Our solar panels are installed, out of view, on the southern exposure on the roof of our house. They've been quietly busy converting sunshine to electricity all year long. This happens without any intervention on my part, as it's fully automatic.
So I'll bet that most do not really care about how the first year went, or wonder if it was worth the effort. Ya know, for the longest time we were led to believe that solar panel technology was costly, inefficient, and only for super left wing tree hugger millionaires. These solar installs were for people trying to make a statement. They were trying to save the planet themselves. It's still that way, right?
Wrong. What would you think if I told you that in 365 days of operation, We saved 48% on our electric bill. I valued that savings at $686.37. (4894 kWh) In addition, we earned, and sold, four Solar Renewable Energy Certificates (SREC's). An SREC is earned by producing one Megawatt (1,000 kWh) of electricity. We earned and sold four. (I've actually just earned the fifth.) Power companies buy these certificates to meet their quota of producing power from alternative sources. The purpose of the issuance and sale of SREC's is to help to defray the cost of the investment by the solar host. That's us. So here is the lowdown on the last 12 months.
Selling four SREC's netted $1,164.00. Subtract the $737.40 we paid for electricity to the utility and this equates to free electricity for the year, plus had $427.00 in our hands. In addition, we generated $686.37 worth of electricity and end up using it ourselves. If you add the value of the electricity produced with the proceeds from SREC sales, the total equates to a 12.78% return on our net investment. My 'Performance' Money Market account earns one tenth of 1 percent. (00.1%)
Finally, according to a study done in 2009, the value of a home increases by $20.00 from every one dollar in electricity generated by Solar. 20 X $686 = $13,720.00. Yes, it was worth it.
I'm still beaming!
Saturday, October 23, 2010
Monday, May 31, 2010
Summer Time & How I Kept Cool for 50 years.
The outside temperature is predicted to exceed 90 degrees today, and we are all getting ready for the summer. The central air-conditioning provides cool comfort amidst even the most horrid humidity drenched days of June, July and August
There was a time when it got hot, we all were outside seeking relief. No air conditioned stores, malls or movie theaters, There was no air conditioning in our houses. We had few places to hide from the heat, most often it was the shade of a tree.
As a youngster growing up in Pittston I was exceptionally lucky to live close to an ice cream shop. Lots of people knew Grablicks Dairy as a place along Wyoming Avenue in West Pittston where you could get soft Ice Cream at the window in the back of the store, and sundaes, malteds and phosphates at the bar.
In Pittston, in our neighborhood, we had the Grablick's Dairy Plant, ..........and the factory store. Our Grablick's was not so glitzy or as well known as the W. Pittston parlor. It was a free standing building with an apartment upstairs, and was placed right in front of the Dairy. Grablick's ice cream was the best. (It was all we had, and just about all we knew) My favorite flavor was White House. Vanilla ice cream with chopped Maraschino Cherries inside, was named so, honoring George Washington who chopped down a Cherry tree, Grablick's had many different Ice Cream Sundaes who's names are embedded indelibly in my memory. Pigs Dinner, Bucket O'Sundae, CMP, Dusty Road, Flaming Pinwheel. What in the world was a Flaming Pinwheel? I wonder if anyone every bought and ate one?
As a young boy of 8 or 9, my best friend Michael B. and I would seek relief from the heat by taking a "hike". Our mothers would prepare lunch for us to take on our journey. I had a World War II vintage canteen to carry, which held a pint of lukewarm metallic tasting water. Mom supplied a ham and cheese sandwich, and we were on our way. Down "Pigs Alley", across Radcliffe Street, across Hunter St. and beyond, up onto the hill.
We hunted fossils in the shale, tried to throw rock across the "cutoff", where slow moving freight trains pulled box cars and coal cars to and fro, only God knew where.
It was at the cutoff that an older boy, Freddy S., tried to jump onto one of the freight cars for a free ride, but slipped under the train instead, losing one of his legs. We were sternly advised to keep our distance from the tracks, and we did!
