Iowa
Thursday, July 31, 2008
Car Trouble
I have an eight year old car that I really like. It's kind of sporty, and they don't make them anymore. I've had little trouble with it until today. I went to the library at lunch and got a couple of really good books, I think. Then I went to pick up a salad to take back to work. As I am driving I noticed that there was no....what....gas to the car? I downshifted, thinking I had slowed down too much, and then ALL these lights came on in the car. Luckily, I was able to pull over. Now, it is about 85 here and very humid. I tried to start the car once and it wouldn't turn over, so I called my quasi-mechanic who asked a series of questions a questions, said it wasn't the electrical system since the lights and radio and air conditioner were working. He asked about the temperature, then told me to call for a tow truck. As I have said before, I have wonderful people I can call on in an emergency, so I called my mechanic, Jim. Jim owns a garage, not a gas station, and he is wonderful. BUT....Jim wasn't there and there was only one mechanic and the other one was out on a call. So, I had to call directory assistance, who can be charming, but wasn't. She connected me and a nice gentleman said someone would be there in 10-15 minutes. NO, I DON'T HAVE AAA. I was mostly concerned about the lettuce in my salad wilting in the heat. An hour later the tow truck driver appeared, put my sweet little car on a flatbed. He offered me a ride back to the office and when I got in this monsterous truck, his telephone rang and we spent the entire ride back with him arguing with his wife. He would hang up, and she would call right back. By the way, he wouldn't accept credit cards or a check...only cash. A lot of cash! I arrived back at the office and rented a car, but I already miss my car. I hate breaking down on the side of the road, but at least I had no children in the car and no pets! I stopped to see Jim on the way home...he was reassuring, saying he could fix it and it really is worth getting fixed. I think it's going to cost a LOT of money. Oh, by the way, the salad survived....whew!
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7 comments:
My worst experience was when I was on my way to the airport and my car broke down in rush hour, blocking not one, but two lanes of traffic. My plane was due to leave in two hours and I had no idea of what I was going to do. I finally called my dad, who came and stayed with the car while I got a cab. Raced through the terminal and just made the flight. This was before all the security, don't know what I would have done today!
I think I have that one beat. I was on my way for vacation and my car broke down...something about some belt. I was about 25 miles from the nearest garage (forget about dealer). They took my car to this little, bitty repair shop who had to send for the part. I spent my entire vacation talking to Ken, the mechanic, while we waited for the part and for him to fix it. Nice man, but the town had one restaurant (diner who actually had good food) and a rooming house. Not quite the beach cottage that I which was where I had the reservation!
OK Very old car that they don't make anymore.......Time to invest in AAA or a new car.
I recently switched to AARP for the road towing and such. It's a lot cheaper and we haven't had to be towed in years. I know, famous last words.
Here's one..Mippy, Bean, who was still not even a year old yet, Ernie the golden retriever and I were on our way back from Ohio, somewhere between Lancaster and "no place." We had a flat, so I pull over to change it, the spare tire didn't fit the car! (it was my grandmothers before i got it). So, sitting in the summer heat up on a little hill near the car, Mippy is nursing Bean, Ernie just laying in some grass. Called AAA, tow truck on the way, 45 minutes later they show up. The tow guy walks up, just as Ernie gets up, the guy almost freaks seeing him. Ernie was about 110 pounds, the guy thought he was a deer! The best part of the trip was riding in the tow truck and looking back as Ernie sat in the drivers seat of our car while being towed. There just wasn't enough room in the truck for us all, sorry Ernie.
I am pretty sure that was me shouting "MIA, YOU DON'T HAVE TRIPLE A?"
I JOINED AAA, OKAY??????
Awww, Mia. At least your salad survived. I have a car that I just keep putting money into because it has sentimental value. How stupid is that? But it's a fun car to drive and if I got a new one, the dog probably wouldn't be allowed in it. This one is a good fit for me. Hope your car doesn't cost a fortune, but if it does and you like it, keep it. Probably good that you joined AAA. That's different from Alcoholics Anonymous, right? ;)
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