You say “Yuppie” like it's a bad thing: Announcing our new car.

It was a rough day. I had to say good-bye to a loyal and trusted friend. I had been close with this friend for about nine years. And that's a long time. We'd been through a lot over the years. And I knew eventually this day would come. The day I would have to sell him. I didn't enjoy telling a complete stranger, "What'll you give me for him?" But I sold him anyway, for marginally more than the Judas did in the early years of AD (50 pieces of gold, or about $2000 in today's currency). I felt bad, but it had come time to go our separate ways.

This is it. (Cue trumpet fanfare.)

At least in my mind. Because moments before, we'd slid behind the wheel of a shinier, newer and younger model. Apparently, I have no appreciation for the classic or the non-flashy.

Leather seats? Oh, yeah baby....

Maybe that makes me a callous jerk. Or a cad. Or just someone who doesn't like to hold onto the past. Whatever the reason, on Sunday, October 17th, 1999, I signed a paper and handed the keys to my love off to a salesman I hardly knew, named Len.

In return I received a black 1995 BMW 525i (see below) and a 48 month coupon book of car payments.

Yes, that steering wheel has inlaid burlwood. Thanks for noticing.

Oh, sure. I can hear you all saying, "Why am I still reading this crap..." er, I mean... "They're officially yuppies now." And I take umbrage at that remark, for you see, we've been yuppies ever since we moved to Miami. But who gives YOU the right to judge us? Maybe we just appreciate the finer things! Or, maybe we couldn't bring ourselves to buy a Camry.

Stands for "Badass Motoring Wheels".

Allow me to wax melancholy about my previous automobile. It was a 1990 Acura Integra RS. Bright red and "chipped", it ran flawlessly under me for 130,000 fun-filled miles. I bought it for $12,000 and got every penny’s worth out of it, and then some.

It left me stranded only once when the Florida heat expired the car's battery. But otherwise it ran faithfully for nine years. I can't say enough good things about my Integra, and in some sense I feel as though I have betrayed its trust by selling it.

I drove it hard, but took good care of it. I changed its fluids regularly. I took it in for maintenance I couldn't perform myself. I religiously changed it oil every 3,000 miles. And when I thought about it, I rubbed the dash and told him what a good car he was. I can only hope that he finds a good home with a young man or woman who will appreciate the life left in him. I am going to miss him.