The Thing About _______ Cars...

Years ago the new cars were revealed with much fanfare in September and October. Nowadays, not so much. I remember back in 2009 when Chevrolet introduced its newly updated Malibu they had a

 set of very funny ads of people walking past tan Malibu's and never noticing them. Some cars people would run into because they were so invisible. One ad, about bank robbers hopping into a tan Malibu and the police running by them was done so well it has become internet folklore as being true. (http://preview.tinyurl.com/nkdravu) I have to say I was proud of GM for the willingness to make fun of their own car (I bet they are wishing they could make recalls invisible but that is for a different day).

My recent rental was one of those invisible cars, to protect its identity I won't tell you it was a Nissan Versa. One of those kinds of cars that you just don't notice on the road, in the neighborhood, maybe in your own garage. It was one of those cars that your neighbor brings home and a month later you say to your neighbor:

"Hey, I thought your car was silver, This one is gold?" 

It was one of those cars that you pick up at the dealership with little to no excitement and don't bother showing it or telling anyone that you just bought a new car. It is not a bad car, but unfortunately, it is just transportation.

My question, or maybe just musing this month, revolves around the question 'Is there a place for the 'invisible' car?' My premise is no.

I own a Fiat 500 Pop. Bought it used with 14,000 miles, remainder of the factory warranty and for an unbelievable price. Even new the Fiat is a wonderful car and for an out the door price in low $16,000 dollar range is a lot of value. It is one of the few new cars out there that make me smile when I drive it. I have another car - a 2011 Ford Fiesta - again, bought it used, like the Fiat, new with a realistic sticker price of mid-$16,000 is a great car. Both cars come with all the 'standard' features we come to expect - power windows, power locks, A/C, AM/FM-CD stereo, fancy trip computer, 6 way adjustable seats, bluetooth connection, iPod connection, aluminum wheels - well, you get the point. These cars drive nice. Super fast, no. Sporty, I will say yes. Peppy for around town driving, most definitely. Comfortable - my first outing in the Fiesta was 8+ hours. Nary an ache to be found.

2012 Ford Fiesta

2012 Nissan Versa

What else separates these cars or cars produced by Kia, Hyundai, and Mazda that sets them apart from other makes and models? They are not invisible. Kia and Hyundai make some of the best looking cars out there built with quality, in the USA by the way, with a phenomenal and unbeatable warranty. Mazda really does put the 'Zoom-Zoom' into cars and are always a joy to drive.

So why do car manufacturers continue to churn out cookie cutter boxes that are boring, uncomfortable and joyless to drive. Cars like the Yaris, really, can they make it much more boring, inside and out? I would easily run into one because they are so bland. The Taurus, Camry, Impala - compare what they look like and drive like compared to the Sonata, Optima, Mazda6 - not even on the same continent. Be careful with the first three listed, you may nap while driving.

In my world there is no reason for one a boring car In someone's world I guess there is. The one who

thinks of cars only as transportation, as an evil necessity, as an appliance. The ones buying the appliances - do they really not care about a nice looking car? Do they dislike driving so much they it just makes no difference how the car handles? If you offered them two cars, same price, same features, same quality and one was nice looking, would they still rather get the non-descript vehicle? I say no, I think it is more about education on car purchasing than just not caring about what you drive. People think that an inexpensive car has to be boring. In the words of the recently passed John Pinnette, 'Nay, nay'.

Let me share my insights into buying a car::

• Few cars are, if any, not built with high quality these days - so get out of your Toyota, Nissan,
  
  Honda rut and look at other brands. Kia/Hyundai - beautiful cars with the best warranty out there. FIAT - yes, FIAT, makes some great cars and again, great warranty. MINI - I always thought they were overpriced - I now own a Countryman because I decided to look more closely. It was as affordable as any small SUV and a whole lot more fun to own and drive.
  
  
• Buy used - don't be afraid. Remember the cars mentioned above? Most of the used cars you
  
  will buy today will have the remainder of the warranty - so little to no risk. Many cars are leased and nothing wrong with them - I just turned in a 2 year old Ford Escape Limited - window sticker of $32K in 2012. 20,000 miles and it will probably sell for $18K with 2 years of warranty left.That's the price of an optioned Yaris.

• The internet is your friend. Shop high and low, near and far, big and small and...well you get the idea. Maybe that car you love is 400 miles away, so what? Have a fun weekend trip and with the money you save make it a weekend and enjoy yourself.

