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My First Car AKA “The Boat”

I was recently asked about my first car, which brought back lots of memories from my college days…a really fun time in my life. I shared my story of “The Boat”, a huge, silver station wagon that looked like a mom car and pretty much mortified my friends (I didn’t know the type of car mattered to teenagers…my 17 year old self thought “I have a CAR! No more bus!”). Looking back, I really liked that big ol’ thing, and loved the freedom it gave me (and I love being a mom, so what the heck is wrong with a mom car anyway?).

My first car was the car I learned to drive in, the first car I was pulled over in, and the first car I totaled. One fateful rainy day, I was driving home along a windy road when the car in front of me suddenly stopped short. I was driving too closely for a rainy day and had to slam on my brakes to avoid back-ending him. I steered my sliding car left to avoid his car (I was a very inexperienced driver) and I spun out of control, hitting a metal gate on the opposite side of the road.

People in the area came and offered me a phone and assistance, but I was wearing my seat belt and was perfectly fine. The boat, however, was gone. A loud crack from the axle when it hit the metal gate signaled its end. I still look back on that first car of mine fondly. When a car keeps you safe during a bad accident, how can you not love it? I’d definitely get another larger-sized family car, and Subaru has some good ones I’ve been checking out, such as the Outback and the Tribeca (with two boys, I think they’d really be great to have).

I was able to share my First Car Story in a video, complete with narration and animation, on Subaru’s FirstCarStory.com site, and you can too. It’s a lot of fun! Keywords from your story are highlighted and graphics that fit your story are added in to make it a fabulous, personalized video you can share with family and friends:

Everyone loved their first car. No matter how beat up or broken down, it was a taste of freedom and you loved it. Even though it lasted only for a brief time, that emotional connection is an experience that unites us all. Check out my custom illustrated story, you can submit one too at www.firstcarstory.com and bring your story to life with animation and music and share it with your friends.

Disclosure: Compensation was provided via Glam Media. The opinions expressed herein are those of the author and are not indicative of the opinions or positions of the advertiser




  • I agree, I loved my first car. I didn’t have to depend on my parents to take me places.

  • Theresa

    You always love your first car. 🙂

  • Oh man you should have seen my first car! Ha! It smoked soooo bad and I bought it out of a junk yard (with my very own money mind you!) for $250!!! Woot! LOL

  • Oh my gosh, that brought back a ton of memories. My dad used to say that my first car was round, because there wasn’t a spot on it that wasn’t dented.

  • So glad the tank kept you safe! I guess I loved my first car too.

  • I got in a horrible car accident in my first car thankfully no damage to the car but oh boy my back was bad

  • Oh man, my first car was a piece of work. Beat up old Volkwagon rabbit!

  • So glad you were okay! I learned how to drive in a boat too – my dad had an awful huge cadillac, that was a bear to parallel park!

  • My first car was an 80 something camaro! That was so long ago!

  • RIP Boat. I’ve always wanted a Subaru! My friend in HS had one and I loved it.

  • I had a Saturn for my first car and Loved it!!!!

  • Love the video! My first car was a brand new honda civic, which was in the shop more than an old car.