| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| Past Blessings |
Posted - Oct 31 2007 : 8:05:18 PM
While taking the boys to school this morning, at the world's busiest intersection, the transmission in my minivan went out! It even locked up, so it couldn't be pushed out of the way. Kind strangers helped us and we eventually had it towed. I was so panicked that one of the kids or the dog (our faithful black lab mix pound puppy who escorts us everywhere!)were going to get ran over. The van is a goner, as the cost of a new tranny would be more than it is worth. The one "blessing" (always looking for that silver lining!) is that we were going to take it in tomorrow for new brakes . . . so glad we hadn't wasted that money! Anyhow, we survived the day and now it is time to go car shopping . . . I love anything that includes the word shopping! LOL!  So it was a stressful day, the kids were horribly late for school and I saw both the best and the worst of people on the road this morning (can you imagine giving someone broke down on a busy road the finger!!!???) but it was just one tiny blip on the road map of humanity.
I saw a great old mercedes today and I tried to convince my hubby we could get that and have MaryJane teach us how to make it run on Mustard Seed Oil . . . he pointed out we "don't have no stinkin' mustard seed." I pointed out if we buy the property with 10 acres I want, we could grow our own. He then politely told me it was "quiet time now." So I guess no mustard burning mercedes for me! 
Hugs & blessings,
Brenda
Past Blessings . . . Celebrating Life as it used to be . . . when people loved God, loved their families and loved their country. |
| 10 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| CountryBorn |
Posted - Nov 02 2007 : 4:43:40 PM
My nephew has a Vibe and they love it. I drove one when we were looking for a car last time. I was very impressed with it. My daughter has a Pacifica and she loves it. It seats 7 comfortably and she says it isn't bad on gas. We have an Envoy right now. I dearly love it. But won't get another one, because it loves gas!! I am looking at G-6's and HHR's. No decision yet though.
MJ
There can be no happiness if the things we believe in are different from the things we do. Freya Stark |
| farmgirlwannabe |
Posted - Nov 02 2007 : 1:47:25 PM
Brenda,
Over the summer, I had the transmission go out on my car also, and had to finally get a new car (my first ever new car-all the rest have been real "fixer-uppers"). I drive all over the county for work so I needed a car that gets great gas mileage, and can haul everything (it's only Hazel and myself, so the car doesn't need to seat a lot of people, but I need room to carry a lot of equipment). I ended up getting a Pontiac Vibe, and I love it-the first month I had it, we drove to Spokane: 3 people, a dog, a cat, and tons of luggage and we had lots of room-and got great mileage! It can seat 5; but I can't vouch for how much room the three in the back seat have...)
Good luck!
Audrina |
| katmom |
Posted - Nov 02 2007 : 11:26:12 AM
humm, one option, give up one of the boys or hubby then you can fit comfey in the 4-seater, haha or continue to try to talk your hubby into that Mercedes and tell him you will upgrade to corn oil, maybe if he gets french fries (fried in corn oil)every night he might be more ameanable...hahah!
Hope you sell out all your antiques & collectables today before I get there....save me from myself!
>^..^< Happiness is being a katmom.
www.katmom4.blogspot.com |
| Amie C. |
Posted - Nov 02 2007 : 06:59:15 AM
Brenda, I've heard that the Honda Fit is a really nice economy car. One of my coworkers just got one and she picked it for having both a roomy front seat and plenty of storage/hauling space in the back. Also it gets very good gas mileage. But I don't know if it seats 4 or 5.
Our stolen minivan was a Dodge Caravan and everyone we knew told us their horror stories about having to replace the transmissions twice, even 3 times. That's why I was worried enough about the possible bad effects on the transmission to mention it to the insurance rep on the phone. I was asking if our insurance would cover mechanical damage from bad treatment by thieves as well as obvious body damage from a crash. I still don't know the answer to that question, but I know now not to ask!
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| Past Blessings |
Posted - Nov 02 2007 : 04:59:29 AM
After driving the truck all day and spending $84.00 in one day, we are really thinking economy now. Perhaps a Scion. They are homely critters and only seat 5 (which is all we need . . . just no extra space for the friends the boys always dig up!) but they get great gas mileage and are pretty affordable. We couldn't believe how fast we sucked through the gas. Any other ideas for economy cars that are not a tin can? Our little Metro is ugly, but gets 40 mpg, but it has NO features and only seats 4, so it doesn't work for a family of 5. We just realize we need to think about the economy with this decision. Your suggestions would be helpful and if any of you have a scion, I would be interested in what you think of it.
