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Friday, April 15, 2011

Shaggin' Wagon

The first day of cubicle job in 2007, we were asked a variety of "getting to know you" questions like, "What is your dream job," or "If you could have any car, what car would it be?" For the latter question, I remember so many people wrote ridiculous answers consisting of things like Porsches, Ferraris (you're going to drive that in Western Pennsylvania? Good luck not ripping the ground fx off, idiot), and super fancy Lexi (that's the plural of Lexus, you know).  I remember writing, even with the infinite number of auto possibilities, a Subaru Outback Wagon. My mother still makes fun of me for being a twenty something that wanted a station wagon, but my dream never wavered.

When Dustin went away to Iraq, I no longer had the big, strong man to drive me to work when the snow was heavy and the roads were icy. I mean, I am a feminist, but sometimes...I like being a demure girl, especially when it comes to adverse driving conditions. Cut me some slack. Right before he left, too, his sport utility vehicle, an Isuzu Trooper died a less-than-dignified death. My 2005 Toyota Corolla is a wonderfully sturdy car, but I was uneasy to have just a front-wheel drive vehicle in a part of the country with a road-work motto of, "We'll get to it when we get to it."

I was then set with the task of finding a new car, and of course my first thought was Subaru. I tried other brands and even another Subaru model, but my mother convinced me that if this was what I really wanted, then I should pay a little extra for it. It was a good piece of advice, too, because I couldn't be happier with the purchase that I made, and the level of customer service I received after my purchase, including a completely interactive website, specifically designed for me!

With a profile on mysubaru.com, I am able to track the trade value of my vehicle (Subarus do hold the most resale value of every other brand...not that I'm trading it...ever), the maintenance schedule, and any recalls or accessory sales that may pertain to the specific model. I received also, a subscription to "Drive" magazine which highlights Subaru owners as well as delves deeper into the Subaru's mechanical components. It was actually an interesting and entertaining read for a super-nerd like myself.

For the more flashy Subaru owner, each Subaru purchase affords the owner to a "Badge of Ownership." Although it's completely ridiculous to have such an item on a car, it's interesting that Subaru would provide such a badge (badges! we don't need no stinking badges), free of charge. This badge, for instance, shows that this is the fourth Subaru that this family has owned, and they are interested in biking, outdoor activities and performance vehicles. It's a funny and slightly bourgie way to show what a rad person you are, but it's also the least Subaru can do for that kind of brand loyalty.

This car, for me, not only reflects a milestone of being in the position to be able to afford to purchase my own car, but it also showcases a dream realized: no matter how dorky that dream was. I was proud when Dustin came home for a visit in January, he was happy with the choice that I had made, as this car is as much his as it is mine. Margo, as a I affectionately call her, has gotten me through a Pennsylvania winter without even a bat of an eyelash and has helped me feel capable and confident as a driver. We're quite a team.Best Blogger Tips

3 comments:

  1. You are so grown up!
    I can't wait to see how Margo feels about me as a "3rd wheel".

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  2. Subaru often does well in the auto industry, even being a relatively smaller player:

    http://goo.gl/q5ucu

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  3. Congrats. I believe in following your own dreams, not just caving to what other people think you should dream. And I'm glad that I'm not the only person who named my car. Just stopping by from S-B Follow My Blogger Swap. <3 Vanillaperv

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