Sunday, March 2, 2008

Sal-Mobile, R.I.P.

Friday, on my way to school to watch my middle son play in a basketball game, I noticed that the Sal-Mobile was running a little ragged. Nothing too serious, just a little hesitation, a funky hitch in the giddy-up. No big deal, I thought... when your car is 15 years old, it's entitled to a little dirt in the injectors now and then. But on the way home it was more pronounced, and then I looked in the rear view mirror. I was letting out a smoke screen worthy of any James Bond movie. About that time, the "service engine" light lit up and the temperature gauge buried itself in the red area. I limped it the last 5 minutes home and called Philip, my mechanic extrordinaire. His exact words: "that's not good." Turns out I've blown my head gasket, which means I have a $600 car with an $800 problem. So farewell, Sal-Mobile. I'm a little ticked that I've put over $200 in her in the past month ($167 for the exploding window and $30 for a busted radiator hose), and more so that I passed up the opportunity to buy a neighbor's low-mileage car for $1000 a little over a month ago because my car was running so well. But it's alright. Next week after I return from our 7th grade class trip (more on that in a later post) I'll go out and buy another paid-for clunker and drive it for the next several years. The Lumina has been a great car. Hope the next one lasts as well.

5 comments:

bekster said...

No more super powers? :(

We'll have to think of something cool for your new (used) car...

Lori Fitzgerald said...

NO!!!!
Not the Sal-Mobile!!
We've lost the Sal-Mobile AND the Suppository in less than 6 months.
And yet Dad keeps hanging on...

Goode Design said...

Sounds like a great way to blow that "economic stimulus."

Danny Baddeley said...

Kinda reminds me of when this guy parked his Saturn in the engine of Heidi's 81 Chevette. She loved that care and would still have it today if it weren't for that impatient teen. RIP Sal-mobile, I never met you, but you will be missed.

Anonymous said...

I'll sell you my Pathfinder;) I'm looking for a 4x4 something or other.