell.