The door handle broke at a most fortuitous moment

[Brewman_Jax]

The driver's door handle (inside) broke last night, requiring a visit to the dealership this morning. Monday--how appropriate. Just got off the phone with the service manager and they found the big one--the clutch is worn and could leave me stranded at almost anytime. The car is almost 10 and over 100k and that's the original clutch. I was going to have the car once-overed for the Carolina RenFest run (I and friends go 2-3 during the season) next week, but they found the work I needed done anyway. It's gonna cost, but

door handle--$200 (incl. labor)

clutch replace--$1000 (incl. labor, a labor-intensive job)

other minor tasks--fluid flush, fuel filter replacement, etc.--$250 (incl. labor)

peace of mind--priceless.

[I Have A Dream]

1. I love it when things happen this way.

Not that I like spending money, but if it has to be spent, let it be in a way that inconveniences us the least. I agree with you; peace of mind -- priceless! :)

I'm glad that you're able to see the positive in this. Many times, I hear people say that they just got some money and then their car breaks down. Because of this, they're upset. (Which I completely understand since having some money in our hands is such a wonderful feeling and there's always some bill that needs to be paid.) However, it always hits me that the it's very possible that the Universe held their car together using cosmic bobby pins, duct tape and crazy glue until the person finally had the money in his/her hands to fix it. If it had happened before they had gotten the money, they would not have been able to get their car repaired, which could have caused all kinds of problems for them.

[Celebration]

2. oh, man

I liked it in the good old days when the neighborhood gas station could repair stuff. A clutch replacement used to be about 1/4 of that cost.

But yes, thank goodness they caught all of that. Praise be!!! One hundred times over! To the tenth power!!

I'm all for keeping cars a long time. I think I got that from my parents, who lived through The Great Depression. My first car was a hand me down in high school-- a twelve year old "Chevy".

[I Have A Dream]

3. I'm also for keeping my cars a long time.

My car is a '92 Subaru Legacy. I love her! She takes care of me, and I take care of her. I think that she's got a lot of life left in her since she only has a little over 100,000 miles. (Pittsburgh winters are pretty rough on car bodies though, so I have to take care of rust spots occasionally.)

[Brewman_Jax]

4. I keep my cars for a long time

this is my 2nd car (no exaggeration), I kept the first one for almost 13 years. :D