DEFEND YOUR RIDE: Garrett On The Avenue In Hampden

Q: How'd you get this car?

A: I bought it off a guy on Craigslist.

Q: Really? When?

A: It was 2008.

Q: Tell me about it. What happened?

A: I found the guy on Craigslist. I went and met him in a parking lot off Maiden Choice Lane near UMBC. Took it around for a test drive. Liked it. Bought it from him.

Q: How'd the test drive go? Was it weird?

A: No, no, it was fine. The car drove fine originally. When I bought it, it was in good shape.

Q: What happened since then?

A: Since I bought it, its muffler got taken off by the blizzard a couple of years ago. It's pretty loud because of that.

Q: Why haven't you fixed that yet?

A: I don't know.

Q: So what else is wrong with it?

A: Its back tire popped a few weeks ago. It's on a donut now. Both its right side rims, front and back, got destroyed when I ran into a curb three years ago.

Q: But the wheels are fine, right?

A: The wheels are fine now. I replaced them. The power stream fluid is low right now. It's also been broken into about three or four times, and the stereo's been taken, so it doesn't have a stereo anymore.

Q: So what do you listen to when you drive?

A: I've carried an iPod thing with me before, like one of those portable iPod radio things. But it's never been loud enough to deal with the engine sound because there's no muffler. So mainly I listen to the muffler, or lack of a muffler.

Q: What do you use the car for mainly?

A: Right now, to drive back and forth to my mom's house in Annapolis once or twice a month. I don't use it too much in the city. Sometimes I'll use it when I need to go grocery shopping or something.

Q: What do you usually use to get around?

A: A bike. Light rail once in a blue moon.

Q: What's going on with the back?

A: I was in the parking lot of the post office in Annapolis one time, and some guy in a truck backed into me, and then drove away.

Q: And that was that?

A: That was that. Also, one time, I was in my friend's driveway, and she backed up into me with her car, so that's why my back light is open.

Q: Did you chastise her?

A: Actually, she took the car's information and ordered me a new light. But when it came, it just didn't fit. I asked about it at a store, and they said they don't make them anymore. They said, "No, uh, they just don't, we don't…you can't get those anymore." They taped it with red tape.

Q: Do you still have the light she ordered?

A: I might still have it. It's for a model that's not this car. I just don't know what I'd do with it.

Q: Tell me about the inside of your car. What are some of the things you have in there?

A: I keep all the essentials. As you can see, we've got some trash. I keep a couple books in case I'm ever stuck in my car anywhere and I'm bored. I have a gas can in case I run out of gas.

Q: Is that rim in there from the tire that popped?

A: Yeah.

Q: How'd that happen, by the way?

A: It just popped one day on the highway three weeks ago.

Q: Where's the furthest place you've driven to with this car?

A: Maine. That was literally two or three months after I bought the car, so it was in really good condition then. It was a really nice trip to Maine. It was also after that trip that the first damage happened to it, which was when I hit the curb.

Q: The first major damage happened three months after you bought it?

A: Yeah. It's been downhill since then.

Q: Have you ever been afraid that it will just die on you?

A: I'm not really afraid. I've come to terms with it. It's gonna happen.

Q: Do you have any rules in your car?

A: No virgins allowed.

Q: Is that the only one?

A: Yeah. I'm pretty easygoing otherwise.

Q: Let's say, heaven forbid, this car breaks down. What's the next car you'll realistically get?

A: Realistically? I think once this car is gone, I realistically won't have a car for awhile.

Q: Will that be a problem, not being able to get back to Annapolis?

A: No. I can just use public transportation. But if I had a choice for my next car, having a Saab would be cool. I think Saabs are pretty cool cars.

Q: So overall, you'd say your car's pretty swagged out?

A: Yeah, I'd say so.

Q: How do you think your swag's reflected in your car?

A: Ballin'.

Q: That's it?

A: Yeah. I'd say it speaks for itself. Literally.