This is long, so be patient.
Okay, so I’ll assume you are familar with the Chinese (maybe) curse “May you live in interesting times.” I have no clue which one I ticked off, but this isn’t funny.
I own an 92 Plymouth Voyager. I was driving late night, going to get my wife from work. I was going through downtown when I hit a bump and heard this awful thump. Sure enough, a mile later the transmission went out of gear and that was that. One hour later, My Dad helped me get the kids into his car, got my wife, got them home, and we left the van at the Transmission shop where it just happened to die.
Next day, wife takes day off to watch kids while I work with van. Shop replaces transmission pan, but while the van is up in the air, I notice a plate bent. Bad news, lower control arm mount is totally busted. 7 hours and one estimate later, the cost is $700 dollars to fix it. Being broke, we get the van to my driveway and park it. I call the city claims office, and get the form needed to make a claim.
Two vehicleless days later, we get my Dad’s old Ford LTD running. It’s had a engine transplant, transmission overhaul, and still doesn’t run right. But it will limp along, so I’m stuck with it. Last night, it died on me, but started after two hours downtown (Dangerous after dark), two quarts of oil, and various other things. Tonight, it did that twice, the final time being at one of the Busiest intersections in the Jackson Metro area. Like, massive traffic 22 hours a day. And I’m stuck in it, cause no one will stop, and the 5 cops I see all blow past me like I’m some moron. Even 911 fails to help. I have to get my brother in law and Dad out to get the car to a Stop&Rob to adjust, recharge, and fiddle with. We get it running, and we’re off again. After dying at an intersection in the more dangerous part of town (I’m a winner when it comes to picking bad shortcuts…) We jump it off again, and then I make like Mario Andretti getting home. I blew through two red lights, and cut off several cars trying not to let that damn engine die at another red light. I made 12 out of 14 intersections like that. I got them all green.
So now it’s close to midnight, the cars in the driveway, my wife doesnt’ want to ride in it again, and I’m wondering whom I offended in heaven to deserve this. I’m not anywhere close to owning a decent car, and my wifes new schedule doesn’t permit bus travel that often. Thank God my parents like me.
I dunno what the point to this is, except if you have one that is newish and runs, hug it or something. Sucks to be without one in a city with truly crappy public transportation and two toddlers.