Last week, when I pointed out my car parked outside the window at the Austin Shabby Slips, I got a few comments about it. Mrs. Blandings said she had always taken me for a Lexus girl. Nah, not moi! Another email comment was not quite as kind.
But, in all honesty – I love my Jeep Commander. I happen to think it’s one of the cutest cars on the road (Oh, ok - after the Range Rover or the Mercedes G-class truck, of course.) To me, a car’s worth is it’s “cuteness,” as opposed to its abilities or good gas mileage – two things the Commander is surely lacking. I had wanted a Jeep for ages and ages, but my husband always “surprised” me with some other car, like a Ford (twice) and a Chevrolet another time - both, really sexy cars. So, I waited a long time for my Jeep, in fact I’ve been waiting since this:
This is the Jeep I really wanted – the old, great Grand Wagoneer with the faux wood side panels. Isn’t this gorgeous? I honestly don’t know why they don’t make these anymore especially since there is a large market for these old beauties. This particular car is for sale for around $26,000. Pretty expensive for a car that probably didn’t even cost near that when it was first built back in 1987. Few American cars hold their value like this. For some reason I like square cars – in fact I don’t think I’ve ever even owned an aerodynamically designed auto. I just don’t care for those sleek lines - I LIKE to block the wind with a big mass of iron and steel.
Truth be told, I would have been thrilled with the Jeep Wrangler. In fact, I wanted it, but Ben didn’t think it was sturdy enough for in town freeway driving. I’m sure Jeep USA would disagree. But the Wrangler sure is cute, isn’t it? At any rate, I was ecstatic and very grateful when I got my Jeep, vintage or not. It’s my favorite car I’ve ever owned – until today that is.
This one really used to be my “dream” car – a Range Rover. You know, for driving in the Sahara to carpool.
I’d even settle for the cheaper version – the Land Rover (but even the cheaper version is out of my price range!) It’s great for all that mountain driving we do in Houston. But over the years, these cars lost their luster for me. Their sharp, square look became less severe, more mainstream. Besides, another car came along to take its place.
Lately, my absolute dream of dreams, lottery-type dreams, is this car – the Mercedes G series. Ahhhhhh. It doesn’t get much squarer than this – or more expensive, unfortunately. This one will always be a dream – it’s not going to happen in my lifetime. Although, it has happened for my teenaged daughter, sort of. Her boyfriend drives this car. The brat! ha-ha!! Well, in his defense, it is a used, hand-me-down from his father, but still. My daughter is high-faluting it around town in MY dream car! Doesn’t seem fair!
But all is not lost for me. Today, when I least expected it, I finally found MY car – the one that was MADE just for me. It’s amazing, to tell you truth. It’s like they had me in mind when they conjured up this beauty. I don’t really care what it costs, it’s going to be mine! I’m placing the order for it today. Shhh – don’t tell my husband though! It’s a surprise for him! He’s going to love it just as much! hee-hee!!
Yes! A TOILE car! And it’s even French - how fabulous is that?!!!! It’s a Peugeot. And check out the Louis XVI seats. I mean, why hasn’t anyone thought of this before? I am SO buying this car!! Don’t even BOTHER telling me how much it is. I DON’T CARE!!!!!!
Check out the rear. I even love the toile pattern that Peugeot used. And thank God, they picked blue and white toile! I might not have wanted to buy the car if it was a red and white toile, or a green and white pattern. Brown and white toile would have been just as good, though. I love how you can see the rounded seat backs of the French chairs in the rear window.
Now, that’s some paint job. Notice how perfectly the pattern is matched where the hood opens. That takes ability and talent. Whoever fauxed this car deserves the big bucks, not that faux painters are starving or anything.
And it’s a mini-van! So convenient for the carpool kids!!! And finally – no seatbelts. God, I hate seatbelts so much. One thing though, I think I would have slipcovered the chairs. Easier to keep clean, of course. Plus, I would have put seagrass matting inside the car instead of carpet – it would blend much better and be more stylish. And I might replace the back chairs for a French settee – I could get more people in the car with the settee. And curtains? I probably would add tortoise shell blinds to the back window – keep the sun out…….And, let’s see, what else?????
Leave it to the French to come up with this beauty. No one, I mean no one, does it better than the French. Viva la France! OK, I’m off to transfer the funds to Paris. Au revoir!
Thank you to Beadboard UpCountry in Brenham, Texas for the tip! Be sure to visit their web site here AND if you go to Round Top or you just happen to be anywhere near Chappell Hill or Brenham, stop by and visit. Beadboard UpCountry is the best decor store in the Brenham area – by far!