That Saab I mentioned...

I mentioned that we'd bought a 1984 Saab 900 as a car for the kids (Thomas is 18, Nora's 16). Although Thomas leaves for Boston University in 12 days, Nora's learning to drive, and will probably be driving to school fairly often, which will take the pressure off Cathy and I to get her there. Anyway, the Saab was bought with 28,300 original miles on it; it's been sitting in a garage for 10 years, apparently only being driven to the garage to be maintained and inspected. We put a set of new tires on it, had to replace a frost plug, and we put a 'real' stereo in it. Cathy's happy (she bought a 900 as her first new car, and that's what she was driving when we got engaged...I was driving a Volvo diesel, and soon traded it in on a Jetta...sense a trend here?); I'm happy (the kids' car is slow (1.7 liter V4 automatic) and built like a tank); and the kids are happy (their car has character and a kickass stereo).

It has its problems: a Saabish tendency to overheat, mediocre gas mileage, and it is cruelly slow. But it is comfortable like many cars today are not, handles mountain roads quite nicely, and it does feel solid on the road. Hell, the AC even works!

I miss the Passat, but this is fun, too, in its own way. We'll probably get a replacement for the Passat -- we need a more dependable long-distance cruising vehicle -- but for now...the Saab's carrying the load.