Before I got my new car--a 2007 Hyundai Santa Fe--I drove a 1999 Oldsmobile Alero. That car served me pretty well and had few problems. However, during the last year that I owned the Alero, I kept getting flat tires. The tires would lose air slowly so I had to pump them up a few times a week. I also got 3 flat tires in that time resulting from the tire separating from the rim.Last fall, I got my Santa Fe, which is the first new car I have ever owned. The Santa Fe is technically an SUV but it's not gigantic. In fact, it isn't any longer than the Alero. The interior has lots of room, and everyone who has driven in it likes it. I drove a few colleagues to lunch this week, and when I pulled up they both commented on how nice and stylish the car is. Having a car that people notice is different for me. It's fun.
After work one day last week, I noticed a new picture was illuminated on the dashboard. To me, it looked like it was indicating the rear driver-side door wasn't shut. I was just about to get on the highway and couldn't check the door well. Since I hadn't opened that door in a few days, I figured it must be secure enough to drive home. When I arrived in my garage, I opened and re-closed the door while the car was still running, but the light didn't go out. "Weird," I thought. A little while later I went to the gym, and used the all-wheel drive for the first time since we had a snow and ice storm that day. I heard a little grinding sound, and concluded that the all-wheel drive must make some noise.
When I got out of the gym, my rear driver-side tire looked flat but I thought it was an illusion from all the snow and ice in the parking lot. I drove home, hearing a faint grinding sound again. Only when I got out of the car in my garage did I see that there was no illusion--the tire was completely deflated. Apparently the hieroglyphics on the dashboard meant the tire pressure was low.
It was freezing and windy, with the storm still in force. I felt lucky that I could call AAA from the warmth and comfort of home. It turns out the tire was punctured and couldn't be repaired. Even though my car has just 3,500 miles on it, I had to get a brand new tire. I'm really happy with my Santa Fe, as I said. I just hope the flat-tire affliction I developed with the Alero isn't contagious.
