Happy Moment #38: My New Car!

Most folks know when I am coming because my sweet 2013 Fiat Abarth makes quite the "noise"! A few months ago, though, I started hearing a strange sound coming from her that wasn't part of her usual awesome engine sounds. After an initial diagnosis at the Fiat dealership and then a second opinion at another mechanic garage, the results were grim. Something in the engine was "cracked" and the cost to fix the Fiat would be just under $5000, about equal to what the car was actually worth.

This all happened in May. For most of the summer I just borrowed Jim's Kia but I don't really like to drive it because it seems too big to me (well, anything does when you drive a Fiat!). I looked at a few cars in terms of purchasing and actually test drove a Hyundai Veloster which I quite liked (cute look and the three doors struck me as fun!).

But then .... I saw her. A 2018 Mazda Miata MX-5 RF. This is just a stock picture but look at this car! She is absolutely beautiful!

Jim and I owned an almost 20 year old Miata before the Fiat (which was about 5-6 years old) but we had given it to your nephew so we could buy a car with modern conveniences like windows that went down with a button and a smoother ride. My hope is that this Miata lasts as long as the other one we had.

Here is what she looked like at the car lot:

This is the "we bought her" look!

Of course, I was a little sad to turn over the keys to my "hurt" Fiat. Here was my last look at her:

I had a lot of fun adventures in that car -- but also "weird" problems like a broken seatbelt (in a new car?!) and 5 flat tires. I hope she finds more happiness with a new owner! (and a new engine!)

But ... now I have "Cherry Girl" who makes my heart sing every time I drive her!