thoughtnot

You folks may recall me reporting back in mid-January that my Dodge Intrepid was on it’s last leg and needed a new engine (accoring to the dealer). Well, I’m sorry to report that day has finally come. I am happy to have gotten nearly 11 extra months of service from it, but it has finally given in.

It happened this afternoon. A couple of my co-workers and I had decided to run over to Clarksville (IN) for lunch. I was buying lunch for Nick, who had helped me move a treadmill last weekend, which is why I decided to drive. As we cruised up the interstate, I could hear the engine knocking more than usual. It had been getting worse lately, and in fact I told Emily before I left home this morning that I didn’t think it had much longer. About half way up our exit, the knocking sound turned in to a horrible knock/squeal/thud noise. I sounded as if someone had thrown a handful of nuts and bolts into my engine. I turned toward my grandpa’s house, hit the flashers, and managed to limp the last mile. Fortunately, I was able to park it there and not have to have it towed. I also did not end up getting stuck on the bridge during rush hour, have a come through the fire wall, or experience an engine fire. Ironically, I feel fortunate.

That aside, the “extra” 5500 miles I got out of it following the diagnosis does not ease the pain of the fact that a car I paid $17k for a mere 7 years ago is now worth practically nothing. I’ll call around tomorrow to salvage yards in hopes of getting maybe $500 for it, but I’ll be lucky if I do. I’d replace the engine if it were worth the $5,000, but there are other issues that makes it not worth it.

So now I am without a car… sort of. I still have my ‘ol truck with it’s “mater mirrors” that I can drive when necessary, though it only gets 8-10mpg and I was hoping to avoid the winter roads with it. I can also hitch a ride with to work with my buddy T-bone, who passes near my building every day. Perhaps eventually I’ll luck across something super-cheap and stable enough to be a “daily driver”. Wish me luck!