get a new car already!
Background:
My wonderful mother turned 60-years-old two years ago. We got the entire family gathered for a dinner party to celebrate.
Due to a significant snow storm we decided to drive Steve's car since it is AWD. On the way down to her party, we hit the mother of all pot holes while doing 65mph on the highway. *THUNK* *THUNK* The impact was so severe that Steve actually pulled over to make sure we still had two wheels on the left side of the car.
Off to get the car serviced...two bent rims, ect, ect. Cha-ching! Cha-ching! The total repair come up to be something like $1,500+ and we actually got insurance involved.
Services means the issues are fixed, right?
WRONG! Big fat wrong.
Here is where I could go on about all the issues we have had with car, but I won't. Steve likes his car a lot, which is why I won't talk too badly about it. I will just say that in the last 2 years we have had reoccurring issues that always revolve around brakes, tires, parking brake, calipers, rotors, wheels, shaking, vibrations, balancing, ...you get the picture. I am not exaggerating when I say that we have spent multiple thousands of dollars on his car in the last 2 years. Yes, the car is paid off so we are spending less than a car payment...but still! I am convinced that this issues are all due to the fucking pot hole.
At this point, I am ready to get a new car. I have been ready for a while. Steve looks at cars, but is afraid to bite. Well last night we had a little situation that I hope starts to change his mind...
Steve was due to arrive at 20:11 from a 4-day. I was tracking his flight and he was actually due to arrive about 30 minutes early! Sweet...I will keep the kids up so they can see Daddy. As the kids were watching a movie, I was playing Draw Something with Steve as he rode on the crew bus to the parking lot.
He was unresponsive to the next round of Draw Something, so I figured that he had made it to the car and I would see him in about 30 minutes. Life is good!
The phone rings.
"Hello?"
"Hi. What's goin' on?" Steve asked.
"Oh, just watching a movie with the kids, waiting for you to come home."
Steve response was "well, that isn't going to happen."
You see, his wheels were totally locked. The car started up just fine, he put it in reverse and started to let go of the clutch...nothing. The car was stuck.
He tried rocking it back and forth, he may have even taken the wheel off. Bottom line...the car was NOT moving.
After quick discussions of what to do, we ultimately decided to have my uncle come to his rescue, and Steve would just deal with the car the next day.
The car is currently at the shop. We will see what the damage is.
*****
So, that is the story with the car...and here is my transition into the whole pilot thing. Three points:
- I already mentioned that Steve is afraid to bite the bullet of getting new car until a contract is signed. Pilot, and their fear of strikes! My reply to that is: if you strike, we will make it work. I believe we live below our means, and I have a good job. If push comes to shove, we would make it work. Sometimes life throws curve balls at you, and if we have to deal with a strike...we will! As one of Steve's CA said "live the life you want to live...don't wait on the company." Good advice my man! Your advice, by the way, is why we bought our house when we did. Thank you!
- you just want your car to work! The last thing Steve wanted to do after being away from home for 4-days was deal with a non-functioning car. Talk about a maintenance delay.
- ah, but this is just a machine that takes you from point A to point B...and then sits in the elements for 4 days. "Why bother getting anything new? Just get something that runs." Ah, but see the second point I made. If you can't have total reliability in your car to take you from point A to point B then consider a new car.
So, there you have it: our car situation. Who knows how the hell this is going to end. My hope? We get a new car.
My wonderful mother turned 60-years-old two years ago. We got the entire family gathered for a dinner party to celebrate.
Due to a significant snow storm we decided to drive Steve's car since it is AWD. On the way down to her party, we hit the mother of all pot holes while doing 65mph on the highway. *THUNK* *THUNK* The impact was so severe that Steve actually pulled over to make sure we still had two wheels on the left side of the car.
Off to get the car serviced...two bent rims, ect, ect. Cha-ching! Cha-ching! The total repair come up to be something like $1,500+ and we actually got insurance involved.
Services means the issues are fixed, right?
WRONG! Big fat wrong.
Here is where I could go on about all the issues we have had with car, but I won't. Steve likes his car a lot, which is why I won't talk too badly about it. I will just say that in the last 2 years we have had reoccurring issues that always revolve around brakes, tires, parking brake, calipers, rotors, wheels, shaking, vibrations, balancing, ...you get the picture. I am not exaggerating when I say that we have spent multiple thousands of dollars on his car in the last 2 years. Yes, the car is paid off so we are spending less than a car payment...but still! I am convinced that this issues are all due to the fucking pot hole.