• We have CarFax, dealer reviews, E-Bay guarantees and a host of other protections. So you can almost buy a car site unseen. I don't recommend it, but you almost could do that.

Of the millions of invisible cars sold, I would have to say only 10 or 15% of the people purchasing them truly say 'I really couldn't care less about what I drive' or even 'I like this car'. The other 85 to 90% just don't realize that a nice looking, fun to drive, high quality vehicle is available in their price range. So take some time, do some shopping and don't settle for the car that you will trip over in your own driveway because you can't see it. Take some time and buy the car you really want.

That's the thing about invisible cars, why own one when a fun one is out there?

The Thing About Cars: Making Car Friends

The long, dark and cold days of February are ahead. Thankfully February is a short month that

quickly leads into March giving us glimpses of warm spring days to come fighting winter as the ocean waves fight the beach during high tide. Back in the days when you produced your own food February was a month where little outside work could be done making reflection a possibility. Even in modern days February makes me reflect on the past. As I review the film of my life I realize how many friends I have because of cars that I have owned.

The best man at my wedding and I met my sophomore year in high school. My first car, a 1968 Ford Mustang Fastback, would often be parked in the front row of the student parking lot. From my math class you could look out onto the lot and see all of the cars. Unbeknownst to me my soon to be best friend was sitting right behind me. Before class one day he asks:

‘Is that your Mustang out there?’

With a lot of pride, 

‘Yes, yes it is.’

‘Cool car.’

By the end of the school year he would be my best friend who I would share many car adventures and my life. He and I are still friends and even though we live 1,400 miles apart we meet annually to watch a race together.

After high school I got a job making nearly a whole $15,000 a year so I was ‘pretty rich’. With all that money I bought a slightly used 1983 ½ Dodge Shelby Charger; blue with a silver stripe. It handled like a slot car built with genuine Chrysler quality (i.e. the car ran great but the body and interior fell apart on a regular basis). While out on a drive up a very fun mountain road what should approach but a 1983 ½ Dodge Shelby Charger in the reverse color scheme, silver with a blue stripe. A flash of the headlights and wave and we passed each other. Arriving at the top of the mountain a few 

minutes later that silver Charger appeared and parked right next to mine. An hour later we were racing together down the mountain and into a friendship that is special to me to this very day. Weekends were spent together, car races attended, passing of cars on the highway one right after the other just for fun and even trying to get license plates that said ‘Hello’ and ‘Goodbye’ so we could pass people to see the look on their faces. A cheap Dodge began a priceless friendship.

Fast forward to a new century, a new part of the country taking a new driver to an SCCA teen driver event and a new friend is made. The director of the event, a car guy to the bone who autocrosses so much he has a car specifically for that purpose alone! We chat, we talk about cars and racing, and nearly 4 years later I am still a volunteer in the program and have been made a part of the SCCA family. I have made a good friend that I know I can trust and rely on. A car, a teenager in a Ford Freestyle and a great friend – I would say pretty good event overall.

2011 and my search for my vintage BMW begins. Many posts on the different forums, numerous questions, lots of searches and I run across a very special BMW 1600 with a phenomenal motor and a just downright cool interior! I am interested and call the owner. We talk about the car, and cars, for an hour and soon discover that we have that hard to describe ‘kindred car spirit’. I actually ended up purchasing a different car but my new friend still helped me get the one I bought. Before I knew it we were e-mailing each other regularly, hanging out at the annual 2002 event in Arkansas and meeting up when I am in town. Our friendship has developed over the past 4 years to the point that in the upcoming week he and I are taking a road trip from Dallas to Denver in his beautiful 1973 BMW 2002. An old car makes a new friend, in fact a whole community of friends, in a state I don’t even live in.

There are so many other people in my life that stem from my obsession with cars. With limited space I could only highlight a few.

I know that it takes more than just a car to become true friends, but a car sure is a great way to find those people. Maybe it is the car spirit or the love of cars but I find that often my car friends are people I trust and rely on after knowing them for just a short time.

I admit, I am obsessed about cars. I can’t shut my mind off about cars. I apologize to my friends and family about my inability to not talk about cars. Now as I spend the dark and cold month of February reflecting I wonder, do I love cars? Do I love the car culture? Or do I love the relationships cars have put in my life? It really is all of the above, I just don’t know which one, if any, ranks highest.

That’s the thing about a car, this mechanical thing, that I am convinced has a soul, goes beyond simply parts and transportation and becomes a part of your life as it continues to introduce you to new people. No wonder we often sigh, and sometimes cry, when we sell that car that has so many memories that go with it.

The Thing About Cars - New Year's Resolution

There are over 50 million people who have fitness center memberships in the United States. Six

million of those signups happen in January as part of a New Year’s Resolution. By the time you read this, 80% of those people will have stopped going. Thinking of New Year’s resolutions, fitness centers and our promises to ourselves and others for what we are going to accomplish or change begs the question – What is your plan for your car, or cars, this year?

I don’t make resolutions as a matter of habit, is that a resolution? I don’t think that much of New Year’s as a holiday, the 1^st of January feels an awful lot like the 31^st of December. This year, against my better judgment, I am going to make a few resolutions, related to cars only. I certainly don’t need any improvement, ask my wife or kids…on second thought, just take my word for it. Not only will I make resolutions, I am going to go one step further and foolishly share with all of you those plans.

I have two vintage BMW’s. The first, Ivory, is near perfect but after 4 years of ownership and driving her on a regular basis there are a couple of things that I need to do. My second, Ebony, is not quite so nice. She is characterized as one of those blind dates that have a ‘nice personality’ and ‘a lot of character’. She too could use some work. She will never be beautiful or pristine like Ivory, but she can be a driver that others can be envious of.

So here goes my list:

Ivory

• This year she will have her wheels powder coated to look like new and have new tires installed
• I will strip all of the wax and other dirt on her and make the paint shine better than new
• There are a couple of small oil and transmission leaks that will be fixed
• She will make it to Mid-America 2002 Festival

Ebony

• She will have new sport shocks, sway bars and springs installed
• Replace a rear CV joint
• Install the larger carburetor that I already own
• Add a front air dam and turbo fender flares
• Fix all leaks (ever hear of the Titanic?)
• Convert from a 2 headlight system to a 4 headlight look
• New front seats and a radio
• New door cards
• She will make it to Mid-America 2002 Festival

Many of you are looking at the list and thinking.

‘What is he going to do in February?’

For those of you who think that, I congratulate you on your mechanical skills.

Others are asking.

‘What is a CV joint and why do you want your wheels covered in powder, especially after all that cleaning?’

You may think I own and manage my own mechanic shop. Well, I am neither, a mechanic nor born with two left thumbs. Somewhere along that continuum is where I sit. Not sure which end but hopefully more to the mechanic side than the thumb side, regardless of my skill level, my plan is to attempt, and hopefully complete, all of the above.

Only one issue, it is called procrastination.

I admit, I procrastinate when it comes to fixing my cars. I would like to blame it on a busy work and travel schedule, limited funds (which has some truth to it), wanting to spend more time with my family and other well worn excuses. Being an open tool box, I hesitate to start a project because of fear. I am afraid that I will get the car apart and not get it back together. Maybe get it apart and back together but ruin something along the way. Maybe I will only get it half-way apart and get stuck. Finally, I don’t know how to do the job and don’t even know where to start.

To get started, I remind myself, short of just a bolt and a nut going together, most work performed on a car, much less 40 year old cars, will not be easy. Maybe some bolts will get rounded. Maybe make a scratch. Maybe I will have to take it apart again because I did something wrong. In any case, the first time I attempt something more complicated than changing brakes, plugs and oil, there is a high chance that I will take something apart and it won’t come apart, I will break it or it won’t go back together. Then just dig in!

As I try more things and attempt difficult projects I am learning that few things are irreversible. If I strip threads, well they make something to fix that. Break off a bolt, drills and other tricks easily fix the problem. If I can’t get something together, the internet, YouTube, and friends are wonderful sources of information and help.

Working on and finishing cars shouldn’t be, and is not, as scary as your mind and soul might think. For my mechanic friends out there, I know this sounds simple, but for those of us who are not so good with tools attempting a big job on a car is intimidating but going in with the mindset that anything can be fixed gets you a long way!

Go out there and fix those cars, start those projects, help each other out and hold me accountable to my own goals.

Finally, the same is true with life. Not everything will go perfectly, most things will fail the first time, and often goals are hard to reach, but go out and try anyway. Just like cars, there are few things that can’t be fixed and I find as I tackle more projects on my car I tackle more things in life.

That is the thing about cars, they can impact your life more than just getting you places.

The Thing About Chasing Cars - Part 2

So where were we – that’s right, on my way home from Pittsburgh to Birmingham, AL on a cold and rainy day. But no stinkin’ rain can dampen my spirits – I have a 79 Mercedes convertible to bring home. The rest of the trip is what one could call many things. Exciting? Strange? Frustrating? Twilight Zone? You pick the description, each and every one is true at some point along the way.

5:00 PM

I return my rental car at a Hertz Local Edition where they normally will give you a ride back home, etc. Notice the word normally in that sentence, that is the key word.

‘Oh, we are so, so, sorry, but we don’t have any drivers but we have called you a cab’. I still call that service.

6:15 PM

75 minutes later, now 6:15 the rental place closed, I stand out in the cold and no taxi yet – and I don’t know the name of the cab company. I call the garage and they can pick me up.

7:00 PM

Two full, very full and cold, hours later the cab shows up at the same time as the garage owner. I tell the taxi guy to get lost, he is not happy, and I hop in for the ride back to my little, light yellow pot of gold.

Put on the illegal temporary plate (Pennsylvania frowns on those) I get in, start the car, it is running, it is comfortable and while the dashboard lights don’t work, nor the heater, this still will be fun.

7:20 PM

All goes great for the first 1.5 miles. Road construction, stopped traffic and the low gas light comes on. I ain’t  gonna make it, I will run out of gas. 2 miles, 25 minutes later I get to an exit with a gas station. Whew, dodged that bullet. In my ever optimistic car mind that must be the only difficulty I am going to experience and the rest of the drive is going to be oh, so cool.

As the late John Pinnette used to say ‘Oh, nay, nay’.

11:48 PM

183 miles later I am driving past Sutton, West Virginia – don’t know where that is? Neither did I, heading towards Gassaway, West Virginia – again, never heard of it but I know it now. The big Mercedes has a top speed of 15 miles an hour. With 600 plus miles to go, I am thinking that just maybe I might not make it.

11:53 PM

Sure enough, 3 miles later, my beauty is dead. Taps play, I look up at the stars in the dark, dark sky and realize ‘I’m stuck’. That AAA Gold Membership is worth every penny so I call.

11:55 PM

Because of my Alabama phone number, AAA rings to Alabama first. Actual conversation follows.

‘We can help you honey, where are you?’

‘I am at exit 57 off of I-79 south.’

 Long pause

‘We don’t have an I-79 in Alabama’.

‘That’s because I am in West Virginia’.

‘I am so, so, sorry honey, but I have to transfer you to AAA in West Virginia’.

Not a problem. About 8 minutes later when no one has picked up and I have listened to music, heard the complete history of AAA, all of the advantages of being a member, new special rewards and how to raise my child, in real time, in triplicate, I realize that no one is going to answer.

12:04 AM

So I call again.

‘Oh honey, I am so, so sorry, I will patch you through and stay on the line until someone picks up’.

That is very nice and I accept the offer. 10 minutes later AAA picks up making the transfer complete.

‘Where are you located?’

‘I am at exit 57, off of I-79 south, heading south on 19.’

Long pause.

‘We don’t have an I-79 in Virginia?’

‘I am in West Virginia’.

Say it with me now.

‘Oh honey, I am so, so sorry but I am going to have to transfer you to West Virginia.’

Somehow I knew that she was going to say that.

12:15 AM

It is now about 12:15 and I haven’t even spoken with a AAA person yet. I start the car with hopes that maybe ‘car heal thyself’ comments have worked – she starts – maybe I can make it - but as soon as I go into gear she begins to bog down. AAA is my only answer. Finally, someone says

‘AAA West Virginia’.

I wanted to say ‘The West Virginia?’ but I kept my mouth shut. I describe where I am, she is going to dispatch a tow truck which will be there within 45 minutes. 

Then the 5 minute later call from AAA.

‘Sir, just confirming where you are?’

‘Oh, I am out of West Virginia now, close to Alabama, can you transfer me to them?’

It is not what I say but I think it real hard, probably hard enough to be heard over the phone. I describe my location and am told that a tow truck will be dispatched soon. 10 minutes later I get a call from the towing company. They ask.

‘Can you tell me where you are located?’

‘Switzerland’

Again, I do not say that but I think it, real, real hard. I describe yet again where I am and the owner says

‘I will send someone right away. Where would you like to have the car towed?’

‘Alabama?’

I have no clue and tell him that which seems to satisfy as a response.

1:10 AM

45 minutes later, no truck has shown up I call back. A groggy dispatcher says

‘They are coming from Charleston, it will take about 30 to 40 minutes’.

OK, what else can you say? Send a medflight?

1:25 AM

I  get a call.

‘Where are you?  I am at exit 62 and I can’t see your car anywhere.’

Hmmm, tough one, it might be because I am at exit 57. I am nice on the outside but something tells me Satan is rubbing his hands as I speak. I know it is not this guy’s fault. 20 minutes later he is there and loads up my retirement fund. She actually looks good on the flatbed truck, I honestly think that. 20 minutes later we arrive at the Microtel in Gassaway.

1:50 AM

Nice woman behind the counter sees me with the tow truck driver and asks

‘You need a room with two beds?’

‘I don’t care, whatever you have.’

And she looks at and I realize she thinks the tow truck driver is sharing my room. He quickly comments that it is just me as he is the one towing the car. He stays to make sure I have a room, tells me where he is towing the car and heads out.

2:00 AM

I get my first key to a room on the first floor. First key you are thinking? Yes, actually the first of 4 room keys. My first room opens into a dirty room. The former residents looked like they kept it neat so maybe I will just stay (NO I would not do that, but the thought did cross my mind at 2:00 AM). The second key to a new room didn’t work at all. I get a third key to my second room – yep, it doesn’t work either.  A third key to my second room, you guessed it, it doesn’t work either. Finally, on the fourth trip to the lobby she gives me a new room and a new key and I can go settle in.

Before sleep can happen I have to see how I can get to an airport and then get home. The Charleston Airport is about 60 miles away and they have a reasonably priced flight that leaves at 2:00 in the afternoon. Perfect, I book the flight.

2:30 AM

Find a car service. I try three different websites, enter all of the information and all three say ‘No taxi or shuttle service available, will a horse and buggy do? Have you considered hitchhiking?’ Alas, it is true, no taxi, shuttle service, limousine or anything where one can pay a driver to take one somewhere.

2:45 AM

A one way rental is the only option. I look for the nearest Hertz – the site laughs out loud at me. The nearest Hertz is 60 miles away. So I would need a car to get the car that I need, that doesn’t sound like a plan. Panic sets in. About 3 miles away is an Enterprise rental agency – I log onto the site, book my car, get my reservation confirmation and I am now all set. I can actually get home and worry about the Mercedes when I get home.

3:00 AM

Sleep (fitful).

6:30 AM

I wake up and plan my day. First call to Enterprise to get a ride from the hotel. They don’t open until 9:00. That’s OK, I have plenty of time. So a nice shower, downstairs to grab some breakfast, do a bit of work and watch some TV. All of that should be possible, except, the internet is down and the ceiling mounted TV that I cannot reach has no remote. Oh well, just bad news anyway.

9:05 AM

I call Enterprise. I ask about my car. I am so nervous my voice sounds like a teenager asking out last year’s Homecoming Queen to a dance.

‘Hi, I have a one-way rental scheduled for this morning and I wonder if you can come get me at the hotel just down the road’ (I honestly think I said 3.1 miles so she would know).

‘Sir, I am so, so sorry (she calls me sir, she sounds young) but we don’t have a car for you. In fact, we won’t have one until tomorrow at the earliest.’

‘But I am flying out today. I also have a reservation confirmation. I am getting a Chevy Spark, a green one, like in the picture on the website.’

‘I am sorry but we do not have any cars. I have to get management approval for the one way rental. I will work on it but I don’t think I can get one today.’

I hang up and two thoughts cross my mind:

• The Jerry Seinfeld Show – ‘It is great that you can take the reservation, but you also must keep the reservation.’
• Gassaway is the town that the Eagles wrote about in “Hotel California’

As I write out my last will and testament, a note for my wife and three children telling them how much I love them, wish I was a better dad, and wish them a wonderful life, I think that maybe the garage where the car is located might know how to get me to the airport.

Skeeter answers the phone. Yes, Skeeter. I tell him I am just going to leave the car and have it shipped home and is that an issue?

‘Nope, s’pose we can find a spot for it til’ you can get it.’

‘Oh, thank you, thank you. Is there a car service, taxi, shuttle, anyone that can drive me to Charleston to catch my flight.’

‘Well, I got a friend who might can do that. Let me call ‘im and see if he can.’

I get a call a few minutes later from my co-worker, who was supposed to go home the day before, asking me how the trip is going. I tell him everything and he happens to be driving right past Gassaway and can bring me to the airport. If that isn’t divine intervention I don’t know what is. And a good thing too, Skeeter calls me back and tells me.

‘My friend can drive ya’, but he wants ya’ to come down to the garage, he doesn’t want to pick you up at the hotel.’

The hotel that is 1.5 miles away? That one? Fortunately I tell Skeeter that I actually have a ride and thank him for his help.

An hour later I am with my co-worker, in a brand new rental, heading to Charleston airport for a flight home. 

Maybe Stephen King can write a book about this? Oh, he did, it is titled ‘Misery’.

So that is the thing about chasing after cars, what they do on TV, ain’t, I mean, isn’t, anything like it is in real life.

The Thing About Chasing Cars - Part 1

It was the best of times, it was the worst of times. Mr. Dickens penned those words over a hundred years ago and for many of us this happens on a regular basis. My story for the next two months is just like that, the best and worst of times, rolled into one. Unfortunately, more the worst of times but with the rose colored glasses perspective of the best of times. Please enjoy my journey with me.

Wayne Carini of Chasing Classic Cars, Jeff Allen and Meg Bailey from The Car Chasers, the Gas Monkey guys from Fast and Loud are all becoming household names, at least in those homes where someone who is infatuated with cars lives. The premise, find a car that is under-priced, buy it, fix it up and sell it on for a profit (That's how they say it on Wheeler Dealer). Usually this is because someone doesn’t know what they have or the car is solid and straight but needs a little bit of work or just because it is so cool it must be worth more than I am going to pay for it. Soooo…go get it! All these shows make it looks so easy. Jeff Allen will offer a person 25% of their asking price and suddenly he and the owner are only $1,000 apart. Wayne gets the car home and his mechanics use a little WD40 on an 80 year old engine, put in some gas and voila – she starts and runs perfectly. Fast and Loud – I think theirs is mostly luck, but they seem to be lucky a lot.

I think if they can do it then someone like me who sells million dollar software systems and 

used to sell cars can certainly do the same thing. It will be like cheating as I not only rake in the cash but also have television networks wanting to make a show about my skills. And, it is all true. All, except that it being easy, bringing in the bacon and networks smashing down my door to sign me up for a 10 year show with a sign on bonus of $10 million. Other than those few things all of this is the complete, swear on the Bible, honest to goodness truth.

Reality for the other 99.99999% of us is different. Six, or was it 9 or 10, months ago a colleague

is selling her 1979 Mercedes 450SL in light yellow. You know the under-priced, perfect car. It grew up in the Southwest, never has seen rain, pampered for years with only 65,000 miles and made of unobtanium. All this for a price that is about a quarter of the price of one that I wouldn’t let park in the same garage as this one. However, the car has sat, and sat, and sat so it isn’t quite as beautiful anymore. Hoses are cracking, air conditioning only blows cold in the winter and while pretty rust free the beauty isn’t what it used to be. Now she looks more like the prom queen at her 35^th high school reunion who has been married 3 times and smoked more than one cigarette. Nice looking but no longer stunning.

But hey, pay you no mind to all of that – the car is cheap. I mean like really cheap (see the definition of really cheap later) so I can buy it, fix it up, and keep it or turn around and sell the car and make enough profit to pay for my childrens’, grandchildrens’, and great grandchildrens’ college funds plus purchase that beautiful lake house I have been eyeing. (Okay, in reality, I just want to make enough to put some nice parts on my other cars and try to restock the quickly depleting college fund.) I buy it, sight unseen, pictures only and the word of the mechanic who took care of the car for the last couple of years, and by caring for, he stored it. I tell the owners

‘Here is the money, send me the title and I will be up next week to drive it home!’

Their reply, after a long silence.

‘Ummm, we just need to do a few things to make it road ready first, up to $500 I will pay for.’

Such nice people. I say OK and send on the check. Meanwhile the Lost in Space robot is yelling ‘Danger Will Robinson, Danger’. Oh, shut up.

Six, or was it nine or ten, months later I happen to be flying for work near where the car is located and it is ‘ready’ to be picked up. All fluids changed and itching for a long drive. I did have to put in a new temperature regulator flux capacitor and replace a bad fuel injector and something else. Yada, yada, yada – just give me the damages and I will take it home and retire.

A $2,700 ‘getting her ready’ check and my trip home begins. 

Tune in next month to hear about the trip. Trust me, you don’t want to miss it. The following outlines some of the excitement:

·         A cab that doesn’t show

·         Almost running out of gas

·         186 miles of driving

·         Midnight break down

·         2 hour wait time

·         Skeeter

Stay tuned…