We found a natural spring, a small pond of water bubbling up out of the ground. Older folks told us that there was a reservoir there many years ago, and the spring fed it. All we saw was this puddle, so it was hard to imagine anything so massive and wonderful as a reservoir. In the shade of the well watered trees, we'd rest, and pull out our sandwiches and discuss life as we knew it, on the side of a hill overlooking Pittston. I know now that I should have filled my canteen there, it was probably the best water available for miles!
I also remember occasional family trips to Gouldsboro State Park. About 25 miles east of Pittston, and high atop the Pocono Mountains, Gouldsboro was our family's, out of town heat relief location. There was a medium sized lake with a beach, brown state built outhouse type changing rooms and a snack shack, with picnic tables scattered under tall trees, Gouldsboro had what we needed to cool off. I don't remember the water being exceptionally cold, but it was wet! If we needed cold, there was alway an Orange Cream-sickle from the snack shack.
The need to travel great distances for swimming changed in the early 60's. For about 10 dollar per year, our family joined the Pittston Pool Assoc. We all got an official patch, and it was sewn into our bathing suits. The Pittston Pool was about a 20 minute walk from our house, and well worth the effort. There were two diving boards, a kiddie pool, clean locker rooms and a snack bar. I learned to swim there. Since there was no such thing as sun block, so I learned about second degree burns there too.
The Pittston pool is in dis-repair now, and hasn't opened in years. Ironically I may end up having a role in its resurrection make-over as a spray/skate park. I haven't seen the inside of Gouldsboro State Park since the mid 1960's. I vow to visit there this year and buy LA an Orange Cream-sickle. I'll introduce her to the place where we vacationed when Dad was more than 8 times out.
(Perhaps I'll explain railroad speak on being "8 times out" another day)
The place on the hill and the cut-off have been leveled for a townhouse development. Streets have been paved and named, but most site are empty, victim of the Great Recession. The trees are gone, the train tracks buried. Where once was a grand reservoir, and afterward an oasis for little boys, lies a housing development in distress. No tree's to shade the houses. Compressors running full bore, providing comfort amidst even the most horrid humidity drenched days of June, July and August.
There was a time when it got hot, we all were outside seeking relief. No air conditioned stores, malls or movie theaters, There was no air conditioning in our houses. We had few places to hide from the heat, most often it was the shade of a tree.
As a youngster growing up in Pittston I was exceptionally lucky to live close to an ice cream shop. Lots of people knew Grablicks Dairy as a place along Wyoming Avenue in West Pittston where you could get soft Ice Cream at the window in the back of the store, and sundaes, malteds and phosphates at the bar.
In Pittston, in our neighborhood, we had the Grablick's Dairy Plant, ..........and the factory store. Our Grablick's was not so glitzy or as well known as the W. Pittston parlor. It was a free standing building with an apartment upstairs, and was placed right in front of the Dairy. Grablick's ice cream was the best. (It was all we had, and just about all we knew) My favorite flavor was White House. Vanilla ice cream with chopped Maraschino Cherries inside, was named so, honoring George Washington who chopped down a Cherry tree, Grablick's had many different Ice Cream Sundaes who's names are embedded indelibly in my memory. Pigs Dinner, Bucket O'Sundae, CMP, Dusty Road, Flaming Pinwheel. What in the world was a Flaming Pinwheel? I wonder if anyone every bought and ate one?
As a young boy of 8 or 9, my best friend Michael B. and I would seek relief from the heat by taking a "hike". Our mothers would prepare lunch for us to take on our journey. I had a World War II vintage canteen to carry, which held a pint of lukewarm metallic tasting water. Mom supplied a ham and cheese sandwich, and we were on our way. Down "Pigs Alley", across Radcliffe Street, across Hunter St. and beyond, up onto the hill.
We hunted fossils in the shale, tried to throw rock across the "cutoff", where slow moving freight trains pulled box cars and coal cars to and fro, only God knew where.
