First, I must say that Car Talk (and consequently Ray and Tommy) have been part my life since the early 80's when I first discovered the program shortly after I graduated from BU (SFA '79). Fast forward 40 years and I am, for the first time in my life, using a vehicle donation program for which I received an email about 2 weeks ago from Ray. (Miss you, Tommy!)
The car I am donating is a 2004 Chrysler PT Cruiser which I bought new in April of 2004. This was a "dream car" for me as it had the look of vehicles from the 30's & 40's that my Dad drove, and I've always loved those styles! When the Cruiser was introduced and had "the look", I couldn't believe it! It was the first time in my life that I wanted a car, as opposed to "needing" one. As luck would have it, the car I was driving at the time (a Saturn) developed a leak in the head gasket and the cost of repair was greater than the value of the vehicle at that time. I was lucky enough to find a basic Cruiser from a local dealer at a really good price (<14K) and snagged it! Thus began my wonderful 17 year "relationship" with my PT Cruiser.
I knew the Cruiser was deliberately designed to be a flexible "carrier", but I was stunned at how well the designers succeeded at this goal. I nicknamed my Cruiser the "TARDIS" because it always seemed bigger on the inside than from the outside. The ability to fold down each of the split rear seatbacks as well as the front passenger seatback, and be able to "tumble" each of the rear seats and/or remove them from the vehicle entirely (so simple to do!) made for an incredibly versatile and adaptable interior. The seats were surprisingly comfortable, and I have never found a car that has been as easy to enter or exit - period! Being "old school" I deliberately ordered the vehicle with a 5-speed manual and this car was SO MUCH FUN to drive!!!
This was my sole vehicle for the next 9 years and 110K miles! It hauled tons of marching band stuff when my daughter was in high school, as well as large volumes of materials to the Renaissance (Ren.) Fairs in which my daughter was working and performing. It easily accommodated 8-foot-long lumber (2x4's, 2x6's, etc.) and still allow the rear hatch to close. It was a great "road car" and we took it all over New England. It was unbeatable for runs to the grocery store or garden center and any other errand that involved "hauling stuff", not to mention getting to and from work everyday. For years it took us to visit friends around Christmastime, and it earned the car another nickname: The Christmas Cruiser. (I would put a small artificial tree with battery-powered lights in the back window.) Perhaps most importantly, the vehicle was a "touchpoint" for me to my Dad; I couldn't be in it without thinking of him. (FYI: He lived until 2015 to 103 years!)
In 2013, with over 110K on the car and having just acquired a job with over an hour commute in each direction, we decided to put the Cruiser into semi-retirement and replaced it as my primary vehicle with a Dodge Caravan. A major reason for this decision was that I never wanted to get rid of the Cruiser, even if that meant keeping it just as a hobby. I continued to use the Cruiser for just about everything not work-related for the next 8 years, and having it with me helped immensely when my Dad died in 2015. But you can't change the laws of physics, and without a garage to keep the car from the elements and the ravages of salt and water, rust won out in the end. There never was any rust-through on the outer body, but the sub-frame and other under-carriage components didn't fair as well and the ultimate cost of compensating for that wear became more than I could muster.
And so I was faced with parting with this wonderful machine that has meant so much to me in making memories and providing untold driving fun, and it seemed "right" that I give a little something back to WBUR, my alma mater, and to Car Talk, whose hosts would truly understand what a car like that meant to a guy like me; ya, totally irrational! (I'm sure Ray would call me a "knucklehead" :).)
I must share with you my wonderful experience with Gina, the young lady with the WBUR Vehicle Donation Program with whom I worked on the phone. She was SO understanding and helpful in getting me all set up to donate this vehicle. She truly was the "final link" in a 17-year-long process that came full circle. As much as I would like to think that someone with more means than I would restore this car, it is equally important to know that whatever its fate it will give a little something back those who have given so much to me. Thank you, Gina, for "holding my hand" to help me move forward. And thank you all for at WBUR for enriching my life for the past >40 years and helping to inform me so that I can continue to make informed and productive decisions.
Mark donated a 2004 Chrysler PT Cruiser to WBUR through the Car Talk Vehicle Donation Program.
Thank you, Mark!