The Acclaim Account

Before I got laid off from SGS, I had been leasing vehicles for many years. The idea of having a new vehicle every few years thrilled me. Nevermind that at the end of the lease I owned nothing. Nevermind that each lease gifted me with gradually increasing payments, no matter what down payment I made.

So, when the financial meltdown came and I joined the 25% of all SGS “associates” whose employment abruptly came to an end, I still had a year remaining on a red Ford Fusion lease – a car I hated almost from the day the lease guy talked me into it because of a bunch of useless incentives. Making the lease payments on the pittance that is unemployment was tough enough. But after eight months without so much as an interview, I faced the possibility that when the lease came to an end, I had no job to support a new lease, no money for a down payment and potentially no vehicle with which to find and perpetuate a job.

As Popeye used to say, “that’s all I can stands, I can’t stands no more!” Thus began my decision to never again float another car loan. To raise some capital, I cashed out my 401-K and took myself off unemployment. I went on craigslist, found an older model green Ford Explorer in running condition and paid $1,500 cashey money for it. Even with the occasional repair, there was no monthly payment and no long-term commitment. There was no looking back.

I drove the Explorer for 5 years before the head gasket gave out and I was forced to seek a replacement. My mechanic/friend, Chris, had an ugly, rusty 1996 Oldsmobile Cutlass Ciera that was mechanically sound. It could be mine for the scrap value of the Explorer and $800. Sold. I drove it for two years, until last month.

I finally got tired of the Ciera’s blight and, with the aid of my buddy Jeremy, a dedicated “car guy.” He sent me recommendations from eBay and craigslist for months and only one, a camper van, piqued my curiosity. I was outbid on the camper, but once that seal was broken, I had the car-buying bug. Eventually, I settled on a 1995 Plymouth Acclaim, the last of the great K-cars. It was sort of blue-green and needed a new gas tank and a new exhaust. The pipe for the exhaust came with the car for the low price of only $1,400.

The Acclaim ended up needing much, much more. To make a long saga shorter, I also ended up replacing the fuel tank sending unit, the AC condenser, the radiator, getting the gas pedal repaired, replacing a turn signal bulb and a lost hubcap. Total additional cost so far, about $1,000. I took the $800 I made from selling the Ciera and put it toward body repairs and a new, dark green metallic paint job at Maaco. I still need to have the side mirrors repainted and the pinstripes replaced with a bright green set. Throw in LSH and IRL stickers on the back window, and you have this:

I’m hoping to get 5 years out of this beauty. We shall see…