It was at the cutoff that an older boy, Freddy S., tried to jump onto one of the freight cars for a free ride, but slipped under the train instead, losing one of his legs. We were sternly advised to keep our distance from the tracks, and we did!
We found a natural spring, a small pond of water bubbling up out of the ground. Older folks told us that there was a reservoir there many years ago, and the spring fed it. All we saw was this puddle, so it was hard to imagine anything so massive and wonderful as a reservoir. In the shade of the well watered trees, we'd rest, and pull out our sandwiches and discuss life as we knew it, on the side of a hill overlooking Pittston. I know now that I should have filled my canteen there, it was probably the best water available for miles!
I also remember occasional family trips to Gouldsboro State Park. About 25 miles east of Pittston, and high atop the Pocono Mountains, Gouldsboro was our family's, out of town heat relief location. There was a medium sized lake with a beach, brown state built outhouse type changing rooms and a snack shack, with picnic tables scattered under tall trees, Gouldsboro had what we needed to cool off. I don't remember the water being exceptionally cold, but it was wet! If we needed cold, there was alway an Orange Cream-sickle from the snack shack.
The need to travel great distances for swimming changed in the early 60's. For about 10 dollar per year, our family joined the Pittston Pool Assoc. We all got an official patch, and it was sewn into our bathing suits. The Pittston Pool was about a 20 minute walk from our house, and well worth the effort. There were two diving boards, a kiddie pool, clean locker rooms and a snack bar. I learned to swim there. Since there was no such thing as sun block, so I learned about second degree burns there too.
The Pittston pool is in dis-repair now, and hasn't opened in years. Ironically I may end up having a role in its resurrection make-over as a spray/skate park. I haven't seen the inside of Gouldsboro State Park since the mid 1960's. I vow to visit there this year and buy LA an Orange Cream-sickle. I'll introduce her to the place where we vacationed when Dad was more than 8 times out.
(Perhaps I'll explain railroad speak on being "8 times out" another day)
The place on the hill and the cut-off have been leveled for a townhouse development. Streets have been paved and named, but most site are empty, victim of the Great Recession. The trees are gone, the train tracks buried. Where once was a grand reservoir, and afterward an oasis for little boys, lies a housing development in distress. No tree's to shade the houses. Compressors running full bore, providing comfort amidst even the most horrid humidity drenched days of June, July and August.
Friday, March 26, 2010
Obsolescence - It's us or the machines
We often hear about the unintended some times tragic consequences which result when technology runs amok. How about when advancing technology leaves you clueless. That's called the E-Peter principle.
E-Peter Principle:
I really enjoy high quality sound reproduction. A few years ago I decided that I needed to upgrade my receiver to one which supports Dolby Digital Surround. I did my homework, and when the receiver I wanted was on sale, I made the purchase. I'm accustom to wiring components together, but this receiver required me to adjust and interconnect it in ways that had me baffled. Luckily, my nephew Patrick was to be in town about a week later, and he gladly took the task. The entire system was up and running in no time, with little effort on his part. Thanks for that again, Pat. My electronics waterloo repeated a few years later when it came time to set up my home computer wireless network. I felt out of the loop and a bit helpless.
Have you ever felt that way, charged with a task which overwhelms as I have described?
I'm sure most of you have at one time or another played basketball. H.O.R.S.E. perhaps? How would you feel if you were suddenly thrust into a one on one basketball game with Michael Jordon? Most everyone has played a round or two of miniature golf? You may have even tried your hand at the driving range. What if you had to play a skins game against Tiger Woods? (Pun intended) That's the feeling.
I sometimes try to unlock my front door, with the key fob from my Volkswagen. It doesn't work!
Amok Time: What happens when we try to use technology, but the result is contrary to what we thought it would do. I recently watched a man frantically waving his wet hand in front of a paper towel dispenser. I had to point out to him that "dude, you need to turn the handle'.
There are plenty on instances lately as some automobiles take on a life of their own, accelerating down highways and driveways at breakneck speeds. Another recently reported auto flaw involves the car suddenly turning left. Wow! Fortunately these events are infrequent.
