1992 Ford Probe
Lifespan: ~1/1998 - ~3/1998
This car was the first in a string of cars in a very, very, BAD year.
First off, I needed a reliable car. I needed something I knew ran, and I needed
to know the people who owned it. When I bought it, I was attending UT, but
quickly dropped out after I got the car. I also needed a good car because the
amount of money I was spending on repairing the Park Ave was infringing upon
my lush spending habits. In any case, I found this car in the parking lot
of my job. I knew the lady who owned it, and she said she was selling it.
The major downside? It was a stick. I had no idea on how to drive
a stick. However, I learned. I got a cash advance from my mother, drained
whatever savings I had, and got the car. Well, it wasn't much to look at.
It was small. But it worked. And after I learned to drive stick, I actually
enjoyed it! However, two weeks later (I think), my brother and I were
coming home from Best Buy after purchasing a $350 CD Player (Panasonic).
We were cruising down I-280 Southbound (two-lanes), and I was head to head
with a semi (him in the right lane, I in the left (fast) lane). Well,
a late 80's/early 90's model Buick Regal decides that it's wants to go
REAL fast. It crept up on my ass, and I couldn't even see
it's headlights. Before I could speed up to pass the semi, it was trying
to pass me in the curb lane to my left! Now, I wouldn't ride a bike down
there, let alone drive a car. In any case, it hit the rail, hit me, sent
me spinning (in a little red car), and took off. He took off! Meanwhile,
My brother and I are in this out of control little plastic car spinning.
Finally, we end up facing the wrong direction (but going the right way),
and we watch a semi jack-knife coming straight at us. Needless to
say I didn't know what hell to think. Well, after it all, we ended up
smashing the ass end into the metal divider. The semi didn't touch us
(but my brother said it came "God damned" close). Well, that was
the end of that, I thought. However, after all was said and done, the
car still ran. It had a major dent in the rear, but it still ran. I couldn't
believe that small plastic car still ran. Well, since it was a sports car,
I didn't get full coverage. Needless to say, I got screwed, right up the
you know where. Well, I put the CD player in it :). Anyway, I continued
to drive the car for a few more months. I drove that car a few miles, too.
I must have driven to Ohio State Univ. in Columbus at least five times in that
dented car. But, in March, a friend of my brothers came along, and had this
nice car... so, I put the car up (and my brother ended up driving it forever).