Pretty Much a Deal Breaker...

We have all been there: the dreaded first date. Maybe you met him/her on the train to work, or Eharmony, or even a church ice cream social (it never happens this way, but I mean we can all dream).  So after you have texted your bar hookup...I mean... your friend from church for about a week, you both decide to meet for drinks and maybe dinner.  The days before seem to drag and you become more anxious by the day.  The emergence of social media doesn't help with this anxiety either, as you continue to stalk their Facebook page and try to figure out what kind of person they are just by their posts and pictures of them at their 10 year high school reunion. 

The day arrives and you spend the final hours before primping, plucking, and practicing your small talk. Your date is willing to pick you up and just by that request alone you think you have scored Mr./Mrs. right. Who said chivalry was dead right?  You hear the car engine as they pull up, you take a deep breath and walk out your front door.

The next part is when it all goes downhill...

 My good friend Melissa McCabe has taught me many life lessons, but one stands out above them all, "The Ultimate Deal Breaker."  As you step off your front porch it comes into view...they drive a bright yellow automobile.  First you try to stop yourself from making that face of disgust that everyone makes after tasting a lemon (by the way which is also bright yellow).  Then you do the different self denial tricks in your mind: "Oh maybe they have a rental car." or "Maybe they work for Steam Masters or Banana Boat or Schwan's ."  However, denial soon turns into the hard reality you are going on a date with a complete loser. 

Ladies and gentleman there is no easy advice that I can give to avoid the ultimate deal breaker moment, but I can promise you that a few Kansas Citians and the ultimate Chicago deal breaker fighter, Mel McCabe are hitting the streets this summer to track down and document these deal breakers. 

Day in and day out we hit the streets documenting these horrific automobiles in a game we like to call: "Find the deal breaker."  Below are a few examples of some of the "gems" found around both Kansas City and Chicago by my correspondents Mel McCabe, Clay Salmon, and of course myself.  So remember you think you may have found that prince charming until they pull up in your driveway.  So if you see the yellow paint job, remember if the shoe fits...DEAL BREAKER.

-R

P.S. If you find yourself stumbling upon a "deal breaker" in your city, please feel free to send a picture of it to me via text.  Together we can end this epidemic.

 Yes they can even drive SUV's.

 I found a "double deal breaker" last week.

 My birthday gift to one of our finest KC correspondents, Clay Salmon.