Wednesday, July 20, 2005

still unresolved

I have no idea what I am going to do with my car. I don't want to take it with me to Cambridge. I bought it 17 months ago on a 0% 36-month loan with no money down. Which means I'm about halfway done paying for it. I have no idea how much I could sell it for now. If somebody wanted to rent it while I was gone, I have no idea what would be a fair price to ask. I don't know what options I might have for storing it. I don't even know how exactly to go about figuring out answering these questions. Sometimes I feel like I am forever Not Ready For Prime Time, at least in terms of the basic demands of acumen required in This Modern World. Or at least like the sort of person who begins to feel overwhelmed by circumstances that normal people wouldn't even find whelming at all.

I need one of those WWJD bracelets, only instead of being a bracelet it would look like a watch, and instead of the "J" it would have different initials at different locations on the dial for which friend would be the best choice to try to channel in a particular situation. Here, I suspect, I would have it set to What Would Tom Bozzo Do?

24 comments:

Tom Bozzo said...

If I were you, I'd sell the car to Nina. I'm assuming your Cambridge rent doesn't include a parking space, though I don't know that the recommendation would change if it did.

Making some semi-informed guesses about your car's equipment and mileage (I think I was parked next to it at Borders once), an arm's-length selling price would be in the vicinity of $12,000-$12,500.

Anonymous said...

What about the RV?

nina said...

Thanks, Tom. I actually do appreciate greatly your remembering that I am at present without an automobile.

jeremy said...

Nina: Do you have 12K-12.5K laying around? Or, maybe I could trade you straight up the car for those two awesome stools you have in your kitchen.

Ang said...

I know that's just a joke, but man, those stools really are awesome. Even if they cost like twelve thousand bucks.

Vicky Simpleton said...

Ever since I sat on one, I've been looking all over for stools like the ones in Nina's kitchen. They are way more comfortable than the seats in my car...

jeremy said...

I've suspected that sitting on one those stools for an hour a day might cause immortality.

Anonymous said...

I'm sure you know this already, but www.kbb.com is a good place to start, as far as figuring out a fair asking price.

Anonymous said...

Sanity speaks. Keep the car. Bring it to Cambridge. You are in a GREAT neighborhood for finding street parking (you'll have a sticker that allows parking all over Cambridge!)
But more. There are so many places you'll want to drive to around Cambridge. The Cape, sure. But New Hampshire and Vermont, too. Only an hour or two away. And don't forget Rhode Island (I could tell you soooo much). Without a car, oh guy you won't like it. Sure, you can rent one when you need to, but to escape for a couple of hours even out to Concord or .... (well, I'll save that for another time). THINK MAN.

nina said...

(Apparently, some have read my earlier comment as suggesting that Nina did not have the money in order to purchase my car. I did not mean to suggest this. Apologies.)

Ang said...

Ooh, ooh! After you move, a bunch of us could caravan up to see your new digs and, basically, eat all your food and drink all your beer. Then you'd have your car but wouldn't have to drive up yourself or pay for that service thing they have.

Anonymous said...

Anon 5:26 left out Maine. But seriously, do you expect to sit around Cambridge every weekend? No one does....

Anonymous said...

5:26 and 8:32 apparently don't go to Connecticut. Very close to Cambridge (with a car).

Anonymous said...

Jeremy, can you get Nina to post a picture of her kitchen stools for those of us who have not seen them?

Anonymous said...

...take the car, park the car, drive the car.

Anonymous said...

drive the car to cambridge. seems to me that this may be a great opportunity for you to buy more books for the iPod. for my 10 hour drive from ann arbor to philly - i'm debating b/w learning something (like german philosophical writings from the 19th C) or hearing the "DaVinci Code" - a book i'd never read but that tom hanks movie's coming out soon! - catherine

Anonymous said...

So, you'll have others carting you around once you get to Cambridge? Is that the guy you are?

Ann Althouse said...

Jeremy: Remember when Tonya wrote "I can't be driving some dude around. That's just crazy." Think about it!

jeremy said...

But: why was everyone telling me I wouldn't need a car in Cambridge, until I paid through the nose to get an apartment that was close to everything, and now everyone is telling me I should bring my car out there?

Tom Bozzo said...

Jeremy, you can see the brief comments thread here for a counterpoint/intrusion into your affairs.

Anonymous said...

You DON'T need a car IN Cambridge. You need a car to GET OUT of Cambridge. During work days, you WILL walk and enjoy doing it. Go into Boston, take the T (if you like, but not on a special night date). You will walk a lot in Boston. BUT ....
You posted a map, so I see you can easily find a place to park (on Francis Ave., if not on your street). That's great! Rare in Cambridge. Good location.
You'll visit Harvard 'scholars' in their homes — often in the suburbs. You'll need a car to get out to Lexington, Lincoln, Concord etc.

Anonymous said...

It's true: best for you to be in the middle of Cambridge (where you'll be). And have a car to get out of Cambridge — not vice versa.
Get some beer or whatever and invite folks in after a Harvard day. They'll love it (oh, maybe some cheese on hand). Things will take off from there.

Anonymous said...

Bring your car (sell it there if you find you don't want it).

Ann Althouse said...

Jeremy: Close-to-Harvard apartment + car = the belt and suspenders of seduction.