Lots of 8’s without being crazy.

So I ran a few errands yesterday. Dropped off a big bag of empties to the Mohawk Hudson Humane Society (they’re finally taking bottles and cans again, so every 5c deposit bottle and can garners them 8c in donations). Zipped over to Walmart to purchase a few kitchen items.

And on the way home, I noticed something on my odometer.

Pulled over.

Took a picture. Say cheese, Dracourage.

Yep, I hit 88,888 miles.

Okay, it’s not as big of a deal as hitting 50,000 miles or 100,000 miles or making the dang odometer turn after a million miles, but I’ll take cute moments like this where I can.

What a long, fruitful trip this car has gone through. This 2013 Chevrolet Cruze “Dracourage” was new-to-me in June 2016, and although I never thought a car could replace my previous chariot, this one has earned its awards along the way.

And you know me. If I feel confident about something, I’ll back it like it’s a new vaccine. I scrimped and saved, getting a six-year car loan paid off in 2 1/2 years. Dracourage is mine, free and clear.

I’ve replaced a few things on the car – natural maintenance stuff like tires and brakes and windshield wiper blades; unnatural things like coils and hoses. Drove it to an eclipse in South Carolina in 2017; drove it to Niagara Falls a few times, so that was fun as well.

But now, I’m starting to think. Should I consider replacing Dracourage? Getting a new Chevrolet, or maybe another certified pre-owned? I mean, the Chevrolet Volt would make for a nice pre-owned. Or maybe getting the Bolt itself as a new car.

Or maybe it’s time to move up in the world. Get a Camaro. Or a Corvette. Something with muscle.

Or maybe it’s time to get a big black pickup truck. A Silverado. Or a Yukon Denali.

Still, after all that thinking … I’m going to keep Dracourage for a little while longer.

The car’s paid for. That means every month, I’m saving a car payment.

The car gets 30mpg combined. That’s pretty decent.

And I’ve maintained a proper fluid ratio – changing the oils and liquids as required.

But my big question will come at the next mileage marker. That’s when I hit 100,000 miles. For the moment I reach that milestone, my extended warranty ends. And unless I can figure out a way to generate a new extended warranty, and not get one of those “we’re calling you about your car’s extended warranty” phone calls, I’m not sure how I’ll deal with this in the future.

But that future is less than 12,000 miles away.

Wow. Four and a half years with Dracourage.

That’s one helluva ride.

So let’s put some more miles on this bad boy, shall we?

Yes, let’s.