I have driven a car with "character" since I was 17. I am happy my mother forced me to drive as it's been a big part of my freedom and independence ever since. My very first car was a blue 81 chevette. We purchased it for 100$ and my dad fixed it up enough to make it drivable for me. I wouldn't have necessarily called it safe. He had installed what I believe to be called a governor. The car couldn't do more than 80km without it shaking so bad and feeling like it was about to take off or just simply fall apart. I think my parents wanted me to drive, just not have the ability to drive too far. I was an unruly teenager and knowing me, if it was possible, I probably would have ended up in California at the time. I believe the car lasted approx. 9 months before I drove it into the ground. In the end, I was forced to fill up the tires and brake fluid on a daily basis, and I can never forget having to crawl though either the passenger side door or the window (Dukes of Hazard styles) to get in, as I had somehow jammed the drivers side door. Somehow I think my parents involved a lesson in all this, which is not just be able to know how to drive, but to learn car maintenance as well.

Vehicle # 2, the 84 Cavalier. Not much to say about this one, except you had to hit the top of the dash each time to get the radio to work. (Fonz styles) This poor car didn't last too long at all. The engine died 3 times in the exact same location while I was driving up a big hill. Thank god for CAA and my old Cantel amigo cell phone. Do you remember those phones? They were the size of bricks.

Vehicle #3, another 81 chevette purchased for approx 50$. My Dad, (bless him) fixed it up for me and again I drove it into the ground. Now if there was ever a car with character this would be it. It was my first standard vehicle and I haven't gone back to automatic ever since. It lasted a little over a year, but by the time I was finished with it, the seat had rusted though the floor, it would leak on my foot everytime it rained, the exhaust was wired up with a coat hanger, and I'm sure by the time I was finished it, I managed to burn out the clutch and brakes. This was the year that I learned that brakes really weren't necessary, I just had to gear down. I also can't forget to mention the night my friends decided to throw paint pellets at it, writing shagon wagon on the hood, and drawing nice little designs on the sides. I am sure there was some type of substance abuse involved that night as I failed to wash it off right away, drove it to work the next day and let the paint bake on in the sun. I drove around the next 3 months with shagon wagon baked on to the hood of my car. My parents were impressed with me.

Vehicle #4, the 91 pontiac optima. My parents purchased this vehicle for me when I came to school in Ottawa. It was the first car that had a working radio, that had all of its parts properly attached, I liked you, but you failed me, and you will lay here to rest forever and ever.

Vehicle #5, my 91 VW golf. To this day you are my favourite vehicle of them all. I loved how you would play that little jingle everytime I started you up. You were good to me for many years, we went places, and we had good times, I was sorry to see you go. I will take the blame for the failure of this vehicle, I was on my own in the city, and unable to find a good mechanic to fix you. I would walk into the mechanics with SUCKER written on my forehead each and everytime. It was just not fiscally responsible to keep you around anymore.

Vehicle #6, I currently drive a Saturn family sedan. Yes people, you heard me correctly, a 4-door sedan. Don't ask me why, although I will admit it's great on gas, drives very fast, and it fits lots of people and stuff. Perhaps this is why I always seem to be the driver at any event. I splurged a couple years ago, it was my first brand new vehicle. I thought there wouldn't be any problems, but after only 3 weeks of owning it, someone smashed into the side. Don't believe Saturn when they tell you their cars come complete with dent resistant panels, SATURN LIES. It now has a huge crack in the windshield, and a cracked side rear view mirror. I don't think I was meant to drive a new car. All my cars seem to have "character" of some sorts. Or perhaps it's just the fact that I am as destructive with my vehicles as I am in relationships.