The word for this condition is schizophrenic, that is, a state characterized by the coexistence of contradictory or incompatible elements. That describes my on-again, off-again decision about my car, AKA The Bastard. Having just spent $300 to repair motor mounts, I was almost ready to say I will keep it. But, then, the odor of burnt rubber gave me serious concerns and I decided, with certainty, that I would replace the beast with an as-yet-unknown new or near-new vehicle.
Today, though, at my wife's suggestion (because the odor was so strong as to make us fear the car might begin to burn any moment), I stopped in at the Toyota dealer. Without doing anything more than sniffing, the shop advisor said he was relatively sure it was simply a plastic bag that had gotten entwined on my muffler and that it would, eventually, burn off. "We get this all the time, and this smell is definitely a plastic bag." Now, his assessment may be worth what I paid for it, i.e., nothing, but if he's right, I'm now confronted with the decision again.
Does it make any sense to get rid of the car now, just because it has what I have been told will be a temporary bad odor? Considering the fact that I'm going to have to spent many hundreds of dollars on new frames and a new prescription for my glasses, I'm thinking not.
But I do so like new leather. I like nice, quiet interiors. Last night, two other couples and my wife and I went to dinner...we all went in the Continental Town Car one of the guys had rented while his car is being repaired. The car was quiet, luxurious, smooth...it was like gliding on a quiet ocean in a lushly appointed cabin. Could I like that? Maybe. Probably. But it's too big and expensive and ostentatious for me. I like The Bastard. Sometimes.
1 comment:
Did you mention the burning rubber smell to the mechanic when he changed the motor mounts in your car? If it's not the plastic bag smell (and yes, sometimes it is that), it might be that one of the pulleys on your engine is seized, or that the idler pulley needs to be adjusted. I'd suspect that, considering that this problem seems to be a bit persistent. The burning plastic bag thing doesn't usually last for a very long time.
Regarding new and used cars, we've bought both over the years. These days, we're driving a 2001 Windstar that we leased and then bought out after. It doesn't get a lot of driving so it's still in nice shape (has about 160 km) on it (Don has a vehicle from work that he uses to commute the short distance between here and there).
Up here, road salt is the bane of vehicles, so they don't usually last all that long. I'm sure the situation must be a lot better down there. For us, the Windstar has been a good vehicle - comfortable (I have a bad back, so comfortable seats are important); fairly easy on gas; big enough to haul lumber and all sorts of other stuff: versatile - we can bring passengers with us, or remove the seats and use it as a sort of camper van when on the road. I think that's the key to choosing a vehicle -- figuring out what you'll use it for -- or potentially might want to use it for -- and then find a vehicle that can fill those needs. Maybe the Bastard is fine for what you need, if you can just get rid of the burning smell. Then again, perhaps time to look for something else if you feel it is beginning to look too much like a money pit.
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