We stuck to our game plan: our initial visit to the dealership was a scouting mission–no purchase. Steve was vigilant, though he stopped short of saying, “What’s it going to take to get you to buy a car today?”
The experience of buying a new car was all-in-all a pleasant one. The excitement of purchasing the Corolla dulled my hours sitting at a small table waiting for my turn with the finance counselor Larry. Though I did have a great chat with Dick, a retired resident of Apache Junction, AZ who’s driven the same Dodge truck for 30 years. Dick, Steve and Larry aside, this new Age brings new challenges, most notably among them paranoia.
1) I have peeked my head out the door every night since buying the car, looking for some sign of trouble.
2) I hit the “lock” button on my keyless entry remote twice every time I leave the car.
3) I still use the club.
4) Spending $300 for the Viper 1002 Car Alarm system seems very reasonable. Give me two.
Paranoia may not be the exact characterization of my current state of being, but I’m definitely more aware of safety concerns. I’m from the region where folks keep deer rifles in their unlocked vehicles, sometimes with the keys still in the ignition. Phoenix is the fifth largest city in these United States and it is still young. But with so many people, in such a wide expanse, there are bound to be problems, and crime.
I’m not afraid to live here, but I am a bit disheartened. I know the Age of Corolla may or may not cure the ruffians stalking the parking lot of my apartment complex. But maybe in this age my stock will be worth a little more.