I had to be only 1 of 16 possibly 18 people in 2002 within the borders of Maine who could claim that they drove and International Scout on the road...... legally The Scout for me was both the worst and best automotive decision I ever made. Many would shake their heads in disbelief after long descriptions of the beast. For me it was a self inflicted forced change of sorts....

I was married in the fall of 2001 which I recieved a 1996 ford ranger, 2wd, electric blue, 5 speed, 4 cylinder, as a wedding present from my father who had purchased the truck had driven it since it was new. Me, knowing the history of the truck was a two edged sword. I knew that dad religiously changed the oil every three thousand miles. I also remebered dogging the shit out of the old girl coming back from Saco in a snowstorm (times fifty).

I drove the truck for another few months and then I stumbled across it. Within an hour I immediatly went to a bank, opened the door and filled out a loan application not knowing what the hell I was doing. After waiting a few minutes I was seen by a very patient and kind older woman, who took the time to look over my application, then at me, then back to the application...when she finally spoke. "I'm sorry but I don't reccomend that I submit this." She had seen my meager part time scraps compared to my carefree college existance (thanks mom and dad) I wasn't offended in the least as it was a setback which manifested into a start.