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It was a pitiful sight. Me and Ruby, face to grill in the Tucson parking lot, saying our goodbyes.
“You’ll find someone else,” I assured her.
“”It’s not you, Ruby, it’s me.”
“You’re really out of my league.”
I sighed, but Ruby remained stoic, her red jewel paint gleaming in the sun. I had taken her to a car wash to wash off the layers of dirt she’d piled on through Minnesota snow, Iowa rain, and New Mexico dust, and now she was just as pretty as the day I got her, which made our farewell especially difficult.
“I’m really going to miss your backup camera,” I told her. “And the way you always warned me when someone was approaching my side. I’m going to miss your fancy On Star navigation system, your Bose speakers, your automatic everything — I’m going to miss your lumbar support and heated seats. Your super-quiet cabin…and the way you let me check everything from tire pressure to oil life with one touch of a button. I felt so safe with you.
“But most of all, Ruby,” — and here I’ll admit to tearing up a little — “I’m going to miss your great gas mileage. For a full-size SUV, an average of 18.9 mpg at 75 mph is just incredible.”
I grew attached to my Yukon Denali Hybrid. When GM offered to let me test drive her across a few states, I felt like a geek who was invited to the prom by Angelina Jolie. As I got to know her, I found her to be a marvel of cutting edge technology and style. I had to search for things to criticize — because GM wanted my input and not just my adoration — but my complaints are trivial. I think the cup holders need ambient lighting, and that storage space would be improved if the back seats folded all the way down like they do in the Buick Enclave. As I said, trivial. Like picking on Angelina for not being beautiful enough.
Saying goodbye to Ruby was hard, but Sunny soon arrived to assuage my broken heart.
OH, HELLO! The bright yellow 2010 Chevy Camaro V-6 posed in the parking lot like a sleek model impatiently waiting for her turn on the runway. I barely had time to pack her surprisingly spacious trunk and appreciate her buttery soft black leather and cockpit-style interior before she was revving her engine, eager to show off her stuff on I-10. And although, yes, my heart was torn, my hands still managed to grip the wheel as I pressed down on the gas pedal and willed myself to obey the 75 mph speed limit. Personally, I think “But Officer, it’s a Camaro” would be a fine excuse, but I can’t afford to test it, and Chevy tells me that even their biggest option package doesn’t include paid speeding tickets.
Later, when my Tucson host, Suzi, needed milk, I thought I’d take her for a ride and we could slip into 7-11 unnoticed. It’s hard to travel in stealth mode, though, when you’re driving a bright yellow Camaro. People started staring. I knew they weren’t staring at me, but at Sunny. She’s just got that kind of allure.
And did I mention that she’s a show-off? She purposely pulled into a parking space right next to a silver 2009 Ford Mustang, which suddenly made the Ford look rather like a sad sack of metal. I invited Tim, the Mustang’s owner, to check out the Camaro’s interior. “Wow,” he said. Then he asked if he could sit in the seat. Of course I said yes. “Wow,” he repeated.
Two other men came by to admire Sunny’s elegant but sporty figure. They ooh-ed and aah-ed over her retro-style gauges and Boston acoustic sound system before they started asking me about engine size and convertible options. I pulled out Sunny’s spec sheet and they read it as if it were a winning lottery ticket. They were really impressed with the 16-29 gas mileage and the price.
By the time Sunny was done wielding her charms, Tim was telling me that his next car was definitely going to be a Camaro. “Red,” he said, “maybe a convertible.”
“Oh my god,” Suzi said as we exited the parking lot, with three admiring men looking on, “I’ve never seen a car that left grown men drooling like that.”
In response, I turned the sound up on my Christina Aguilera CD and flew back to Suzi’s house. Women don’t drool; we smile.
Meet Lucy. She's a 2010 
{ 31 comments… read them below or add one }
I am so jealous of you in your adventure and your great car. I almost had a tear in my eyes as you and ruby parted ways. Your writing is impeccable and your car is hot!!! Be safe out there and have as much fun as you can without attracting the cops
Jack
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My husband wants to know if the Camaro feels like you’re “being hugged by a car”. Evidently that’s how HE feels when in the new Camaro! Sunny is quite the sprite!
Pop and Ice´s last blog ..Wordless Wednesday: Ah, Sunlight!