At this point, I am ready to get a new car. I have been ready for a while. Steve looks at cars, but is afraid to bite. Well last night we had a little situation that I hope starts to change his mind...
Steve was due to arrive at 20:11 from a 4-day. I was tracking his flight and he was actually due to arrive about 30 minutes early! Sweet...I will keep the kids up so they can see Daddy. As the kids were watching a movie, I was playing Draw Something with Steve as he rode on the crew bus to the parking lot.
He was unresponsive to the next round of Draw Something, so I figured that he had made it to the car and I would see him in about 30 minutes. Life is good!
The phone rings.
"Hello?"
"Hi. What's goin' on?" Steve asked.
"Oh, just watching a movie with the kids, waiting for you to come home."
Steve response was "well, that isn't going to happen."
You see, his wheels were totally locked. The car started up just fine, he put it in reverse and started to let go of the clutch...nothing. The car was stuck.
He tried rocking it back and forth, he may have even taken the wheel off. Bottom line...the car was NOT moving.
After quick discussions of what to do, we ultimately decided to have my uncle come to his rescue, and Steve would just deal with the car the next day.
The car is currently at the shop. We will see what the damage is.
*****
So, that is the story with the car...and here is my transition into the whole pilot thing. Three points:
- I already mentioned that Steve is afraid to bite the bullet of getting new car until a contract is signed. Pilot, and their fear of strikes! My reply to that is: if you strike, we will make it work. I believe we live below our means, and I have a good job. If push comes to shove, we would make it work. Sometimes life throws curve balls at you, and if we have to deal with a strike...we will! As one of Steve's CA said "live the life you want to live...don't wait on the company." Good advice my man! Your advice, by the way, is why we bought our house when we did. Thank you!
- you just want your car to work! The last thing Steve wanted to do after being away from home for 4-days was deal with a non-functioning car. Talk about a maintenance delay.
- Steve's car prior to this was the love of his life. It was a 1994 BMW 318. He really loved that car. It was his first car, and he was so proud of it. Just as it is now, I was pushing him for a good year to replace that car. It wasn't until a 200 mile tow that made him cave. And, what did he say after getting his new car? "I don't know why I was so attached to that car? I should have done this sooner." I understand that we don't NEED a new car, and I understand that once this frozen wheel thing gets fixed the car will be fine. But, when you can't just start up your car and go, you need to start considering a new car.
- ah, but this is just a machine that takes you from point A to point B...and then sits in the elements for 4 days. "Why bother getting anything new? Just get something that runs." Ah, but see the second point I made. If you can't have total reliability in your car to take you from point A to point B then consider a new car.
So, there you have it: our car situation. Who knows how the hell this is going to end. My hope? We get a new car.
I hope you get that new car! We were in a "car dilemma" recently as well. Luckily he doesn't really want a new car because it just sits in the crew lot for days on end and gets beat up. As long as the bucket of junk is still running, he's still driving it! :)
ReplyDeleteNo new car...just a $675 repair bill.
DeleteGetting a new car can be a hard decision, especially if the old one is still working. But I think you should get a new one. That will be better, for the sake of the whole family, than getting it repaired every time it breaks down. I do hope you get a new car.
ReplyDeleteOnce Steve signs a contract with work we will be getting one. The car has long been paid off, so Steve has no desire to add more to our bills now if a strike could happen.
DeleteAnd yes, for the sake of the whole family it would be nice :)
Aww… Getting a new car will definitely help the family but if doesn’t meet your budget, I guess your decision to put it off is okay. It’s probably better to put up with your old car than to spend money on a car that you can’t afford. Anyway, I do hope you get to save enough money to buy a new one this year. Good luck! =)
ReplyDeleteah, the great car debate. One day Steve is excited about this car or that car, and the next day he says "you know, my car still works and it is just an airport commuter car...we should just keep it."
DeleteOnly time will tell :)
Hmm, your old one clearly needed a lot of repairs. I think the primary problem is the engine, and that can be very expensive to get repaired. What’s even more troubling is when you have to buy a new engine altogether! I hope you have a new car now, Joanna! :)
ReplyDeleteRegards,
Sebastian
We don't have a new car yet...but hopefully in the next couple weeks!
Delete