The Big Cool Thing

Posted: Wednesday, January 30, 2013 by Travis Cody in
15

You may recall from my Five on Friday post that I briefly referred to some rough times here in the world of Travis and Pam.  Well, we've had some calamity.

I should say, I've had some calamity.

I also noted that the weather was pretty crappy for awhile.  We had freezing fog and icy road conditions. 

You may have guessed it by now.  But if you haven't...icy roads.  They got me and my Liberty.  I hit a patch of ice I never saw on the morning of 21 December.  My rear wheel drive 2003 Jeep Liberty started to fishtail.  I couldn't recover control and bounced off a semi in the lane to the left of me.  That made the car spin into the privacy wall to my right, at which I came to an abrupt and final stop.

Don't worry!  The airbags did not deploy, so while the impact felt fast and hard to yours truly, it really was a slow speed smack up on surface streets, not a high speed freeway wreck.  My shins took a solid whack from the underside of the dash.  The contusions are only now subsiding.  I hobbled around for a few weeks, I can tell you.

So I have survived.  Regrettably, my Liberty will not.  At least, not for me.  It would have cost more than the vehicle is worth to repair, so State Farm wrote it off as a total loss.  I got $9,000 in the settlement, and as you can tell from the photos, somebody who has the time and skill and a few bucks is going to be able to snap some new pieces on that Lego and have a great vehicle for years to come. 

As for me, I get The Big Cool Thing!  I bought it on Saturday and picked it up last night.  It was hard to even think about buying something new.  I had sort of been ready a couple of years ago when I toyed with the idea of buying a Mustang.  That didn't really go anywhere because deep down I didn't really want one.

I didn't really want anything but my Liberty.

The problem is that after 2003, they changed the body style on the Liberty and took away all the curves.  Those curves made it stylish and distinct.  So a newer Liberty, or any other Jeep, was out.

Tried Ford Escape...no.  Tried SUVs from BMW and Lexus...no.  Tried Hyundai...no.  Tried Kia...no.  Tried a lot of small size SUVs and finally decided that they were too big.  Most of them felt like I was wrestling the front end and dragging the back end.

Nice vehicles, but just not for me this time.  If I was going to get over losing the Liberty, then the vehicle for me had to be stylish and distinct from anything else in my eye.

Found it.  Meet my new ride.  It's a 2013 Nissan Juke.


The image is from the internet.  I did get a red one, but I didn't get the Midnight package - that's the black wheels.  We did go full tilt luxury on the SL model.  I'll get photos of mine this weekend, if it sits still long enough.  We're supposed to get sunshine so we may put a few miles on the puppy. 

It's not my Liberty.  But it is sporty, stylish, and distinct.

And it's got great curves.  You might recall that I'm partial to great curves.

Later gang!

15 comments:

  1. Barb says:

    Sorry about your accident but glad to hear you're healing up nicely!

    RED! I love RED!

    I've been looking at vehicles. I haven't found anything that makes me NEED to have it yet. I drive so little it almost isn't worth driving, but I do like to be able to GO when I want to go!

  1. Akelamalu says:

    So glad to hear your survived with just bruised shins! Love the new vehicle - I like Red!

  1. Very purty. It's kind of nice to get a new ride, although, like you, I really hated to give up my silver Scion when I traded it in on the new Hyundai, but it was time.

  1. I'm glad you are OK. I adore your new car. I haven't seen any around here on the road.

    We looked for a smaller car than our truck, but the truck is paid for and has been a good truck. I can't see having a payment.

  1. Cherie says:

    Woww! It looks like a pair of athletic shoes, stylish and ready for a run on the road! I'm sorry about your accident. They are traumatic under the best of circumstances, but it sounds like this one really rung your bell. Poor Liberty, but awesome Juke. Makes me think of the phrase. "The king is dead. Long like the King!" :)

  1. Cherie says:

    Ummmm ... make that "Long live the King!" lol

  1. Jean(ie) says:

    So sorry to hear about the shins and the Liberty. Bummer. What a hassle and pain. Hope the legs are feeling better.

    I have to say that I REALLY love my jeep. We bought out the kid's payments and traded my BMW 3-series for the Commander the week before we moved here. I was not an SUV person, but now I really love my 2006 baby. It's the closest to a station wagon I have.

    I fully get the Jeep love.

    Your new ride is snazzy!!!!!! I can see the elegance of the black versus the red. This is a Big Cool Thing! Fer sure!

  1. Jean(ie) says:

    I'm a ding dong and read that wrong. Red is still pretty cool. Less dirt to show. Easier to maintain. So is it car-sized?

  1. Anonymous says:

    Wow! Sorry to hear about your accident and subsequent hobbling. But I can totally relate to a red car . . . GGG

  1. Jeff B says:

    Sweet ride my man!

    We're probably going to be looking for a new vehicle for Lisa in the upcoming year.

  1. Jeni says:

    I can relate to your feelings about wanting your Liberty -also about insurance claims and State Farm too as I have been without a vehicle for 3 weeks now since my little Jeep Cherokee (1998) caught fire while I was driving it home from my dr's appointment! People look at me like "OMG! You were driving it? It was on fire?" Yes and yes and I didn't realize it was on fire either until some guy saw it, did a U-turn and chased me down the highway to pull up alongside of me while his wife leaned out the window screaming to me "YOUR JEEP IS ON FIRE!" I just got my claim finalized yesterday as my little old jeep was totaled too. It could have been fixed and I was leaning in that direction until I learned that the paperwork involved in getting it fixed (because it was being totaled) would take at least 6 weeks to get that stuff completed and my son said I would go stark raving mad to be without a vehicle that long and then some. Good luck with your new vehicle though. Sure does look like a very pretty, VERY snazzy unit, Trav!

  1. TopChamp says:

    Sorry to hear you crashed, but happy about the new wheels! I have never seen such a car.

  1. Well, I knew the story of the Liberty and your shins (OUCH. so sorry!) but this is the first I've seen of that classy red car. I love it!!!
    It is you. Yep.
    You guys will look hot and trendy in that car this summer. In fact, I know a great little getaway across the country known as Bloggingham Palace!
    You're welcome anytime.

    Congratulations. It could have been so much worse. Let's not think about that...

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  1. I'm really, REALLY glad you weren't hurt in the accident. As for your new wheels, I've always found that to be an interesting vehicle. It looks unique.

    Enjoy!