[Chapter 50: At the Car Dealership]
Through chatting, they learned that Joseph had just been discharged from the military earlier this year. He and his wife had moved to Los Angeles, but since they had both lived in a small rural town before and lacked any specialized skills, life had been tough for the past few months.
John also asked why, given Joseph's background, he wasn't doing better after leaving the service.
Joseph explained that although agencies like the FBI and SWAT had shown interest in recruiting him after his discharge, he was tired of the fighting and declined all offers. If he was going to stay in law enforcement or the military, it might as well be the army -- he felt it was the same grind either way.
John thought about it and understood. Agents in the FBI weren't just sitting around; the training and missions were intense. Considering the rough environment, that made sense. Another thing was Joseph simply didn't want to be under that kind of strict discipline anymore after over a decade in the military. He was just worn out.
John smiled and said he was willing to offer him a $50,000 salary for now and would see how things went later. Joseph smiled back, saying that working as a security guard at a bank only paid about $30,000, so this was a good offer.
Joseph's situation deeply moved John -- a top-notch special forces veteran struggling to make ends meet after leaving the service -- it reminded him of stories about soldiers taking on hard labor jobs after discharge. It was truly a shame.
The military trained hard -- it was known for rigorous discipline, necessary since American troops fought worldwide. Without that discipline, their combat effectiveness would suffer.
The US military ran an all-volunteer force, and soldiers were paid reasonably well -- usually no less than many civilian jobs. According to Joseph, a basic Navy salary ranged between $1,000 and $2,000 a month. After two years, if you signed a follow-up contract with the military, your pay would go up a notch.
When Joseph served in the Special Forces, his monthly pay was quite good, along with benefits like free healthcare. Unfortunately, most military personnel didn't manage their finances well and spent most of their income. Once discharged without skills to fall back on, finding a new path became a major challenge for these veterans.
---
Joking and laughing, Zach pulled the car over at a dealership on Sixth Avenue. John and the others got out, still exchanging smiles.
The cars inside looked a bit old-fashioned compared to the sleek designs John had seen in the future, so he only focused on what he loved.
Soon, John and the group were drawn to two luxurious, stately sedans: the 1994 Cadillac Fleetwood and the Lincoln Town Car.
In the auto market, Lincoln and Cadillac had always been friendly rivals. Every new luxury business sedan they launched caught the eyes of stars and tycoons alike. Their competition remained a hot topic among car enthusiasts.
Here, both brands had released updated versions of their classic luxury sedans in 1994, each tweaking the older designs.
Since Clinton's presidency, his official limousine was based on the Cadillac Fleetwood, albeit a heavily customized one. John knew this car well -- it became famous as Clinton's ride.
Similarly, the '94 Lincoln Town Car was introduced to compete directly with the Cadillac Fleetwood. In fact, the two cars looked quite similar.
They both measured over 16 feet in length and featured luxurious, spacious interiors. Both had extended versions as well, commonly found in wedding service fleets later on.
John really admired classic American car design. Compared to sporty compact cars from Japan and the sleek European models, American muscle cars were his favorite.
These two were no exception -- wide, over 16-foot bodies, these sedans towered over other cars on the road. Their boxy, robust shapes exuded power.
...
Seeing these cars, John lost interest in the Japanese and European models and motioned to a salesman.
"Hello, sir, I'm Steve. How can I help you today?" A young man in his twenties approached.
"I'd like to hear about these two cars," John said, pointing to the '94 Cadillac Fleetwood and Lincoln Town Car.
"Sure. This one here is the '94 Cadillac Fleetwood, released by General Motors last year -- the president's vehicle. It's an upgraded version of the older model.
It's equipped with a 5.7-liter LT1 V8 engine, producing 260 horsepower and 450 Newton-meters of torque, delivering a smooth and quiet drive.
Additionally, this Fleetwood offers impressive towing capacity -- after opting for a special package, it can tow trailers up to 7,000 pounds, suitable for RVs and yachts, making it a perfect travel companion.
This particular model is a Cadillac luxury custom edition with bulletproof design capable of withstanding small-arms fire.
Next to it is the '94 Lincoln Town Car, also a presidential vehicle, upgraded from the second generation Lincoln Town Car.
It features a 4.6-liter V8 engine with 213 horsepower, redesigned interior, digital dashboard, automatic headlights, front-side airbags, and many other features.
As a top-tier luxury car rivaling the '94 Cadillac Fleetwood, this Lincoln custom edition is also bulletproof and offers an interior and comfort level that won't disappoint.
Both vehicles are clearly designed for the successful elite and remain top choices among affluent buyers."
After hearing the explanation, Zach and the others stared wide-eyed at the vehicles, clearly smitten.
"Alright, alright, do you have them ready? I'm taking both luxury editions. I'll check out some other cars afterward."
Steve was excited, and though Zach hestated briefly, John's insistence sealed the deal immediately.
...
"Feel free to browse. For now, let's just buy these two. Next time you come back to buy, you can look around and pick any model you like." Taking advantage of the lull, John told Zach and the others.
Hearing that, Zach and the others eagerly wandered into the showroom to check out their favorite cars. John couldn't help but think cars really were loved by everyone.
As Zach and the others strolled through the different display areas, John's eyes suddenly lit up when a sturdy, massive vehicle caught his attention. He instinctively moved toward it.
"Damn, isn't that a Hummer? Now that's a car a man should be driving," John said to himself, admiring the huge beast of a vehicle.
"Yeah, that's a Hummer. Couldn't agree more -- that's the kind of ride a man ought to have, right?" A guy nearby overheard John's comment and chimed in.
Hearing the familiar voice, John turned to see who had spoken.
*****
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