After 8 years, We Got A New Car

Even though our two Hyundais were dependable cars and fun to drive, Hyundai does not make a vehicle that can be towed behind a motorhome with all four wheels down. So when we started shopping for a new car a couple of weeks ago, we had to look in another direction. I, for one, will miss the 10 year/100,000 mile warranty.

Thanks to publications from groups like TrailerLife and FMCA, we could identify cars that were able to be towed (we RVers call them Dinghies). As we narrowed our search, we could check online to make sure that towbars, baseplates and all the other stuff was available for the cars that we were still considering.

So yesterday, after the usual friendly haggling, we bought a 2011 Ford Escape XLT from Klaben Ford, right here in Kent, Ohio. Sue and I feel very good about our choice and are having fun learning where all the controls are, etc. It will seem a little strange for us to only have one car, but I think we will be ok. The Elantra, one of our trade-ins, had only about 32,000 miles on it. That's after 8 years! We'll also save a significant amount on insurance, license, etc., without a second vehicle. And, of course, if we find that we really need a second car, next summer I can buy a nice little Porsche two-seater.

(click on the pictures to enlarge them, if you want)

Grape tomatoes from the garden.
They were the inspiration for our choice of color for the car.

Maybe we'll nickname it The Towmato

Between now and the time we head south, we will buy the necessary towing equipment and get it installed. That will involve some more shopping, because there are several different manufacturers, like Blue Ox and Roadmaster, who make these things. We also want to work at selling or trading in the Roadmaster tow dolly that we used to tow the Elantra with the front wheels up. Fortunately we have a lot of time to do this.

So, that is the big news for us this week. Thanks to niece, and Ford employee, Sara , for enabling us to get the X plan, Friends and Family discount on this purchase. She stepped right up and admitted that we were related to her.

Maybe we'll go for a drive after the sun goes down and the temp falls below 90.