Monday, April 12, 2010

Why I Went To Merida

One of the saddest days of my life here in Mexico was the day I realized I had to take my Jeep Wrangler back to the USA and sell it. The sea air here was killing it quickly. I would rather sell it to a good home than watch it turn into an undriveable rust bucket down here.

And I did find a good home for it. Sold it to a guy with two young boys who were going to use it for "boys only" camping trips into the wilderness of Wisconsin and Minnesota. I was happy that it went to such an adventurous home.

But I miss it. Top down, fresh air, sun blazing in on me. Just the feeling of freedom it gave me. So now that the Pointer is severly suffering from cancer of the sea air, it was time to look around for something different. Of course, the first thing that entered my head was to get a Jeep or some similar type vehicle.

We are done driving those long trips and distances in Mexico. I just can't do it anymore. The four hour drive to Merida is about all I can handle. So, not needing a locking trunk anymore or the security of a regular car with glass windows, off we went to Merida.

Like Cancun, Merida has an auto tiangus, or auto swap. The one in Merida is held in front of the old penetentiary and is huge. Huge. Lots of choices. On the really plus side, most of these cars have spent their entire lives in the Yucatan, well away from the damaging and corrosive effects of the sea air.

So......look what we found!




It's a 1998 Chevy Tracker. I'm not saying that it is perfect, but it sure is making me happy! Plus it is an automatic and has power steering! Both lacking in the Pointer. I must say though, I do prefer a stick shift. Just seems more like I am driving when I have to shift. It is nice not to have to keep pushing the clutch in though.




I very rarely name my cars. Only twice in my life have I done that. I had a 1975 Chevy Vega that I named Victor Vega and that car just ran and ran. It had to since I totally ignored all maintenance on it. Young and foolish and other priorities. The next one was my little 1995 Ford Fiesta that I used for commuting from the farm to Minneapolis to work. I simply called it the Zipmobile because it truly zipped me around everywhere with ease.

So, any suggestions for names? I think it is a boy.

18 comments:

ronnie said...

How about Jack the Track???

Mic said...

Hope the Blue Bomb holds up for you. He's quite handsome :-)

Anonymous said...

Topper !!!
carl/debbie

Calypso said...

Hey GREAT choice! I keep seeing Trackers around here with a covetous eye.

Did you sell or trade the pointer? I will probably send you email to pry about details ;-)

Well I am already using Cruise Azul for my scooter(Cruz Azul also happens to be my favorite futbol team). Bluebird, BlueFly, Blues Tracker (if you happen to like to listen to the Blues too ;-)

Jackie said...

Looks like he is in pretty good shape for a 1998 model. Definitely a boy since he is blue.

Anonymous said...

Looks like Tommy to me! My Volvo wagon is named Lars.

"Island Nana"

Unknown said...

okay....Im gonna give it up to you because you keep me so well informed on my favorite island in the world....

I say call it "Aquaholic".
That was my fiancee's email name before he passed away (3 weeks before our wedding). Seems perfect to me...it's blue like the water...surrounded by water and who wouldn't love that? And I'd like to think Aquaholic was there since it was he that first brought me to Isla Mujeres.

Lemme know what you think!

Gloria, Roanoke, VA

jeanie said...

LMAO Wayne! We had the same car but the Pontiac version "Sunrunner" It came with a hardtop that had a sunroof and a ragtop. I loved that little car. I especially loved how handy it was to get groceries. You can flip the back seats down and the entire backend lifts up.

KfromMichigan said...

Congrats! You got a cute BlueBoy car!

Sue said...

So cute! I am going to ask you more about this in a few days. My first name that came to mind was 'little blue'. After pondering the picture the other name I like is 'vamos!'.

Islagringo said...

Great suggestions! A few of them have even been put on the list for consideration. I'm surprised only one person thought of anything in Spanish though. I'll keep you posted!

Calypso said...

Wayne's Waggin! or is that braggin'

dean billingsley said...

How about the ""salza buggy"

Steve Cotton said...

OK. Here are two.

The obvious: soul azul. Or if you are really feeling edgy: curul azul.

I hereby grant you a personal license for all copyright interests in this intellectual property.

Jane said...

Tracker could be a boy. Zipmobile was a very adventurous girl, after you left "the farm." LOL

Paul and Robyn said...

we have always called them Kackers.

Charles said...

Hi Wayne - it looks brand new! I have been following your blog for some time as I will be heading SOB when I retire at this time next year. I'm planning to sell my 2008 Lexus IS 250 before moving - as it is definitely not a Mexicoach and most likely would be gone in 72 hours or less! Can I be so brazen as to ask an approximate price in pesos doled out for your Caribbean Cucaracha?

Laughing Orca Ranch said...

Sweet!

Looks like a Tucker to me. :)


~Lisa