imagine a different world.

My car, a Nissan Altima, has not been sounding so great recently and the ride hasn’t been as smooth as when I first got it not so long ago. Considering that the nice ride is the top reason why I bought the car, there is some concern.

I scheduled an appointment to have it checked out with our “car guy.” There was just one problem: the dealership opens after I leave for work and closes before I get home. How I would be able to get my car to dealer? Luckily, Nordstrom scheduled me for a Diversity Training today at 5, normally when I leave my “real job.” With the help of my mom, we came up with a great plan. I would drop off my car before I headed to Nordstrom, since I was already planning on leaving real work early.
Last night I asked my mom if she thought I would be getting a SUV as my loaner, since they won’t be checking out my car until tomorrow. She said no, she didn’t think so. Boy was she wrong.

The nice car guy agreed to meet me at a gas station near Nordstrom, since I was on somewhat of a schedule. Somehow, I arrived there in 30 minutes, instead of the 40-45 I expected. As I waited for him, I kept looking at the different cars pulling into the gas stations, noticing the SUVs and saying no, I hope that isn’t him, and crossing my fingers when I noticed a small car.

Well, the finger crossing got me nowhere. There he was, driving his own Honda Pilot. My mouth hit the floor and I was not too happy. It is very nice that I am able to have a loaner at all, let alone the fact that he lends me his, but simply for safety reasons, I would have preferred a small car! Way back when my dad had a Ford Taurus, I was scared to drive it because I thought that car was huge!

Anyways, we talked about what I thought was wrong with the car, exchanged keys, and I entered the behemoth known as a Honda Pilot. Being the nice guy that he is, he let me leave first…probably not his best move. I backed up, once I found the gear shift, and attempted to not hit my own car, or the curb behind me. I really don’t know how I didn’t scrape my back bumper, but I didn’t, thankfully.

I exited the gas station, on my way to Nordstrom, driving at or near 35 MPH, attempting to acclimate myself with the car. It didn’t happen. I felt way too small for this big car. I couldn’t tell how far away the front was and how far back the actual back was. Trying to turn? Yeah, that was a blast! Somehow I arrived and parked at Nordstrom with no problem. Then, somehow I returned home, with no problem, even though on one turn, I almost thought I was going to hit the car in the lane over. Phew.

Tomorrow will be the real test, when I have to drive 30 miles, each way, most of it on the freeway, with a car at least 2x what I am used to. I plan on leaving extra early simply to allow me to take it extra slow and avoid hitting any other cars, trees, or telephone poles. I already prepared myself by parking in the driveway, as opposed to in the garage, so I can simply back up and go, instead of trying to twist around my dad’s car.

Based off of this lone experience, and whatever happens tomorrow, I do not understand why people buy SUVs let alone enjoy driving them! I like my small, ok somewhat small car, that doesn’t feel like it is going to rollover every time you make the slightest turn. I like being able to see my back without needing binoculars. I like small cars, and will be giving my specific car a big hug when I see it again in less than 24 hours.