Got A Car!!!

[Sailor Steve]

Yes, for the first time in eight years I actually own an automobile. First, a little bit of my experience with driving.

I learned to drive in a 1962 Corvair Monza. That was 1966. Then I got my learner's permit and found out I could ride my dad's little 50cc bike without an adult along with me, so I did that for a year and finally got my license in 1967. When I joined the navy my dad took the money he had set aside for my second year of college and bought a '67 Corvette convertible. When I came back from Vietnam in 1970 my dad trusted me to drive the 'Vette, which impressed my girlfriend quite a bit.

After I moved to Utah I bought my first car, a 1963 Ford Van. I sold it when I got married, and we bought our only new car, a 1974 Mustang II. Since then I've owned a '65 Chevy panel truck, an '73 Pinto wagon, and '85 Buick wagon and a 1994 Ford Escort wagon which I bought almost new in 1996. I loved that car. It handled very well and carried a lot of stuff. I was sad when I wrecked it in 2005.

I haven't had a car since. I just couldn't afford one, especially when I went through my homeless phase. My dad's death last July left me a little (very little) insurance settlement, and I've been sitting on it while looking for the right car. I found cheap cars I didn't want and not-so-cheap cars I wanted but couldn't afford. I wanted another Escort wagon but there just aren't any. The Focus replaced the Escort, and they say it's a better car in every way, but I could only see one thing: They're UGLY! I drove one, and it was nice, but every time I look at one I want to run the other way. I saw some minivans that I could afford, but there are so many of them on the road that they get boring. Yes, I'm being obsessive about it, but that's just the way I am.

So yesterday I was looking online and something jumped off the screen at me. It wasn't a wagon, and it wasn't a van, and it wasn't like anything I had looked at. It was a 1994 Eagle Summit. The Summit was actually a Mitsubishi Mirage, marketed in the US by Chrysler's Eagle division after they bought out American Motors in 1989. They were built in the US in Normal, Illinois. The Summit was a rather nondescript standard subcompact sedan, and if that was all there were I wouldn't have given it a second glance. The Summit wagon, however, was a complete redesign and looked nothing at all like it's sedan brother. It's actually the forerunner of today's Mitsubishi RVR, though it looks nothing like that either.

The Summit wagon is, well, what it is. It looks nothing like anything else I looked at, which is why I like it.

The Bad: It's nineteen years old. It doesn't have a CD player. It's got some dents and dings. The gas mileage isn't going to be nearly as good as my old Escort got. It's not going to handle as well as the Escort did. Finally, it cost quite a bit more than I wanted to pay.

The Good: Despite the age, it only has 78,000 miles on it. That's pretty amazing. A CD player would do me no good, as all my music is on my computer anyway. The radio works, and if I like the car and keep it I'll add an MP3 player hookup somewhere down the line. The dents and dings are to be expected in a car that old. The fuel economy won't bother me too much because sooner or later all my "driving" will be on a bike anyway. The handling I can live with, since whatever bike I end up with will be a lot more fun anyway. I love the way it looks. Like a van it only has the sliding door for the rear seat. It has a stick shift, which is something I was looking for. I rejected several cars I saw on that basis alone. A minivan would have hauled more, but you don't see them with manual transmissions, and I like to drive the car rather than have it drive me. As to the price, well, they really did make me an offer I couldn't refuse.

So, all-in-all I'm happy with my new mini-minivan. It's just different enough to be cool, at least to me. And I can always trade it in or sell it, if need be.

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a325/SailorSteve/1-1_zpsb84ab48b.jpg

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a325/SailorSteve/4-1_zps10983499.jpg

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a325/SailorSteve/3-1_zps8b7c1b7b.jpg

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a325/SailorSteve/2-1_zps5171c258.jpg

[Buddahaid]

Now you'll have to drive everybody else to gigs! I'm happy for you Steve but my favorite part of your story was your Dad using your college money for a Corvette. :arrgh!:

[GoldenRivet]

fantastic!

i will tell you what it is a good feeling to have a set of wheels. a very good feeling indeed.

:up:

congrats.

look like there is some utility there, a lot of cars lack usefulness other than moving warm bodies around, this one can do that and haul a bit of stuff to boot.

[Herr-Berbunch]

Congratulations.

Doesn't matter what it is as long as you like it.

I'm really pleased for you as I know it's been a long time coming.

