Me Too! Me Too!
05/02/08 10:08 PM | Permalink
Hey Look! Those Bloomin' Trees are still there!
Chuck Pace ©2008
Maintenance
04/27/08 08:20 AM | Permalink
Clutch Time, time for a check-up.
Thursday: So I had Thursday off, which means I was crazy busy Thursday. Crazy being the operant word for some of you I'm sure. None the less I was busy. I had to stop at the bank. I had to run downtown to take my bride to lunch in the open air ride during the mid 70's weather we were enjoying. I had to get a terrible sunburn souring the days exercise. I also went to Ress Motor works, a BMW specialist at 724 N. Capital Ave. after John Gentry recommended them for my BMW needs. I got there and met Fred, who was detailing his beautiful early 70's 2002 tii. He told me he would not be able to help me. He said he just doesn't want to work on those old cars. That the oldest he will take in now is 1995s so even if I had not killed the Mädchen, he would not have worked on her. I then drove to Black Forrest Motors who used to work on my Mädchen and have no qualms about tightening the "neck" bolts on the Blue Frankenstein Bimmer. I arranged to have the BFB towed to BFM to find out what the bfd was with the hydraulic clutch. After the tow guy left I decided to try to get some of the tar off the white skirts of the Convertible. So it got its first hand bath. All this fun in the sun led to some pretty bad burns on my arms. When I wasn't in the sun I was in the garage, at least until Jenni came home. Then it was time for Smallville and later on Lost (with another Buffy episode in between). That is how my Thursday came and went and I slept well even with the burns, I was beat.
Friday: Another beautiful 70's day. Another day driving with top down, a day with SPF 20 on the arms and SPF 15 on the noggin. The convertible spent the night in the garage bay where the BFB should be sleeping, but since it is in for a check-up the 'vert slept in the BFB's bed. Friday was another good day for all three of us, Jenni the C-car and me. After work, while Jenni was in the convertible running errands I again puttered in the garage, making more room and getting rid of things that no longer mattered to the Pace family in the long run. We free-cycled the old truck rims and two good tires on Friday, on Thursday we did the same with the mag rims from Meredith's Avenger that was being traded in on her first ever brand new car.
Down in Florida where the weather is fine, Meredith was haggling with a Dodge dealership over two cars. A 2007 Black Caliber SXT loaded with only 40 miles on it, or a Base 2008 which would qualify for the family "green-slip" employee discount since my Father (ergo Meredith's Grandfather) worked for Chrysler for 20 some years. She got the '07 for less and is already happier with the choice. Last night she called us and gave a rundown on all the things this car does. It is very cool. I said it must be weird not feeling or hearing any shifts since the CVT2 transmission is seamless in its shifts, and power levels just build without any surges. She said that from 40 to 65 on the highway is amazing. I can't wait to get down there in May and drive her new baby. She will no doubt want to take a spin in the convertible too.
So back the the BFB for a bit. I got a call from BFM and they said it was a clutch cylinder slave unit that was leaking and that the part is on its way. With labor, re-pressurization of the clutch system and also replacing all the belts up front my bill is $450.00 and I can pick it up on Tuesday.
Isn't that beautiful? Hey the trees are blooming too!
Saturday In the Park: It must have been the 26th of April. It was cold in the morning, I wimped out and pulled over and raised the top after a couple of miles. That's when it became apparent that I was blinded by my clear view in the open air...
What! you say? That makes less sense than the usual Chuck invectives we all know and love (to ignore). I know invective means violent abusive language, but using this as an example also reiterates my example in the first place, I chose invective to mean violent abuse of language on my part. So if you are not totally lost by now follow me to the brink and we'll use the GPS unit to get home, mmmkay?
...With the side windows up for the first time in daylight I realized that I had not ever cleaned them and they were filthy. Especially the passenger door window. I have to assume that a large shaggy white dog or an abominable snowman (Yeti if you, will) with a head cold had been pressing up against the glass in the cars last incarnation. (See: Wild Aside Thoughts at end of post ). Did you go to the end or are you waiting it out? Your choice completely, I grant you free will. ... You're welcome.
So anyway by Saturday noon the weather and temperature were much better, so with the top again in the stowed position I went to lunch. For lunch I popped over to Garfield Park after hitting the Rally's at East and Troy (there was no damage since I actually just used the drive-up window and hit nothing, I repeat I hit nothing). So anyway again... I had window cleaner and paper towels in the trunk for just such an eventuality and after consuming my 2 for $4.00 burgers I put the top up and cleaned the windows (the rear one is glass and I had to have the top up to do it).
When the day was done for camera dispersal I once again doffed the canvas and open aired my way back to the World HQ. Where once again I tried to make the garage a better home for which ever car was sitting in the open bay. Be they Bimmer or Convertible Chryco. It is working too, with the free cycle and the efforts the spaces are opening up and the trash bags are filling up.
Sunday: Today I have to finish tech-editing my next "For Dummies book, the Nikon D60, once again brilliantly explained and simplified by Julie King. So no fun in the sun or garage until I have done my "real home-work".
Chuck Pace ©2008
Wild Aside Thought #1: Yeti are probably just terribly introverted, I don't think seclusion and privacy are in themselves abominations? Now maybe if the Snowman was in fact the Yeti-Uni-Bomber, but ...
Wild Aside Thought #2: If you finish your milk and your glass automatically refills are you drinking ReinCarnation Instant Milk?
Grilling
04/13/08 12:41 PM | Permalink
Thursday I got the Bimmer back on the road. There is still more to be done. Tons more. I have ordered parts from Bavarian Autosports (a company that advertises in the BMW CCA magazine Roundel) which will show up at Roberts while Jenni I are on the mystery vacation. Also arriving at Roberts while we are out, a replacement center console (to replace the groaty one that was there) and wheel center cap logos to replace the faded ones on the wheels now.
Of the parts I've already received; there is the replacement tool kit for the trunk, a trunk emblem, a coin holder, right and left tail light assemblies (complete), a complete front grill assembly on three pieces. In all 8 auctions on e-bay and one bav-auto order. The car is coming along.
I drove it to work on Saturday, sort of a shimmy shake down cruise.
Sunday I armored alle th e grill parts and installed them.
Sunday was a good day.
P.S. After the vacation and I will have added the photos that goes with this post!
Chuck Pace © 2008
Of the parts I've already received; there is the replacement tool kit for the trunk, a trunk emblem, a coin holder, right and left tail light assemblies (complete), a complete front grill assembly on three pieces. In all 8 auctions on e-bay and one bav-auto order. The car is coming along.
I drove it to work on Saturday, sort of a shimmy shake down cruise.
Sunday I armored alle th e grill parts and installed them.
Sunday was a good day.
P.S. After the vacation and I will have added the photos that goes with this post!
Chuck Pace © 2008
Rolling Thunder
04/10/08 10:58 PM | Permalink
As I sit here at the World HQ the weather outside is vicious. For the last half hour the thunder had been a constant soundtrack, and at times not back-ground music either I might add. Today was my last day off before my vacation. I work Saturday and them I am off like a shot. It is mystery Vacation Time again. I have laid the ground work. We have found a kennel for Charlie and a rental car is reserved for the means to the End (and Back).
Today was a most rewarding and busy day. I got up as if I were driving to work but I of course would have to be a fool to do that on my day off. Instead I took Charlie to the Doggy Daycare @ 717 Capitol Ave for a acclimation visit. Then I drove to the Beech Grove License Branch to plate the Blue Frankenstein Bimmer (I thought what better than Colts plates). Then on the way home I stopped in at Ralph's Muffler shop on E Washington to ask what they would charge to hang my exhaust system i got from Clark's Classic Cars two week's ago. The price was right and the time estimate was appealing. I still had to go get breakfast, stop at the bank, go home and put the muffler and exhaust pipes in the BFB, put the plates on the BFB, call the insurance company and add the BFB back to our coverage and drive back to Ralph's. By the time I got back there, 11:45 they had a few people in front of me and I would have to wait longer than the estimated hour.
Wait I did, I had a book and they had a TV. That took some of the sting out of waiting. Still it was a lot of seat time, but at 2: 20 the BFB was finally in the bay. I rolled out of there quietly at 3:00 PM. So the weather is making up for my arrival at Ralph's. I was rolling Thunder on the way in, but tip toed out. Another stop at O'Reilly's for wiper blades, since the rains had started while the BFB was in the bay, (and my old ones were frayed and rotting). Finally when I made it home, one of my first E-Bay packages was waiting in the mailbox. I played in the garage near the BFB for a bit and drank a perfect half'n'half, then it was inside for more chore elimination, which turned into a nap and two episodes of Buffy when Jenni got home.