Last week, as I sat in the drivers seat of my Volkswagen, the cell phone hooked to my belt dialed Sister M. E. Within 15 minutes I received a call from her making sure that everything was OK.
Follow the timeline of sound recording and playback in your lifetime. 78 rpm records, 33 rpm stereo lp's, reel to reel tape, 8 tracks, cassettes, compact disc's then mp3's. Each new technology exceeding all aspects of the previous.
So what do we do? Will this get worse? You betcha! Think of the innovations in your lifetime. Remember being an early adopter of technology? In a few short years you watched its transition to obsolescence.
Will man built the HAL 9000 in our lifetime?
When you comment on this post, tell a story on how technology passed you or someone else by.
Happy Easter!
E-Peter Principle:
I really enjoy high quality sound reproduction. A few years ago I decided that I needed to upgrade my receiver to one which supports Dolby Digital Surround. I did my homework, and when the receiver I wanted was on sale, I made the purchase. I'm accustom to wiring components together, but this receiver required me to adjust and interconnect it in ways that had me baffled. Luckily, my nephew Patrick was to be in town about a week later, and he gladly took the task. The entire system was up and running in no time, with little effort on his part. Thanks for that again, Pat. My electronics waterloo repeated a few years later when it came time to set up my home computer wireless network. I felt out of the loop and a bit helpless.
Have you ever felt that way, charged with a task which overwhelms as I have described?
I'm sure most of you have at one time or another played basketball. H.O.R.S.E. perhaps? How would you feel if you were suddenly thrust into a one on one basketball game with Michael Jordon? Most everyone has played a round or two of miniature golf? You may have even tried your hand at the driving range. What if you had to play a skins game against Tiger Woods? (Pun intended) That's the feeling.
A co-worker of mine told me one morning that he had to get a new microwave because the light bulb burned out in his old one. I told him that he should just use the oven with out, what's the big deal? He replied, "I can't, aren't you listening?" "The bulb burned out,........ how is it going to cook the food!" (true story)
I sometimes try to unlock my front door, with the key fob from my Volkswagen. It doesn't work!
Amok Time: What happens when we try to use technology, but the result is contrary to what we thought it would do. I recently watched a man frantically waving his wet hand in front of a paper towel dispenser. I had to point out to him that "dude, you need to turn the handle'.
There are plenty on instances lately as some automobiles take on a life of their own, accelerating down highways and driveways at breakneck speeds. Another recently reported auto flaw involves the car suddenly turning left. Wow! Fortunately these events are infrequent.
Last week, as I sat in the drivers seat of my Volkswagen, the cell phone hooked to my belt dialed Sister M. E. Within 15 minutes I received a call from her making sure that everything was OK.
Follow the timeline of sound recording and playback in your lifetime. 78 rpm records, 33 rpm stereo lp's, reel to reel tape, 8 tracks, cassettes, compact disc's then mp3's. Each new technology exceeding all aspects of the previous.
So what do we do? Will this get worse? You betcha! Think of the innovations in your lifetime. Remember being an early adopter of technology? In a few short years you watched its transition to obsolescence.
Will man built the HAL 9000 in our lifetime?
When you comment on this post, tell a story on how technology passed you or someone else by.
Happy Easter!
Friday, February 19, 2010
What the heck did you do to my car?
As I have previously posted, I am a car guy. My obsession for the next great car has allowed me to fabricate (use) any excuse for my next purchase to occur more frequently than 90% of the country. For instance I rationalize, "My car needs tires......better to put that money on a new car, it comes with new tires!" Or, "The car I'm driving gets crappy fuel mileage.... This new car will save me a bundle on fuel!"
LA never really seemed to mind my obsession. She was happy that I was happy, but she made no secret of preferring not to drive my car. When something would happened to my car while LA was driving it, I mentioned it a few too many times.... subtly attributing the event to LA herself............