[Sailor Steve]

Now you'll have to drive everybody else to gigs! I'm happy for you Steve but my favorite part of your story was your Dad using your college money for a Corvette. :arrgh!:
I'm only happy that he let me drive it.

A funny story came out of that. In 1998 I drove the Escort down to Long Beach CA to visit my sister. She was telling me about the flying lessons our dad paid for her to take, and the bad experience that put her off flying forever. I said "Dad never paid for me to take flying lessons!"

My sister replied "Well, he never let me drive the Corvette!"

Considering that he sold the 'Vette when she was ten, that's not surprising.

The funny part came later when we related the conversation to him. He looked at her and said "Well, Steve never wrapped one of my cars around a tree, either."

[Catfish]

Congrats, a new car is always fun ! :)

(OT We also had to buy a new (used) one yesterday, after the '89 BMW broke down some weeks ago - crack in the cylinder head, and not worth repairing considering the condition the rest of the car is in :oops:)

Looks pretty practical, and you sure sit a bit higher than in a "limousine form" car, i like that. I still have a '84 VW Quantum 'station' (?), with absolutely no performance or power, but at least the fuel consumption fits that ..

[Cybermat47]

Nice car bro. :up:

[vienna]

Steve is now fully mobile...

So, it's kinda like "Grammar on the Go" now?...

Congrats, Steve, and good and safe driving...

<O>

[Sailor Steve]

"Grammar on the Go"
I don't usually get into arguments about gender, but shouldn't that be "grampar"?

[u crank]

Nice ride Steve! :up:

Did someone say road trip? :O:

[Takeda Shingen]

Congratulations on you're knew car!

[Catfish]

Congratulations on you're knew car!
:rotfl2:

[vienna]

Congratulations on you're knew car!


Careful...Now he can drive over and correct you...

<O>

[HundertzehnGustav]

boring, practical, and looking completely like anything you would not expect on an US road.

looking on how welldefined your choice was and you did not buy the first set of wheels you saw, i am sure you have what you need for a price you can accept.
I hope it serves you well.

[Red October1984]

Now it's time for me to get a car! :)

Can't wait til this summer. I'm hoping for an 04-05 Mustang... :woot:

Hopefully a Manual. Anybody can drive an Automatic. I do like my mom's Camry though. It's nice to drive. :hmmm:

But a nice loud 05 Ford Mustang is where it's at. :yep:

[Reece]

Great little van Steve, should be very economical as well, must be great to have that extra bit of freedom!!:yep: Good stuff!!:up:

[les green01]

congrats steve two years ago I bought a 2001 vw beetle took it over to my buddy's house he walks to the back of it opens the latch where is the engine at.

[AVGWarhawk]

Ah, Mitsubishi. If you look closely at the valve cover you will see the old gun mounts used on the Zeros.

On a serious note, ask when the timing belt was last replaced.

Other than that, enjoy. :up:

[Sailor Steve]

I'm already in panic mode. Too many payments for too long a time. How will I ever get my bike now? A new computer? I should have gone cheaper!

On the plus side, I have a car. Maybe I can find a decent job...

[Red October1984]

I'm already in panic mode. Too many payments for too long a time. How will I ever get my bike now? A new computer? I should have gone cheaper!

On the plus side, I have a car. Maybe I can find a decent job...

For every pro...there's a con....

Well, I hope it'll go well. Gas isn't exactly cheap these days and that thing looks like a guzzler. Not a bad car overall. You just need money to run it....and to get money....one must work. :hmmm:

I guess you could splurge and get a 4 Cylinder, Hybrid Toyota Prius and pay less for gas.... :D :nope:

The Prius is a sad excuse for a car...but it gets amazing gas mileage and is silent. It's the perfect zombie survival car. That's the only time I would consider even looking inside of one. If the zombies came, you'd find me at the Toyota Dealership. You don't need a whole lot of gas and it's silent. :know:

[Jimbuna]

Nice one Steve....I know how much this means to you considering the number of times we've discussed this in recent times :sunny:

BTW...if I can get you over to the UK soon you'll probably be doing a fair bit of walking because the current buna household vehicle is a Focus :)

[Betonov]

I should have gone cheaper!.

You could, but a cheap buy ususaly means high maintainance.
Your car is one of those crates that can work a few hundred kilometers with a malfunction, enough to save for a repair.

