Real Life Adventures by Gary Wise and Lance Aldrich for July 15, 2010

Don’t buy a mini vam

need the old vw van

My first car was a Rambler–a total lemon EXCEPT that the front seat folded down flush against the bench of the rear seat to turn the interior of the car into a double bed. Somehow I never got around to mentioning this feature to my girlfriend’s parents…

Those consoles do not get in the way… .

I used to drive around the family station wagon when I was in high school, a huge Oldsmobile. Lots of fond memories in the back of that car…

pksampso Oh yes, the Rambler Station Wagon! LOL!!

Love mom’s exclamation, “Boy Howdy!” LOL!

I had the old Rambler with the push button automatic transmission mounted on the dash. I wish I’d managed to note fry the engine on it.

My daughter crabbed about the ancient AMC Concorde I got her until she got hit in the driver’s side by a modern Ford Ranger. The Ranger collapsed it’s grill and front bumper and had to be towed. She drove away and could even open the car door afterward. She suddenly appreciated Detroit Steel.

I wonder how many kids have the imprint of a stray cup holder on their bottoms these days.

freeholder1, the “soft” bumpers and front-end crumple zones are a safety feature – they turn a lot of collisions that would have been fatal into walk-aways. To my mind this is preferable to the “Detroit steel” you laud, to have the car die so your daughter doesn’t have to.

Crumple zones, pioneered by Volvo, the best cars made (until they were bought by Ford).