Like the time LA backed my Chrysler convertible down the serpentine driveway of one of our friends. Half way down the hill, the car was in a ditch and the very next day, the driver side door fell off the car.
THE DOOR FELL OFF! Or when she drove the same car into the rear of another car which slowed suddenly to go over a railroad crossing. With that my brakes were to blame, and from then on LA told me she really doesn't like driving my cars. Do you see what I mean? I did it again!
On Christmas Eve 2009 I hopped in my car accompanied by our friend Trixie to head out to Planet Fitness for an early morning workout. Trix had to get a water bottle out on her Ford Escape SUV. I waited for her to get into my car before heading out of the garage and backed directly into the right rear wheel well of her SUV. I had forgotten that a 4600 pound SUV was there. The noise from the collision startled me. I said aloud, "What the **** was that?" It sounded like someone playing kick the can with a garbage can.
The Escape escaped a great deal of damage. Trixie didn't want me to have it fixed. (Thanks for that) Actually, my VW didn't seem too wounded. The tail light assembly was broken, and there was a watch band sized dent/scuff on the left rear quarter panel. We went to Planet Fitness in spite of the accident.
When we returned, and LA came to the kitchen for breakfast, I told her what happened. She was quick to point out, "I'm glad it wasn't me behind the wheel, I'd never hear the end of it, from him." OK, I had that coming. Trix chimed in saying , "I sorry I parked my truck there." She even posted that remark on Facebook. Twice! OK, I had that coming too. When ever I re-told the story, I heard from Lea Ann. OK, I get it.
The low estimate on repairing the damage to my VW was $770.00. The other estimate topped $1,100.00.
I made arrangements, and the car was fixed late last week, when LA and I traveled to the Jersey Shore to visit with her Dad, who was in from Florida to attend a 50th wedding anniversary party.
We passed the repair shop on the way home from the shore, and I could see my white VW outside, shining like the sun. I was happy that they washed it, and it looked good from a distance. We went home, and I returned to the shop with checkbook in hand. I walked there, the garage is only 500 yards from our house. Approaching my car from the front, I noticed that something looked out of place on the drivers side of the car. I walked to my right a bit, and continued straight down the long driveway. The metal panels covering the two doors of the drivers side of the car were missing. As I got closer, I could see the window mechanisms in the doors. There was only one inspection sticker on the windshield. This indicates that this was a diesel powered Jetta. (Mine is a diesel) The car had a moon roof. (Mine has a moon roof).
What did they do to my car? I checked where the damage was, and it looked like new, I thought, "This is my luck! How do I get to work? How long will it take to get the parts in? What did they do to my car?
As I was entering the office, I turned for one last look. The car was purchased at Kelly VW. Mine was from Kelly, The license number was KGX-1086. Not my car. It was an identical twin 2009 VW Jetta diesel.
Entering the office I saw the owner and remarked, "You're killing me!", he replied, Yeah, that's something, isn't it. A little shop like this, and you'd be surprised to hear that it happens quite often. There are some weeks that we might get all Mazda's, or a bunch of Chevy's. This week we've had three Jetta's, all diesels, and two of them were white.
So the story here is that I was dished a dose of my own medicine. We all should have that once in a while. It re-taught me things like understanding, tolerance, love, forgiveness and looking in your side view mirror before backing out of the garage.
LA never really seemed to mind my obsession. She was happy that I was happy, but she made no secret of preferring not to drive my car. When something would happened to my car while LA was driving it, I mentioned it a few too many times.... subtly attributing the event to LA herself............
Like the time LA backed my Chrysler convertible down the serpentine driveway of one of our friends. Half way down the hill, the car was in a ditch and the very next day, the driver side door fell off the car.
THE DOOR FELL OFF! Or when she drove the same car into the rear of another car which slowed suddenly to go over a railroad crossing. With that my brakes were to blame, and from then on LA told me she really doesn't like driving my cars. Do you see what I mean? I did it again!
