As Barbara Polichetti tells the story, she called the car dealer and did the best job she could to disguise her voice.

“Do you have a Honda Passport?” she asked.

“Yes,” replied the salesman, “the 2023 you’re interested in is still here.”

You see, Barbara was following her father’s advice if a car salesman wouldn’t respond to an offer walk away and in a short time, you’ll get a call and a better deal. But that didn’t work and soon her own curiosity whether the vehicle was still available got the better of her.

“I guess there just isn’t the supply of cars,” she said. Barbara didn’t get a deal on the car, but she’s happy with the way things turned out. The basic plan was simple: buy the newer used car and hand down her 2016 Jeep Cherokee to her husband Jim who was driving a beat up 2002 Accord. Old Nellie was on her last leg with more than 220,000 miles on the odometer. It took an acquired skill of simultaneously jiggling the ignition key, bumping the gear shift and turning the wheel to start her. And once going she showed her age. Barbara figured it was time Jimmy had new wheels.

Better yet she knew his aversion to buying another car until the old one “died with its boots on.” So, Old Nellie was her first bargaining chip when it came time to shop for another car. Only it didn’t work. None of the dealers Barbara visited gave her anything on the Accord. Finally, she offered to give it to them for nothing. They didn’t want it, explaining it would end up costing several hundred bucks to get rid of it. Now it looked like they could end up with three cars and that wasn’t the plan.

Barbara cast a wide net talking to friends and family. At first nobody was interested and it appeared Old Nellie would end up in a car crusher to eventually be reincarnated as appliance parts. However, there was a glimmer of hope after talking with a niece’s husband.  She learned his sons were thinking of picking up a “junker” they could fix up and “toddle” around town. 

They looked at the Accord — a promising step — and left to think things over. Barbara was delighted when they called to say they would take it “as is.”  There was a problem, however, the family lives a good hour’s drive away. Could Old Nellie make it that far? Barbara and Jim feared they were handing off an albatross that would leave the friend broken down. The boys didn’t seem concerned and headed off with their trusty family car following as back up.

Barbara and Jim waited for a call, but none came. Finally, they got a text reporting that the engine light had flashed on and that they were lucky to get home. The car was towed away by AAA.

Then came the twist Barbara never expected. It wasn’t Old Nellie that had broken down but the supposedly trusty family car.

Now Old Nellie has a new home and her owners are learning her idiosyncrasies because she’s dependable transporation.