Introducing....

... the Rolling Toad!!!
On Friday we took the car in to get a re-test for the emissions test that has to be done in Ontario. They did a diagnostics, gave us a conditional pass because it was too expensive for it to be fixed within the confines of the emissions program and sent us on our way.
Saturday morning Craig went to play football and at 1:30pm called me and told me the clutch had dropped out of the car and he was stranded. I went and picked him up and we went and checked out the prices to have it fixed. The cost was more than the car was worth. Our sickly looking Rolling TURD had run its last mile.
So, what were we to do? We went looking at used cars. The first place we went to the guy kept saying the car was "mint" - like 50 times. We almost believed him until they had to boost the battery. It was then that he informed us the battery was shot. Mint - ya right!
We drove around looking at dealerships and stumbled upon one that had a lot of nice cars on the lot. We drove in and talked to the owner and he told us he had just gotten "our" car in from a Mazda dealership as a trade in. It was being detailed but we were able to go and take a look at it. At first we were a little shocked at how green it was. Really green. Once we got past that we took a good look - power doors, windows, CD player, sunroof, brand new tires, perfect upolestry and a tonneau to cover the back of the wagon. We made arrangements to come back on Sunday for a test drive.
We continued on our way and kept looking and got up early on Sunday and went looking again, but something pulled us back to the Toad. We test drove a few but nothing really clicked. We headed back up to the dealership and took it out for a spin. We were thrilled. It drove like a dream. We drove it down bumpy roads, took it up to 100, took the boys for a spin and booted around town. We had found our car.

In its later life we called the Neon the Rolling Turd as it really had become a crappy car. BUT, it got us where we needed to go and that's all we asked. We loved that car. It was the first thing Craig and I bought together and it has followed us wherever we have gone. It was sad to say goodbye. We did take some souvenirs though - the jack and spare tire - haha! (after all, it was going to the junk yard)

So, in saying that - I named the new car the Rolling TOAD due to its intense green color. It's so cute I might just call it the Toad! We pick her up at 1pm and I am so excited! I've decided she's a she as I'm sick of being out numbered in this family. It's time to even things up a little!