The first victim of the recession (in Highland, at least), was my princess. “Princess” was a purple 2001 Dodge Stratus. It may not sound like much but, as my first car, she will always have a special place in my heart. For only having 4 cylinders, she sure went fast. We shared many adventures, including going 80 on 29 at 3AM escaping college one night. She was my get-away car. She was also there that night when Charlotte and I got lost in PA and ended up almost entering NY. She stayed with me in good times and in bad.  I could take her anywhere at any time, and she was always there.

The summer before my senior year at Catholic, my parents had nowhere else to turn for money so… byebye Princess. We decided to sell my car on the theory that I would have their white 2004 Chrysler Sebring. I was fine with the idea at the time, as the Sebring had 6 cylinders and a moon roof – more than enough to tempt me.

Horrible idea. Not the car’s fault, really, because I loved it too, almost as much as Princess. The problem was, she wasn’t “mine” in the way that princess was. When my sister learned to drive… the car was hers too. Then, a few months ago, my dad’s car broke, and, the economy being the way it is… the Sebring is his too. Dad and Trina kidnapped my car. At least that’s the way it feels. I have to check the car’s availability now when I want to drive. I feel like a high schooler. Even writing this is making tears come to my eyes.

For the past few months I’ve dealt with this. It’s been alright since I work at home for the most part, but it has been slowly eating away at me. Now, today, when my dad came home from picking up Trina, he announced that my car has a dangerous oil leak and cannot be driven until he fixes it. Which will not be today. Or tomorrow. Or any time in the forseeable future.

I’m panicking. I really need a car. It’s not just a material, logistical, practical need. It’s emotional too. I’ve been beaten down enough and I can’t take it anymore. Its time to buy my third car.

So the question I put to you today is, what kind of car should I get? (Also, where can I get one at a decent price? A few restrictions: no soccer-mom cars. I only get to be 20-something and blonde once. I don’t want anything that looks like I’m 45 and have 3 kids. No thank you. Not now. I want something young and somewhat sporty and adventurous. I like sports cars and smaller SUV. I would probably get a jeep wrangler if I lived in a warmer climate. I would get a Dodge Challenger if I had that kind of money and the size didn’t scare me (I don’t want to bust my headlights in the parking lot on the first day). I prefer American cars, but I’m open (slightly!) to other possibilities.

So, keeping in mind that I don’t have a whole lot of money either… any ideas?