May 6, 2008
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Van-ish
As a family, we have been blessed by kind friends and family who have given us rides and lent us cars this week. Our van’s computer (on the engine) crashed last Saturday, so we have been without wheels for over a week. I’m always amazed at how God takes care of us. Being a one car family has always been good stewardship for our budget, but sometimes it would be very convenient to have an alternative in the driveway.
Every time we think about increasing the gas charges, the repair bills, and the insurance, a second car looks like a bad idea.
The 1996 van has so far been cheaper to fix–transmission, computer, brakes, suspension–than car payments would be on another newer used car. It helps to have a mechanic that keeps his costs and ours low (and sometimes that means waiting a few more days for the car). The van has certainly served us well, picking up basketball kids, hauling the dog, packing in college furniture and bikes.
Sure beats our first car: the low-slung 1974 red Vega with the aluminum engine that used to drink gallons of oil for breakfast and needed new spark plugs every Tuesday. 1974 Vega—>
EDIT: 1970 Plymouth Valiant
|||||| lynard
Comments (7)
I still don’t know how you do it. Frankly, I would think that the doubling back to pick each other up from places (work, etc.) would eat into gas costs enough to pay for a second, junker car. Plus, the lost time in driving places twice would frustrate me after a while.
I suppose in my case, part of the issue is having been single for five years with access to my own car and then remarrying at age 38 — when we both already had separate lives and routines and cars. We *could* survive with just one vehicle if we had to now that I don’t commute anywhere, but it would be a hardship to add the brain space and finagling to be sure the one car was available for Wayne whenever he needed it for work, etc.
The fact that the Lumina’s 11 years old now, running fine, and only costing us upkeep, paperwork, and some gas makes it worth it for the added freedom of movement, especially on kid-pickup days and for trips/conferences, etc., where only one of us is attending.
My first car was a 1970 Plymouth Valiant — olive green, bench seats, power-nothing, AM radio — which I got in 1980 for $300. Those were the days.
@Austruck1 -
Well, we don’t do much doubling back, and the fact that we live within a mile or two of work, school and church helps.
I added a pic of a 1970 Plymouth Valiant to the post for you. Cutie car.
I just added an actual photo of THE Valiant on my photo blog here: http://photo.xanga.com/photoproperty.aspx?pic=187649723
The Vega I know. What’s w/ the Valiant?
@E_muse -
If you see austruck1′s response, that was her first car.
We needed to add antifreeze to the Valiant about as often as you take antibiotics when you have an infection. You know, every eight hours or so. You could always tell where we went in that car by following the neon green trail of liquid we left behind us on the road.
My first car was the 73 Dodge Polara. Even my new mini-van could not hold what that car did. There are days that I miss that big ol piece of junk.
We have to get a new car for Lo as her car just had 2,000 in repairs and needs 2,000 more to make it right. It has been a long time since we purchased a new car is purchased by my company. My have things changed. I think I paid $500 dollars for the Polara, and I had it for 4 years. I bet ya the thing is still out there some where.