Sunday, August 2, 2009

Opa's Miracle Subaru


199,998 . . . 199,999 . . . watch it . . .



Almost there . . .



Opa’s 1994 Subaru turned over 200,000 miles!

Guest blog by Opa:

"On August 1, 2009 I was driving home from Midway, and I noticed my odometer. I had my camera with me so I pulled over and took pictures of it going from 199,999 to 200,000 miles. My mind went back 15 years to August 11, 1994 when I drove my new Subaru away from the Nate Wade Subaru dealership. It was a miracle deal.

(This is now. It was brand-new then.)

"We were in the middle of restoring the Miles Goodyear cabin in Ogden, making a 120-mile round-trip every day. Our old Subaru was giving out and we needed something dependable immediately.

"The past couple of years had depleted our savings. With two missionaries serving at the same time, a couple of weddings, college students and teenagers, money was tight. Supporting a missionary cost the equivalent of a car payment, and Micah wouldn't be home from his mission for another five months. It seemed crazy to be shopping for a new car without a dime to pay for it.

"I went to Nate Wade Subaru and talked to Nate himself. I explained that I needed to buy a car, but that I wouldn't have the money to make the monthly payments until January 1995. When I told him about our missionary, he said he was willing to make me a special deal:

"I agreed to buy The Subie for the full price of $13,500. But at the closing, I didn’t have to pay anything down. Instead, Nate Wade gave me a check for $1,400 that I could use to make the monthly payments until Micah came home. Talk about an answer to our prayers!

"The Subie has continued to be a miracle car. I love this little white automobile. It has provided me with steady transportation in all kinds of weather, consistently, through good times and bad. We treat each other well. I plan on driving it for as long as it runs, or until someone makes me a straight-across-trade deal for my antique in the making."


Congratulations to a couple of road warriors!

9 comments:

ELLOUISESTORY said...

Lovely story. We will soon watch the odometer on our Toyota van make that 2000,000 passage. Like you - I want to keep driving it - its a friend.

McKay said...

nice story!! Opa thats a lot of miles the subie has gone

marta said...

I'm amazed at all that car has been through, and it is still so neat, tidy and shiny. I guess when you take care of it, it takes care of you. Congrats on the milestone, Opa!

Christie said...

Cracks me up to log on here and find that my child has read and commented on this story before I have. I didn't even know he was reading any blogs.

LOVE the subie story and am glad to find out how the 200,000 mile turnover picture was taken. That was going to be my first question.

kenju said...

Mr. kenju had an old diesel Mercedes that had over 250K miles on it.

I watched my odometer turn 100K on the older van I had before this one. Took photos, too!

Anonymous said...

love that story! I bet it runs for another 200,000!

Liz said...

Wait a minute....are we talking Midway, UT?!? Because if we are, I was just there a couple of days ago! One of my favorite uncle/aunt duos lives in Midway!
Congrats on the 200,000 miles! That's awesome! I hope to someday do that with my 2002 Odyssey. Only 60,000 miles to go!

brooke said...

I've got to hand it to Nate Wade Subaru--great story. And I just read the post about the Green parents. At first, I was baffled--why would anyone want to live like that? The cloth diapers alone would do me in. But after reading Anna's post on her blog--it makes sense. It's admirable and I loved her 101 list.

Keri said...

Wow. Now that's a car! Pride of ownership sure pays off.

Can I borrow it for the weekend? Promise I'll fill the tank.