Chuck Pace © 2008
Today was a most rewarding and busy day. I got up as if I were driving to work but I of course would have to be a fool to do that on my day off. Instead I took Charlie to the Doggy Daycare @ 717 Capitol Ave for a acclimation visit. Then I drove to the Beech Grove License Branch to plate the Blue Frankenstein Bimmer (I thought what better than Colts plates). Then on the way home I stopped in at Ralph's Muffler shop on E Washington to ask what they would charge to hang my exhaust system i got from Clark's Classic Cars two week's ago. The price was right and the time estimate was appealing. I still had to go get breakfast, stop at the bank, go home and put the muffler and exhaust pipes in the BFB, put the plates on the BFB, call the insurance company and add the BFB back to our coverage and drive back to Ralph's. By the time I got back there, 11:45 they had a few people in front of me and I would have to wait longer than the estimated hour. Chuck Pace © 2008
Back on the Horse-power
04/03/08 06:50 AM | Permalink
Club members drove in in a variety of BMW's and other vehix as well (we were in Rich's borrowed Pontiac). There were two very cool old 2002's(model not year) a black 1972 and a white 1968. Then of course there was the main event the new 1 series coupe and convertible. yumm. I think my next driver will be a convertible of some sort.
The location was Dryer and Reinbold and they had a very cool 1937 fully restored Bimmer on hand too. As we were leaving I also ran across a nice little car behind the Used car lot building. It was parked next to a Cooper Mini, which gives you a bit of scale.
That is a Lamborghini and a mini, ohhh.
That's my story and I am stuck to it.
New Beginnings
03/31/08 07:21 AM | Permalink
A process has begun. I just needed to gripe about stagnation and the waters began to move. I should gripe about other problems. Maybe change will be my new cause.
After yesterdays whining post I decided to head out Bruce Clark's way even without a call. Jenni and I called when we got there. His house is beautiful. His collection of parts and the antique watercraft he is restoring are amazing.
Within five minutes of arriving I had located the elusive shift selector rod on a transmission he had out of a 5 series. Next came a replacement grill, a window motor for the drivers rear door, and then the much needed exhaust pipes and mufflers and lastly a whole door for the passenger side. Tonight after work I will be dropping the drive shaft and getting a look at the shift selector tranny coupling point. Hopefully the hard part will be the drive shaft and not the transmission with the limited working space in the hump-tunnel. If that goes well then the exhaust system will be next. If that does not go well then I may need to drop the transmission to get a better working angle. Wish for me a well going. I hope to have the care rolling under it's own power before the end of the week, and my supreme wish is that you not hear me coming form three blocks away when it does.
This is all wishing on a star part. The hard to find selector rod. This is the process begun. I will most likely have mechanics knuckles for a few days so don't think me unclean, it is just grease in cuts caused by tender loving an old BMW back to health.
Wish me luck.
Chuck Pace © 2008
After yesterdays whining post I decided to head out Bruce Clark's way even without a call. Jenni and I called when we got there. His house is beautiful. His collection of parts and the antique watercraft he is restoring are amazing.
Within five minutes of arriving I had located the elusive shift selector rod on a transmission he had out of a 5 series. Next came a replacement grill, a window motor for the drivers rear door, and then the much needed exhaust pipes and mufflers and lastly a whole door for the passenger side. Tonight after work I will be dropping the drive shaft and getting a look at the shift selector tranny coupling point. Hopefully the hard part will be the drive shaft and not the transmission with the limited working space in the hump-tunnel. If that goes well then the exhaust system will be next. If that does not go well then I may need to drop the transmission to get a better working angle. Wish for me a well going. I hope to have the care rolling under it's own power before the end of the week, and my supreme wish is that you not hear me coming form three blocks away when it does.
This is all wishing on a star part. The hard to find selector rod. This is the process begun. I will most likely have mechanics knuckles for a few days so don't think me unclean, it is just grease in cuts caused by tender loving an old BMW back to health.
Wish me luck.
