I’ve been a Subaru owner since 2004 and let me tell you why. In 1996 I had environmental illness and reacted to processed food, chemicals and anything man-made. I had to make severe changes in my life and home so I could exist as uncontaminated as possible because the alternative was horrible. One whiff of perfume and I was bed ridden for days, the smell of gasoline almost sent me round the bend and household cleaners almost did me in. I became a prisoner in my home, my only safe haven. At the peak of my sickness, my poor hubby went to social functions alone and I had to wear a mask to go to the grocery store. I felt like the freak of the town. Back then this illness was taboo, no one understood it and they cast aspersions about the crazy gal that lived on Fairmont Street. It was a very rough time for me both physically and mentally.
When our old beater gave up the ghost and it was time to find a newer, safer means of transportation, I never realized it was going to be a rough road to haul. I'd never noticed it before but now that I was immune compromised, I found out quickly that new cars have a new car smell, toxic off gassing of cheap plastics, rubber and polyester fabrics. For me, a closed up car or one sitting in the sun was a deadly weapon, the fumes inside lurked like a sniper in the grass.
My hubby was away working so Shane and I went car hunting. Several dealership salesmen shook their heads when I sat in their new cars and jumped out holding my hand over nose and mouth as if they were doused with Agent Orange. We took several cars out but only made it down the road a short way before turning back. It was winter so driving with the window down wasn’t an option. I’d never be able to own a car like that, I’d have to drive with my head out the window like a dog.
So we went from dealership to dealership, sniff testing cars, looking for the least offensive. I thought about buying second hand but they didn’t seem to smell much better. I could detect cigarette smoke, air fresheners and cleaners. I have a sense of smell that could be utilized for sniffing drugs at the airport. My illness developed my olfactory sense to work as an early warning system so I can get away before fully engulfed in the toxin that stunk up the place.
The choice of vehicles dwindled and I was discouraged. Now toxed from all the different cars, my neck glands looked like I had full blown mumps, my head was pounding; my face was inflamed a nasty shade of red and my ears hurt. When infected, it felt like someone was jabbing at my ear canal with a pipe cleaner; in and out in rapid succession causing severe discomfort. So I was feeling pretty beaten and lacked any hope of finding a car that I could sit in, let alone drive.
It was like entering the last chance saloon when we drove into the Subaru lot. I was even more discouraged because my beer budget didn’t include this breed of automobile, but while there I figured I’d give it a try. I have to admit I was shocked as I settled into the seat and didn’t have any immediate reaction to pile on top of what was already happening going on from all the other cars that day. This vehicle had a very subtle smell, new for sure, but it didn’t slap me in the face. I was told they use high grade plastics and rubbers in the interiors.
The salesman started the spiel of all the safety ratings and all the pluses but my nose had already bought the car. It could have driven like a three legged mare and I would have been happy but it turned out to be a very comfortable vehicle. The price tag was more than I had planned on but maybe you can’t put a price on health. So we drove off the lot and I’ve never looked back. I’ve been a Subaru gal ever since.
We started with the Legacy wagon that I loved. Unfortunately they discontinued that model so I moved up to the outback, a confidence vehicle for our harsh winters and long icy driveway and it sure paid off this winter with more snow than the north pole in my backyard. My environmental sickness is now gone but I continue to stick with the car with the least amount of off gasing so I never put myself in a position to make myself ill again. I told them they should promote car sales with that pitch and I was told that many others have said the Subaru vehicles are environmentally friendly.
I’ve been leasing my vehicle through my company and when my lease came due in November of 2014, I decided to trade in for new one instead of buying out the lease. The prices of vehicles had dropped so my payment dipped to the tune of $200.00 and I got a loyalty and low mileage discount. I’d put only 29,000 on it in three years, that’s not a lot of driving. She was barely broken in. I could have kept her but a cheaper payment was too tempting. I hated to see my beautiful navy girl go; they didn’t have a blue that I liked in the 2015 paint choices so I opted for the Wilderness Green. I don’t know what I was thinking because green is my least favourite colour and after several months of looking at her parked in the driveway she still doesn’t seem to belong to me. Remember I’m the one with an attachment to inanimate objects so I felt a lot of guilt giving up on a car that had served me well, didn’t have a thing wrong with her, never needed fixing and most of all was blue.
My new car arrived and I put my back out at the same time. I couldn’t drive to the dealership to pick it up so they said they would bring the contract and car to me. I had to hustle and clean out the old car. Shane came down to help me as there was a lot of stuff in the trunk and beds and toys for the pups. I stripped her of our personal items and said my goodbye and the new car rolled into the driveway looking like shiny new penny. I sadly watched my blue girl drive away. My back was slow to heal so the new car sat in the driveway for three days before I was able to start her up and go for a spin.
A month later a thought hit me. We’d left a CD in the old car. It wasn’t just any CD either; it was Laura Smith’s latest release. I found the jacket and looked inside and sure enough it was empty. We don’t usually play CD’s in the car but we did hers, we know Laura personally so her music is all the more special. I asked the dealership about our old car and apparently it sold within a week. I thought, our loss their gain. In case you aren’t familiar with Laura, she’s a Canadian Icon. Her voice is unlike anyone you’ve ever heard. Google her and be amazed.
So to get to the point of my story…..last week a woman popped by the shop and asked if I was the owner. I said yes and she said, “I think I have something that belongs to you”. She pulled out a CD jacket and I knew immediately it was Laura’s CD! Sure enough, she was the new owner of my blue Outback and proceeded to tell me this amazing story.
