Susan LaffertyThe paved path I walk most mornings is shifting.
Lifted. Moved. Broken.
By earthquake, flood, or foot traffic?
No. Roots of nearby trees travel underneath. Moving asphalt. Breaking through brick and stone.
Revealing their power and hold. Eventually breaking through from underneath the surface. Disrupting my steps.
This spring we looked for a car. A reliable used car. It’s been years since our last search. The integrity of the car—and the car salesman—matters. It did then. It does today.
But car-shopping has changed. Now you can shop online and find a fairly detailed history of the vehicle you’re interested in. The number of owners. Where it’s been registered. If it’s been in any accidents or had any recalls.
Are there any dents, scratches, or chipped paint? There’s a “360-degree” visual of the exterior and the interior. Most of the research is accomplished before you ever set eyes on the car or take it out for a drive.
Back in the day, someone could hide a vehicle’s history. Make it look good. Hit all the sales points with conviction. We searched for a trustworthy used car salesman. Wondered if the car was truly as good on the inside as it looked on the outside.
Integrity matters.