I think my car hates me and wants me to be poor. :(

[Danger Mouse]

I've had this car for four years now....a Subaru forester...always reliable, never too much on repair work. Finally, it's about to paid off...only a couple payments left, and I think...great! I'll be able to save money now!

No such luck.

First, it needs registration. $100 bucks down the drain.

Then, it needs to pass inspection. Horn doesn't work, so it won't pass. Somehow the front headlamp got cracked, so it won't pass.

$100 for new headlamp.

$300 for a clockspring in the steering column that was keeping the horn from working.

The rear brakes failed. %700 all told.

The front end needed some serious work. Two new tires at $200, plus the front end work at another $300 easily.

With tax the whole affair was $2000+.

But my car wasn't done ruining my life yet. I was told there was some sort of issue with the bearings in the rear of the car. Not long after that, the bearings failed...badly enough so that I nearly lost a rear wheel. I had to take two days off of work while it was being repaired, the end result being I owe my mechanic $420.

But now I'm told my car needs a new rear axle SOON, within the next few weeks. I could barely afford the $420 to repair the bearing. The estimate came today: $566. I have no idea where this money is going to come from. I already have tons of debt as it is. Medical bills piling up. Student loan payments. I can't catch a break. I feel like I'm drowning.

AARRRRRGH.

There, I'm done.

[bikebloke]

1. Cars are evil like that.

Back when I drove, it seemed whenever I finally managed to save up some money, the car would find out. Bye, bye savings.

[freshwest]

8. Agreed. Sometimes they even fake you out. I had a truck I named Christine. It would act up around me

I'd have it towed when it wasn't working, but it always worked for the mechanic. They thought I was crazy.

But sometimes I'd have people ride with me and see the stunts it pulled. Like waiting until you get to the really, really dark part of the interstate in the woods and the headlights would go out. Or it would smell like it had electrical problems and smoke and die.

The mechanic never saw it. Freaking monster. It was traumatic going anywhere with the beast.

[pacalo]

14. Just like feeling lots better the moment you step inside the doctor's office.

:)

[redwitch]

2. Oh dear I am so sorry.

I am terrified that something will go wrong with our old car. Will be paid off in 2 months and I have been imagining such a scenario. It is such a struggle just to pay for budgeted expenses, unexpected ones are downright awful. :-( I hope you can make arrangements with your mechanic to pay it a little at a time. You have my sympathy!

[gratuitous]

3. Cars ARE evil

Buy a bike.

But not a fixie, because they're evil too.

[Danger Mouse]

4. I live more than 30 miles from where I work. A bike isn't really an option.

And neither is public transportation. The bus doesn't come out to my town anymore.

[taterguy]

9. Inanimate objects are not evil. The way they are used is good or evil

Well, maybe the case could be made for Hummers being evil but a Subaru is generally a fairly benevolent ride.

[gratuitous]

11. Subarus are generally benign

Although this one sounds like it's possessed, at the very least. Fixies, however, are irredeemably evil anywhere outside a velodrome.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

12. Obviously you have never dealt with a 1967 Ford Fairlane.

My ex had one of those many years ago. It was truly evil. It may have been the inspiration for "Christine."

[GreenPartyVoter]

5. I wish I could toss you a life preserver, but the best I can do is give you a

:hug: I wish I could do more.

[ohiosmith]

6. You need this car. I understand you can get it cheap.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sws88j_-JOE&feature=youtube_gdata_player

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

7. Cars will do that.

They will wait patiently for an opportunity to break down expensively until (a) they are paid for; (b) their warranty expires; (c) you are absolutely dead broke; or (d) you have received a financial windfall that you intended to spend on something else.

They just know. And they wait....

[dana_b]

10. oh man - I am so sorry

I empathize with you. I just had to put out over $3000 for a transmission rebuild. Then my daughter's second car in 5 months crapped out on her. I had to lend her more money to buy a 20 year old car and then she lost her job. I'm on disability (and that is being challenged) and this is gonna kill us. :(

[mucifer]

13. my first car was an '88 ford escort. I think it hated me because I am Jewish.

I wonder if old henry put something in the mechanism to get us. My car ate transmissions.