Lifter’s Ticking, Accelerator’s Sticking, Something on My Left Front Wheel Keeps Clicking

(Sir Mix-a-Lot, My Hooptie)

My car is back in the shop.  There’s a hole in my radiator (dear Liza, dear Liza), and all the coolant drained out, so it overheated Monday evening as I was pulling into my driveway.  I was upset, but not as upset as I would have been had it died about 5 minutes earlier, when I was passing through the Old Fourth Ward on my way home from work, which is an area you don’t want your car to die.  Driving through the Old Fourth is like driving through West Baltimore circa season one of The Wire.  Anyway, I’m hoping to get it back today, and I’m REALLY hoping to not have to take it back in for anything else in the near future.  This is either the 4th or 5th time I’ve had my car in the shop this year.  I like my mechanic, but this is getting ridiculous.

Amanda and I did decide last night that my car has been downgraded to “local only” from here on out.  No more trips out of town in the 626.  From now on, if we’re going somewhere, we’re in the Camry.  Kind of a sad realization.  I’ve never had a dog, and I’ve never been hunting, but I imagine I’d feel the same way if I had two hunting dogs and one of them couldn’t handle it anymore, and had to hang out on the front porch while me and the other dogs went off to shoot at something that couldn’t shoot back (not that I judge – venison is DELICIOUS!).

In the event that I can squeeze another year or so out of this car, that would be outstanding.  If not, my options might be fairly limited to this.  Or this.  Or this.  Euro-cool.  Red hot.

Read Full Post »

They Know My Name Cause I Told It To Them, But They Don’t Know Where and They Don’t Know When

(The Arcade Fire, Keep the Car Running)

Anyone who knows me knows of my seemingly constant problems with the automobile species. I have had the worst luck with cars over the years. Even when I lived in New York and didn’t drive a car, EVER, I still had car troubles. Might sound impossible, but I assure you, nothing is impossible.

Anyway, it will come as no surprise to anyone that my car is back in the shop as of this morning, thanks to the fine folks at Superior Towing. I spoke with them earlier this afternoon, they were going to change the battery and then see if there was anything else wrong. Marvelous. So, at worst, I’m probably looking at around a $250 bill for the towing, battery, labor, and oil change (for good measure).

One day, when I’m fabulously wealthy, I don’t ever want to own a car. I never really understood the benefit of a 3-year lease on a car, but it’s looking more and more appealing to me every day.

Read Full Post »