I'm about to become a former Saturn owner

[EuterpeThelo]

11. You'll love the Chevy!

I drove Toyota Corollas exclusively from 1999-2019 (two different ones, both made at the NUMMI plant in Fremont, CA, so I was giving my fellow Americans/Californians jobs by buying a Toyota!).

When the second one hit 230,000 miles, its water pump was failing and it was gonna cost more to replace than the car was worth at that point. I donated it to KPFK Pacifica Radio and got a $700 tax write-off while supporting progressive media!

My now-late husband was a musician, so we rented cars all the time when he was on the road. Every time I got a Chevy Cruze, I just loved the way it drove and looked. So, when it was time to say goodbye to "The Cherry Bomb" (the second of those Corollas, so named because it was Venetian Red), I sought out a Cruze.

I found a gorgeous 2012 2LT with just 75,000 miles on it at Mercedes Benz of Encino on CarGurus, went and kicked its tires, test drove it and bought it the same day. Black with a black leather interior, so I named it Baphomet. The only feature it didn't have that I wanted was the moonroof, but DAMN, the price was right at $7,000.

Broke it in with my daily, unforgiving, 1-2 hours each way L.A. commute for six months and then...the world shut down in March of 2020. I've been fortunate enough to work from home ever since.

Upshot, the car's long since been paid off and it's still got just 90,000 miles on it. It was produced with union labor at the Lordstown, Ohio plant that ended up shuttered during the failed economic policies of Trump's first term. I love, love, love my car.

Please do report back in a few weeks and let us know how you're enjoying that new Chevy, and congratulations!