A little change of luck

Lolita Harper

COSTA MESA -- In a small pile of bills and junk mail sat the envelope

that would change his luck.

It was thin and nondescript with Orange Coast Jeep on Harbor Boulevard

printed as the return address.

When Nhan Vo opened it, he was informed that he could be the winner of

a brand new Jeep Liberty sport utility vehicle.

“Yeah right,” he thought and set it aside.

For some reason, the direct mailer enticed him. On a whim, he decided

to stop by the Costa Mesa dealership one evening.

“It was on the way home from work,” the Santa Ana resident said.

He was handed a key that may or may not start the car and told to take

his best shot. To his amazement, the engine of the new silver Jeep

Liberty turned over.

“I don’t know how to explain what it felt like,” the 23-year-old said

Thursday when he claimed his prize. “I just couldn’t believe the car was

actually starting.”

Vo stood beaming in front his new $23,000 vehicle, complete with

chrome rims and a grill.

“I like the shimmer color,” he said in broken English.

Orange Coast Jeep owner Jon Gray said he is always pleased when a

promotion can help both the community and his business.

His dealership is part of the Harbor Boulevard of Cars, which also has

contributed more than $200,000 to local school programs.

Although the direct mailer was an obvious ploy to attract business,

Gray said it is great to see the vehicle go to somebody who could really

appreciate a new car.

“It always feels good when you give something to someone who is going

to be really excited,” Gray said, “rather than someone who just bought a

new car last month. This is like a lifestyle change for this guy.”

Vo, a Vietnam immigrant, said he would have never contemplated buying

a new car. He would drive his 1995 Honda Accord into the ground before

being able to afford car payments, Vo said.

What will become of the old faithful Honda?

“I will give it to my girlfriend,” Vo said. “She drives an even older

car -- a ’91 Acura.”

His first order of business will be to break the car in on a little

road trip.

“I’m taking it to Vegas to see if my luck is still good,” Vo said.