One more hint, you have a car with a large trunk, no fammily to prevent you removing the backseats and people always require moving stuff around for cheap :03:

[Wolferz]

Nice little grocery getter.:up:

Manual transmission? Yup, they're fun until you're stuck in a traffic jam and your clutch leg starts burning.:wah:. Front wheel drive is a pain to change out a clutch too.
Many happy motoring miles to you sir.:)

[Schroeder]

It has a stick shift, which is something I was looking for. I rejected several cars I saw on that basis alone.
Are you sure you're an American?
I heard most of you guys don't even know that there are cars with three paddles.:o

:O:


In seriousness, nice car Steve. It's something I would have definitely not expected on a US road but rather in Europe. I don't think the gas mileage will be that bad, the car is still old enough to be rather lightweight compared to modern ones. Enjoy your new freedom.:rock:

[TarJak]

Well done Steve. Good to see you've got some wheels again.:up: We've got a Focus too. They're everywhere!

[HundertzehnGustav]

One more hint, you have a car with a large trunk, no fammily to prevent you removing the backseats and people always require moving stuff around for cheap :03:

that is what i was thinking, but would not dare saying.
i gather, there is electric equipment and guitars to move around between gigs.
a covered car is better than an open top pickup truck.

and the seats are quickly installed once a need arises.

[Mork_417]

Congrats Steve! Nice lookin vehicle. :up:

[AVGWarhawk]

I'm already in panic mode. Too many payments for too long a time. How will I ever get my bike now? A new computer? I should have gone cheaper!

On the plus side, I have a car. Maybe I can find a decent job...

Do not second guess yourself. Buyers remorse. :o Plus side as you said, the radius of the job hunt has just expanded for you! :up:

[Herr-Berbunch]

BTW...if I can get you over to the UK soon you'll probably be doing a fair bit of walking because the current buna household vehicle is a Focus :)

The Ford Focus in North America was until a couple of years ago nothing like the European (or just Rest of the World) model. Since 2010 it actually looks more like it. The Escort previous was just the same - different in NA and the rest of the world. :smug:

I can't see Steve walking if he comes here.

[Sailor Steve]

You could, but a cheap buy ususaly means high maintainance.
This car is almost 20 years old. I will likely have high maintainance plus payments. Still, the payments are low and for now it runs quite well.

One more hint, you have a car with a large trunk, no fammily to prevent you removing the backseats and people always require moving stuff around for cheap :03:
That's something I had not thought of.

Manual transmission? Yup, they're fun until you're stuck in a traffic jam and your clutch leg starts burning.:wah:.
I've been driving a stick for 42 years and have never encountered that problem. Mine comes with a position called 'Neutral'. It not only rests the leg, but it's also less wear on the clutch bearings to be closed rather than held open.

Front wheel drive is a pain to change out a clutch too.
Many happy motoring miles to you sir.:)
Been there, done that. At my age I'll keep money set aside for that sort of thing.

i gather, there is electric equipment and guitars to move around between gigs.
a covered car is better than an open top pickup truck.

and the seats are quickly installed once a need arises.
The back seat folds down. I don't have to remove it. :sunny:

[HundertzehnGustav]

i see that in the pictures.
but even if they fold down you have a "step" in the trunk.
maybe you can remove them and put them in the passenger feet area, behind the driver seat in an extreme case.

That is what i like in monospace cars - they can be surprisingly modular:o, and be awesome companions - get anything done.

enjoy your new found mobility!!!:up::up:

[Betonov]

This car is almost 20 years old. I will likely have high maintainance plus payments. Still, the payments are low and for now it runs quite well.


built in the nineties means NO maintainance :03:

[AVGWarhawk]

This car is almost 20 years old. I will likely have high maintainance plus payments. Still, the payments are low and for now it runs quite well.






Steve, my Buick is 59 years old. No maintenance other than oil, lube and filter. Drives and runs great. I would take it anywhere. Well maintained vehicles tend to last. If this Mitsubishi has records of good maintenance I believe it will serve you well. :up:

[Penguin]

Congratz, Steve, an.. ahem individual choice! In europe the car is known as Mitsubishi Space Wagon, a cool name. Much better than the Focus - we had the 2nd gen Focus station wagon for a short time in my company. First thought: "What a %§&%%&§& car!" I told this to the production assistant, he asked "why,it's a nice ride!" "Well, because you are also a %§&%%&§&." (didn't really like him either) :arrgh!:
Wasn't really made for our demands, especially longer rides with 4 people were a torture.

Btw, I have a buddy who makes (car) stickers for a few bucks- so if you want to style your car a little more, drop me a message :know::
http://img546.imageshack.us/img546/5662/gramnazcar.jpg


[...] a lot of cars lack usefulness other than moving warm bodies around, this one can do that and haul a bit of stuff to boot.

:o d..d...do you mean Steve should use it to carry cold bodies of his victims around? :huh:

[Herr-Berbunch]

^ :har:

[Jimbuna]

Btw, I have a buddy who makes (car) stickers for a few bucks- so if you want to style your car a little more, drop me a message

LOL :)

[Sailor Steve]

i see that in the pictures.
but even if they fold down you have a "step" in the trunk.
maybe you can remove them and put them in the passenger feet area, behind the driver seat in an extreme case.
Yeah. My old Escort back seat actually folded down into the floor, leaving a flat space. Of course that meant the rear deck was higher, meaning less space overall. On the other hand newer minivans have rear seats that pop out with a single lever. I would have to use a wrench to get this one out. Maybe it will happen, maybe not. We'll see.

enjoy your new found mobility!!!:up::up:
Today I made my first real grocery run. No more walking to the store and only buying what fits in the backpack. Oh, right. The new backpack hasn't arrived yet and I don't need it any more! :dead:

built in the nineties means NO maintainance :03:
That seemed to be true of my Escort. On the other hand it was only two years old when I bought it and eleven when I killed it.

Congratz, Steve, an.. ahem individual choice! In europe the car is known as Mitsubishi Space Wagon, a cool name.
That is a cool name! :rock:

Btw, I have a buddy who makes (car) stickers for a few bucks- so if you want to style your car a little more, drop me a message :know::
:rotfl2:

I don't think so though. :sunny:

[GT182]

BTW...if I can get you over to the UK soon you'll probably be doing a fair bit of walking because the current buna household vehicle is a Focus :)

Focus is a great little car Jim. The only problem is you guys have the steering wheel on the wrong side. ;) So I wouldn't blame Steve for wanting to walk. :haha:

Steve, that's a nice little car. :yeah: Great to hear you are no longer vehicle impaired. ;) If you ever get out here to Delaware I'll give you a ride in the GTO.
:hmmm: Maaaybe even let you drive it. ;)

[frau kaleun]

Congrats Steve, that thing is actually pretty cute! Not at all what I expected when I read the word "wagon" and then started scrolling down.

Now all you need is some bitchin' flames painted on the sides and hood. :rock:

[Takeda Shingen]

I just woke my girls up laughing when I read "bitchin' flames". :haha:

[frau kaleun]

I just woke my girls up laughing when I read "bitchin' flames". :haha:

Of course there is a downside to the idea, if he paints those on he'll have to grow a mullet. State law.

[Sailor Steve]

Of course there is a downside to the idea, if he paints those on he'll have to grow a mullet. State law.
Nah. 'Bitchin' goes all the way back to the late '50s. You can have a crew cut and still be bitchin'. Of course in the mid-'60s it was temporarily replaced by 'boss'. I think I'll just keep my home-cut mess. It suits me somehow. Except when I shave it...

As for flames, I think they'd have to be dark blue, or else I'll have to repaint the whole car.

[Takeda Shingen]

I thought bitchin' originated as surfer slang. I wasn't around then, so I could be wrong.

[Sailor Steve]

As far as I know it did. I don't know how prominent surfer culture was in 1957, when the first known use of the word appeared, but I remember it well from the '60s.

[magic452]

Bitchin' goes all the way back to the early 50's at least.
A very common word when I was a kid and "Bitchin' Flames" was "in".
When I was about 13 or so I "borrowed" my older brother's '40 Ford with "bitchin' flames". Wouldn't be here today if he ever found out.

Congrats on the car Steve, getting groceries is one of the advantages of a car. :sunny:

Magic

[Sailor Steve]

Thanks. Tonight will see on of the other advantages. On Thursday nights we get together at the local hobby shop to play wargames. 'Local' is just a word. The place is actually about 12 miles away. I leave home just after 16:00 so I can walk to the 7-11 and get money for dinner, plus change for the bus. I catch the bus at 16:30 which gets me to the train downtown at about 17:00. That gets me to the proper station at about 17:40, from which I have a 20-minute walk to the shop. I'm there at 18:00, leaving me an hour to sit at the burger place next door and eat, read and talk for a hour until we start gaming at 19:00. It also gives me time to make up if the bus is late, and I don't get there until 18:30 or later.