On Christmas Eve 2009 I hopped in my car accompanied by our friend Trixie to head out to Planet Fitness for an early morning workout. Trix had to get a water bottle out on her Ford Escape SUV. I waited for her to get into my car before heading out of the garage and backed directly into the right rear wheel well of her SUV. I had forgotten that a 4600 pound SUV was there. The noise from the collision startled me. I said aloud, "What the **** was that?" It sounded like someone playing kick the can with a garbage can.
The Escape escaped a great deal of damage. Trixie didn't want me to have it fixed. (Thanks for that) Actually, my VW didn't seem too wounded. The tail light assembly was broken, and there was a watch band sized dent/scuff on the left rear quarter panel. We went to Planet Fitness in spite of the accident.
When we returned, and LA came to the kitchen for breakfast, I told her what happened. She was quick to point out, "I'm glad it wasn't me behind the wheel, I'd never hear the end of it, from him." OK, I had that coming. Trix chimed in saying , "I sorry I parked my truck there." She even posted that remark on Facebook. Twice! OK, I had that coming too. When ever I re-told the story, I heard from Lea Ann. OK, I get it.
The low estimate on repairing the damage to my VW was $770.00. The other estimate topped $1,100.00.
I made arrangements, and the car was fixed late last week, when LA and I traveled to the Jersey Shore to visit with her Dad, who was in from Florida to attend a 50th wedding anniversary party.
We passed the repair shop on the way home from the shore, and I could see my white VW outside, shining like the sun. I was happy that they washed it, and it looked good from a distance. We went home, and I returned to the shop with checkbook in hand. I walked there, the garage is only 500 yards from our house. Approaching my car from the front, I noticed that something looked out of place on the drivers side of the car. I walked to my right a bit, and continued straight down the long driveway. The metal panels covering the two doors of the drivers side of the car were missing. As I got closer, I could see the window mechanisms in the doors. There was only one inspection sticker on the windshield. This indicates that this was a diesel powered Jetta. (Mine is a diesel) The car had a moon roof. (Mine has a moon roof).
What did they do to my car? I checked where the damage was, and it looked like new, I thought, "This is my luck! How do I get to work? How long will it take to get the parts in? What did they do to my car?
As I was entering the office, I turned for one last look. The car was purchased at Kelly VW. Mine was from Kelly, The license number was KGX-1086. Not my car. It was an identical twin 2009 VW Jetta diesel.
Entering the office I saw the owner and remarked, "You're killing me!", he replied, Yeah, that's something, isn't it. A little shop like this, and you'd be surprised to hear that it happens quite often. There are some weeks that we might get all Mazda's, or a bunch of Chevy's. This week we've had three Jetta's, all diesels, and two of them were white.
So the story here is that I was dished a dose of my own medicine. We all should have that once in a while. It re-taught me things like understanding, tolerance, love, forgiveness and looking in your side view mirror before backing out of the garage.
Friday, January 15, 2010
Malibu Barbie
Most of you may be aware that I'm a car guy. I subscribe to automobile magazines and follow the efforts and innovations of car makers all over the world. So it should come as no surprise that I don't often keep a car for very long, I want the better mousetrap and the latest features. I've had 6 new cars in the last 14 years.
My wife would still be driving her 1989 Pontiac Grand Am if we hadn't met. For Lea Ann, the automobile is a thing that gets her to where she is going. Transportation, something to be driven until you have to replace it because it won't move any more. On the topic of automobiles, we couldn't be more opposite.
I've always wanted to be sure that LA had a good, safe car that would not nickel and dime us to death. Unfortunately we have had our share of those nickel dime models.
LA's 89 Pontiac needed engine work at 81,000 miles, so we purchased a 1999 Chevy Malibu. It was comfortable and quiet and, it got her to where she was going. The front end was replaced twice, and the head gasket needed to be replace, all in the first 30,000 miles.
