the First KEEPER.

[jphanna]

I always put cars in my life into categories as they appeared. The term KEEPER, never entered my vocabulary when it come to cars.

Learner Valiant (dads hand me down)
Cruising coupe (Celica. all looks….54kw!!!)
Hack 1 torana 4cyl (save the cruiser)
Family car XE falcoln
Hack 2 Mazda 929 (save the family car)
Family Car VL Calais
Small car corolla (smashed the family car……)
Big car VE OMEGA (towing)
Medium car CRUZE (downsizing)

Then we got to last week. I was in the market for a bigger car to tow again. I just needed a proven car to tow, and the falcon came up as my choice. I didn’t have a burning desire about the car, but I knew it was going to do the job. It came down to a black XR6 at a major ford dealer. Without even looking at it, I agreed to a price using Cruze as trade in, and was going to come down to the dealer to do the deal.

I told my son, and 2 hours later, he told me to hold off and sent me a pic of a Purple Fg with big non standard ROH rims. (when I found out 20” rims, I thought I turf them asap and get ‘normal’ people rims) Same price. Similar kms. I told him I already sealed the deal, with major dealer, but I would take a look at the purple one with big rims. After work, before I head to the small dealer, as it was only 4kms from my work. It was a stunning looking car. At that moment something took hold of me. I didn’t know what to do, I wanted out of the deal with black XR6, and get purple one. The purple car with those rims just affected me like no other car before.

As it turns out I was at ford dealer, late in the afternoon and the black car wasn’t a patch on the purple car, but I feel I couldn’t get out of it. I was there at the table about to sign the contract, when he added 500.00 to the price. Stamp duty…… this was my chance to get out of it as I asked for a final absolute changeover price. He didn’t budge. I bolted out of there and rang the other dealer asap. I said I will come there first thing in morning to do a deal with purple car.

As I said, no car in my history had the term KEEPER applied to it. They all had use by dates. This car was gonna rewrite history. Sat morning I was up at 2.00am I was that excited about this beast. I was at his doorstep 9.00 the next day. What a sight. Took for a test drive and came back. Signed the papers, hand over the cash, handed over the cruze, and then took the gleaming beast for a 260kms cruise through the hills with my family.

The car is not perfect, yet. Few scratches that will be fixed, and a full service for all components is already booked. I polished it that Saturday afternoon, and again Sunday morning, and took it for another 60kms drive in hills Sunday in the rain. Unfortunately it got dirty so another polish that afternoon…….to say its shiny, is an understatement.

For the first time in my life, I have a KEEPER. This car will be serviced and repaired when needed, economics wont be considered, and no use by date. Now I am complete.

amongst the member on this forum, i recon there would be more than a few KEEPER cars......