Putt-putt

Jun. 30th, 2006 04:52 pm
libertango: (Default)
[personal profile] libertango
First off, to my well-wishers for a Happy Birthday: Thank you. You're very kind.

Next up, Happy Birthday [livejournal.com profile] holyoutlaw! Hal's Random Will Astrology sez: "Congratulations, fellow Cancerian!"

*^*^*

An explanation for the recent quiet:

We have two cars. They each have about 250K miles on them. One's a 1996 Saturn SL1, bought Christmas Eve 2001 used with about 185K on it at the time. That was bought mostly so (for those who remember) I could drive up and down between Ulrika in Orange County and here in Seattle, thereby skipping airfare and car rental.

The other is a 1994 Saturn SL, of which we've been the sole owners to date.

The '96 developed what LA fan Peter Edick would refer to as, "an expensive noise" a few months back. The transmission had been somewhat reluctant to go into second. Suddenly, it became much more reluctant to go into first -- not good, especially in glacially sculpted Seattle and its many hills.

So today was the appointment with the dealership to examine the transmission. My thought was, it was a bad clutch, and I went in with enough money for that.

I was wrong. $100 of diagnostics later, they think it needs a whole new transmission. For more than what we originally paid for the car (albeit used).

Oops.

Yes, there's the '94, and that's what we've been using as a backup. It doesn't have a Big Thing wrong with it, but it does have lots of Little Things. The most recent example: It's been tending to get very hot in the engine if stuck in traffic. Last week, it was actually beginning to steam as I was waiting out the traffic on just before the 520 bridge.

Thus, my question about Blazing Auto, earlier. I'm looking at Volvos, Subarus, and Saturns (250K miles is a lot of use, after all).

Any input is appreciated re models and/or dealers.

2 Cents

Date: 2006-07-01 12:22 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] selinawoman.livejournal.com
An old Volo is a VERY good friend.
I had one and I can't remember what year it was but when I got it it had 2K and ran for years. Southern Ca to Northern Ca, AAA was a must have but it ran and ran. They are tanks. I would love to have another.
I had to give it to my Mother to actually get it to finally die.

A radiator flush and some stop leak powder can do a world of good. It might be as simple as that. I wish it for you anyway!

Date: 2006-07-01 05:39 am (UTC)
From: (Anonymous)
Subarus are also wonderful,get great gas mileage & last damn near forever.

Best of luck to you-- expensive car noises and/or car shopping is one of my very least favorite things to do!

Date: 2006-07-01 07:12 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] holyoutlaw.livejournal.com
Thank you!

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libertango: (Default)
Hal

March 2022

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