My driver's permit will expire on 06/08/06. So we were really quite in an urgent state to get a second-hand vehicle for me to practise with. We always kept our eyes on what were for sale in Uncle Henry's booklet. Last week we called several sellers, but they were all sold. This time, we could not find one that we really liked. Gary would have wanted something newer, but then we worried about those 99 Dodge Caravan allegedly having problems with transmission. Since it was basically for me to get used to driving (so that we could predict some dents/minor accidents within the first two years of me driving), we decided to go for this one. Not bad at $1500. Looked nice save for that rusty part at the bottom, smelled nice, and well-kept. The previous woman owner was a car racer (she had four trophies in her apartment to boast) so I figured she was in the know of how to take care of cars. She was also an EMT (Emergency Medical Technician) so that she did not smoke, and the car smelled nice.Everything that should be automatic was still working -- adjustment of mirrors, auto-locking mechanism, power windows, etc. Plenty of room (7-seater) with two built-in baby seats.
Of course, Gary tried it on the road before we made the purchase. He said it handled nicely. He had had experience before with a Dodge Caravan so he somehow knew what it was behind the wheel of such, and he did not find any fault while driving it.
I had my first on-the-road practice this noontime with Gary. He was predicting a major carsickness attack, but luckily I drove it smoothly enough that he did not have that repercussion. He said I was a natural, and that I would have no problems after some time of practice.
I hope so...
We plan to spend the afternoons (when he comes home) for practice sessions on the road, about 30 minutes each time (so he won't get carsick).
