car for sale (or disposal)

i bought my 1998 Accord at the end of college - new, black, clean - in expectation that it would last for 20 years. i am not sure how it happened, but over 10 years have gone by now, and the idea of having it another 10 years is far from reality. how is it that my boyfriend's 1977 VW bus is in better shape?

i was in an accident just over a year ago. i don't quite remember it because in a fraction of a second, i was stopping at a red light and then i was staring at my car hood crumpled in front of me. the car i hit drove away (likely driving without insurance or license or something). i was just starting back to school, and i think i just was spacing on all the work i had to do and changes i was making.

but the insurance reviewer decided it was not worth totalling it. bizarre, because if you had seen this thing, anyone would have been impressed by the insane mess of metal once called the front of my car. it was fixed. then i had to bring it back to the shop because they had not reconnected the transmission correctly. then i had to buy a new battery because, apparently in the accident it had cracked (why the shop did not see this, i do not know), and battery goop was leaking out. then it ran fine for a while (though i really don't drive it much at all). then the engine light came on. and now i need a new transmission.

coincidence? yes, according to the shop and the dealership and my insurance. quite an interesting coincidence, don't you think?

so i decided it's time to get rid of it. Portland is so bike- and transit-friendly that i rarely drive. there is a Zip Car down the street if i decide to sign up for it. insurance costs more than the car is worth to me now.

i'm heading to the Honda dealership this afternoon. there was a recall on something with the ignition (too bad not the transmission!) that will be fixed for free, and i'll speak with a guy in the sales department too.

it's a bit weird that, in the midst of my studying sustainable business, that i'm writing about a car. an object. one that is contributing to global warming and pollution. but it's what i'm stuck dealing with on my "free" day. joys.