Hugs & blessings,
Brenda
Past Blessings . . . Celebrating Life as it used to be . . . when people loved God, loved their families and loved their country. |
| Past Blessings |
Posted - Nov 01 2007 : 07:00:10 AM
Oh Annie! Ouch! Bad enough to have all the problems, but then stolen?!
Our mini-van was 11 years old and already on it's second transmission. The mini-van we had before that also had to have a new tranny. It is a weakness for Dodge Caravans. So we have decided against a caravan at this point. We are really seriously looking at the Pacifica by Chrysler, which we are assured, though Chrysler and Dodge are the same parent company, have a totally different tranny. They get about the same gas mileage as the mini-vans and, depending on the seat configuration seat 6 to 7. There are 4 newer used ones in the area that seem to be pretty good buys. They refer to the Pacifica as a "crossover" which is a mix of mini-van, station wagon and SUV. The ones we are looking at are all AWD, so would be good for all our country driving we do taking the kids so far to school each day. Right now I am just waiting for hubby to give the green light. At least he hasn't sent me to "quiet time" on this idea! LOL!
Hugs & blessings,
Brenda
Past Blessings . . . Celebrating Life as it used to be . . . when people loved God, loved their families and loved their country. |
| Amie C. |
Posted - Nov 01 2007 : 06:11:57 AM
That silver lining is a pretty big one. Every time I do a big repair on a car, it seems like it's the kiss of death. That vehicle is guaranteed to be in the junkyard within the month.
The worst was the "free" minivan we inherited after my husband's father died. He had let a lot of maintenance go on the car and we thought it would be ok as soon as we got a few things taken care of. Well, we spent $2000 on repairs in the year that we had the van. Then it was stolen and the transmission was destroyed. And ironically, because I had considered that possibility and mentioned it to the insurance people when I reported the car stolen, they accused me of fraud and threatened to take me to court. We never got reimbursed a dime on our claim and the "free" car ended up costing us more than any car we've ever owned.
It's sad that cars have to be treated as disposable. They are so big, physically as well as in terms of being a big purchase. Our 30 year old station wagons are more solid than a 10 year old minivan or suv would be. But even those are getting close to the point of being just plain worn out. |
| Aunt Jenny |
Posted - Oct 31 2007 : 10:46:01 PM
Oh Brenda...I have been there..ugh! But have fun shopping for a new car! I wonder how much longer my 9 year old minivan will hold up. We already had to replace the tranny a couple years back (on vacation!!!) but anything major would be more than it is worth at this point, too. I do have a feeling I have one more minivan in my future before I get to have the jeep of my dreams (even a VERY used one) 4 kids at home and all that goes with that means a minivan for me.
I love that you look for the silver lining..dosn't it make things so much sweeter?????
Jenny in Utah
Inside me there is a skinny woman crying to get out...but I can usually shut her up with cookies
http://www.auntjennysworld.blogspot.com/ visit my little online shop at www.auntjenny.etsy.com |
| La Patite Ferme |
Posted - Oct 31 2007 : 10:32:03 PM
Brenda,
I've always found these little trials happen for a reason (even if it isn't immediately apparent) and something good will come out of it.
When my truck was acting us last year the last thing I wanted was to buy a new one. But, the universe had different plans. Little did I know then that DD would be showing her lambs all over CA and my old truck would have never made those long hard miles. I can't thinkof anything scarier than to be broke down in winter in an unknown area.
I just swallowed hard, signed the papers and drove off with another truck - never looking back. It has turned out great and I realized we were being taken care of.
I'm sure it will turn out well for you too.
A fellow silver liner.
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| KYgurlsrbest |
Posted - Oct 31 2007 : 8:09:00 PM
Hey Brenda, must be something in the water ALL over the country! We just put $500 into our little civic, and 4 friends over the weekend had exactly the same problem as you--tranny went out on all their cars. One, ironically, was driving a company car to a job interview at ANOTHER company. Woops!
I like your optimism, though, and keep talking to that hubby about those acres
Things will be better--they just have to, right?
"She was built like a watch, a study in balance ... with a neck and head so refined, like a drawing by DaVinci"...
NY Newsday sportswriter Bill Nack describing filly, Ruffian. |
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