Tonight I'll leave at 17:30, drive for 20 minutes and be there an hour early. I also won't have to expect a friend to give me a ride home anymore. Also it's nice because it's snowing again. I won't have to stand out in the snow and rain and walk a mile in that weather. The car is warm and it has all wheel drive.

Life is good. :sunny:

[AVGWarhawk]

Already reaping the benefits! :up:

[Jimbuna]

I'll email you my AA card....just in case :O:

[AVGWarhawk]

I'll email you my AA card....just in case :O:

Alcoholics Anonymous card?

[Sailor Steve]

Alcoholics Anonymous card?
I'm guessing it's their version of AAA. But your version works too. :sunny:

[Betonov]

Or I could lend you my AMZS card, but I have a Renault, you have a Mitsubishi. I need it more :O:

[AVGWarhawk]

I'm guessing it's their version of AAA. But your version works too. :sunny:

That is what I figured. I was pulling Jim's chain. :haha:

[Sailor Steve]

you have a Mitsubishi.
Excuse me??? I have an Eagle! I don't buy foreign cars! :nope:
:rotfl2:

[AVGWarhawk]

Excuse me??? I have an Eagle! I don't buy foreign cars! :nope:
:rotfl2:

Steve, I told you if you look closely at the valve cover you will see the old gun mounts that were used on the Zero. :O:

[Betonov]

Yeah, that's why I thought it was a Mitshubishi :hmmm:
And it looks Japaneese :hmmm:

[Betonov]

Eagle Summit (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eagle_Summit) (1989–1996)

Coupe, sedan, and wagon models were available. The coupe and 1987-1991 sedans were rebadged Mitsubishi Mirages (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mitsubishi_Mirage), while the wagon was a rebadged Mitsubishi Expo LRV (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mitsubishi_Chariot). The 1991-1996 sedan was a rebadged Dodge/Plymouth Colt.


hmmmmmmm :hmmm:

[Sailor Steve]

Many many years ago Aamco Transmissions had a television ad. A guy is talking to the camera, saying "I believe in keeping things close to home. I believe in buying American. That's why I take my Datsun to Aamco!"

Oh, I just remembered. Even longer ago there was a similar ad for the original Beetle. This one had a woman saying "I don't want a foreign car! I want another Volkswagen!"

[Jimbuna]

Alcoholics Anonymous card?

I'm guessing it's their version of AAA. But your version works too. :sunny:

That is what I figured. I was pulling Jim's chain. :haha:

http://www.theaa.com/breakdown-cover/index.jsp

:03:

Just cost me £160 to renew the family cover :-?

[frau kaleun]

Reminds me of a joke...

A lady walks into her local grocery store, and looks down the line of checkout aisles to make sure a certain young bagger is working the afternoon shift. Sure enough, there he is - a handsome, very fit college student who is only working there for the summer. She's been watching and thinking about him constantly since he arrived home in May, and now that the school year is about to start up again she knows he'll soon be leaving again.

She quickly makes her way through the store, filling up her cart with anything and everything, and then pushes it into the checkout line where the object of her obsession is working. As he lowers the last bag into her cart, she coyly asks if he would mind helping her load the groceries into her car. "No problem," he says, and follows her out of the store.

As they roll the cart into the parking lot, she realizes that this may be her only chance to make a move. Summer is almost over, and she may never be alone with him again. She stops the cart and leans toward the young man walking at her side.

"I'm not sure how to say this," she whispers, "but I have a confession to make. I have an... itchy cootchie."

The young man hesitates for a moment, then speaks. "I'm sorry, ma'am," he says, "but you'll have to just point it out or something. All those foreign cars look the same to me."

[AVGWarhawk]

Many many years ago Aamco Transmissions had a television ad. A guy is talking to the camera, saying "I believe in keeping things close to home. I believe in buying American. That's why I take my Datsun to Aamco!"

Oh, I just remembered. Even longer ago there was a similar ad for the original Beetle. This one had a woman saying "I don't want a foreign car! I want another Volkswagen!"

Steve,

I drive a KIA Optima. :haha: Minus the gun mounts! :O:

[Schroeder]

Steve,

I drive a KIA Optima. :haha: Minus the gun mounts! :O:
Well, it's from Korea so it's not supposed to have gun platforms. My Mazda 3 however does not only come with gun mounts but also with a drop tank.:smug:
(but only after 40 years of constant corrosion...).
:O:

[Jimbuna]

Well, it's from Korea so it's not supposed to have gun platforms. My Mazda 3 however does not only come with gun mounts but also with a drop tank.:smug:
(but only after 40 years of constant corrosion...).
:O:

LOL :)

[AVGWarhawk]

Steve,

How did the first cruise to your gaming night work out for you? :hmmm:

[Herr-Berbunch]

Reminds me of a joke...