Chuck Pace © 2008
Doing Something At Least
03/09/08 03:06 PM | Permalink
Jenni and I went to the place where the little '85 325e (E30) was waiting. I had the money in my pocket. I drove the car. I liked the car. It needed some TLC just like I predicted. I could have done most of the TLC stuff I'm sure. I could have bought the car. Jenni was cramped in it. It is too small, needs work and... I didn't buy the car.
The Blue Horror, 5er is ready for a push into the pod bay HAL.
So back home yesterday I rolled the '86 535i (5er) blue horror down the drive and into the street. Then with the truck behind and Jenni steering the 5er I slowly pushed it up the drive slope and into the garage. Once in the lair of the Missing Madchen I started assessing the "needs" of the 5er (a better knick-name than Blue Horror for the '86). Jenni (the cyber-geek) found me a great parts resource for BMW parts, I sent them a want list. Hopefully I will get a price list on Monday. I plan on using the insurance face-slap Madchen money to bring parts from California to The World HQ and getting the "Blue" on the grey ribbon before the green returns to the garden. That would get me into the pink again.
The 5er is ready for reconstruction. Parts, sweat and cursing to follow.
To that effect, after I redeposited the 325e money into bank. I bought a battery to get the now garaged 5er running again. After priming the EFI (electronic Fuel injection) for a minute she fired up. The noise was deafening in the garage since she lacks a full exhaust system (on the list), and I immediately had to shut her down since the fuel lines were starting to deteriorate and there was gas leaking. I have had one car burn up in front of me and I wasn't going to have another one burn up inside my garage! Another trip to O'reilly auto parts and hoses and new clamps were purchased. By 5 o'clock I had the 5er running without drooling. By nightfall I had the computer reprogrammed, and the windows (that used to work) re-wired and working too. Soon I hope to have the transmission parts to get motive again, and depending on the price-list more parts will be coming too. If I had the money to buy the little 325e and fix up this beast I would have two Bimmers again that need some TLC. As is I hope to get the 5er rolling soon. We shall see where this latest adventure takes me. At least I'm not just sitting and moping any more. Life goes on. Like the Dude, I will abide. I will abide.
Text and images
Chuck Pace © 2008
The Blue Horror, 5er is ready for a push into the pod bay HAL.
So back home yesterday I rolled the '86 535i (5er) blue horror down the drive and into the street. Then with the truck behind and Jenni steering the 5er I slowly pushed it up the drive slope and into the garage. Once in the lair of the Missing Madchen I started assessing the "needs" of the 5er (a better knick-name than Blue Horror for the '86). Jenni (the cyber-geek) found me a great parts resource for BMW parts, I sent them a want list. Hopefully I will get a price list on Monday. I plan on using the insurance face-slap Madchen money to bring parts from California to The World HQ and getting the "Blue" on the grey ribbon before the green returns to the garden. That would get me into the pink again.
The 5er is ready for reconstruction. Parts, sweat and cursing to follow.
To that effect, after I redeposited the 325e money into bank. I bought a battery to get the now garaged 5er running again. After priming the EFI (electronic Fuel injection) for a minute she fired up. The noise was deafening in the garage since she lacks a full exhaust system (on the list), and I immediately had to shut her down since the fuel lines were starting to deteriorate and there was gas leaking. I have had one car burn up in front of me and I wasn't going to have another one burn up inside my garage! Another trip to O'reilly auto parts and hoses and new clamps were purchased. By 5 o'clock I had the 5er running without drooling. By nightfall I had the computer reprogrammed, and the windows (that used to work) re-wired and working too. Soon I hope to have the transmission parts to get motive again, and depending on the price-list more parts will be coming too. If I had the money to buy the little 325e and fix up this beast I would have two Bimmers again that need some TLC. As is I hope to get the 5er rolling soon. We shall see where this latest adventure takes me. At least I'm not just sitting and moping any more. Life goes on. Like the Dude, I will abide. I will abide.
Chuck Pace © 2008
I Got No Car and it's Breakin' my Heart.
03/07/08 06:54 AM | Permalink
The prospects are few. The candidates are mostly lame, unqualified and or out of reach. There were four in the running at the beginning that had my interest. One turned out to be a total scam artist and a liar, she is disqualified and should probably be exposed as the crook that she is. She was even selling herself as continuing her husbands good work. She is not, she will say anything to anyone to get the deal sealed. Jenni caught her in a simple but damning move yesterday. She asked for the vin number and she supplied it. It is not even the same car, the one that was on Craig's List was black (too good to be true) coupe in pretty great condition. The vin # belongs to a convertible in NYC. Don't lie to my cyber-geek wife Allison.
