[Chris]

This is a true story! I bought a second hand Buick Regal a few years ago. It was all fun and games until a truly cringe-worthy problem developed. The car started to smell odd inside. At first I could hardly notice it. I’d get a whiff of something odd off and on but nothing to worry about. But then it got worse, a lot worse. The smell became stronger and it was not a good smell. After some time it was so bad that I had to immediately wash my clothes after I had driven the car. I am not kidding.
Eventually I took the car to the repair shop. The mechanics searched and searched but they could not determine the origin of the smell. A friend put some odor eliminating stuff in my car, it didn’t help at all. In the end it was so bad that I traded the car in for another one, also a Buick. The person who ended up buying the smelly one was a heavy smoker and smoked in the car so I guess the smell of stale smoke overpowered.

Here you would think this is the end of the story but it’s not. I teach English online to Chinese folks. Well, that’s my evening job, not my day job. About a month after I had gotten rid of the car, I was chatting about cars with one of my students. He asked me what kind of car I drive. I told him it’s a Buick. I didn’t mention the smell. He said oh a Buick. My mom had a Buick and it started to smell for no reason. The smell got so bad that she had to get rid of the car.

What are the odds? I can’t describe the smell as it is not anything I’ve ever experienced before but I’d not wish it upon anyone.

[Author]

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