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You are killing me on this trip. I’m not a car guy but I may go NASCAR with any more car descriptions like that. I can’t wait till you get to the truck.
I’m tempted to write in my usual snarky style about your newly acquired car-hopping ways. But then I am overcome with the feeling of pride for you and how I hope you really get how proud we all are for getting to this point. Look at you! All inspirational for those of us who are tied to our geography and our lives of familiarity. I hope all your readers and online friends all get to meet you this year and really get to SEE who you are. You are a freak’n warrior woman.
I’m not drooling. I am smiling
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“Sunny. Sunny. Sunny.”
That’s how Tom Hanks got his start. What is starting here, Jane Devin? We wait, we watch, we wonder…Stardom is on your horizon.
Kim Nelson´s last blog ..Love & Grace
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you’re ‘movin’ on up…’
Next thing you know, we’ll have to start calling you”Miss Devin ” and all. Sounds like you were able to stash your stuff in the trunk, good deal. Enjoy Tucson cause we have SNOW in NM.
Doris Rose MacBean´s last blog ..A Pictorial Review of October 2009
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Very impressed with your travels and comments. I just retired from the new GM and it is fun to see the love our vehicles create. Looks like your separation from Ruby was tough, but I think you and Sunny are going to be a great couple.
Jane, do you think when we go to Bookmans tonight we can go in my car? I know I know, you love Sunny, but after you speak about “Finding My America”, I’d kinda like to get home by midnight! If they see Gm’s Sunny, that will be a whole new workshop! Plus they’ll leave drool spots all over your freshly cleaned Camero. Cant have that!
Please let me know. We may go in separate cars, me in my car that blends with every other boring car in the lot in the same champagne color and SUNNY!
What a great car. I’ve seen one or two and haven’t known what they are. Now, I too will drool when I see one up close.
Sterkworks´s last blog ..Michael Steele Asked For My Input
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As a redhead with an, um, wide bumper, and sturdy frame, I’m firmly in Camp Ruby. I can’t believe you left her for a sleek petite blonde. Just goes to show, you never really know a person. *Sigh*
Go ahead, enjoy this dalliance, this fling with that sparkly attention whore, Sunny. One day you’ll see that a steady, reliable SUV like Ruby is truly the pearl of great price. ; )
V-Grrrl @ Compost Studios´s last blog ..Autumn peaks (and peeks)
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YAHOO – from a car chick!!! You rock it, girl.
Jane,
I work at GM Communications in Detroit, though I actually reside in Canada. I have to say that I’m enjoying your blog so much! Connie passed it along to me and I’m loving all the stories. It’s wonderful to be living vicariously through your story-telling. You have a gift.
Enjoy Sunny!
Jordana
Jordana´s last blog ..Joel: stuck in Elephant Butte, saved by dealer
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I am surrounded by Canadians. I can’t understand a word, so I smile and nod a lot. Need you & Sunny to come pick me up and take me away from all this madness.
“Oh, I love only one girl, the one I got my arm around
I love only one girl, the one in every town!” An old Elvis song that runs through my mind everytime I hear about your ‘new sleek car loves’.
Would love to take a ride in Sunny……treat her sweet and remember, blondes have more fun. =0)
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Here is the question we all want the answer to……..did Ruby know about Sunny?
Sad sack of metal, indeed! That mustang must have been holing back sobs of jealousy. You leave me in stiches, Jane!
I love following your blog, looking forward to more
Buckle up & enjoy Sunny!
OK I think it’s time to speak up for Sunny. Ruby knew what she was getting into! She test drove Miss Jane also, using her as a way to escape the COLD Mn winter. Using her bright red paint and electronic charms to distract the unsuspecting lady into taking her where she can retire with a nice owner in the sun of Az. Sorry Rube but I see you as just another crafty red head
From one SAW to another GO SUNNY!
Cheers
Bo
The information on Ruby was helpful, especially as the mother of three boys who drives an SUV. I’ll have to share your thoughts on your new gal with Chris. He has car lust big time. He drools. I smile. Christina CAN BLOW A NOTE!
Chris´s last blog ..Finding My People Is Like Learning to Drive A Stick Shift
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Camp Sunny!
