As my children will attest, I've never been very lucky when it came to automobiles, although I must admit I have learned from my mistakes. Probably the worst, and potentially fatal, car I owned actually belonged to my oldest daughter (and believe me when I tell you how fortunate it was that the "car" was not in her possession when it exploded).
My three youngest kids and I were living just south of Chicago at the time. The engine literally blew up, and the car caught on fire. Fortunately when I first smelled something suspicious, I scrambled to get everybody out of the car, and I am eternally grateful that my oldest daughter who was 16 at the time, was not in the car. Having little driving experience, the smell might not have alerted her to danger. The fact that neither she nor I were driving down the expressway when it happened is another reason to be forever grateful.
Throughout the years, whether I was living in New York, Illinois, or California, I have had the worst luck with cars. One of them looked like a cloud of smoke (embarrassing), because it took 2 cans of oil a day, one of them required me to climb into the passenger seat because I had to belt the door to the steering column, and the doors on another auto would randomly open, for reasons unknown, WHILE WE WERE DRIVING!
I could have used them in Illinois as well. I have a feeling that one of the dealerships I dealt with while living in Illinois was served countless summons, because the whole dealership has disappeared. Even today, when I drove past the enormous lot on my way to Midway Airport, the lot sat vacant. I can't help but wonder how many lives that dealership endangered, because the lemon they sold me lost an engine, a transmission, AND a starter shortly after I bought it.
Today I demand a SAFE car with an excellent transmission, engine, and starter. I also require good tires. But if ever I purchase another car that turns out to be a lemon, I guarantee you, I WILL take advantage of that Lemon Law!
