Please Welcome The New Member of Our (automotive) Family

Handsome isn't he? Hardly looks a day over twenty let alone his actual age of twenty three. Born in 1995 of simple Ford parents, this Escort wagon originated from the West coast. Purchased by our son Colton  and his wife Tab back in his Navy/Seattle days, it has definitely seen some road time but still, has only 160,000 miles and runs like a charm.

How do charms "run" by the way? I have no idea.

When compared to my 2000 Dodge Neon with 233,000 miles and Keith's 2002 Ford F-150 with 236,000 miles, this wagon seems almost juvenile.

He was a recent gift to us by the same son and wife who gave us my Dodge Neon in 2014 when I returned to college. They were ready for an upgrade and knew the Neon would not likely get them much in trade in value, so it was gifted to us. Same deal now four years later with the Ford Escort Wagon.

I am thrilled to have these cars, as our son did an excellent job of maintaining his vehicles and both the cars still have a lot of life in them. In the past I would use the Neon for my running around and Keith used the truck if my car was unavailable. His truck is a real gas hog, so the Escort wagon will likely become his get-to-work-vehicle and/or my thrifting vehicle. It has lots of run in the back.

What we will spend in insuring, fueling and registering this fine new bucket of bolts (with a schmancy -fancy radio I might add) will be a fair amount less than what we spent in gas alone for the truck. The big red monster will now be reserved for those trips where it is absolutely needed such as running to Menards for building supplies, pulling the livestock trailer to the locker, hauling home piglets this fall, or taking fifty broilers to Arthur, Illinois for processing; a trip planned for September.

None of the vehicles will be housed in garages, since we don't have one, and they all have little flaws, but when combined, our fleet of automotives should get us through the next five years or so. We hope, we hope, we hope.