My car has broken down every four days for three weeks.

[mainegreen]

Something new every time.

-First, some clamp or other rusted off the engine and a part detached: $200ish
-Discovery during process that the manifold was filled with tar (was it smoking Lucky Strikes?): $300ish
-Loss of power. Discovery that belts needed replacement: $200ish
-Loud click-clicking noise from back wheel. Discovery that brake drum is cracked, and the other is about to go due to both basically being rusty piles of crap. Cost: $200ish
-Sudden loss of all breaking power on road followed by cries of 'Oh shit!!' and very loud engine breaking. Discovery that some 'pistons' in the rear breaks were also rusty pieces of shit that allowed all the break fluids to squirt out all over the place leaving me with no breaks. Cost: $350ish

:cry:

No more dammit!

[DS1]

1. brakes, dude

:)

yes, time for something new, you've already made 2 payments just on keeping that thing alive

[mainegreen]

4. By the time I'm done it will be new.

If my car were a person, it would be a cyborg by now.

(Does that make sense? Hmmmm to many glasses of wine for me tonight I think)

[supernova]

2. Awww, Cars can be a real pain

:hug:

How old is the car? Do you have the capacity to replace it? :

[mainegreen]

3. 8 years.

But it's only got a 100k miles, I own it free and clear, and I drive only seven miles a day.
I'd hate to replace it, because it's cheap as hell to insure and I live in the city, where I get dings and dents all the time.

Normally she's a real nice car, but right now she's killing me.

[DS1]

6. sounds like my situation

car's dinged, banged up like crazy, but I own it, barely drive it, and don't give much of a damn how it looks so long as it's running.

it is a pretty car when not banged up though. oh well. the 60/mo insurance more than makes up for it

[democracyindanger]

11. Your city have a car share?

Something like this in SF: http://www.citycarshare.org/

Maybe it'd be a better option for you.

[Droopy]

5. I ditched my last vehicle when it became more costly to fix it

than the vehicle was worth. Blown head gasket = $1500. Truck only worth $500 = new truck.

I bought a 2002 S-10 in February 2005. I've since paid the truck off and I've only had to put $700 into it in that period of time except for preventative maintenance.

[mainegreen]

7. Hmmm.

I don't think I could pay off a S-10 in two years.
Not with the one year old and the mostly stay at home wife!

But I would LOVE to get a little truck.

Someday.

:sigh:

[GreenPartyVoter]

10. We did the same thing. Picked up a brand new subaru figuring the higher monthly payments would

be worth the the security of not worrying about what's gonna break next and for how much?

[Mugu]

8. When I read of situations like this I always think of my dad.

The old man insisted that I learn how to repair the common things in life. The only time that I have had a mechanic work on a vehicle of mine was to repair a transmission problem and a repairman has never set foot in my house. When my friends have car problems I let them use my tools and supervise the work. Generally they are surprised as how easy and inexpensive the repairs are once they know how.

Sweating pipes, wiring lights and outlets, adding circuits to the breaker box, rodding sewer lines, rebuilding engines and brakes, servicing water softeners and heaters, carpentry, drywall, roofing, pouring concrete, setting and pulling fence posts, all taught before I moved out at eighteen.

In my youth I didn't know to appreciate it, but I've been so thankful ever since. Thanks dad.

Regards, Mugu

[mainegreen]

13. That's handy knowledge.

I'm trying to get my Father-in-law to teach me some of that stuff.

:D

[Mugu]

16. You'll never be sorry.

All the plumbing in my 115 year old house is up to date as are all the electrical systems and the heating and AC. I did all the work myself.

Even if you don't do the work yourself, you can keep the person that is doing the work honest.

Regards, Mugu

[GreenPartyVoter]

9. That is so scary! *hugs* The last thing you need to get stranded somewhere in

this cold weather. (That is, if you survive the lack of brakes thing.) :scared:

[mainegreen]

15. So far, surviving.

:P

Car-less at the moment though.
Thank goodness for public transport though!

[unsavedtrash]

12. the old parts are jealous of the new ones.

right there with you.

[mainegreen]

14. I think the old parts are to senile to be jealous!

:rofl:

[Inchworm]

17. I've been through 2 vans in 1 month or so

First one died for good finally after being on about a 2 breakdown a month schedule.

We took parts off the 1st one to make the second one work. It wouldnt shift into 3rd gear so I've just been using to do shopping etc. travelling at a mean 35mph.

It Died Dec 31st, 2007. No forward gears.

Good riddance. Now if money would fall from the sky I'll be ok :D

:hug: