Car Wash
September 2, 2002
The web guy found this video on one of the 8mm tapes he's been digitally archiving. It shows Jordyn washing the Camry when she was 3 years old!
Jordyn washing Camry (9/2/02).
Bringing Camry Home
April 16, 2016
As the oldest grandchild, Jordyn was the first to receive her drivers license. This meant she would be able to drive herself to school, church, YBA events, etc.. It also meant we would have someone else
to help run errands or pick up and drop off the boys. We probably could have managed with two cars, but Grandpa and Grandma Higa were looking to buy a new car so they generously gave us their old Camry for
Jordyn to use. As time passed the Camry has always been there for many of the kids' milestones like the car they got their drivers license with, or
the car they drove on their own for the first time, or the car they drove to Prom with.
In Gilroy on the drive home. |
In the driveway at home. |
First car wash to clean all the bugs off.
Waxing
August 8, 2016
Waxing. |
All shiny. |
Waxing
September 5, 2017
A final wax before heading to college.
Sideswipe
April 30, 2022
The Camry has been a very reliable car for the kids. Jordyn drove it first, then Tyler, and finally Connor. They took pretty good care of it by washing it, waxing it (occasionally), and vacuuming it.
Considering it's well over 20 years old, it looks amazingly good. Since it always had to be parked outside because we only have a two car garage, there were a number of times when people left notes on
the windshield asking if we were interested in selling it. We never thought too much about it as there are many homes in our neighborhood where their extra cars are parked on the street, but we never
considered someone might drive too close and hit it. One night (on Jordyn's 23rd birthday) someone sideswiped the Camry. Fortunately, the person was incredibly honest and remorseful. She also happened
to live about 3 blocks away. She contacted her father who walked over and left their insurance information on the car. We found it the next day and started the process of getting it repaired.
The following week, Connor went to school and sat down in his Chemistry class. In Chem they don't sit at individual desks. They sit at lab tables with a group of other students. One of his tablemates came
in and talked about how her weekend was awful because she was driving home and sideswiped this parked Camry. She was still pretty shook up about it, so much so that Connor didn't have the heart to tell her
it was our Camry she hit.
Busted mirror. |
Scratched paint. |
Another angle.
Repairs
May 23-25, 2022
Getting the Camry repaired was not as easy as one might think. It was pretty cut and dry as the driver who hit it took full responsibility. The damage was also superficial as there was nothing but body
work that needed to be done. Unfortunately, their insurance carrier was not responsive, which meant we had to go through our car insurance company to begin the process of getting it repaired. Our insurance
company said to go to a body shop (that they recommended) that happened to be nearby to get an estimate. Due to the age of the Camry and the extent of the damage (despite it being relatively minor) the car
was totaled. Once that determination was made the body shop wouldn't touch the car to repair it. Luckily, one of the workers pulled Dad aside and said he could fix the car for a lot less than what the body
shop quoted. We decided to go for it and several weeks later the Camry looked as good as new (despite it now being classified as a salvaged vehicle).
Body is done. |
Handles and door trim painted. |
Mirror. |
Looks pretty clean. |
Not bad. |
Looks good. |
Up close. |