Stupid car! (I hope it doesn't hear me)

[judy]

I came downstairs on Thursday of last week to find that my front license plate was missing. I had a lunch appointment with a friend, called her and cancelled, and then called the police.

They showed up and we found the plate, all muddy in a puddle nearby. Somebody must have hit it and it got pulled off. This is NY, and if you park in the street, and have common sense, you don't get upset by these things. I always buy used cars
so that these little things don't make me crazy. The license plate had already been split in two by previous "hits." I kept it together with a license plate holder. Going to get a new plate is completely out of the question - it's expensive, takes too long, and uses up a whole day.

I then got into the car to go to the mechanic to have the plate rigged up somehow, and the car wouldn't start. I also needed to have it inspected by 8/31 and have known for a few months that one of my brake lights was out.

Taking this all as a definite omen that today was the day to get everything done, I went directly to the mechanic. Somebody pushed it and, since it's a stick shift , it started in second gear. It needed an alternator and some other things that Ive never heard of.

The car cost me $770!!! I just put in a new clutch a few months ago too and will need am exhaust pipe soon. It is a 1997 Celica, so things need to be replaced, but that $770 I could have spent on paying off my credit card!

Annoying! And I know I'm not done yet. The car is really noisy and I'm going to need to do that exhaust soon.

[DianaB]

I know how you feel about cars! My airconditioner went out earlier this summer and we spent $1,000 getting it fixed. Right after (Thank goodness!) we got home from vacation it went out again. It's been in the shop for the last couple of days and it's finally finished but it will cost over $700 this time. We're about due for a new vehicle but since the flood we'll probably have to wait for awhile.

Judy, my daugher drives a 1998 Celica! She just loves it! It had been wrecked and a mechanic fixed it up and sold it. It hasn't caused her hardly a lick of trouble, other than maintence. It's got over 250,000 miles on it now!

[AngieDoogles]

Oh my! I hate having car troubles. It stresses me out so much! I once thought I was going to be stuck 6 hours away from home because our car was acting crazy. Luckily it worked alright long enough to get us home and was easy to fix, but wow, I was scared!

I'm sorry it's costing so much and that you still have more to do. *hugs*

[Tink]

Oh Bummer! It gets pricey in a hurry!
Our saving grace is usually that dh is a really good mechanic. IF he's home he fixes anything other than the electronic stuff.

[Janet]

Car troubles can be so annoying and inconvenient. I've been fairly lucky with the cars I've owned. I always buy wrecked vehicles and then hubby fixes them. It's what he does for a living. I would like to own ONE new vehicle, nothing real expensive, but know that's another thing on the list of things never to be.

[judy]

Diana - you grew up! I got so used to the little girl on your avatar. You're very pretty and so is the scenery behind you.

I'm sorry your a/c is costing so much! Your daughter is lucky - I'd love to keep this car until I reach a good 300,000 miles. It can be done if you do the upkeep.

Once you get used to a car, I can't see imagine not having one. My whole lifestyle
is based on being able to go wherever I need or want to.

[judy]

Originally Posted by Janet

Car troubles can be so annoying and inconvenient. I've been fairly lucky with the cars I've owned. I always buy wrecked vehicles and then hubby fixes them. It's what he does for a living. I would like to own ONE new vehicle, nothing real expensive, but know that's another thing on the list of things never to be.

You're not missing a thing. I had a new car and I worried about scratches and dents and dings, etc. I drove that thing for 10 years almost to the day! I drove my last used car for 7 years, and I have this one for about 3 years. I keep them until they are completely dead, and then have them towed away to be donated to one charity or another.

[Gina]

Judy, I hate spending money on car repairs.. When I lived in Bklyn, I had one car and when I could walk I did. Now I have three cars, with kids and I am always having one car in for repair its crazy. I took my sons car in today for brakes.. go figure... As far as your licence plate being hit and mislocated, I remember back in the day coming outside and my car was missing yep stolen right from my front door, and for awhile back they were breaking windshields, hearing this you think we lived in a rough neigborhood but it wasn't.. I don't miss that..

[judy]

I remember those windshield breaking schemes. They were often done by repair companies to drum up business. Or...kids.

[DianaB]

Originally Posted by judy

Diana - you grew up! I got so used to the little girl on your avatar. You're very pretty and so is the scenery behind you.

Thanks, Judy! It definitely isn't one of my best pictures, but it's one from our 4-wheeling trip. My hair is up in a bun and my bangs are all over everywhere, but it's a picture that brings back good memories.