Artifact of my First New Car

[DGS49]

Going through some stuff today I found a spare ignition key from my 1973 Gremlin X. It was my first new car.

I liked most things about the car, but it was a terrible pig. Top speed was around 80mph, and it got less than 20mpg combined. Three speed stick, on the floor. There was a design flaw that caused the back of the car to accumulate dirt and dust constantly. There was an optional spoiler that took care of the problem but I was not aware when I bought it, so I had to deal with the car I just washed being dirty after any five minute ride. Alternatives at that time were a Chevy Vega or a Ford Pinto. I wanted a Vega with the optional engine and four-speed, but the way I wanted it, it would've cost quite a bit more than the Gremlin and money was tight.

I lost a quarter million out of my retirement account in April. No big deal. Time changes things.

 

[odanny]

I lost a quarter million out of my retirement account in April. No big deal. Time changes things.

If you're retired and still have that kind of money tied up in equities, your portfolio is out of balance.

 

[Esdraelon]

That brought a smile. I learned to dry in my sister's Pinto. Who knew those would be the BEST days?

 

[Shawnee_b]

My sister had one. Puke green. Always broken, put a mint into it. My buddy wanted it, never had a single problem!

 

[DGS49]

I had it for three years and had no mechanical problems. It was just starting to rust when I got rid of it, but most cars of that day were doing the same thing.

 

[rippy38]

I had a '79 Pontiac Sunbird, which was based on the Vega. It had the V-6 with a three speed automatic transmission. Pretty solid car until I tried running through a telephone pole one night on the way home from a party.

Good times!