My Rabbit

It was not just my car; it was my sense of independence, a good company in gloomy days... 

So, in Feb 2007 - i finally managed to learn driving. I still remember Sardarji (my driving instructor) shouting at me "Give the gas", "push accelerator"... 

After getting license, I started looking for a car. I wanted a reasonable priced car for a couple of years. Almost everyone suggested me to buy a used Toyota or Honda. Somehow I didn't feel excited about it. I checked couple of used cars, but as soon you enter the car, you feel that it is someone else’s and you are driving it just for the sole purpose of transportation. So, used cars have been eliminated. I checked almost every model that fit in my range - Mazda2, Nissan Versa & Sentra, Toyota corolla, Honda fit etc. Although Honda & Toyota were most reliable, every other guy had it, and it is boring. Nissan and Mazda were strictly ok. Then, one day UJ randomly told me about Volkswagen rabbit. Next day I went for test drive, I fell in love with it at first test drive. It felt like MY car, a small 2 door hatchback (exactly as I wanted) car, with nice pick-up, 150 hp engine (better than civic). Everyone told me not to buy it - VW is not that reliable, its 2 door - so problematic when your parents will come, etc. etc. But, I knew - that was MY RABBIT. 

I had awesome time with my rabbit. I used to love driving my rabbit; it was not a surprise that it got 12,000 miles in first year :). It played a major role in developing the feeling of independence in me. With my rabbit with me, I do not need any other company. Many times, when I felt lonely, I used to just take my rabbit and go on for a drive in the woods of the evergreen Redmond. With my rabbit with me - I won't think twice before going to a place couple of hundreds of miles away, anytime of the day, driven by some stupid impulsive idea. I just loved driving my rabbit to the beautiful road to hurricane ridge and lake crescent, around the ocean in San Juan Island etc. 

With Seattle, I have to leave my Rabbit as well. But, I am happy that it has been bought by another rabbit lover (the guy used to own a Rabbit earlier in Spain and was looking specifically for Rabbit). 

Even if somehow I would manage to learn driving in Indian traffic, and get a car, but I do not think anyone can take place of my rabbit.