Back in the late 80s and early 90s, when I was in high school, we had a specific word for cars that were a bit past their prime: hoopty. It’s a slang term, and it perfectly describes that old, maybe slightly worn-out vehicle that still gets you from point A to point B. My first car, a bright yellow 1976 Chevy Nova I got in 1991, was definitely a hoopty. We even nicknamed it the Banana Boat. Funny enough, even now, I still drive what you might call a hoopty, and honestly, I wouldn’t have it any other way.
My current ride is a 2006 Dodge Grand Caravan, a rather common silvery blue. When I first got it back in 2007, these vans were everywhere! I even remember a few times in the Target parking lot almost getting into the wrong van of the same color. These days, you don’t see as many around. While others have moved on to newer models, mine is still going strong with 146,000 miles on the clock. This past summer, it needed some bigger repairs – brakes, a radiator, and a new battery. But aside from these more significant fixes, it’s been surprisingly inexpensive to maintain over the years.
My spouse drives a 2001 Acura TL, which we bought in 2010. It’s got those amazing heated seats and a sunroof, truly some of the best car features ever invented. With just over 170,000 miles, it runs smoothly, and we’ve had very few issues with it. This is our “nicer” car, the one we take for date nights, mostly because it’s easier to park in the city and makes us feel just a touch more sophisticated than rolling up in the van. Just a touch, though.
The best part about both these cars? They’re paid off. And honestly, with today’s car prices, new car payments just aren’t in our budget. But that’s perfectly fine because I genuinely enjoy driving my older car. Sure, the back sliding door needs to be manually locked and unlocked. The rear cupholders are broken. And yes, there’s a strip of duct tape holding down some loose weather stripping on the driver’s side roof. So what?
This reliable old van gets me where I need to go, and I’m not throwing away hundreds of dollars every month on car payments. Plus, if something spills inside, it’s no big deal because it’s not a brand-new interior. Crumbs on the seats and floor? They get vacuumed out a couple of times a year. Kids will be kids, and I’m not about to tell them they can’t eat or drink in the car, especially on long trips. The exterior has its fair share of bumps, dings, and scratches of all shapes and sizes. At this point, I’m way past worrying about appearances. It’s safe to drive, and that’s what truly matters. And when it rains? Free car wash, courtesy of Mother Nature! For my budget, these older, Hoopty Cars are a real blessing.
These cars have carried my kids, safely buckled in their car seats, to countless family gatherings and doctor appointments. We’ve taken family vacations to many states on the East Coast in these vehicles. Softball games, trips to Chinatown for delicious dim sum, and beach days have all been made possible thanks to these older vehicles. We even tackled the bumpy, unpaved Heintooga Round Bottom Road in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park in that van. I’m pretty sure the shocks will never be quite the same after that adventure! Bumpity bump indeed!
When these cars finally reach the end of their road and it’s time to donate them to veterans or a children’s charity, it will be because they’ve been driven to their absolute limit and used to their fullest potential. If I can get a little philosophical for a moment, that’s how I want to live my life too – fully used up, embracing all the scrapes and dings along the way.
Eventually, our trusty vehicles will be replaced with gently used cars that someone else has traded in. We made the decision to stop buying new cars a while ago because it’s just too expensive. And leasing? That feels like a never-ending payment cycle – no escape!
So, if you see me driving around, windows down, with 80’s hits or worship music blasting, and a bit of duct tape glinting in the sun, just know there’s still plenty of life left in that old van. And I plan to enjoy every last mile. Life is a journey – enjoy the ride, even if it’s in a hoopty car!
