I would be remiss if I didn't tell the Paddy Wagon story one more time. We lived in Punta Gorda FL. I traveled extensively owning a company selling mainly dinnerware from England to hotels, resorts and casinos. Carmen had a Suzuki XL7 and I drove a Lincoln Touring Sedan. I traded the touring sedan to get her a Mitsubishi Montero and eventually drove the Montero myself. The Air Conditioning was going out in the Montero and I had spied a Dodge Grand Caravan at the Miami Dodge dealer online. Well, the AC gave out in Miami and I drove it into the dealer thinking I'll trade for the minivan.
I covertly began the sales transaction saying just looking thanks...I did see a White Grand Caravan online. May I see it? SOLD. Hmmm of course it was. They showed me PW next. It had 45 thousand miles on it and was under a premium warranty. We cut a deal I left the Montero there. Off we went.
The following week we tripped to Jackson MS and on the way had a few mini problems but made it back home, where the Punta Gorda Dodge dealer went over it. Wow! $3500 worth of warranty covered problems (billed to Miami). That made my cost basis about 12K. Nice and I drove it with the understanding and AAA, that if we broke down PW would be left at the nearest Dodge dealer.
Nearly 200 K miles later here we are. One of the best most comfortable minivans ever. Stow and Go seats turned the back into a covered pickup truck bed. We styled and profiled across the USA south for about 8 years. Doing shows in New Orleans and visiting my sick Mom in NW Indiana. A great ride.
PW was originally slated to be Taylor's first car but she took me to the Tampa Dodge dealer instead and picked out her own 2011 Dodge Nitro Heat alias "Thunder". So, PW stayed with me on the road and we did nicely virtually no repairs as business and territory increased. Sidebar Taylor did fail her first drivers test in PW calling him a "dump truck".
Pictured left is PW with the Dodge boys grouping, Thunder on the end and Lightning my 2011 Dodge Nitro Heat. The Heats have Scatpack plates and we belong to the NOLA Mopar Group. Yes Father/ daughter Nitros. The Nitros have only 80k miles each. Vintage baby!
The covid scare put PW on hiatus with a sunny berth on the "Gulf of America" Long Beach (no... the other Long Beach MS). He sunbathed and rode Taylor's dog around the complex and to the beach lol 1 block away a couple times. I was reminded numerous times to find PW a new home. Friday April 30th the auction guys in Moss Point MS are going to be offering him up to new owners. He's online and available. Vaya con Diaos PW!
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