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After much debate I traded in my old car under the Cash for Clunkers program. I almost debated too long, as the dealer was getting nervous at the news that the program was going to come to a screeching halt after just one week.

The fate of the not particularly trustworthy Mercedes troubles me. It seems a waste on so many levels not to strip the vehicle of its most usable parts and recycle them. Once the dealer does the required procedure to disable the engine, the old 300E can’t even be a donor vehicle for those folks who are still trying to keep their 20-year-old MBZs alive.

On the other hand, a car that continuously dripped toxic transmission fluid and motor oil everywhere it went has been removed from the roads. It will no longer be contributing to nasty run-off into our waterways. It also won’t be burning as much fuel or emitting as many toxins into the air. Granted, I don’t drive much, but when I did , I was a super-polluter every mile I went.

Another factor in my decision was knowing that my old car was not going to last much longer. The repair costs were quickly adding up to more than it was worth. A cursory tally of needed maintenance showed well over $2000 of work just to keep the clunker safe and sound on the road. I’m getting older, but I’m not that old. This was obviously not a car that was going to last me into my golden years.

In addition, OKC is not getting mass transit any time soon. Every time I teach a class, go to church, or just go out to buy milk I have to drive. I can’t avoid it. I finally decided that if I was going to get around today, tomorrow, and many years into the future, I was going to need a more reliable ride.

In rolls the Hyundai Accent: cute, fuel efficient, a certified ultra-low emission vehicle, and amazingly affordable after the $4500 clunker cash. The dealer also offered an additional cash rebate and a discount for hail damage. I bought the car for half its original price.

The upfront cost and the increased insurance premiums make me a little woozy. However, with a 100,000 mile warranty, I’m fairly confident that I’ll get my money’s worth out of the vehicle.

No more leaking of toxic fluids. No more gas guzzling. No more excess emissions. Just me in my little green car zipping around the city listening to XM Satellite Radio.

On my way home from church (a beautiful Palm Sunday service, BTW, at St. Paul’s Episcopal Cathedral) my trip counter turned over 90 miles for the year. This would put me on track to hit about 360 miles for the year, which is in line with last year’s mileage. Actually, I think I will go over that since the bridge on the main road coming out of my neighborhood recently closed for repairs and I now have to detour in a large loop east or west to get anywhere. That adds about 1.5 miles to each trip.

I’ve taken some of the financial pain out of maintaining the car by insuring it as a vehicle for “pleasure” driving as opposed to a commuter vehicle. This cut the insurance premiums by almost a third.

I don’t drive for pleasure, more out of the occasional necessity. Then again, it is a pleasure to go to church and the library, so perhaps that is an apt description.