The Bullet

My Toyota Camry, aka The Silver Bullet, and I were on errands this weekend. My ride takes me where ever I want to go and never complains. Although it’s got high mileage, the car’s relatively low maintenance, smooth running, and great little CD stereo system keep me as happy as a clam. Yeah, I’d like that Porsche…at $65,000, or the Maserati that has me drooling for only $600 a month for a two year lease….but The Bullet is hard to beat for value. However….. every once in a while…..something needs attention. This weekend was one of those times I’ve asked myself and The Bullet "WHAT NOW?"

Hub caps have started spinning off as of late. I cannot understand why this is happening. Although they’re after-market knock-offs from Wal-Mart the hub caps have been trouble free for nearly a year. But now fellow drivers and pedestrians are eyeballing me. These things are coming off at the most embarrassing times like Odd Job’s bowler hat from the James Bond Goldfinger episode. One came off last week as I was driving through the Copley Square area in Boston. Just as I drove past a crowd standing at a light the front right cap flung off in their direction, sending everyone scattering. This weekend I went to buy a new set at Wal-Mart. I duly installed them in the parking lot and proceeded to drive out only to hear that familiar rattling sound. Once again, The Bullet was losing body parts in front of a bunch of people. In the Wal-Mart parking lot. I briefly thought about continuing on as I looked at the errant, wobbling, cap from my rear view mirror. I didn’t want to stop and pick it up because the thought of losing a hub cap in the parking lot of Wal-Mart was just…so…ugh.

Port side

Starboard

If that were not enough The Bullet shed a cap for the third time as I drove a back road in Billerica. I saw it chasing us in the rear view mirror before it veered off into the woods. I stopped to pick it up, and saw that it came to rest up against the lower branches of a small tree. I had to go back later and recreate the tableau for a photo because it was funny in a goofy way.

Waitin' for the man

The Bullet is a spry old jalopy with a good body and plenty of pep…but a car missing body parts is like a person missing teeth. Down one hub cap can be forgiven as part of the progressive phases of wear and tear. But two missing hub caps bring to mind the word "shabby". This unfortunate circumstance is compounded by the need for maintenance on the rear suspension. Good thing I don’t have to get it inspected until next year.

I suppose I could view this is a Bad News/Good News kind of thing.

Bad news: The Bullet looks ghetto.

Good news: The Bullet still runs sweet.