Nice Car, what’s its name?
January 31, 2009 by: Dave Ozment
I used to think that people who named their cars were kinda crazy. Cars, after all, are inanimate hunks of metal, steal, plastic, and rubber molded together to provide a rather utilitarian service. That was, of course, until I met Bessie my freshman year of college. Bessie was a 1960’s era red and white pick-up truck. It was the kind of vehicle you’d typically either see in a movie set in that decade or reinvented as a hotrod cruising some small town square. But what transformed this simple truck into ‘Ole Bess’ was the truly transplant-like nature of her presence on a college campus in the (very) early 90’s. She was no rusty heap, nor was she some rednecked hotrod. She was simply an old truck in modern times. It was as if a farm boy left home one spring morning in 1964 and pulled into the dorm parking lot in the fall of 1989 – just one long drive rather than 25 elapsed years. Bessie was distinctive in such a way that the nickname was too obvious to ignore. If you told a stranger to meet you at 3:00 in the parking lot at Bessie, they’d be able to figure it out without a hitch.
This experience taught me that cars can have names without the owner being delusional so long as the car has ample personality and the name is not contrived. The car worthy of naming does not have to be old but few new cars will have earned the privilege of being called by something other than their branded moniker.
A popular class of such nicknamed conveyances – at least in my mind – is what I like to call the classic Get-Out-of-Debt car. This is the paid-for ride that offers few amenities and a low curb appeal but that never carries a payment. In fact, that’s a rule in the car naming game. You simply cannot name a car that your local bank, credit union, or car lot actually still owns. And a leased car does more to brand its driver than it does itself.
No, the Get-Out-of-Debt car is like a badge of honor. A broke-minded person may drive a similar car and feel less-than when parked at the gas pump next to Tank McPerfect in his new BMW M-Series but the cash conscience will proudly fuel their paid for hoop-de with the knowledge that he or she is making sacrifices in the now to pave the way for a brighter tomorrow. They may also smirk with the knowledge that Mr. McPerfect’s car probably came with a trunk full of payment books.
That is why my wife and I so proudly drive what we have affectionately named the “Green Bean”. The Green Bean is a bright green (of course) 1997 Subaru Outback station wagon with over 103,000 miles on the odometer and a hideously hued green, red, and grey interior. While it is not exceptionally old it does have enough flaws to land it squarely in the hoop-de category. Most notably are the oil leak that causes it to smoke after a few miles on the highway, the dangerously dim headlights, failing air conditioner, and soon to fail water pump – and there is always the time an electrical problem left us stranded on the side of the interstate.
But the Green Bean is our Green Bean and it is as functional a car as I have ever driven. Not only can I pack the entire set up for a 12 person tail-gate in the back, it handles like a dream, and counter-intuitively it loves to go fast – really, the car runs much smoother on the highway at 85mph than it does at 65mph.
Sure, one day we hope to move up to a newer sleek and soul-less luxury automobile, but for now we’re content with the functionality, practicality, and cash-based reality of our smoky little green bean.
And all this for exactly $0 per month – other than gas and oil!
So what do you drive? Do you drive named beater than is helping you get out of debt, or has your quest for curb appeal relieved you of a portion of your monthly budget? Share your car ‘status’ below.
Photo By: Dave
The Ramsey plan can burn you if you don’t do it right. A cheap car sounds great at first, but
it only takes one or two big time repairs and you could have leased new all year.
I was driving ‘old blue’ a 92 vintage automobile that cost me two $1200 dollar repairs within
about 10 months. This, plus the 3K I paid for it that year and I felt really stupid when Mr. Tank
McPerfect would pull up next to me in his leased 3 series paying about the ’same’ as I was.
The air then went out and I threw in the towel, sold the car for the 3K I paid for it and now, I am
Mr. Tank McPerfect with a leased 3 series – that’s right, leased. It’s 399 a month and ALL
maintenance is covered. I’m out for gasoline and payments. It keeps me exactly on budget
continuously. I feel like an idiot a lot of times, but I love the car to pieces and if Barry Obama
has his way and truly souless cars become our normal bane of existence, I can at least know
I had the pleasure of driving a fine automobile once. If anybody ever owned a nice car like this,
they know what I’m talking about: the drive, the handling, the granite feel going down the road.
All of it. Lesser cars have nothing on these.
So, you’ve got to have a RELIABLE paid off car – THAT is the key and let’s face it: They are
hard to come by. Those 3K cars in the classified are being sold for a reason. If they ran and
drove flawlessly, the owner would keep on truckin’ as would I. There’s no free lunch, that’s
the facts.
Ramsey is right about getting out of debt. Where he’s wrong is how to invest once you are.
He hawks mutual funds that are just products sold to dumb investors who don’t know how
to buy and sell their own stocks or ETF’s. It’s so simple, but most people just hand over
their fee’s to a broker who gets paid to sell them the “mutual fund” where he probably doesn’t
invest his own money. The belief in mutual funds also puts you right back at risk to a fiat currency
debt based money system that he spent two years getting you out of! Don’t get out of debt just
to buy back into it as an “investment.”
Good luck to all with their green beans.