Sunny is beautiful and sporty, but I have to say I do miss
Ruby. It was time for her to go, sure, and I wasn’t ready to make a commitment, but I still think of her everyday. We went a lot of places together, and had some good times — and she really didn’t mind my Neil Diamond sing-alongs — but there’s a lot of vehicles on the highway, and I’m not done exploring them.
Sunny spits Neil out of her CD player. She prefers Christina Aguilera, Pink, and occasionally a bit of Pearl Jam. She won’t let me mope over lost loves at all. Instead, she pulls into parking lots and strikes up conversations with strangers. She makes me get out of the seat so she can show off to anyone who’s interested — and many people are interested in Sunny.
Sunny isn’t as faithful as Ruby, though. She tells me that in a couple of weeks, she’s leaving me and handing me over to her sister.
Girl, my boyfriend was just drooling over that exact car on our hoiday road trip last week. I’m a bit jealous myself. Glad to hear that the trip is going well, and truly enjoying the reports!
Jessica´s last blog ..Fortune Cookie Says…
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Jane, You are a talented and brilliant writer. I don’t think GM would have ever gone bankrupt had You been on their side sooner. I especially enjoyed the “OH, HELLO!” Relationships can be so like that, especially with inanimate objects and, well, most people. Enjoy Your ride, Sweetie. Love to You!
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Beautifully written!! I wondered how you would tackle it, never doubting you but curious about ‘Jane’s Take on the Cars’. You do know that you’re opening that world up to a whole new audience, don’t you??? Wicked woman.
xx
Di´s last blog ..Downsizing a Life and the Resulting Enrichment … (or perhaps a post of thanksgiving)
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That Camaro catches my eye everytime.
Jack´s last blog ..Turkish Coffee Round Up
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I would’ve turned the sound up with my Black Sabbath (Ozzy years) CD!
RE:
In response, I turned the sound up on my Christina Aguilera CD and flew back to Suzi’s house. Women don’t drool; we smile.
I really love this post, very creative and it placed a big smile on my face. My husband is a die-hard Mustang fan and of course, I love the Camaro. I made him listen as I read it to him too. This reminds me of the night we rode by the Chevy dealership and I oooh’d and ahhh’d over a cherry red Camaro. I leaned against her and ran my hand lightly down her edges and told her it was a tremendous pleasure to meet her. My husband laughed at me at the time, but we will see who will be laughing the day he comes home and I have finally had a chance to buy one. Congrats on your “Sunny,” she is beautiful! =)
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Great story telling. I can attest that, “But officer, it’s a Camaro,” works on I-80 in California when the CHP officer is driving a Mustang. It embarasses them. Been there twice. Now I have the Mustang… just couldn’t wait for the Camaro anymore. Having owned two Camaros, there is no comparison… I’d pay three times the price for another Camaro.
Enjoy Sunny!! From Sunnyvale, CA
Yes I know the feeling, I cannot go to the store or gas station without a few people standing around my camaro and asking all kinds of questions and drooling,It always takes about an hour before I can leave.
Eddie
You should see the looks I get when I take my “Ruby” anywhere! Jaws drop when a gray haired 60 yr. old woman gets out of my bright red Camaro! I definately don’t drive like her like I’m 60. She makes me feel 25 again. I love her. We fit together like a hand in a glove.
I love the looks we get from the young guys!
I am a 3rd generation GM retiree and when I started in July 1969 I was blown away
going down the line to see 454 Chevelles,396 Nova’s etc at that time was the Leader.
That feel away over the years but now the new Camaro puts GM in the lead once
again for their segment…..whoa that feels so goooooood.
Sunny is so pretty! I can totally relate to what your going through. Well, maybe not exactly, but I get it. When I was a teenager in the late ’80’s I bought a ‘66 Ford Mustang. She was a pretty light blue color with gold Enkie rims. She had dual glass packs and roared down the road. At gas stations I’d get the “is that your boyfriends car?” question. At stop lights guys wanted to race me. I was always so proud of her. But then, modern technology became a necessity for me (a sad day for sure) because I no longer wanted my A/C to be created by all my windows rolled down. I also required a defrost system that wasn’t warm water on a windshield. She moved on to a teenage boy while I got my Red Honda Prelude. I still miss her and will cherish our times together.
Sandra ´s last blog ..November 2009 Mt. Madonna
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