Is it normal to be in your mid 30's still be driving your first car?

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23 Comments

In my case I received a 1977 Gremlin when I was 18. It had been my parents and they gave it to me for graduating high school. I have never had a high paying job and have kept fixing the Gremlin on a regular basis. Sometimes I get repair tips from truckers I meet at this truck stop I hang out at. It's rear wheel drive and kinda bad in snow but I make do. Everyone tells me it's time to get a new car but I don't know. Is it normal to be in your mid 30's and still be driving your first car, in my case a 1977 Gremlin?

Voting Results
80% Normal
Based on 30 votes (24 yes)
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Comments ( 23 )
  • ScreechPowers
    10 years ago

    The extra garbage weight seems to be helping. The roads are super icy right now and I only slid off the road twice on my way home from the truck stop tonight! In the summer the gremlin is a great car.

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  • [Old Memory]
    10 years ago

    You're like Al Bundy.

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    • ScreechPowers
      10 years ago

      I like that. But I believe his Dodge was a bit nicer then my Gremlin!

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  • dirtybirdy
    10 years ago

    Duuuude, I would so totally hang out with you.

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    • ScreechPowers
      10 years ago

      Thanks!

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  • Legion
    9 years ago

    i say not normal as in not common, as most people tend to wreck their first car or just wear it to nothing before then. lucky you that yours has stuck around for so long, especially a 70s AMC. i love them, and their damn near bulletproof, but very bad with rusting apart. (amc era jeeps doubly so) I've got two 70s jeeps that are so rusted out, I've had sheet metal and steel bars welded to them to keep the whole damn thing from buckling in half(theyre woods toys now).

    of course, if you can keep the rust managed, that gremlin will be around forever more.

    of course, 70s cars in general seem to rust easily.

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  • Somesortofname
    9 years ago

    Dude well done!! If it's not robbing your wallet in repairs, mad props to you! Congrats!!!

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    • ScreechPowers
      9 years ago

      Thanks! I did put on some new tires, this last winter was rough. But other than that she runs great!

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  • Lex.Mercatoria
    10 years ago

    It is not normal in that most people in their mid-30s aren't still using their first car. However, that doesn't mean one should behave like everyone else in this regard.

    I salute you for not following the consumerist crowd.

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    • ScreechPowers
      10 years ago

      Thanks Lex. My trusty Gremlin seems to have gotten me through another winter!

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  • Avant-Garde
    10 years ago

    There is Absolutely nothing wrong with that. As they say,"Keep on trucking".

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  • ScreechPowers
    10 years ago

    I've decided to put all my garbage in the trunk for now. That should add a bit of weight.

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    • dirtybirdy
      10 years ago

      Does this junk in the trunk make my car look fat?

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      • ScreechPowers
        10 years ago

        I've begun throwing all my heavier trash into my car so I can get a little traction. It's ridiculous but needed.

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        • dirtybirdy
          10 years ago

          What you need to do is come pick me up, we'll grab a few more people, we'll put some Bohemian Rhapsody on, pretend its a Pacer and rock that shit.

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          • ScreechPowers
            10 years ago

            Sounds like a good time man! Wayne's world was some good stuff.

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  • ScreechPowers
    10 years ago

    I hate that on nights like tonight when it snows I can't go out. The Gremlin us just awful in the snow and I wouldn't want to put anyone at risk if I started sliding around.

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    • Hugh*Janus
      10 years ago

      Put some weight in the trunk for better traction.

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      • ScreechPowers
        10 years ago

        Thanks, I always have some bags of cat litter in the trunk during the winter. Adds weight, and is useful for traction when the Gremlin inevitably gets stuck. Weight helps a little but not much.

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        • Hugh*Janus
          10 years ago

          Well you need a substantial amount. Cat litter is not much. Try sand or concrete and strategically place it.

          Where do you live??

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          • ScreechPowers
            10 years ago

            I live in the northeast. We are getting hammered right now with snow. The Gremlin won't be going anywhere for at least a day. Thanks for the tips, I'll see if I can get to the dump and find some concrete blocks to out in the trunk.

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  • ScreechPowers
    10 years ago

    It's got quite a bit of rust. Especially the car antenna for some reason!

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  • Rick_Bawls
    10 years ago

    How rusty is your car?

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