At 200K, my Saturn is the cockroach of cars!

[Vegas Linda Lou]

Last Sunday my American-made Saturn hit 200,000 miles! The milestone was recorded for posterity; if you click here you can see the big transition on the odometer (that is what it’s called, right?) Anyway, it was a very exciting moment.

I’m the first to admit I have an unusual emotional attachment to my Saturn, but only because I have the most awesome vehicle on earth. It was the first car I ever purchased entirely on my own. I bought it new in 1996 after my first divorce and since then, I’ve gone through a whole other husband and more boyfriends than I care to remember. How many people can say their most successful long-term relationship is with their car? Huh?

Unlike husbands and boyfriends, I’ve never had a problem with my Saturn, though the guy at the Big O Tires shop pitched a freakin’ fit recently when I pulled in without a drop of oil in my tank. I promised him I’d keep an eye on the situation, but because I don’t actually know how to check the oil, I use my psychic powers to determine just how many gallons to pour in at a time. That seems to be working.

I really have no idea what’s going on under the hood (maybe I’m not even putting the oil in the right place—who knows?) I just know my car runs perfectly, even though the “Service Engine Soon” light flashes on now and then, but that’s nothing that can’t be covered with a piece of masking tape. And another red light on the dashboard sometimes blinks on and off, but that’s been going on for like a year, so I assume it’s nothing to worry about. I swear, my Saturn can endure anything—it's the cockroach of the automotive world!

At last count I got an amazing 41 miles to the gallon (highway), and I'm telling you, my Saturn is cute as hell. Doesn't it look like it's in a car commercial?

Although it’s kind of small—it’s a two-door SC1 coupe about the size of a kitchen table—I’ve always felt very safe in it, despite the fact that everyone tells me I’m a terrible driver. Knock on wood—I’ve never gotten in any accidents (though I do hear them happening behind me).

Men don’t seem to share my enthusiasm for my beloved Saturn, probably because it’s a little uncomfortable for the big, beefy boys I tend to favor. Plus I hardly ever wash it, and you know how men are about washing their cars. One guy I dated said to me, “Linda, I love everything about you except your car” and I thought, “Newsflash, dude: I guarantee it will outlast you.” Of course, I was right.

I probably shouldn’t brag about my car; I probably should be mortified that at this age I’m driving a dusty 13-year-old vehicle with a dent in the roof (that’s a story for another day). But my Saturn’s been good to me, and I feel bad about the rumors I hear of the brand’s demise. Though when you think about it, I haven’t exactly done my part to support GM, have I? I mean, what would this economy look like if everyone held onto their cars for 13 years?

Well, there’d be a lot of happy Saturn owners. Like me.

XOXO
www.vegaslindalou.com

[Rikki Kirchner]

LMAO, Linda you are too funny. There is nothing wrong with having an emotional attachment to your car. As a fellow car lover, I can tell you, it is perfectly normal and reasonable! I have 4 cars and I love them all like family. I have a 2008 Saturn Astra that I have had for almost a year-and-a-half now, and he "Keith" is wonderful! I always say, "The more I know men, the better I like my cars!" I'm sure you can relate. I am glad to see that I am not the only one that gets this excited over my cars. YOU GO GIRL!

[Thomas John Dattolo II]

Here's how to check your oil without using so called "psychic abilities". There should be a red handle-like thing under the hood. pull it out completely. This is the oil dipstick. wipe it off with a paper towel and put it back in. Then pull it back out and read the results on the bottom of the dipstick. it should tell you whether or not to add in a quart (add in a quart if there isn't any oil on it or if it barely registers on the dipstick). My Monte Carlo sometimes leaks oil so I keep an eye on it's fluid levels.