car odyssey

[deborahjross]

My old car, a 1990 Mazda Protege with 194K miles, keeps creaking toward retirement. I have a special fondness for it. Besides being nimble and comfortable, it was my "freedom" car, bought in 1997, when it was clear the family was disintegrating. I picked it out myself, paid for it with my own money, salvaged it after I got rear-ended 5 years ago. It seems to have survived the overheating incident in August, but now has dead brakes. The light came on a short time ago, I made an appointment at the mechanic's, then brakes started feeling mushy. That sinking sensation isn't all in my head, it's my foot going down to the floor. Got me home, though.

So, come Monday morning, a friend drove me to the nearest car rental place and I've been driving a Dodge Durango SUV because all their smaller cars were still out. I hate the thing, and the experience is valuable because now I know I never want to own one. After my Protege, it handles like a waterlogged barge, the controls are confusing and difficult to reach, the seats uncomfortable, and I won't mention the gas mileage. Today, called AAA and got the Protege towed into mechanic's in town, to be looked at tomorrow. Either it can be fixed for not too much money or it gets donated to a worthy cause.

After the overheating incident, I made myself think about a replacement. Basically, I hate cars. I don't want to deal with this, I just want reliable, fuel-efficient, reasonably ergonomic transportation. I don't want to price shop, and I don't care what it looks like on the outside so long as the interior is clean. So I've decided my best bet is to buy a used rental Toyota Corolla -- Hertz and Enterprise both have outlets over the hill. For 12-14K, I can get a car still on the original warranty, with 15-40K miles (that's the price diff at the 2 companies) and a complete maintenance record. If money were no object, I'd probably get a Prius or the Honda hybrid, but I don't currently drive enough miles to make up the difference in price, even at today's gasoline prices. I get 28 or so in the Protege, and the Corolla should do much better.

Even if the Protege survives this encounter, I fear it's only a matter of time until it's laid to rest. The only question is when.

Comments

[equesgal.livejournal.com]

I am going through the same thing with my 1990 Honda Civic Wagon. It only has about 90,000 miles so I just put $2,000 into it for the 90,000 mile check up and tune-up etc. But the Check Engine light keeps coming on and that problem gets worse and worse no matter what the guys at the repair shop do. I took it in again yesterday around 11am, with the knowledge that they wouldn't get to it until late in the day and I wouldn't have it back until today. So here it is, 5:45pm, and no call from the repair shop. Hmmm...so yeah, I too am thinking it's time to buy a new car -- especially if money is going to be tight next year. And, like you, I hate thinking about it. Bah.

[deborahjross.livejournal.com]

The last time I ignored a "Check Engine" light was when it overheated. Now I'm paranoid about those dashboard lights -- which is frustrating, because for some reason, the "Seatbelts" goes on and off. One mechanic said it was dust in the sensors. Considering the car's age and how dusty it gets here in the summer (forests are incredible dust generators -- all those shredded leaves, you know) that makes sense, but it did lull me into ignoring them. Bad move.

Maybe you should call Car Talk about the mysterious Check Engine light?

Makes sense.

[wolfwings.livejournal.com]

I'm still stumbling along on a 1986 Corolla myself these days since I got rear-ended. When this one dies I'll probably pick up a Smart car, I've had a chance to sit in one and it was comfortable to me, and it'll get better than 50mpg while only costing $12-15k new from a dealership, so I'm happy. =^.^=