A frau walks into her local grocery store. . .

A joke, or reliving an event? :hmmm:

:O:

[HundertzehnGustav]

ZZZINGGGGGGGGgggggggg
:har::har::har:

[Schroeder]

Steve,

How did the first cruise to your gaming night work out for you? :hmmm:
No reply so far...I guess he's still walking home then....:hmm2:

[AVGWarhawk]

No reply so far...I guess he's still walking home then....:hmm2:

:har:

I hope note. I signed for a VW Passat. When I got home it caught fire right in my drive. I owned it less than 30 minutes.

[Sailor Steve]

Steve,

How did the first cruise to your gaming night work out for you? :hmmm:
Great, thanks. The thing handles fine on the freeway. I'm not sure yet about the mileage though. I'm still running on the quarter-tank they sent me home with.

I did bring home all the cases of model stuff I've left sitting in the back room of the hobby shop for years. Now I can repair everything and take it back with me next time. :sunny:

No reply so far...I guess he's still walking home then....:hmm2:
We go to dinner after. I did't get home until after midnight. Then I slept badly again and got up at 04:00. At 06:00 I went back to bed and slept for two more hours. I skipped right over AVG's post without even seeing it.

:har:

I hope note. I signed for a VW Passat. When I got home it caught fire right in my drive. I owned it less than 30 minutes.
Some people get all the luck. :O:

[AVGWarhawk]

Some people get all the luck. :O:

It sucked. I get in the car with my daughters so they may see it and take a test drive. My daughter says she smells cigars burning. To which smoke starts to pour from the passenger wheel well. I popped open the hood after the fire escape plan was initiated. Grabbed the garden hose and put out the melting plastic. Fine day for VW. The pile of crap sat in my drive all weekend until the crane showed up to haul it off. 12 months later, after many stops at the dealer for numerous problems, I dumped it at KIA and purchased the KIA Optima. 27000 miles on the KIA and not one issue. It is a wonderful car.

[Sailor Steve]

In the early days of my ex-marriage, my wife worked for a really cool family at the gift shop they owned. They liked her so much that the boss offered to let us vacation at his condo in Coronado Shores, on the peninsula beside San Diego. We drove down there twice, then he said "You keep driving all that way. Why don't I fly you kids down there this year, and you can drive my car that just sits in the garage all the time."

So he bought the tickets and we flew to SD. Lots of funny stories there, but only one that's relevant. We take a cab to the condo, and then in the garage we find his car: a Mk IV Lincoln Continental. When it was time to go see the sights we got in and headed for the city. We stopped at the toll bridge that crosses the bay, and I noticed smoke coming out from under the dash. We got out and opened the hood to find the top of the engine on fire. The toll bridge guy grabbed a fire extinguisher and promptly froze, saying it was a new type of extinguisher and he didn't know how it worked. I grabbed it out of his hands and read the instructions that were clearly printed in great big letters, and a few seconds later the whole front of that beautiful black Lincoln was covered in white dust left over from the foam.

We told my wife's boss how sorry we were about the damage, and he said no it was he who had to apologize for the panic he'd caused us. He rented a car for us to use the rest of the week. the mechanic said the fuel line had rotted in the salt air and had chosen that particular time to fall apart.

It was a memorable trip.

It is a wonderful car.
I really miss my Ford Escort wagon.

[AVGWarhawk]

That is just crazy Steve. Must have sucked to make that call. "Hi. Your $41,000 Caddy is on the hook heading to the dealer." :o


I really miss my Ford Escort wagon.

My family had two. Great cars. Both made 150K without issue.

[Sailor Steve]

Well, I let my wife do the talking. Did I mention that they really liked her?
:rotfl2:

My family had two. Great cars. Both made 150K without issue.
I bought mine in '96, two years old, 25,000 miles. It got 32 mpg in town and 44 mpg on the road. Only 88 horsepower, but it could haul a fair amount of stuff and handled very well. Great car, and the engine was nearly bulletproof.

[AVGWarhawk]

I'm glad the Eagle is working out for you. A new sense of independence is a great feeling.