She said, “My name is Laura Smith as well, and I’m from Sunnybrook”. She said when she bought the car and started it up to drive away, the CD player engaged and up popped the name “Laura Smith” across the screen. She said she knew she’d bought the right car! We had a good chuckle. So I have my CD back and a fun little story to share!
When our old beater gave up the ghost and it was time to find a newer, safer means of transportation, I never realized it was going to be a rough road to haul. I'd never noticed it before but now that I was immune compromised, I found out quickly that new cars have a new car smell, toxic off gassing of cheap plastics, rubber and polyester fabrics. For me, a closed up car or one sitting in the sun was a deadly weapon, the fumes inside lurked like a sniper in the grass.
My hubby was away working so Shane and I went car hunting. Several dealership salesmen shook their heads when I sat in their new cars and jumped out holding my hand over nose and mouth as if they were doused with Agent Orange. We took several cars out but only made it down the road a short way before turning back. It was winter so driving with the window down wasn’t an option. I’d never be able to own a car like that, I’d have to drive with my head out the window like a dog.
So we went from dealership to dealership, sniff testing cars, looking for the least offensive. I thought about buying second hand but they didn’t seem to smell much better. I could detect cigarette smoke, air fresheners and cleaners. I have a sense of smell that could be utilized for sniffing drugs at the airport. My illness developed my olfactory sense to work as an early warning system so I can get away before fully engulfed in the toxin that stunk up the place.
The choice of vehicles dwindled and I was discouraged. Now toxed from all the different cars, my neck glands looked like I had full blown mumps, my head was pounding; my face was inflamed a nasty shade of red and my ears hurt. When infected, it felt like someone was jabbing at my ear canal with a pipe cleaner; in and out in rapid succession causing severe discomfort. So I was feeling pretty beaten and lacked any hope of finding a car that I could sit in, let alone drive.
It was like entering the last chance saloon when we drove into the Subaru lot. I was even more discouraged because my beer budget didn’t include this breed of automobile, but while there I figured I’d give it a try. I have to admit I was shocked as I settled into the seat and didn’t have any immediate reaction to pile on top of what was already happening going on from all the other cars that day. This vehicle had a very subtle smell, new for sure, but it didn’t slap me in the face. I was told they use high grade plastics and rubbers in the interiors.
The salesman started the spiel of all the safety ratings and all the pluses but my nose had already bought the car. It could have driven like a three legged mare and I would have been happy but it turned out to be a very comfortable vehicle. The price tag was more than I had planned on but maybe you can’t put a price on health. So we drove off the lot and I’ve never looked back. I’ve been a Subaru gal ever since.
We started with the Legacy wagon that I loved. Unfortunately they discontinued that model so I moved up to the outback, a confidence vehicle for our harsh winters and long icy driveway and it sure paid off this winter with more snow than the north pole in my backyard. My environmental sickness is now gone but I continue to stick with the car with the least amount of off gasing so I never put myself in a position to make myself ill again. I told them they should promote car sales with that pitch and I was told that many others have said the Subaru vehicles are environmentally friendly.
I’ve been leasing my vehicle through my company and when my lease came due in November of 2014, I decided to trade in for new one instead of buying out the lease. The prices of vehicles had dropped so my payment dipped to the tune of $200.00 and I got a loyalty and low mileage discount. I’d put only 29,000 on it in three years, that’s not a lot of driving. She was barely broken in. I could have kept her but a cheaper payment was too tempting. I hated to see my beautiful navy girl go; they didn’t have a blue that I liked in the 2015 paint choices so I opted for the Wilderness Green. I don’t know what I was thinking because green is my least favourite colour and after several months of looking at her parked in the driveway she still doesn’t seem to belong to me. Remember I’m the one with an attachment to inanimate objects so I felt a lot of guilt giving up on a car that had served me well, didn’t have a thing wrong with her, never needed fixing and most of all was blue.
My new car arrived and I put my back out at the same time. I couldn’t drive to the dealership to pick it up so they said they would bring the contract and car to me. I had to hustle and clean out the old car. Shane came down to help me as there was a lot of stuff in the trunk and beds and toys for the pups. I stripped her of our personal items and said my goodbye and the new car rolled into the driveway looking like shiny new penny. I sadly watched my blue girl drive away. My back was slow to heal so the new car sat in the driveway for three days before I was able to start her up and go for a spin.
A month later a thought hit me. We’d left a CD in the old car. It wasn’t just any CD either; it was Laura Smith’s latest release. I found the jacket and looked inside and sure enough it was empty. We don’t usually play CD’s in the car but we did hers, we know Laura personally so her music is all the more special. I asked the dealership about our old car and apparently it sold within a week. I thought, our loss their gain. In case you aren’t familiar with Laura, she’s a Canadian Icon. Her voice is unlike anyone you’ve ever heard. Google her and be amazed.
So to get to the point of my story…..last week a woman popped by the shop and asked if I was the owner. I said yes and she said, “I think I have something that belongs to you”. She pulled out a CD jacket and I knew immediately it was Laura’s CD! Sure enough, she was the new owner of my blue Outback and proceeded to tell me this amazing story.
She said, “My name is Laura Smith as well, and I’m from Sunnybrook”. She said when she bought the car and started it up to drive away, the CD player engaged and up popped the name “Laura Smith” across the screen. She said she knew she’d bought the right car! We had a good chuckle. So I have my CD back and a fun little story to share!
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