365 True Things: 42/Cars

Native grassland, Badlands National Park, South Dakota

Since May 2002 I have driven a Toyota 4Runner. When I bought it, I was looking for something sturdy and with good capacity for camping and climbing trips, with 4WD for the snow and rutted dirt roads, and big enough for me to sleep in, in a pinch. I also wanted manual transmission—for no good reason. I guess I thought it was sexy.

We went to the Toyota dealer, and it just so happened that the day before, a young woman had traded her 2000 4Runner in for something more suited to her lifestyle. It also turned out that 2000 was the last year they made the 4Runner in a manual transmission. I took the coincidences as an omen—and the vehicle for a test drive.

Packed for climbing

And for the last thirteen years, my trusty 4Runner has served me oh so very well. We've driven some 220,000 miles together. It's taken me to Washington and British Columbia, Minnesota and Wisconsin, Colorado several times, Arizona, Nevada, and Oregon likewise. And everywhere in between.

Yesterday I brought my truck (all of a sudden I'm feeling bad that I never named it/him/her) to the shop. I'd been worried for a couple of weeks by a CHECK ENGINE light, plus I was 4,000 miles overdue for a minor service.

The last time that annoying light came on was November, in Joshua Tree. Concerned that my car would blow up on my drive home, I pulled into a mechanic's yard. He assured me I'd be fine: only if the light started flashing did I need to worry—or, not just worry, but pull over immediately. And call a tow truck. Then he mused to himself, "In fact, my Check Engine light has been on for over a year now. I should probably take care of that." Which led me both to wonder how much I should trust this mechanic's opinion and to tell myself, "Eh, don't worry about it." And of course I did get home, and once home the light miraculously went off of its own accord.

Pre–deer damage

Though now that I think about it, it probably went on at that time to signal the first problem they found yesterday: a shot catalytic converter. Cost, $1,500 (plus labor). I'm pretty sure I got my car smogged last year, so that shouldn't be an issue until 2016. Good.

Problem #2 is more serious, but not pin-downable unless they pull the engine apart. It may be a bad head gasket; it may be a cracked cylinder. Cost to repair, between $3,500 and $5,500. Probably not including labor, though I was struck deaf by the initial numbers so couldn't hear the details.

So we're looking at between $5,000 and $7,000. Plus. For a fifteen-year-old vehicle with almost 240,000 miles on it.

Not likely.

I love my car, I do. But over the past few years, my eye has been lured by the shiny, sleek, cute cars they're turning out these days. Fiat 500; Mini Cooper. Not to mention better gas mileages—which my poor old beast can't exactly boast about. (I claim 20 mpg on the highway, but I'm lying.)

And so: I'm dreaming of new cars! A Honda Fit or CR-V maybe; a VW GTI; or . . . ? I'm open to suggestions. But first: some test driving. And yes, I want new: my last baby was slightly used; this one I want to be mine all mine. I might even give it a name.