The next candidate is a beautiful '84 533i currently in Angola, right in our price range but with a foible in the tranny, she won't take 3 gear. Owner says he will probably replace the tranny in the summer if she doesn't sell as is. Says there are trannys available for $500. The latest entry into the race is a peoples car, the little man, the conscientious mans BImmer. This one will need little at the start to just be a daily worker-bee, and could grow into a formidable presence with a few bucks and some TLC.
This guy? A '85 325e which should get around 34 mpg highway and over 22 in town work-outs. Definitely in my budget and ready to drive and ride the hours away. With a little work I could triple the value of this pretty nice foundation. And Gas prices are a big concern too.
The last entry, and Jenni's favorite, is the blue '86 535i in the drive that will take as much moolah to get road worthy again as the little '3' costs, and that depends on finding the parts for the transmission (sounds like the Angola nominee has the same problem that sidelined the blue horror) and getting a real deal on the exhaust system too. Ev en on the road and in peak shape again the Blue is going to drink a lot more gas. Speaking of which, she has a gas leak at the tank or filler neck which could cost me lots of gas in evaporation.
My problem is the primaries are over on Monday morning when I return the Spec-Kia and pay that mini bundle of much needed green for the favor of tempo-transpo.
I like number 3 and I know, like all cheep used cars, (anything in my range money wise) there will be more problems soon, but that will be true of any of the legit choices in my future. If I win the lottery this weekend then we have way more choices, don't we?
Chuck Pace © 2008 |
The next candidate is a beautiful '84 533i currently in Angola, right in our price range but with a foible in the tranny, she won't take 3 gear. Owner says he will probably replace the tranny in the summer if she doesn't sell as is. Says there are trannys available for $500. The latest entry into the race is a peoples car, the little man, the conscientious mans BImmer. This one will need little at the start to just be a daily worker-bee, and could grow into a formidable presence with a few bucks and some TLC.
This guy? A '85 325e which should get around 34 mpg highway and over 22 in town work-outs. Definitely in my budget and ready to drive and ride the hours away. With a little work I could triple the value of this pretty nice foundation. And Gas prices are a big concern too.
The last entry, and Jenni's favorite, is the blue '86 535i in the drive that will take as much moolah to get road worthy again as the little '3' costs, and that depends on finding the parts for the transmission (sounds like the Angola nominee has the same problem that sidelined the blue horror) and getting a real deal on the exhaust system too. Ev en on the road and in peak shape again the Blue is going to drink a lot more gas. Speaking of which, she has a gas leak at the tank or filler neck which could cost me lots of gas in evaporation.
My problem is the primaries are over on Monday morning when I return the Spec-Kia and pay that mini bundle of much needed green for the favor of tempo-transpo.
I like number 3 and I know, like all cheep used cars, (anything in my range money wise) there will be more problems soon, but that will be true of any of the legit choices in my future. If I win the lottery this weekend then we have way more choices, don't we?
Chuck Pace © 2008 |
Roads Unraveled, Times Traveled
02/25/08 09:40 PM | Permalink
I was once published in AutoWeek magazine. I had a subscription to Motor Trend before I had a license. I have been in two car clubs. Painted a race car, and worked on a sprint car crew for a few races. I actually used a tree and hoist to replace rear leaf springs on an old car once (a true shade tree mechanic).
I have driven econo-boxes, and $70,000 sports cars, giant engined maxivans, and four cylinder VW's that only hit on three cylinders until they were over 1500 rpms. I have had a brake line break at 40 mph and driven on a sidewalk around a corner until the vehicle ran out of momentum. I have bought cars for under $125.00 that I drove for two more years. I got so good at de-gunking a '62 Falcon fuel filter that I could pull over and disconnect, flush and reinstall it in under three minutes. I've owned VW's, Fords, Dodges, Chevys, Chryslers, Plymouths, Toyotas, Nissans (Datsuns) and BMWs. I've driven a 1965 Ford Ranchero with a Hi-Po 289 engine that my father, brother and I dropped in from a real race car I bought for $125.00 over 130 miles per hour with just one left front and one right rear brake. I short block rebuilt a R22 Toyota truck engine in two weekends. I have pushed, pulled and towed more cars than some people have owned in the thirty years I have been driving. I had a car stolen and abandoned less than a mile away because the thieves didn't know enough to release the parking brakes. I had that same car catch on fire and successfully called the fire-department as I drove it into a parking lot where they arrived to finish it off with their dasher bars and axes.
