Dad GummitTuesday, January 25, 2005 | 10:31PM |
Well I should’ve known the Odessa trip wasn’t going to work out when Stacy’s alternator went out two weeks ago. At least I now have a new car. Now some history.
My Odessa trip was less than a week away… I was driving to work on Monday. I turned onto Burnet Road, and suddenly my transmission is making crazy sounds. After calling my dad, we determine it could be as simple as the clutch having a problem. Probably not a huge deal. After barely arriving at work I take the car to the mechanic (boy that was a fun drive). They immediately determine that it’s the transmission, and after checking the car out, they call me to say it’ll be $1400 to replace it. The car is clearly not worth that at this point.
So my trip to Odessa is now cancelled because we have to buy a new car. But first we have to find financing for it. I’ll skip the details of this part (because it’s excruciating to even think about it anymore) and just say that the financing was approved today for the 3rd (adjusted) time and we are the proud new owners of a 1998 Mercury Grand Marquis GS. That’s right. A grandma car. But you know what? It’s loaded, and it’s an automatic with AC. That is a significant step above any car I’ve ever owned. You could live in this car.
Now, taking a few steps back, I was looking for cars this past Friday. (I had the day off to go to Odessa early. Ugh.) I went to the gas station in Stacy’s car, and did something I haven’t done in years. I locked the keys in the car. Stupidly, I didn’t have a spare of hers in my wallet, so she had to get a ride up there to get me back in. We drove next door to Schlotzky’s for lunch, and when we came out, her car wouldn’t start. The wrecker from the alternator place jumped us, but we still had to pay for a tow, and then it turned out that the battery had caused the alternator to go out because it was old. And finally the battery had died.
But the funny thing is that I really hadn’t stressed about any of it until yesterday. It wasn’t really a bad day in and of itself, but I guess I just finally realized how much had happened over the past week or so. Nothing had changed today, but I was in a much better mood. I still am. And tonight we went out to Chuy’s with my friend Robert from work, and his wife, Amy. I think I passed my bad luck on to Robert, though. On our way to Chuy’s from work, he was rear-ended. I felt so bad, because we were not only leaving early for me, but we were actually going to go by Precision Camera to pick up my slides.
I guess that’s just adulthood.
Comments
Welcome! Just remember, “What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger!”
Mom | Wednesday, January 26, 2005 | 9:27AM
Bummer man. Don’t feel bad though, the same stuff happened to us too. The Transmission in Jennifer’s car went out several months back (twice), and we had to pay quite a bit to get it replaced. Then on the way down here, her alternator went out as well, so then we had to buy a new one and replace THAT. Here’s the kicker though - when we went to get her car inspected, the guy pulled up on the emergency brake, and when he went to release it, it didn’t release! So then we spent another day with her car up on jack stands and the back tires pulled off, trying to figure out how to release the brake. At least that didn’t cost too much though - it was just a matter of buying some brake cleaner and cleaning them out mostly.
Anyway, all seems to be well for now. Don’t think it’s all her car though - mine’s had issues too, but I won’t get into them here for fear of dragging this post out any longer. Just know that we feel your pain.
Big Dookie | Thursday, January 27, 2005 | 9:44AM
You remember my car…right? The green hornet as it’s been so fondly referred to…other wise known as a 1995 Dodge Crap..I mean Spirit.
A few years ago I had decided to take out a little extra in student loans to pad my account, so I wouldn’t always be strapped for cash. WELL, my car was nice enough to not only blow a head gasket once…but it did it three times in a row…the first time cracking the entire engine! Wee!
Thankfully, Kristin’s dad referred me to a great mechanic. The first time cost me roughly $1300…which basically sucked me dry…but the other two times it cost me nothing…ended up the cooling systme was getting backed up somewhere, so the engine wouldn’t get any cooling at first, and then when it got extremely hot, suddenly the coolant would start to circulate again…so it would immediately make the temp. plummet…which is extremely good for any metal surfeace, right? =)
Casey | Friday, January 28, 2005 | 7:56AM
Well I met with a prospective buyer for my car today, and it turns out he’s a hobbyist mechanic himself, and he ended up correctly diagnosing the problem with my car. Turns out the transmission is probably fine, but the clutch will need to be replaced. A much cheaper repair, but a repair I can’t/don’t want to afford right now. Not to mention that we’ve already bought the Grand Marquis, which we’re quite happy with so far.
Walker | Friday, January 28, 2005 | 3:22PM
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