bread + butter mobile?

In addition to my day job and work on bread + butter, I’ve been spending too much time in recent weeks thinking about my next vehicle. Now that both O’Rourke family vehicles are wholly owned and paid in full, I should be enjoying the precious few months sans car loan payments and socking away more money in the 529 college savings accounts. Instead, I’m convinced that each new day will be the day my glamorous 2004 Subaru Legacy sedan will kick the bucket, leaving me in urgent need of a replacement vehicle, and forcing me to pay too much for a stupid car I don’t like. Not that I’ve been there before...

So I’ve begun the search. On one hand, I feel very fortunate that for the first time in my life, I can think about getting something a bit nicer than my typical basic commuter car. On the other hand, I’m overwhelmed with the number of choices and features available to me. While I’m determined to not wander aimlessly throughout dealer lots, the many websites that are designed to help me compare and contrast different makes, models, features and accessories leave me dazed and confused, and no closer to a decision. I’m not a gear-head. I know I want something safe and reliable, but do I need a navigation system and satellite radio? How much torque does a guy like me really need, and what exactly is payload anyway? And, while I’ve been focused primarily on mid-sized German and Japanese sedans, I’ve recently had the strange and uncontrollable urge to investigate GMC trucks. Just this morning, while shaving, I said to my reflection in the mirror, “I’m Tom O’Rourke. I live in Newburyport. And I drive a truck.” I am from Massachusetts after all. But I digress.

Having purchased many lemons over the years, I’m determined to get it right this time, but I’m limited by my history of being frugal. I paid $100 for my first Buick, which was two different colors, and lasted me two years. Not a bad return on investment. That same year, my little brother paid $150 for a skateboard. Maybe I’ll get a car that will help promote our business – the bread and butter mobile. It could be shaped like a loaf of Rye or a baguette, and would probably be a tax write-off. But it might not come with limited slip differential or an interior active charcoal air filter. Wish me luck. I’m off to another multi-hour series of searches on Vehix, Edumunds, and Cars.com…

-Tom

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