203,641
My much loved and very hard working car, Dernhelm after carrying me, my children, friends, roommates, and co-workers over 125,000 miles finally broke down tonight. I was coming home with lunaticneko over the San Mateo Bridge when she started overheating and the engine strained hard to make it up the incline. I coasted her down the far side in neutral, and before the engine could finish overheating, pulled off on an emergency parking area and shut her down.
We got a tow to the far side of the bridge from CalTrans (Our Tax Dollars at Work!) and waited for a second tow to get us home. Curious as to what was wrong, I checked the coolant. It was dry. And the oil, where I discovered where all the coolant went. So, my much loved and hard working car had blown a seal. It's a catastrophic failure which ruins engines. And at 11 years old with 203,641 miles on her, the engine constitutes a total loss.
underpope and jennipur along with friends from our Bible Study Group conspired to put me in this car when I needed a vehicle the most. Their generous gesture lasted 5 1/2 years. This car, Dernhelm carried me to College with all my worldly possessions packed floor to ceiling. Then she carried me to my Dad's house after I graduated again with all my worldly possessions packed floor to ceiling. Dernhelm insured that I visited my children every other week for the entire time I was attending AICASF. She drove the "Battan Death March Commute" from Oakdale to Electronic Arts for 3 solid months until I moved to my current digs.
For 5 Christmases Dernhelm took me and the kids all over the Central Valley visiting family. And though she needed repair and maintenance regularly, she never stranded me in the middle of nowhere. She held together when all logic expected a car like this to fall apart at the seams. If I had my way, she'd be good for another 200,000 miles and I'd gift her to someone deserving when the time came for me to buy a new set of wheels.
I've owned a few cars since being licensed back in 1985. Dernhelm was hands down the best. She'll still go to someone deserving I suppose. I'll donate her to an appropriate cause.
I'm still very sad to see her go, even if it is her time. I'll keep the Superman steering wheel guard. That way at least some of her spirit will stay with me.
We got a tow to the far side of the bridge from CalTrans (Our Tax Dollars at Work!) and waited for a second tow to get us home. Curious as to what was wrong, I checked the coolant. It was dry. And the oil, where I discovered where all the coolant went. So, my much loved and hard working car had blown a seal. It's a catastrophic failure which ruins engines. And at 11 years old with 203,641 miles on her, the engine constitutes a total loss.
underpope and jennipur along with friends from our Bible Study Group conspired to put me in this car when I needed a vehicle the most. Their generous gesture lasted 5 1/2 years. This car, Dernhelm carried me to College with all my worldly possessions packed floor to ceiling. Then she carried me to my Dad's house after I graduated again with all my worldly possessions packed floor to ceiling. Dernhelm insured that I visited my children every other week for the entire time I was attending AICASF. She drove the "Battan Death March Commute" from Oakdale to Electronic Arts for 3 solid months until I moved to my current digs.
For 5 Christmases Dernhelm took me and the kids all over the Central Valley visiting family. And though she needed repair and maintenance regularly, she never stranded me in the middle of nowhere. She held together when all logic expected a car like this to fall apart at the seams. If I had my way, she'd be good for another 200,000 miles and I'd gift her to someone deserving when the time came for me to buy a new set of wheels.
I've owned a few cars since being licensed back in 1985. Dernhelm was hands down the best. She'll still go to someone deserving I suppose. I'll donate her to an appropriate cause.
I'm still very sad to see her go, even if it is her time. I'll keep the Superman steering wheel guard. That way at least some of her spirit will stay with me.