Vehicular Veerings

My mechanic smokes pot in his garage. Seriously. I almost asked him to partake in his habit when I went to pick up my car this afternoon.

I'm $300 poorer, but the horrendous shudder and rattle and shake I've been experiencing in my car...gone! The mechanic and his son are honest, inexpensive, and unwilling to bend their personal rules so far as to get in the way of having fun. Hence the pot, I guess. And the photos on the shop walls, people smiling next to huge redfish, tuna, sharks, etc., etc. hanging from hooks next to them. My mechanic is, as his son says, "a fiend about fishing." His father calls himself an addict to fishing. Whatever, they fixed my car, at least a little bit. Their $300 repair would have set me back $1100+ at the dealer.

The shudder is gone, but the odor of burnt tires is not. And so, despite serious, serious misgivings, I am going to get rid of the Bastard. I will replace it with another vehicle, but I'm not sure what just yet. I'm drifting all over the place: small SUV that gets good mileage; pickup truck; luxury sedan; sports convertible; motorcycle; minivan; station wagon; bicycle. For years, I've argued that I should be buying used. I'm still arguing, but I'm arguing with myself. Maybe not. Maybe a full warranty means alot.

I hate, truly hate, taking on a new car with its horrendous payment. I hate equally, though, wondering whether the burnt rubber odor will turn into a broken hose, a broken belt, an under-the-hood-fire. I want my old car, but with assurances. I want guarantees. I've assumed the Bastard would last and last. It's still only 10 years old. It should not do this to me! I feel like setting the motherfucker on fire and breaking its glass with a sledge hammer for being unfaithful to me! I cannot do that, though. I should simply get new tires, say a few words to the beast, and then deal with its infirmities. It's old, after all. I should not throw it out. Mixed, mixed feellings!

So...if I next write about drivin a Mercedes-Benz that has 17" tires and windows all the way around, you'll know what happened.