Hey Mike, thanks for stopping by and commenting. I really do!
However, no suprise I guess that I disagree with some of your ideas. Of course I wholly agree with the idea of a fine driving automobile. I’d love to own a BMW one day…. one day! I’ve well enjoyed the incremental comfort as I’ve climbed the car quality ladder but jumping to a lease is well, not smart. I enjoyed the budget busting line of rationalization… but more as entertainment than wise advice. You’re really just justifying car fever… and I enjoy watching that dance. I’ve done it too so it’s easy to spot. Several money mags and books have outlined how poor a decision is the lease so you should check out that side of the reseach.
One thing you stated but may have missed…. you mentioned paying $3k for the car, drove it 11 months, made $1200 in repairs and then sold it for $3k. I see what you’re *trying* to say, but I can’t make the numbers equal $399 per month. It’s much closer to $109/month…. 1200/11.
You can still be happy with your lease… and I can understand that. But just be mindful that your happiness is not derived from a basis of wise financial dealings, but rather the luxury of the car and the satisfaction of the curb appeal… and the second glances afforded by the ladies.
As for the investment talk. Hmm, Ramsey is simplistic on that front but that’s ok. I suppose I’m one of he dumb ones you reference because I can’t decipher the language you use… what does it mean to be be “at risk to a fiat currency debt based money system”. I’m lost at the notion that a mutual fund as an investment is the same as a debt intrument, which you also suggest. I’ll have to look into that idea though my experience has suggested otherwise.
Thanks again for your comments. I love the exchange of ideas and the ensuing dialogue and I welcome more of same.
Dave
I am 56 and have only bought 3 new cars in my life. Cannot even count all the cars I have owned, guess someday I will sit down and try…..
It takes a little time to find the personality of each one. I love getting familiar with the little quirks of each car/truck/van. Most of the choices we have been able to, not only live with and keep running very well but… get so attached that the memories of trips and life that have included the vehicle can make it hard to sell to anyone else when that time comes.
But we move on…. too bad we have had some wonderful times in our paid for transportation.
Some of the names include, Old Blue (Chev Truck), Goldie (GMC shorty van), Mazda “Patty” Van MPV, Bucky Bronco, Stanley (Sonoma Ex Cab), Lemonade(Triumph Spitfire), Red aka “Red Rider” MG, “Baby” Blue (64 Electra conv.), Peachy (Nash Rambler),
I could go on and on, brought up under the hood of a car with my dad not his job but his ability to problem solve in an effective way, asking for this or that tool…got my first one at 14 we redid the engine, 50’s model Skylark cost $150 before we fixed it.
I love to have a honest and fair shade tree mechanic available a phone call away… the only way to go when you need a fix up for great old cars.
Thanks for the memories, enjoyed the time out and reflection, hope you guys have as many good memories with your family transportation.
Mika
Great stuff… thanks for sharing. There really is something in our culture that connects us to our cars. I’ve loved and enjoyed every car I’ve owned.
Thanks for sharing!
Dave
Interesting car related information, I love reading this kind of stuff. Your report stirs up thoughts which I need to consider before buying my next car.
Thanks Christine… I appreciate your visit and comments. I hope you’ll be back to contribute to the conversation soon.
Dave
I drive a 07 Orange Chevy. Never thought of a clever name. The Orange Squeeze maybe? lol
-Nate
Nate @ Money Young’s last blog post..Values For Your Life: Respectfulness
Cool…. naming is fun but not a necessity… the key, as you well know, is being very intentional with our spending… a beater car covers our needs until we’re ready to ride in style.
Thanks for dropping over to comment. I appreciate it!
Dave
My Dave Ramsey garage sale car, a 1992 Subaru Legacy, is named Scooby. My kids gave it that name. It just rolled 227,000 miles, but still gets 28.5 mpg every time I fill it. It only requires 4000 mile oil changes, tires every 30,000 or so, and an occasional windshield wiper. I’ve actually come to really like the car!
Wow, that’s great! I love the name too!
We bought our car from a trusted family friend when our previous garage sale car was about to both die and flip 200k. We originally didn’t like the car but couldn’t pass up the deal given our situation with the other car…. now we love it and the fact that is so green and ugly only endears it too us more.
When we step up in car (hopefully later in the year) my wife is already talking about getting a new model Legacy which is a true testement to this car!
Thanks for sharing!
Dave
Nice article – I’m still driving my 1998 Green Jeep Cherokee with 120,000 miles. BTW, it’s name is Mr. Toad. During the summer I have to add a can of freon every week to keep the AC running but other than that, it runs well
Thanks Devin… I remember when the Cherokee was new, when it replaced the white Taurus you had driven into the ground… you certainly know how to get the most our of your cars – 2 cars in well over 12 years (I don’t know how long you actually had the Taurus so probably much closer to 15 years). That puts you squarely in a minority of folks that live their daily lives with no car payment.
The white Taurus – aka “The Beast” was thirteen when I sold it for $100 to the guy working on my sprinkler. It was blowing out power steering fluid so bad that it was taking a pint to get to work and a pint to get home. I was basically oiling I-40. BTW – great website!