In April 2002, I bought my first ever brand new car. I had narrowed my choices down to a Nissan Sentra and a Ford ZX2. In the end, I chose the ZX2. I was a little nervous because Ford didn't have the greatest reputation for quality. I had visions of a blown head gasket 10 miles down the road or being stranded in a snow storm stuck in reverse.
Well, eight and a half years later, my Ford is still going strong. And beyond the usual maintenance stuff (brakes, tires, battery, etc.), I've only had to have it repaired twice, both times to pass the emissions testing in Cook County. (Hey Dad! That pipe you put on still passes the test!)
I reached a landmark moment this week: 100,000 miles. I was just outside Loves Park, Illinois.
(Careful observers will notice I was going 68 miles per hour when I took this photo.)
