Parallels

Parallels: Car shopping & Dating

1) Guy goes around town looking for a suitable match....sometimes he even checks the classifieds.
2) He often has a few bad referrals/leads (blind dates)
3) Finds cars with mechanical issues (emotional baggage)
4) Finds cars that need body work (obvious)
5) Soon finds that the more money he has the better his odds of finding a car (also, more money means newer car, lower miles, and better shape....hopefully all obvious parallels there)
6) Reliable cars are unattractive, unreliable cars are attractive and more expensive (also obvious)
7) Most cars of a certain age have been in an accident (imagination on this one)
8) Often you find a lot of deals that are too good to be true (usually a salvage title...sorry single moms).
9) When you don't have a car you begin to notice all the people who have cars; conversely, when you have a car you rarely appreciate it.
10) You have to test drive quite a few cars before you find one that you really like.

Okay, 10 is good enough. Sorry if any of these offerings sound too clinical or objective. I just couldn't help but notice that I've felt many of the same frustrations while car shopping that I've grown accustomed to while dating. Actually, as I was car shopping I began to wonder if my ridiculously high standards in car shopping might be indicative of ridiculously high standards in other areas....sobering.

In fact, yesterday I was going to buy a car, but when I got to the bank I saw a crack in the windshield. The person selling the car was busy filling out the paperwork as I walked out on him. So, yesterday I had the automotive equivalent of leaving someone at the altar. Felt sorta bad. He was there and ready to sign the paperwork, but I got spooked and left him with uncertainty and disappointment.

I guess the biggest difference between car shopping/dating is that cars are owned for an average of 5 years while most marriages end in 3.

Anyway, today my quest should be over. I have cash in hand and I'm going to pick up a car at around 3.

I'll post pictures once the happy union is complete.