After being held hostage by my Saab for more than three weeks, I finally made it past the “finish line” August 14.

The first thing I did when I got home was to take everything (everything) out of the car and put a cover on it. I couldn’t stand to look at it. It took all my restraint to not soak the cloth top in gasoline and set it on fire.

Along the last part of the trip, I had been eyeing (more like fantasizing about) a possible replacement for my smoking hot mess of a car. In California, I had considered trading it in and getting a Touareg. In Salt Lake City, I came very close to abandoning the car, and flying home…

After a lot of searching, reading, and test-driving, I decided on a 2010 VW Touareg – rated to tow 7,700lbs.

2002 Saab + 2010 Golf + $$

= 2010 VW Touareg

Gleefully signing over the title to the Saab. Buh-bye.

It’s a little hard to park in Philadelphia, but very comfortable, 4×4 off-road & snow capable, double bass friendly and can tow 7,700 pounds without breaking a sweat…

Lucky thing, since the T@B trailer will be back on the east coast sooner than I thought…