Deciding that the 99 would be a money pit, we searched for a replacement. Assured by the dealer that Chevrolet had fixed those issues, and knowing that otherwise LA was happy with her Malibu....We bought a 2001 Chevy Malibu as a replacement. It was even the same color as her old Malibu.
On a trip to Florida to see her Dad, in Early 2005 we rented a car at the Orlando airport for our run to Ocala. The rental we chose was the newly re-designed Chevy Malibu. I liked the car and convinced LA that it was time for a change. This new design got better gas mileage, had more power, and the 2001 Malibu was making clunking noises just like the last one did before we had to replace the front end. Shortly after we arrived home, we made the decision was made, and bought a 2005 Chevy Malibu.
Fast forward to late 2009. LA had gotten a nice bonus from work. I asked her what she planned to do with it and believe it or not, she said that perhaps she'd put it down on a new car. Really? I asked. She gave me the task of finding a few good cars for her to choose from. LA wanted to consider a small SUV. She pretty much said that she didn't want another Malibu. "I've have 3 Malibu's in a row". LA chose to consider the Chevy Equinox, newly re-designed for Twenty Ten. (See previous blog post 'Are you ready for Twenty?')
The Equinox is a popular car, and they fly off the dealers lot soon after they arrive. It's hard to get one without ordering it. Finding one to test drive is hampered by their availability as well. We had recently received two different promotions from Chevrolet. One would give us $3000 (the GM card rewards) off an Equinox or any GM car, and the other promised $1.000 off a Malibu, which LA through away. With coupon (s) in hand, we were off to Bonner Chevrolet to see if we could test drive something. (Did I mention that I rescued the $1000 coupon LA threw away
As I expected, there wasn't an Equinox to be had, or test driven, but right there in the showroom, a beautiful dark blue Malibu. LA took off her coat and handed me her purse, then sat in the front seat. She motioned for me to join her on the passenger side. I asked what she thought about it, and with two arms outstretched, palm facing each other she said, "It's a car!" The 12 year old salesman told us that this car was the model (LT) in the middle of the line. There were two other models, one cheaper (LS), and one more expensive (LTZ). One of each was in the garage portion of the dealership. We had questions regarding 4 vs 6 cylinder, 4 vs 6 speed transmissions, and all were answered. LA said she'd like to drive a 4cylinder model. The salesman pointed to the LS and LTZ models, and headed outside to find a car for Lea Ann to drive. Dismissing the LS as "looking really cheap", LA turned her sights to the metallic black LTZ model.. It was loaded. V-6. 6 speed, power everything, XM radio with Bose speakers, cruise, 18" wheels and it's most unusual feature a two tone leather interior. It was the color of Ebony and Brick. Lea Ann sat in the car, looking at everything adjusted the seat and held the wheel. She called me over and said, "I like this car." I don't even remember if I had time to respond when she said slowly, "I 'really' like this car." I clearly saw in my wife's eyes that she was excited about a car, and probably for the first time. She actually wanted a car for more than its transportation value. "Great, I said, then we'll buy it!" Alas, this one was being prepped for its new owner.
The salesman found an identical car in MD which had a 4 cylinder engine, and no sun roof. Just the way that LA wanted it equipped. We used our two coupons, took advantage of the fact that the Malibu also came with a 2 grand rebate. The dealer subtracted a full Six Thousand Dollars from the sticker price and another 7400 for her trade. The deal was done and Lea Ann's 4th Malibu arrived three days later.
Now you may think I'm silly, but I've had a custom of naming my cars. My Volks Diesel Jetta is no exception, it's name....Otto. (Get it?) I asked LA what name she'd call her new Chevrolet.
"Barbie", she said, "Malibu Barbie".
My wife would still be driving her 1989 Pontiac Grand Am if we hadn't met. For Lea Ann, the automobile is a thing that gets her to where she is going. Transportation, something to be driven until you have to replace it because it won't move any more. On the topic of automobiles, we couldn't be more opposite.
I've always wanted to be sure that LA had a good, safe car that would not nickel and dime us to death. Unfortunately we have had our share of those nickel dime models.
