Car Update

[sarahmichelef]

The guys looked it over and claim they couldn't find anything wrong with it.  They say all fluids were fine, but they put it up on the lift "one more time" and after that found a number of things that they tell us might cause colossal failure at any moment.  We suspect that they found an error that they made when installing the new water pump and aren't telling us, and are telling us the other stuff to cover their own asses, which doesn't make me particularly happy.  They put in twelve bucks worth of transmission fluid and sent it home.  It's running fine.

That said, we are starting to consider replacing the car.  It's 12 years old, almost 13 (a 1995 model), and has 155k miles on it.  It has definitely done its time.  We were talking this morning and realized - if we buy a new car now, it is one that TRex could conceivably drive when she gets her drivers' license, since we have every intention of driving the thing into the ground just like we have these 2 cars.  How scary is THAT?  It also makes the thought of shelling out for new wheels quite a bit more palatable.

Comments

[nenie.livejournal.com]

*cough*hondafit*cough*

[alphasarah.livejournal.com]

If you can fit the following things into your honda fit (this is a mostly-complete list of what we took with us last weekend), I will consider it:

• 3 adults
  
• 1 toddler, with carseat
  
• 1 pack-n-play
  
• 1 20 gallon rubbermaid tub
  
• 1 10 gallon rubbermaid tub
  
• 1 air mattress & 2 inflatable pillows, as well as battery-operated pump and a foot pump
  
• 2 sleeping bags
  
• 2 blankets
  
• 1 standard-size cooler
  
• 2 camping lanterns
  
• 1 camp stove
  
• 2 small propane cylinders
  
• 1 diaper bag
  
• 1 bag of toddler-entertainment
  
• 2 bags of fencing equipment
  
• 3 styrofoam heads
  
• 3 patio umbrella bases
  
• 3 PVC poles approx 2" diam x 5' long
  
• 1 umbrella stroller
  

That's probably an incomplete list, and our tent transported by someone else. Admittedly, the third adult was the trade-off for the tent, but you get the idea of the amount of crap that we have to be able to haul in what is going to be our primary vehicle.

[nenie.livejournal.com]

seriously, it would be really, really close

[alphasarah.livejournal.com]

That would be hella impressive, given that we had the smaller half of the backseat of the Taurus down and were working to keep a clear view out the rearview mirror.

If/when we go back to 2 cars, I'm totally looking at one of the supercompacts, though.

[nenie.livejournal.com]

wait, you said NOTHING about being able to see out the back window...

seriously, though. the car is surprisingly roomy

[ellid.livejournal.com]

Get a Matrix or a Civic Hatchback. Great mileage, plenty of room, and as my old Civic proves, you *can* run a Japanese car into the ground.

[alphasarah.livejournal.com]

I seem to recall trying to sell YOU on the Matrix a while back!

I <3 both of those, but we need far more cargo room than they provide. Neither of those trunks will hold a fencing bag without folding the back seat down.

[marajade648.livejournal.com]

Are you sure about that? (unless you've picked up hard cases) I had my 1995 Accord parked next to a new Civic today and they looked darn close to the same size. My Accord can hold lots in the trunk but of course does even better with the seat down.

[ellid.livejournal.com]

I actually considered a Matrix, but the used ones were out of my price range. What about a Subaru Outback? Four wheel drive, lots of room, and decent mileage...

[alphasarah.livejournal.com]

Outback is on the list, as is its boxier (and cheaper) little brother, the Forester.

[a-c-fiorucci.livejournal.com]

Some of the Civics may have split back seats, or center armrest/pass throughs, so you could still have room for the carseat and long pokey things. Also recent model Civics are approximately the size of older model Accords, and newer Accords are amazing.