Bethany's Car

  I bought my very first car this weekend! 

A 1961 Ford Falcon

 Actually, this isn't the car I bought, but it was the first car I fell in love with. It was so cute with it's retro body style and powder blue color, but it was lacking a few crucial features like seat belts, AC, and an automatic transmission (well, I could have learned how to use a stick shift). Needless to say, I couldn't choose a car simply on looks.   :)

This is what I really bought.

It's a 2003 Ford Focus hatchback.

I've been keeping an eye out for an affordable vehicle for a while, but nothing has seemed to fit.

I wanted something that would have space to haul furniture, but I also didn't want something big that would be a gas guzzler. 

This one is a nice compromise because it gets great gas milage, and yet it has more room in the back then a normal car.

It's nothing fancy; no power windows, automatic locks, or keyless entry, but it has more important things like heat, air conditioning, and a nice radio and CD player.  :)

The back seats fold flat…

…like so, making lots of room.

I left the smily face on the windshield from the dealership.

Just a little thing I found at a pawn shop, even before I had a
car window to hang it in.  :)

I've discovered that there are a lot more expenses to owning a car besides the usual gas, getting license plates, and things.  Like, the key was really worn so I needed to get a replacement made.  I went to our local hardware store yesterday, and found since this key has a microchip in it, they could make a copy but it would only open the doors and not start the car. 

Sigh…. Suddenly a $3 key turned into a $60 key.

Then last night when I got off work, I got in my car, started the ignition, and turned on the head lights. I expected some lights to go on so I could see what I was doing, but nope, nothing. I peered down at the shifter and cautiously put the car into what I thought was reverse. Yes! Alright, now into drive…How many notches down is that? Two, into neutral, then into drive.  I was good to go, but still wondering why everything was so dark. Shouldn't I be able to see my speedometer?

When I got home, I told my dad and he figured it was a short somewhere. He's ordered a new piece (another $80) and we will save some money by putting it in ourselves. It will be fun to fix it with Dad, but it is yet another unexpected expense.

Oh well, I guess it's just a part of growing up.