I also love my ancient car.
My car is about to hit 190,00 miles. If I had been driving for the past 4 months, it would be even closer to 200,000 which is it's next badge of honor. I still remember when it hit 150,000. Jody and I were driving back from Georgia after visiting Onnie. She had just had Ariella so it was early to mid January 2000.
My car has done so well by me. It had 69,000 miles on it when I drove it home October 17, 1997. At that point it was almost 5 years old - still beautiful and running like new. It was kind of a spur of the moment decision to get it. My mom saw it on a lot one day, and it kind of just went from there. I wasn't looking for a new car as I had the '83 Volvo wagon that some of you remember. That one my parents bought new and was passed down to me. But by 1997 is was in rough shape. My dad had basically used it as a truck and completely destroyed the engine. Such a shame. When I see those old boxy Volvo wagons on the road it upsets me that I could still be driving mine. I really miss that car, it was so awesome. One of my favorite memories of it is of Veronica and I driving to our week at the beach in 1996. It was so hot that day and the air in the old Volvo was of course broken and the leather seats made it such a joy to sit in traffic without a breeze to relieve our pain. We literally sat in traffic the entire way there, delirious from the heat, and Veronica proceeded to shell an entire huge bag of pistachios to keep herself from going crazy. We laughed so much on that ride, as well as many other rides in that car. Then of course there are memories of my childhood spent in that car, as I was only 7 when my parents bought it. Driving through the mountains of West Virginia with Saurel and Mariah in the back. Oh how time does fly.
Anyway, back to the one I have now. So the 1993 Volvo went with me to North Carolina, which is pretty much when Neil started taking care of it. He's done such a wonderful job that I'm sure it wouldn't be in such great shape if it wasn't for him. Of course the outside is getting it dings, and the inside is definitely showing it's age - besides the glance at the odometer. But the engine is in wonderful shape and Neil and I have done our best to keep a close watch on everything to do with it's driving abilities as to keep it for as long as it will allow. And that is the plan.
Last weekend when we drove to the beach to check out the house we were afraid we were going to have to rent for our yearly trip, we had some problems with the car. It hasn't been driven regularly since the end of October, but I have been starting it up occasionally. Anyway, it was idling like it wanted to die. But it didn't. The tank got us all the way home from Fenwick Island Delaware. On Monday we picked up new spark plugs, spark plug wires and cap and rotor and changed everything, hoping that it was nothing more than those simple things. It worked and it runs like new. :) That thing is an absolute tank and I love it. I really am lucky to have happened upon it and to have Neil with his knowledge and ability to take such great care. This spring we are replacing the front suspension cause it does need that. But hey, after almost 200,000 miles and 13 years, it's but a small gift to the car that has taken me so far. We actually already have the parts, just waiting for some warm days to do it. It should ride really nice after that.
Neil and I have already made up our minds that we are not ever getting rid of it. The only thing to stop that would be a horrible accident destroying the body. When this motor eventually dies, which is questionable, Neil wants to pull a motor out of a junk yard and rebuild it for the body. I will most likely have a newer car by then, so it will be another project car like the Mustang. We would never get any amount of money for it. It's worth more to us than to anyone else. Like Brian said about his car, it's an extension of my body.
I will buy another Volvo the next time around. They have won my trust and devotion. I don't need a new one either. A well cared for one with low mileage will do it for me.
My car has done so well by me. It had 69,000 miles on it when I drove it home October 17, 1997. At that point it was almost 5 years old - still beautiful and running like new. It was kind of a spur of the moment decision to get it. My mom saw it on a lot one day, and it kind of just went from there. I wasn't looking for a new car as I had the '83 Volvo wagon that some of you remember. That one my parents bought new and was passed down to me. But by 1997 is was in rough shape. My dad had basically used it as a truck and completely destroyed the engine. Such a shame. When I see those old boxy Volvo wagons on the road it upsets me that I could still be driving mine. I really miss that car, it was so awesome. One of my favorite memories of it is of Veronica and I driving to our week at the beach in 1996. It was so hot that day and the air in the old Volvo was of course broken and the leather seats made it such a joy to sit in traffic without a breeze to relieve our pain. We literally sat in traffic the entire way there, delirious from the heat, and Veronica proceeded to shell an entire huge bag of pistachios to keep herself from going crazy. We laughed so much on that ride, as well as many other rides in that car. Then of course there are memories of my childhood spent in that car, as I was only 7 when my parents bought it. Driving through the mountains of West Virginia with Saurel and Mariah in the back. Oh how time does fly.
Anyway, back to the one I have now. So the 1993 Volvo went with me to North Carolina, which is pretty much when Neil started taking care of it. He's done such a wonderful job that I'm sure it wouldn't be in such great shape if it wasn't for him. Of course the outside is getting it dings, and the inside is definitely showing it's age - besides the glance at the odometer. But the engine is in wonderful shape and Neil and I have done our best to keep a close watch on everything to do with it's driving abilities as to keep it for as long as it will allow. And that is the plan.
Last weekend when we drove to the beach to check out the house we were afraid we were going to have to rent for our yearly trip, we had some problems with the car. It hasn't been driven regularly since the end of October, but I have been starting it up occasionally. Anyway, it was idling like it wanted to die. But it didn't. The tank got us all the way home from Fenwick Island Delaware. On Monday we picked up new spark plugs, spark plug wires and cap and rotor and changed everything, hoping that it was nothing more than those simple things. It worked and it runs like new. :) That thing is an absolute tank and I love it. I really am lucky to have happened upon it and to have Neil with his knowledge and ability to take such great care. This spring we are replacing the front suspension cause it does need that. But hey, after almost 200,000 miles and 13 years, it's but a small gift to the car that has taken me so far. We actually already have the parts, just waiting for some warm days to do it. It should ride really nice after that.
Neil and I have already made up our minds that we are not ever getting rid of it. The only thing to stop that would be a horrible accident destroying the body. When this motor eventually dies, which is questionable, Neil wants to pull a motor out of a junk yard and rebuild it for the body. I will most likely have a newer car by then, so it will be another project car like the Mustang. We would never get any amount of money for it. It's worth more to us than to anyone else. Like Brian said about his car, it's an extension of my body.
I will buy another Volvo the next time around. They have won my trust and devotion. I don't need a new one either. A well cared for one with low mileage will do it for me.