The Tercel Saga Continues

Marsha & Cordelia on "Farewell, Tercel" day...6 weeks ago!

The Tercel loves us and does not want to leave. Evidence:

On the advice of our mechanic, after a 246k+ mile relationship, we announced in early September that we would part ways with our “Trusty Tercel.” We decided to donate the vehicle to our local Care Net pregnancy center.

We had trouble tracking down the title (spent far too long looking), but then ordered a replacement through the Department of Motor Vehicles—20 bucks, no big deal.

Then we waited…and waited…and waited.

I was about to call the DMV when our former landlord showed up on our doorstep with the coveted piece of paper. The title had been mailed to our original address (our first apartment—only about a block from where we live now), and she hadn’t got around to delivering it for about a week after it arrived. (I don’t begrudge her busy life. I’ve “been there, done that”…am there, doing that, actually!)

Once I had the title, I went to the Vehicles for Charity website, registered our car for their program, then played phone tag with the administrator, until yesterday.

Yesterday, I discovered that there’s an outstanding lien on the vehicle, even though we paid off the car 13 years ago. So, whose lien it is, ours or the previous owners’? This mystery sent me into the labyrinth of Key Bank’s customer service phone system. Lacking an account number with which to slay the touch-tone dragon, I lingered in limbo-land, intermittently pressing “pound” and “zero” until the robot voice bade me: “Goodbye.”

Eventually, I spoke with a pleasant and competent-sounding woman (for real), who helped me apply for a lien release letter, which is supposed to reach my house in 3 to 5 business days.

I have my doubts. This car loves us.