Not a particularly restful evening

[ksmith]

...especially when you have to write a check.

But, my blue boy is home. I'm referring to Harrison, my pickup truck. We had a bit of a fender-bender a month ago--rainy afternoon, I stopped in time, the person behind me didn't and pushed me into the car ahead of me--and he's been in the shop pretty much since then. New bumpers, a new tailgate, new spare tire hoist. In addition, there was some outstanding body work--a few scratches, dents, and dings--that I had meant to have worked on for over a year. Had those taken care of, too. Harrison looks very spiff as a result, pretty much like a new truck. I've had him for almost 8 years, and if I keep him garaged I should be able to keep him looking like new for another 8.

Now I get to go through First Scratch Trauma again. Oh goody.

We don't sell vehicles in my family. We give them names, drive them until they can't be drove no more, then stand in the window and cry as the wrecker hauls them away.

Comments

[madwriter.livejournal.com]

>>We don't sell vehicles in my family. We give them names, drive them until they can't be drove no more, then stand in the window and cry as the wrecker hauls them away.<<

In my family's case we also take pictures through the tears.

Mosby: My 1991 Subaru station wagon that has been sitting behind our house for a year because I can't fix all its problems (yet) and refuse to get rid of it...

[kristine-smith.livejournal.com]

My other car is a Subaru, an '02 Forester named Kuro.

I see him hanging around for quite a while...

Trucks and Hammers

[technomage.livejournal.com]

We also keep vehicles forever - ala Lilly the '97 Honda Civic my daughter totalled last year. Boy I miss some of the bumper stickers from that car.

Some comic I heard a few years back said the solution to pickup truck angst was, as soon as you get it home, take a ball peen hammer and dent the fender on purpose. Then you can start acting like its a truck, not a cherished car. YMMV.

Re: Trucks and Hammers

[kristine-smith.livejournal.com]

*sniffle*

[torrilin.livejournal.com]

I keep trying to talk dad into a pickup. It'd work better for Real Hauling than a minivan does... and you can't get minivans that will do Real Hauling anymore :(.

He fully intends to drive his 3rd Aerostar into the ground tho.

[kristine-smith.livejournal.com]

I'll never forget that day in December when the fuel line in my Dad's ancient Ford van froze in a store parking lot. Dad had to walk home--luckily it was a local store--and was wondering how in heck he was going to get the van home. He didn't want to pay for a tow truck, and figured he'd have to wait until the weather warmed a bit so he could start the thing. "I have the truck," I told him. "I can tow you home."

Well, his face lit like you flipped a switch. He had the rope and hooks and such--we drove to the lot after rush hour had abated, hooked up the van to Harrison, and home we went. I drove Harrison while Dad sat in the van and steered.

Sometimes it's really, really nice to have a truck...

Re: Trucks and Hammers

[technomage.livejournal.com]

(hands you clean hankie) I understand. Just let it flow. ;)

[torrilin.livejournal.com]

Yeah :D. The Aerostar was built on a light truck frame, so it works for hauling like that. We towed cars with it several times. Usually it just hauls people or lots of model airplanes...

I still say my Dad needs a truck tho. Glad yours is fixed, cause they're Handy :).

[madwriter.livejournal.com]

As Bill and Ted would say, Subarus are most excellent.

Mine had been incredibly abused--to the point where the engine had been nearly burned out by the previous owner. I figure if it hadn't been a Subaru, it would have been long dead.

[kristine-smith.livejournal.com]

Subarus are funny. I remember an article from several years ago discussing the differences between those who buy Outbacks (snowboarders, mountain bikers) and those who buy Foresters (xcountry skiers, road bikers). One line that has stayed with me referred to Forester drivers as Birkenstock wearers. At the time, I looked down at my Birkie clogs and muttered 'oh well, tagged again.'

Foresters have undergone a thorough redesign over the past few years, but I like my blocky greenhouse on wheels.

At the time I was thinking about the Forester, I wondered if I was being too staid. Decided to give a used Land Rover a try. Took it in to the local dealership and had it checked. Turned out it needed almost $7000 worth of work even though it only had 68K miles on it. The service manager told me that this wasn't unusual for Land Rovers--you can't beat them for offroad, but they don't handle suburban driving very well, and start to leak from every orifice imaginable.

'Looks like I'm back to a Forester," I said. The service manager kind of shrugged, and said 'Japanese engines don't break.'

Now every time I see a Rover, all I can think of is 'more money than sense.'