I'm nineteen.

I just finished my first year at college, and I've decided that I want to get a car because I was so sick of mooching off other people for rides to, um, the store. Or....home.

So, I started looking. Went to used car dealers that bank at my bank, so I know they'll give me a good deal. Yes, I'm manipulative, I don't care.

My price range was between 6 and 7000 dollars. Found a'cute' little 2002 Toyota Echo that they were asking, oh 7995 for. Found a couple of Hyundai Accents, but I really didn't want one of those, particularly a black one because my big brother-man has a black Accent.

I went back to the same dealer a couple of times, and drove the Echo. Yes, it's my car. It feels like my car. I like how it drives, like a car. Very different from my Silverado. Yes, a Silverado, a five foot, two inch little girl driving a half ton pick up truck.

However, that dumb little car is too expensive. I was so upset. I negotiated with my parents, I did a TON of homework, I wanted that little car.

It has about 47,100 miles on it. Mucked up back bumper, I didn't care. It was mine. I talked to owners of the cars, I called a Toyota dealership for their opinion, because they don't make the Echo anymore. Evidently it's "the best car ever made." I talked to mechanics, you know, the works. That little Echo seemed like the car for me. 40 miles to the gallon doesn't hurt my feelings, either.

I talked the price down. $700 dollars, baby! I got a little loan, gonna build up my credit.

I'm now the proud owner of a black 2002 Toyota Echo with 47,000 miles on it and 40 mpg. Oh, no cruise control, automatic, brakes squeak a little when I back up, no cd player, but it's mine.

My first car. Yay me.