Lewis has never bought a car for himself, ever. Usually they arrive on his doorstep, a gift from his family. The last one came on a truck from Florida. A gift from his father. As a result his transportation is reliable but somewhat suspect due to it's hand me down nature.
Talk of a new car came and went over the years, appropriate dinner time conversation for friends who grew up in west Marin at a time where your car cost more than your house, and more importantly was your link to the outside world. Maybe the final straw was his car's pivotal role in the final days of my marriage. An event in which 'Christine' unexpectedly rolled up its window on my ex's arm, requiring her parents to break the glass with a champagne bottle, creating a bonding experience between them, and widening the gulf between us (Lewis, Vasco and I drove up just in time to witness my ex passed out on the grown surrounded by shattered glass). But that's another story for another time.
So, I've kept my eye out for a suitable ride. I found a few BMW wagons but they were generally beat, and the good ones would sell before Lewis got up enough interest to check them out. Fast forward a year, and I'm cruising craigslist and find a good car. I call the owner and forward the mail to Lewis. He's interested but his sedentary life makes it hard for him to leave his house for anything other than surf. Not bad priorities mind you, just slightly at odds with actually purchasing a car. So, at this point I've decided that its my role in life to get Lewis a car. I arrange a meeting for later in the day, the owner drives up in a beautiful 2002 525i, I take it for a ten minute test drive, take him and his car to the bank, withdraw 500 dollars, and call Lewis to tell him I'm placing a deposit on his new car. He's surprisingly ok with this, I guess resigned to my role and accepting of the fact that he will be buying this car unseen. Which is something I could never do, but in Lewis's world it all makes sense, after all he's never really seen any of his other cars before they landed on his doorstep before, so why should it matter now?
After filling out the deposit paperwork I call my garage and arrange a pre-purchase inspection for the following Monday. Monday rolls around and Lewis and I surf mediocre OB and then I drive him down to the mechanic in santa clara and leave him there to see his new car, and go over the paperwork with the owners. my job here is done, mission accomplished, Lewis has avoided the car buying experience. Rudy's only comment is "Lewis, this car is too nice for you".
http://agnoli.posterous.com/deferred-maintenance
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