The car is a money pit indeed.
I took it in this morning.
Pretty soon I get a call, with the estimate.
The bearing bad isn't the one on the right replaced a few months ago as I had hoped because the replacement would be free. It's the one on the left. I had trouble understanding that because the noise I hear is on curves to the left. He said its all in where it wears and that they listened to each bearing with a stethoscope with the car elevated and running.
And its the front brakes, he said, worse than the rear, so they are being replaced, along with the rotors. I suppose I could have done the fronts myself. Pads, all that, not that hard. But I can't do the drum brakes. Too many little teeny parts and not the right tools.
Money pit, that darn car.
Around here, can't be without a car. Hauling groceries, cats, cat litter, going to the vet, and getting out of dodge now and then. I had to live without a car for years when in Corvallis and it was hell. My world consisted of a few sad little blocks. And even though Corvallis is small, it took hours to get groceries by bus. Lots and lots of waiting.
I did my time without wheels. But on my income, its darn hard to have a car. The insurance, the upkeep, the repairs. Even old used cars with lots of miles now cost a lot to get.
Probably half the low incomers in this area drive without insurance. It's a big risk and its awful when they hit somebody and knock out someone else's only means of transport, and there's no insurance to cover the victims' losses if that victim has only liability and most of the rest of us low incomers only carry liability. Which means you are screwed if your car is stolen or hit by someone without insurance.
I see stories about people defending their cars when people try to steal them, and others say, its no big deal because the loss is covered by insurance if its stolen so let it go if someone's trying to steal it. What world do they live in? The one of rich people with full insurance coverage. But that's a different world than many of us live within. We don't even understand that world.
I hate being responsible sometimes. I hate it that I follow all the rules and struggle horribly when other people don't follow any rules and work the system and get away with it and no one cares.
That's life. Not fair. At least I have a roof over my head. Yes I am bummed over the costs on this latest car repair. I've been trying so hard to pay off the loan on buying the car. Shoot.
I'm going to quit the pity party now. I have a lot to be thankful for. This is just an unexpected set back is all.
I am a Cat Woman. My self-appointed mission in life is to save the feline world! To accomplish this mission, I get cats fixed. Perhaps my mission might be slightly delusional. This blog is a mishmash of wishful thinking, rants, experiences as I remember them and of course, cat stories and cat photos. I have a nonprofit now, to help keep the cats here cared for and to fix community cats. Happy Cat Club formed in 2015. Currently, we are on a mission to fix 10,000 cats.
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I well remember that sinking feeling when the phone rings after you have delivered your car for what you hope is just an simple oil change and check over. The same situation regarding the insurance happens here. Rather than full insurance there is what is called third party, property and theft insurance, which is someone cheaper but not compulsory.
ReplyDeleteWe are all entitled to a paddle in the pity pool from time to time. You more than most.
ReplyDeleteCars are indeed money pits. Like houses.
Well, crap. I'm sorry for your troubles.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the comment on my blog. I didn't mean to be misleading about the image I shared. It's not of my local friend smooching with his kitten. Rather, it was a random image of a self promoting guy I found really adorable.
Be well!