Overdrive: Surviving the Roads in Ireland 3

Driving-wise, a lot has happened since I passed my Theory Test exam.

Meet Robert

After a long and tiring search, I finally settled on a car. I bought a red 1998 Ford Fiesta 1.3 LX. "Settled" is the operative word because I think I just got tired of searching for a pre-owned car. I've called and emailed different dealers, searched through the internet even, to find a car that has the following criteria: 1) within budget, 2) can be found preferably within Letterkenny, 3) a hatchback, 4) made within 1998 to 2001, 5) still has a good mileage in it, 6) is NCT'd for at least a year, 7) with a good review, and 8) has an engine size of 1.0 to 1.4.

That's just the preliminary criteria. There were still a lot of things to check when viewing the car. It didn't help, too, that used cars valued at 3k and below get sold sometimes just even a few hours after posting. You don't even get to window shop for other options.

Magalit na ang lahat ng kababaihan sa buong mundo, pero there is a reason why I'm a girl -- I refuse to know squat about cars! I thought I already had my share of looking for cars when I bought Bad Ass. I just couldn't handle the pressure! the confusion! the terms! the constant (and insistent) prodding and nagging of ALL my guy friends!!! AARRGGHHHH!!!

Sidebar: Ito naman si Bad Ass. Nasa ibang CD yung malaki-laking picture ni BA eh hehehe

Anyways, I got this car from Ron's team lead. Ron paid for it, in the meantime, kasi hello wala pa akong ganung money (pressure pressure pressure change of plans bahblahblah). The value was 2300 (natawaran from 2700). It's a good deal, I guess, pero pwede pa yata matawaran sana (because my neighbor Cha bought the same car for only 1900 a week after I bought mine, mas maayos pa car nya, although 2 weekends ago di nya na mastart yung kotse dahil nadiskarga yung battery).

The engine is still good, the mileage high although below average for an 8-yr old car, and met the preliminary criteria mentioned above. I personally preferred a Nissan Micra pero medyo pricey talaga ang mga Asian-made cars dito. Sikat ang mga Japs. Kaso I wouldn't be able to pay for it unless I draw out a loan eh hello di ko pa nga tapos bayaran si Bad Ass.

Yung kailangan ko lang paayos in the near future ay yung muffler, which makes a really noisy sound kapag asa 4th gear (uhrm di ako yung nagdrive, yung may-ari), eh mukhang di ko pa naman mamimeet si 4th gear hanggang maging comfortable ako sa kotse. I also have to have the clutch adjusted kasi nung tinatry ko tapakan yung gears (this after buying the car), of course, di ko abot. Para matapakan ko sya kailangan nakatodo forward yung driver's seat at meron akong cushion sa likod (na by the way ay color old rose). Naka"tingkayad" pa ako nun. Note to self: wag bumili ng kotse galing sa driver na almost 7-ft tall.

Mga Comedy of Errors

1) When we brought the car home and parked it for the first time sa labas ng apartment, I played with the keychain na merong buttons. We all know na di naman central-locking yung car pero hala sige test ng test kung malalock ba ng button ng kusa yung mga pinto. Syempre, controls pala yun ng car alarm. Kaya after nun, kada-bukas or touch naman dun sa kotse, alarm sya ng alarm. Kakahiya sa mga kapitbahay. Kinailangan ko pang iread yung manual para malaman kung pano idisable yung alarm.

2) Nung minamaneho ko yung kotse sa loob ng compound (wala lang, atras-abante at paikot-ikot lang) may isang time (in band camp =P), bigla na lang bumukas yung door sa passenger side. Napa-ngye ako syempre kasi nalimutan ko pala syang isara.

Miscellaneous Items

1) I already went to the Public Services Center to apply for my Provisional License. Nakadalawang-balik pa ako dun kasi yung unang punta ko di ko dala passport ko which is a requirement. Tanga. May-I-prepare-my-things-to-bring pa akong nalalaman eh meron din naman pala akong mamimiss. It doesn't sound like a big deal pero kasi pahirapan magpaalam sa office para magrun ng errands dito (lalo na kung di pa regular) and syempre sayang sa cab fare (di pa naman malalakad yung center).

2) I already have insurance for the car, the value of which is 65% of the car's value. Ouch! Mga ten months ko ring bubunuin yun. Nakadalawang-balik pa ako sa insurance place kasi nung pumunta ako dun ng 28th sarado sila, 29th lang sila nagbukas.

3) Nakapagpaschedule na rin ako for my driving lessons. Magstart ako sa 13th unless magbago isip ng teacher. Wala kasi sya nung december break dahil syempre kahit mga driving teachers nagbabakasyon din. Nakadalawang tawag ako dun kasi nung una akong nagpasked wala pa akong lisensya, eh kailangan meron na, di lang basta-bastang nakapasa sa theory test. Makulit ang lahi ko eh... sinabi na nya sa akin yun nung naginquire ako sa kanya pero syempre I forgot. Proud proud ko pang tumawag sa kanya para magpasked dahil nakapasa na ako sa test. Hmph! Burst my bubble, will you?

Two is a lucky number.