[tater]

We just got a new car, too. Wife's needed replacing...

She's stopped at a red light on a road with a downhill grade. Speed limit 55. You can tell where the 18 YO kamikaze (mitsubishi eclipse ;) ) looked up from texting based on his skid marks. They started maybe a car length before the left turn lane begins. A new road, the turn lane is designed to stop a car from 55 mph within the lane easily. The turn lane is 300 feet long, I measured on google earth. Needless to say, he did not come to a complete stop during the 300 ft of skid mark. He hit her BMW, totaling it, pushing her 75 ft, and he came to rest another 75 ft past her in the oncoming lane.

I found some online skid mark to speed calculators, as well as some expressions I could use to calculate it myself. Given the least advantageous constants allowed (for road friction, his tire quality, etc), the lower limit for his pre-braking speed is 84 mph, assuming he came to rest at the point of impact (which clearly he did not). Upper limit was over 120. He was safely doing over 90, needless to say. Luckily she's fine, but we certainly didn't want to be buying a new car.

[AVGWarhawk]

Gap insurance brother!

[Sailor Steve]

I'm glad she's alright. Way back in '75 we were slowing down for a red light when it turned green. I sped back up only find a guy coming from the other direction still trying to beat the light. He probably wasn't going faster than 60 when he hit our one-year-old Mustang II just inches behind my wife's seat. She was unharmed, and the solidly-built Mustang only had about $600 worth of damage.

[tater]

We bought the car outright, actually, 5 years ago. But replacing a 2008 with a 2013 means we just had to pony up the difference between the "total" and a new one. Still, likely as good or better than we'd negotiate a trade-in, but we tend to drive cars a long time.

Regarding her being OK... yeah, doing the calculations made me realize just how brief the interval between a bad fender-bender and a hospital (or morgue) wreck is at those speeds.

[Schroeder]

Sooooo, what's the gas mileage?:cool:

[Onkel Neal]

Yeah, I was wondering how the car is working out. Any tickets yet? :O:

[Herr-Berbunch]

Yeah, I was wondering how the car is working out. Any tickets yet? :O:

He's working on it.

http://cache.lifehacker.com/assets/images/12/2008/04/Parking-Tickets.jpg

[Jimbuna]

LOL :)

[Sailor Steve]

Yeah, I was wondering how the car is working out. Any tickets yet? :O:
No, but I've had more than one person ask me what it was. :yeah:

[Onkel Neal]

I may make my next motorcycle trip to Salt Lake City just to ride with Sailor Steve in his van. :ping:

[Father Goose]

I like the look of your new car Steve. I'm happy for you. Congrats! :yeah:

[Sailor Steve]

:rotfl2:

I completely forgot! When all the papers were signed and the car was all cleaned up they took a picture of us together. They said it was for my personalized copy of the calender they were sending me. The picture wasn't actually part of the calender, but it covered the entire closing flap of the folder the calender came in.

I had forgotten all about it until it came in the mail today. They also included a site I could go to and look at the picture without having to scan it in. So, here is me with my Eagle Summit on March 19.

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a325/SailorSteve/SteveStuff/NewCar_zps0fe81093.jpg (http://s14.photobucket.com/user/SailorSteve/media/SteveStuff/NewCar_zps0fe81093.jpg.html)

[frau kaleun]

It's so cute when older couples dress to match. :O:

Seriously, though, it looks like a nice clean ride. Enjoy!

[Sailor Steve]

It's so cute when older couples dress to match. :O:
:rotfl2: :har:

I didn't even notice that. I have three different sweatshirts I trade off regularly when it's not cold or hot, depending on how cool it is outside that day. It just happened to be the one I chose.

Seriously, though, it looks like a nice clean ride. Enjoy!
It's quite nice. I haven't refilled it since the first time, but the mileage seems to be pretty good. The door seals are all tight and the heat and AC both work fine.

One of our gaming regulars was sick the first time I drove it there. Last Thursday I went to the hobby shop. Not seeing his SUV in the lot I went over to the burger place next door to get some chow. He was there; his truck was down so he drove his wife's car. He said he saw the Summit pull in, but didn't see the driver. He then said he didn't have to see me - one look at it and he said "Yep. That's a Steve car." Am I really that predictable?

[TarJak]

Yes you are.:O:

Great to hear you're wheels are rolling again.

[vienna]

Am I really that predictable?


Well, we knew you were going to say that...