LA's 89 Pontiac needed engine work at 81,000 miles, so we purchased a 1999 Chevy Malibu. It was comfortable and quiet and, it got her to where she was going. The front end was replaced twice, and the head gasket needed to be replace, all in the first 30,000 miles.
Deciding that the 99 would be a money pit, we searched for a replacement. Assured by the dealer that Chevrolet had fixed those issues, and knowing that otherwise LA was happy with her Malibu....We bought a 2001 Chevy Malibu as a replacement. It was even the same color as her old Malibu.
On a trip to Florida to see her Dad, in Early 2005 we rented a car at the Orlando airport for our run to Ocala. The rental we chose was the newly re-designed Chevy Malibu. I liked the car and convinced LA that it was time for a change. This new design got better gas mileage, had more power, and the 2001 Malibu was making clunking noises just like the last one did before we had to replace the front end. Shortly after we arrived home, we made the decision was made, and bought a 2005 Chevy Malibu.
Fast forward to late 2009. LA had gotten a nice bonus from work. I asked her what she planned to do with it and believe it or not, she said that perhaps she'd put it down on a new car. Really? I asked. She gave me the task of finding a few good cars for her to choose from. LA wanted to consider a small SUV. She pretty much said that she didn't want another Malibu. "I've have 3 Malibu's in a row". LA chose to consider the Chevy Equinox, newly re-designed for Twenty Ten. (See previous blog post 'Are you ready for Twenty?')
The Equinox is a popular car, and they fly off the dealers lot soon after they arrive. It's hard to get one without ordering it. Finding one to test drive is hampered by their availability as well. We had recently received two different promotions from Chevrolet. One would give us $3000 (the GM card rewards) off an Equinox or any GM car, and the other promised $1.000 off a Malibu, which LA through away. With coupon (s) in hand, we were off to Bonner Chevrolet to see if we could test drive something. (Did I mention that I rescued the $1000 coupon LA threw away
As I expected, there wasn't an Equinox to be had, or test driven, but right there in the showroom, a beautiful dark blue Malibu. LA took off her coat and handed me her purse, then sat in the front seat. She motioned for me to join her on the passenger side. I asked what she thought about it, and with two arms outstretched, palm facing each other she said, "It's a car!" The 12 year old salesman told us that this car was the model (LT) in the middle of the line. There were two other models, one cheaper (LS), and one more expensive (LTZ). One of each was in the garage portion of the dealership. We had questions regarding 4 vs 6 cylinder, 4 vs 6 speed transmissions, and all were answered. LA said she'd like to drive a 4cylinder model. The salesman pointed to the LS and LTZ models, and headed outside to find a car for Lea Ann to drive. Dismissing the LS as "looking really cheap", LA turned her sights to the metallic black LTZ model.. It was loaded. V-6. 6 speed, power everything, XM radio with Bose speakers, cruise, 18" wheels and it's most unusual feature a two tone leather interior. It was the color of Ebony and Brick. Lea Ann sat in the car, looking at everything adjusted the seat and held the wheel. She called me over and said, "I like this car." I don't even remember if I had time to respond when she said slowly, "I 'really' like this car." I clearly saw in my wife's eyes that she was excited about a car, and probably for the first time. She actually wanted a car for more than its transportation value. "Great, I said, then we'll buy it!" Alas, this one was being prepped for its new owner.
The salesman found an identical car in MD which had a 4 cylinder engine, and no sun roof. Just the way that LA wanted it equipped. We used our two coupons, took advantage of the fact that the Malibu also came with a 2 grand rebate. The dealer subtracted a full Six Thousand Dollars from the sticker price and another 7400 for her trade. The deal was done and Lea Ann's 4th Malibu arrived three days later.
Now you may think I'm silly, but I've had a custom of naming my cars. My Volks Diesel Jetta is no exception, it's name....Otto. (Get it?) I asked LA what name she'd call her new Chevrolet.
"Barbie", she said, "Malibu Barbie".
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