Man on the Street by Greg Kristapovich
“What was the best – or worst vehicle YOU ever owned?”
(asked in Murphys)
“My best car was grandma’s bright pink 2-door Honda Civic DX she’d had it for ten years and drove only 5,000 miles! It had no power steering – and no air conditioning! It was the most stripped down car you could ever have. Didn’t even have a tape player. And someone busted a rear window and stole my laptop. My friend covered the window with pink duct tape! But I loved that car! I put 100,000 miles on it in 5 years! And it never broke down! It was the best car I ever had!” – Merritt Tutthill, Murphys, (marriage & family therapist/massage therapist/food server/psychology tutor)
“My best car was probably a Toyota Celica. I had 12 of them over my high school years. I kept finding new ones for cheap. The MOST I paid for one was $1,800, and I learned to interchange the parts. One time I had a wheel bearing go out, and it was easier for me to pull the rear end out of a car than it was to replace the wheel bearing. I should have done that; but the day I got married, I replaced the wheel bearings on my car, and me and my best man were taking a ride before the wedding and my tire fell off! So, I was not a qualified wheel bearing repairman. When your tire passes you up coming down the grade…The back end was kinda scraping. But when you’re in a tuxedo, hitchhiking is not a problem. The first car picked us up!” – Kurt Sanders, Mineral Mountain Estates, (retired drywall worker)
“The very best car I’ve owned is my 2001 Subaru Outback Legacy Limited, with leather, two sunroofs, rims, tinted windows and seat warmers! I’ve probably put almost 100,000 miles on it since I bought it two and a half years ago, and it has just been the best car ever – and I love it! All wheel drive! I snowboard, so it’s perfect in the snow! Yeah, I love it! My dog loves it! My kids love it! Subaru, YEAH!!!” – Kristin Folz, Murphys, (bartender/aspiring humanities professor)
“At the Independence Hall Quilters’ Meeting, about 20 per cent of the cars are Subaru! They meet in Arnold, and they need the drivability of the Subaru. It’s a great car! And the bun warmer seats are wonderful! I have a 2007 Outback. It’s comfortable and holds a lot of stuff, and I can carry my Kyack on it! This is our second one. We started getting Subaru’s in 2001. We gave our first Subaru to our daughter. She needed the car in the snow country where she lives, too.” – Christine Sellman, Angels Camp, (semi-retired library branch attendant)
“The best vehicle I’ve ever owned was a 1968 – and I still own it – Chevy pickup, ¾ ton, 350, two-wheel drive with a four speed. And I’ve driven it over 1.4 million miles! I’ve driven it for over 35 years, to work every day! I never wrecked it; never crashed it. I put five motors in it, but it doesn’t matter. Also, I own three of the same models – Chevy’s best trucks that were ever built from ’67 to ’72! And I own two ‘72s that I drive everyday! Remember: change the oil – and don’t drive like a maniac.” – Greg Franz, Murphys, (contractor)
