Van is Dead

[sabrinageek]

So.. should've known.. think I kinda did know.

The Van is dead. The entire ABS system died. chain reaction. Tube A collapsed and failed, which caused part B to fail, which caused thingamabob C to die, etc. $1000 to fix/replace the ABS. $800 for just the parts alone, and that's with dad's discount for working for Chrysler.

So.. gotta figure out what to do with it.. maybe try to sell it for parts before junking it. I -just- spent $200 and an entire weekend putting in a new fuel filter, too, gorramit.

I'm driving my concorde in the meantime, so at least I have a vehicle. (Nice thing about having multiple POS vehicles. You juggle driving so that you have one vehicle running while you're fixing the other one. Usually you can keep at least one vehicle going that way. I'd rather just have one really nice, newer vehicle, but eh, gotta have money or loans for that. )

So.. while we'd been looking to "upgrade" my van the last month or so, and find a replacement.. now we've really got a reason to find a new van. Plus, I switch jobs this upcoming week, so because my schedule's changing, I only get Sunday off. Have to work a full day Monday, New Year's Eve.. and then I get New Year's Day off. And then Wednesday I start my training and I'm free from Inbound forever!

Blah.

Comments

[westly-roanoke.livejournal.com]

I hear you.

We just tore the drive shaft off the subaru. $40 on a normal car. $400 on the subaru.
Rover - Chronic Overheating problem
Datsun - Needs carb work, as well as vacuum line work.

Cars suck.

My co-worker's giving me a ride home from Gaia. Thank god.

[sabrinageek.livejournal.com]

Well, I can't complain too bad -- it was a $500 beater when we bought it.. and the ABS was bad then (we only got it 'cos we be sneaky/savvy and knew the ABS was an Open Recall at the time and we could get it fixed for free -- alas, not so now..) Plus, after it was stolen and recovered, the insurance company totalled it and we bought it back, so my dad made a decent profit on it at that point.

In fact, dad gave it to me after it was recovered from being stolen pretty much because at that point, he'd gotten his money back out of it. Other than the annoyance of the $200 fuel pump (I was tired and typed filter last night.. fuel pump is much more of a pain in the ass to change), the only real downside is that, well, I -love- my van. I've been driving minivans for a long time now.. and they're sorta my favorite vehicle. That's what fits, y'know? So even though I've still got a car to drive, and I'm not stranded or walking, it doesn't feel right. Sorta like a piece of me died.. Ahh well. It's just a vehicle, I'll live.. and eventually I'll get a new(er) one.

-Sabrina

[crimmycat.livejournal.com]

My zombie car refuses to die - it just keeps rolling along like the imminent deathtrap it is, every single breakdown just under the replacement cost.

May your next van be sturdy and reliable!

[sabrinageek.livejournal.com]

Well, here's hoping. Glad to hear on the zombie cars.. there's some cars out there like that.. and some that seem like they just constantly need work. :/

My folks want to try to find me yet-another-Chrysler minivan product.. and while I like them, I'm not entirely sure that's the way to go. My dad has a love/hate relationship with Chrysler.. (part of being an employee there, I guess..) mom pressures him to buy Chrysler to support his job, but often, when we're fixing them, a lot of the crap they do pisses us off.

I feel the same way about*cough*Big Corporate Bank I work for*cough* On the one hand.. They pay my bills. On the other hand, Getting our home loan through them (as an employee no less) was a complete nightmare, none of their branches are convenient for ATMs, and I really don't necessarily like a lot of what they do.. Love/hate.

But anyways, I'm kind of looking at the possibility of maybe getting a Chevy Minivan (Boxy Astros look cool! Mystery Machine Yeah!) Or looking into the possibility of a small-ish SUV ala GMC Jimmy or Jeep Cherokee.. Mom's always about the biggest, "safest" thing out there for me, 'cos she's so damn overprotective.. and lately she's kinda been on a "You should have 4 wheel drive" kick.. (most likely due to the fact their new house is on a hill and their driveway's a bitch.) But.. really, the entire car market is screwy right now.. and nothing looks good. So it's a grit-my-teeth and wait 'til the right deal comes along time.

Whee biding my time..

-Sabrina

[themaskmaker.livejournal.com]

I'm such a Townie that I read your subject line and thought, "Van's dead??!!! When did he die?"

[sabrinageek.livejournal.com]

Heh.. Yeah.. Whoops. I never really named my Van.. I just called it "The Van" or "Van".. so it didn't occur to me that someone might mis-read my post.. *chuckle*

Anyways.. *hugs* thanks for the thoughts :)

-Sabrina