I remember it as if it were yesterday.
After an entire year of proving my driving capability on the roads of my little suburban town in my father's Nissan Maxima, on my 17th birthday I was presented with what I consider to be my current pride and joy: a dull, metal colored 1990 Buick Regal.
Accented by a hideous maroon interior, the car was clearly a bargain, but it was the best birthday gift that my father could have ever given me.
Bigger than a boat and impossible to park at first, it was clear that my American-made vehicle was going to keep me unharmed in the various accidents that awaited me in my future.
I had my share of troubles with the Buick, as any used car owner does, but in essence my 1990 Buick Regal has been and continues to be solid and reliable. The rough exterior often draws an array of criticism and is generally the butt of a variety of jokes. Although I was skeptical about even being seen in the Buick at first, I have come to realize that my old, ugly, dirty car is the only thing I would ever want to drive.
A nice car for a college student is a luxury that most students are unfortunately accustomed to these days. Joey gets a Jeep because he stayed in state or Lucy gets a Land Rover as a consolation prize for going to a public university.
A nice car is clearly an added benefit that could serve to enhance anyone's life, but is it necessary for a college student to have a top of the line vehicle?
True, while having a nice car that you have personally worked hard to buy and perfect is enviable, it isn't especially necessary on a college campus; I personally have trouble in even finding it desirable.
On the UB campus, it is impossible not to notice the array of pimped-out, show-all-you're-worth cars with the booming bass and the 24 inch rims, complete with owners who practically ink in weekly trips to Delta Sonic. These are the same drivers who complain about a scratch here or a little dent there after they have spent the night parked diagonally across a make-your-own row at The Steer.
And these are the same student drivers I observe while I effortlessly bulldoze my way out of the unplowed parking spaces in South Lake, while they are stranded in the blustery elements, tires spinning because their hot ride can't take the heat from the snow.
Within our UB community, it is a fact that most student drivers show little patience when it comes to navigating the roads. With parking spaces at a minimum, a little bump from one car to another is like second nature for most drivers; scratches are camouflaged by the more important task of making to class in time to sign the attendance sheet.
Then there is the issue of amenities. My Buick doesn't have a fancy sound system; it doesn't even have power windows. I have never been and most likely never will be the victim of one of those notorious campus break-ins where the entire interior of a car is stripped.
Fifteen years old, you can imagine that my Buick is weathered, which serves to ironically work in my favor. With no security system and dull locks, breaking into my car when the keys are locked inside is a breeze plus there is the added benefit that if I scratch my car, chip some paint, rip the seat, etc. it doesn't matter. I don't think the owner of a brand new Tahoe can say that.
Ultimately, while driving a nice, new car can be pleasing on the eyes, the trusty clunkers are without a doubt much better suited for a student driver on a college campus. Convenient, reliable and safe, my Buick Regal shows just how deceiving looks can be.
