We have just over $900 left on our auto loan that started out at almost $12,000 when we bought our van at the end of 2003.
David and I were going to look at the
Bed & Breakfast. I had to wait for the boys to get home from school so I could send them to the neighbor's, so David went ahead of me in the car. I was about 15 minutes behind him. Our appt was for 4pm to walk through the inside...I was only about 3 blocks from the point B. I pressed on the gas coming out of the corner. I swear my transmission quietly just slid out onto the road. It was like I had accidentally hit the shifter, right into neutral...without my hand moving off the wheel. I nursed and nursed what speed I had left, trying to coast my way three more blocks. As I made the last turn, I realized that this turn was uphill. So there I was, parked in an awkward place in the road, blocking a fire hydrant.
I walked the rest of the way to the home, and tried not to look too freaked out. After our appt, David tried to see if there was any possibility of engaging in any gear, in order to at least move it to a more appropriate parking place. He started the van (its pretty frustrating to realize that your vehicle runs, but won't even think about moving in any direction). It wasn't making ANY sounds, or showing any attempt to engage. Off goes the engine, and David reaches to pop the hood. The pully thing that releases the hood...busted. Luckily, after releasing. So under the hood he goes. First obvious thing is to make sure his wife hasn't been driving around without transmission fluid. He pulls the dipstick, and off comes the rubber stopper on the top.
Oh boy, the cursing came on like mad. Not from me though...I was laughing so hard I was almost crying.
In the end, David started the van back up, and rolled it backwards down the slope, across the street and into a better parking place. It took us a few days to get someone we knew to help us retrieve our now worthless hunk of metal. It got tagged to be towed, and I had a great conversation with the neighbor who had the privilege of looking at my van through his front window....it wasn't at all bad, he just couldn't believe that a vehicle that looked so new would lose the transmission. Probably because both vehicles in his driveway were also FORD.
It really couldn't have happened at a better time. We owe so little on the loan, that it won't be as painful to make a few payments while we wait for a gung ho mechanic to take it off our hands so he can fix and resell. I wasn't on a huge road trip, out camping in BFE without cell service, and it didn't happen 2-4 years ago where we would be stuck having to fix it. It just would've been better if it hadn't happened at all.
Ethan cried a little when he realized he won't get to ride in it again. We've had it since he was 2, and we've had so much fun with that van. It would have been nice if it would've waited until camping season was over though. I'd buy another one..that is, if the Flex wasn't available. =) Not that we'll be getting a new car before the end of the summer, or maybe closer to the end of the year, but I WILL have one someday.
Ok, so I'm back to novel blogging. SORRY! I'm sure a few of you have looked at my blogs and wanted to say something to the effect of my not needing to give a play by play on everything, but would it be as much fun that way?
Peace and Chicken Grease!
David and I were going to look at the
Bed & Breakfast. I had to wait for the boys to get home from school so I could send them to the neighbor's, so David went ahead of me in the car. I was about 15 minutes behind him. Our appt was for 4pm to walk through the inside...I was only about 3 blocks from the point B. I pressed on the gas coming out of the corner. I swear my transmission quietly just slid out onto the road. It was like I had accidentally hit the shifter, right into neutral...without my hand moving off the wheel. I nursed and nursed what speed I had left, trying to coast my way three more blocks. As I made the last turn, I realized that this turn was uphill. So there I was, parked in an awkward place in the road, blocking a fire hydrant.I walked the rest of the way to the home, and tried not to look too freaked out. After our appt, David tried to see if there was any possibility of engaging in any gear, in order to at least move it to a more appropriate parking place. He started the van (its pretty frustrating to realize that your vehicle runs, but won't even think about moving in any direction). It wasn't making ANY sounds, or showing any attempt to engage. Off goes the engine, and David reaches to pop the hood. The pully thing that releases the hood...busted. Luckily, after releasing. So under the hood he goes. First obvious thing is to make sure his wife hasn't been driving around without transmission fluid. He pulls the dipstick, and off comes the rubber stopper on the top.
Oh boy, the cursing came on like mad. Not from me though...I was laughing so hard I was almost crying.
In the end, David started the van back up, and rolled it backwards down the slope, across the street and into a better parking place. It took us a few days to get someone we knew to help us retrieve our now worthless hunk of metal. It got tagged to be towed, and I had a great conversation with the neighbor who had the privilege of looking at my van through his front window....it wasn't at all bad, he just couldn't believe that a vehicle that looked so new would lose the transmission. Probably because both vehicles in his driveway were also FORD.
It really couldn't have happened at a better time. We owe so little on the loan, that it won't be as painful to make a few payments while we wait for a gung ho mechanic to take it off our hands so he can fix and resell. I wasn't on a huge road trip, out camping in BFE without cell service, and it didn't happen 2-4 years ago where we would be stuck having to fix it. It just would've been better if it hadn't happened at all.
Ethan cried a little when he realized he won't get to ride in it again. We've had it since he was 2, and we've had so much fun with that van. It would have been nice if it would've waited until camping season was over though. I'd buy another one..that is, if the Flex wasn't available. =) Not that we'll be getting a new car before the end of the summer, or maybe closer to the end of the year, but I WILL have one someday.
Ok, so I'm back to novel blogging. SORRY! I'm sure a few of you have looked at my blogs and wanted to say something to the effect of my not needing to give a play by play on everything, but would it be as much fun that way?
Peace and Chicken Grease!
Chicken Grease?! LOL Where did that come from? Sorry about the death of old red. YAY for new car in your future. Transmissions...what can I say, we've put three in the truck. It sucks.
Now blog more, chickie! Miss you!