Farewell to a friend

"Memphis Raines" (memph1sra1ns)
11/06/2013 at 19:31 • Filed to: None

Farewell to the Maxima. She was one of my best friends and seeing her hauled away felt no less sad than saying goodbye to a longtime friend. You'll notice I don't have a name for the Maxima even though I affectionately refer to her as a her. I jokingly called her Rustia but she deserved so much more than a name, less original than hipsters drinking PBR. That, much like hipsters drinking PBR was in poor taste. This is the point in time which I was originally going to go through the history of my car and I but as the brief synopsis of our relationship turned into a several page rant with attempted humor and stories I realized none of that was important. You see what makes a car special to someone is hard to grasp or explain. It's something you become attached to not only because of what it was but because of the memories attached to it and what it represented.

I could tell you about my previous car the Cutless Cierra, how I drove that car until it cried tears of joy that released it from my driving wrath that could only be described as a 16 year old douche. I guess I did just tell you… I could tell you about the time I discovered how the car creates far more lift than any car should that can go up to a speed limited 135 (still a 16 year old douche) or how I learned the value of pulling the e-brake and "drifting" into apartment parking lot spaces to annoy my fellow roommates. I could go on and on about every stupid or/magnificent thing I did in that car, everything it taught me but those stories are better saved for someone who has very little to do.

Instead I just want to sit here and reflect, mostly on my own about how sad I was to see it go. I want to think about how as parts failed and headaches ensured every couple of months that the car was in my life for 13 years. I want to think about the eight years it graced me with good times and reasonable fun. I also want to say I'm sorry. As she began to rust and fall apart I began to take less and less care of the car I once loved. Before it was hauled away I started cleaning out, looking at the dust on the dash, the yellowed headlights and the rusted rear fender wheels thinking that she deserved better. I'm sorry. I took advantage of something that treated me so well for so long and when it because old and needed I just wanted to put it aside. I wouldn't treat a dog the same way why should I do that to a car. You provided me with 188,000 miles of smiles. Thanks.

RIP. I'm pouring one out for you. Enjoy car junkyard heaven. You deserve it.

DISCUSSION (19)

Blondude > Memphis Raines
11/06/2013 at 19:46

Kinja'd!!!

ddavidn > Memphis Raines
11/06/2013 at 19:47

Sorry for your loss, man.

Brian, The Life of > Memphis Raines
11/06/2013 at 19:54

Kinja'd!!!

Hindered23 > Memphis Raines
11/06/2013 at 20:04

losing your car is such a horrible feeling - a carless college student

Doug DeMuro > Memphis Raines
11/06/2013 at 20:06

Those Maxima SEs were excellent cars. Arguably the last really great Maxima. What's replacing it?

Memphis Raines > Doug DeMuro
11/06/2013 at 20:21

Easily the last great Maxima. I would say the greatest. They just got far too big after this generation. I was actually looking at getting another because you can nab them for a great price. Unfortunately finding a manual with low miles in the color(s) I wanted was impossible. Manual was a requirement for my next car.

Ended up with a 1999 Mustang Cobra. only 43...well now 45k miles. Never driven in snow, salt, rain. It was a low miles sunny day driver kept by a gear head. I might do a quick write up tomorrow if my potato cooperates.

Memphis Raines > ddavidn
11/06/2013 at 20:22

I have a replacement. One that is technically superior, which is why it surprised me how sad I was to see the Maxima go.

Memphis Raines > Hindered23
11/06/2013 at 20:23

I have a replacement. One that is technically superior, which is why it surprised me how sad I was to see the Maxima go.

offroadkarter > Memphis Raines
11/06/2013 at 20:24

Don't worry, you'll see that car on craigslist for sale soon and probably see it around town eventually

Hindered23 > Memphis Raines
11/06/2013 at 20:30

I went from technically awesome to zero. 05 s5 to my mere feet. woe is me.

Hindered23 > Memphis Raines
11/06/2013 at 20:30

s4*

Memphis Raines > offroadkarter
11/06/2013 at 20:34

It went to a junk cars buyer.

The engine was leaking gas due to a need for a new gasket.

It needed a new front axel. It needed new front tires.It needed new front struts. It needed a new tie rod as the old one was broke. It needed a couple other new things, I have since forgotten some of the list. Right before it died the airbag and abs light came and and started blinking. Then all the dials started going up and down really fast. It sputtered. It died. That was all she wrote.

I know about some of the other issues. I put off fixing them because I knew it might die before I "had" to replace those. It still makes me feel bad that I left it in such a condition.

It isn't going to be seen around town however some of it's parts might. Hopefully with death comes the life of someone elses ride. I'd like to think even after death she helped others through organ donation.

Memphis Raines > Blondude
11/06/2013 at 20:39

I was closer to this than I'd admit to any person, in person

offroadkarter > Memphis Raines
11/06/2013 at 20:40

I don't know man, I've seen some shady cars in the hood, this sounds like it'd be right up the alley.

A friend of a friend sold his chevy astro van after he got it in a minor fender bender. He lived in southern maryland at the time. A week after he sold it, it was back up on craigslist in Brooklyn NY with some fake story about how this was the guys van since new and he always cared for it.

This car didn't have the factory HID's did it?

Memphis Raines > offroadkarter
11/06/2013 at 20:45

No it was a 2000. The maxima was actually one of the most stolen cars for awhile just because it was one of the first with HIDs and all the fast and furiousers wanted them in their civics. I remember when I first got the maxima conversion kits ran around a cool grand. Ouch.

offroadkarter > Memphis Raines
11/06/2013 at 20:49

my sister used to have a 2002 TL which also had the HID reflector assemblies, I remember people used to flash her because they thought she had her high beams on all the time and they didn't know what HID's were back then lol

ddavidn > Memphis Raines
11/06/2013 at 21:40

I get it, I was sad when my Focus went to the junkyard and I have an M3...

Doug DeMuro > Memphis Raines
11/07/2013 at 11:44

With you on the manual thing. I actually love how the current Maxima looks, and it has a TON of power, but the CVT just doesn't suit that car. Congrats on the Mustang — I probably would've ditched the Maxima too, if given the choice :)

SV77 > Memphis Raines
11/13/2013 at 14:54

Mine just hit 160k, its a 96 SE 5sp, but the rust is getting to her. Probably will b her last winter season