<O>

[Jimbuna]

It's so cute when older couples dress to match. :O:



:har:

Nice one Steve :sunny:

[raymond6751]

Hope you have many happy miles in your new baby. :woot:

[Sailor Steve]

I was going to start a new thread and post a link to this old one, but then I read all the way through this one and decided it was better to just continue it.

Today I made the last payment, and I should have the title pretty soon. :rock:

Now all I have to do is pay off the two loans I took out for major repairs. That aside, the repairs were good ones and today my mini-minivan runs just fine.

[Onkel Neal]

Oh man, that's great, Steve. :Kaleun_Thumbs_Up:

Nothing beats a paid off car,I kept my last one for 11 years after it was paid off. Money in the bank.

You can switch to liability only insurance too, that will save some $$$

[Commander Wallace]

Congratulations on the new ride. :up: Your band mates will probably want you to be the new Executive Director of the band-meaning you haul the equipment. :D

You can always get something else more fuel efficient down the road if you're working and sell this one .

[Catfish]

Steve, congratulations of having paid off all this :)

Even better if you have mechanically interested friends who can help you out with maintenance and repairs. In Germany a lot of people would not be able to own a car if they went to a repair shop everytime something gets broken. Brand repair shops meanwhile charge some 120 Euros per hour or even more.. :doh:

[Aktungbby]

Oh man, that's great, Steve. :Kaleun_Thumbs_Up:

Nothing beats a paid off car,I kept my last one for 11 years after it was paid off. Money in the bank.

INDEED CONGRATS! I'm still driving my 1986 Camry and my '05 'patrol' Corolla. They run cost me nuthin' and each has about 240,000 miles on them. The Corolla's been recalled for a defective passenger airbag(big scandal) and they call me incessantly about an appointment to replace it. Nice going Steve: one less ha$$le! But don't let 'friends' help with repairs: U want the shop sig/liability on the work order... for anything above a 'neighborly' tune up or oil change.

[Onkel Neal]

Steve, congratulations of having paid off all this :)

Even better if you have mechanically interested friends who can help you out with maintenance and repairs. In Germany a lot of people would not be able to own a car if they went to a repair shop everytime something gets broken. Brand repair shops meanwhile charge some 120 Euros per hour or even more.. :doh:

I am one of those "mechanically interested friends" you speak of. Our rather, I used to be. :) I stopped doing favors when people started expecting me to do a brake job for a six pack of Dr Pepper.

One should not expect a skilled, competent mechanic to turn out quality work for golf caddie wages. You get what you pay for.

[Catfish]

^ Yes! Have experienced some similar gents, generously offering a coke after changing a timing belt for them :03:

You should get what you pay for, but the prices they officially fetch in german 'brand' garages are imho unreasonable and often not worth it.
I am aware they have to pay for storing spare parts also for older cars, or for paying the avilability of a quick spare parts delivery. And you get a guarantee, but.. two Euros for a minute :doh:
Most mechanics at the "brand garages" are not able to pay their own prices, this was different some 20 years ago.

[Aktungbby]

^ ha! ha! I used to be somewhat useful when I was a trucker. I would occasionally see an entire military convoy stopped on the interstate; and on more than one occasion because one vehicle had a bad fuel filter and so they were all waiting for a repair unit...:k_confused: Jeeze the taxpayers' buck at stake! I would do what every trucker does: Get out the siphon hose; put some clean fuel in his spare filter or even just reprime the old filter;... and screw it back onto the diesel engine for him and off goes the happy convoy....:salute: golf caddie wages. OOPS bad example: Jeeze Neal, I spent the best three MN 60's summers of my teen life carrying two bags 36 holes a day(2 =actually easier on your back) incl. some big amateur tournaments; the tips are the big thing! Your regular players appreciate that you know their game and you 'club' them correctly.( well ok they gotta be nice; they know your folks) It's always fun when someone like Gary Player is in your foursome. It makes you learn to play a better game. I still play and can 'hold my own'. http://www.shmoop.com/careers/caddie/salary.html (http://www.shmoop.com/careers/caddie/salary.html)

[AVGWarhawk]

The most unsatisfying check one cuts every month with exception of the last check is for a car loan. Nice to own it outright! Even better when there is plenty of life left in the vehicle to enjoy debt free for years to come.

[Mr Quatro]

Way to go Steve ... I just saw this (the whole thing) Stay debt free :yep:

[Jeff-Groves]

Nice Steve!
:yeah: