wish i didn't have to sell my car

perhaps i should start off with a little background:

i like my car. i would rather not sell it. i lovingly refer to it as a 1996 VW POS... because it is.

my car is red. my car gets 30 mpg. the air conditioner will give you frostbite.

i bought my little red POS three years ago for $2500. there were some slight things that needed to be fixed up a little bit, but i figured i could take care of them fairly easily, so i only asked to go to 2500 down from 3000 that my buddy was asking. sold.

one of the things was that the alignment was a little off... the car pulled to the right... rather aggressively... and the check engine light was on ('oh that light has always been on... it's no big deal')... and the ABS light light was on.

so the next week i took it in for an alignment... 'oh and can you check out the clutch cable? it seems like there is a lot of play.'

the alignment required two new tires.

the clutch had to be replaced.

the ABS light was because three of the four wheel sensors were kaput... replaced... as well as three of the four brake calipers because they were worn out of limits... replaced.

the E-brake cable was rusted through... replaced.

'i don't know why the engine light is on... perhaps there is a part missing... but it seems to run ok.'

awe inspiring service.

so now, after four and a half grand, i've got a strong running $2500 car. BUT WAIT! as i pulled out of the parking lot... the brake pedal went to the floor.

master cylinder... kaput... replaced... make that 4800.

did i mention that the exhaust rusted through? replaced... 500 more.

i also recently totally replaced the distributor cap, spark plugs and cables. i've got a real road machine here now...

until friday, when on my way out the door to catch a flight, i climbed into my car and turned the key... VROOOOMSPuttersputter...dead.

hmmmm.... that's peculiar... it worked just an hour ago.

VROOOOOOMVROOOOMSPUtter sputter dead... shit.

i called a buddy, tore him away from his glowering wife on a friday evening at home and got a ride to the airport. disaster averted.

i had to hitchhike to work this morning, and this afternoon i came back home to troubleshoot the problem, as well as try to figure out where to tow it to.

i really don't like the idea of paying someone to move my car for me, so naturally i came up with an idea to circumvent that. i figured that as long as i maintain the RPMs above 4000, the engine stays on... it's only when they hit 3000 or so that the engine dies... so if i could find a route with minimal stops and if i could keep the engine revved then i MIGHT be able to make it the 8 miles to the garage. i gave myself 50/50 chances.

i started up, revved the gas, slipped the clutch and eased out of my backyard... step one complete. i rolled out of my cul-de-sac in 1st gear, made the left onto the side street, and then seeing the traffic was clear, pulled a california stop straight into a 135 degree right hand turn.

during that turn is when i realized i didn't have power steering... after the turn is when i realized i didn't really have brakes... with 4 miles of downhill road in front of me.

it was pretty exciting. i'd recommend the experience to anyone. trying to time your entry into a traffic circle with downshifting and E-brake and then taking said (small) traffic circle at 40 mph is a humbling experience. it really makes you appreciate all the small things we take for granted.

so, i'm still alive. the car made it to the garage and i got a ride home. to my empty fridge... well mostly empty... the milk doesn't smell too bad... maybe i'll have some cereal for dinner.

i like to live on the edge.