I totaled a 65 Chevy C10 when I slid into a car-carrier semi after a newer vehicle stopped in the middle of an interstate and made a 90° right turn to get to an exit they passed. I bounced off the rear wheels into the concrete center barrier than careened all the way across the highway to end perfectly in the breakdown lane with fire coming through the floorboard from the broken engine exhaust manifold. When I got out I saw that the 3/8 inch thick steel bumper was curled around and poking through my left front tire like a shovel blade.
I've bought two cars new off the show room floor, and one that never made it to the floor, the 14th 1993 Dodge Intrepid ever sold in Indiana (it took two months before the DMV had excise info and I could plate it), it was on a ramp in front of Western Dodge in Marion Indiana September 3rd 1992, they got it in that afternoon.
I've driven Penske and U-Haul and rental cube vans, Pontiac, Chevy, Hyundai, Toyota and Chrysler rental cars. At 15, with just a learners permit drove a 30 foot 12 speed delivery truck when my Uncle slipped a disk in has back while I was with him.
But I've never had to pay a deductable or had an insurance claim, or repair.
This is a new experience for me. I upgraded my rental Chevy Aveo (speck) offering this morning at Enterprise, Jenni thought I'd get a Nissan Versa after looking on the Enterprise web-site, instead I got a bigger speck or should I say Spec-tra. A smallish Kia Spectra four door with a lot of pep, side curtain airbags, bright vacu-florescent displays and three inch thick, barely padded, cloth seats that are hard. Harder than Chuck Norris after bitch-slapping a Kodiak Bear for half an hour hard. It will take about a week for my Mädchen to get out of her re-hab, about a week to fix what I did in less than five second lapse. About a week to make me whole again too. 'Til then I will ride in quiet psuedo-comfort instead of walking, and long for my baby and her handling, poise and power. I will long for my cruising and cruise-control my on board computers and my leather seats, my sun-roof and a car I can drive all day and not feel tired, cramped or unsafe in.
I guess I am spoiled even after all those trials and tribulations behind the wheel because I can not imagine a single drive of more than twenty or thirty miles in this tiny but efficient econo car.
Bis dahin bin ich nicht fahren Ich bin Reiten.
(Until then I'm not driving I'm riding.)
Chuck Pace © 2008 | |
I have driven econo-boxes, and $70,000 sports cars, giant engined maxivans, and four cylinder VW's that only hit on three cylinders until they were over 1500 rpms. I have had a brake line break at 40 mph and driven on a sidewalk around a corner until the vehicle ran out of momentum. I have bought cars for under $125.00 that I drove for two more years. I got so good at de-gunking a '62 Falcon fuel filter that I could pull over and disconnect, flush and reinstall it in under three minutes. I've owned VW's, Fords, Dodges, Chevys, Chryslers, Plymouths, Toyotas, Nissans (Datsuns) and BMWs. I've driven a 1965 Ford Ranchero with a Hi-Po 289 engine that my father, brother and I dropped in from a real race car I bought for $125.00 over 130 miles per hour with just one left front and one right rear brake. I short block rebuilt a R22 Toyota truck engine in two weekends. I have pushed, pulled and towed more cars than some people have owned in the thirty years I have been driving. I had a car stolen and abandoned less than a mile away because the thieves didn't know enough to release the parking brakes. I had that same car catch on fire and successfully called the fire-department as I drove it into a parking lot where they arrived to finish it off with their dasher bars and axes.
I totaled a 65 Chevy C10 when I slid into a car-carrier semi after a newer vehicle stopped in the middle of an interstate and made a 90° right turn to get to an exit they passed. I bounced off the rear wheels into the concrete center barrier than careened all the way across the highway to end perfectly in the breakdown lane with fire coming through the floorboard from the broken engine exhaust manifold. When I got out I saw that the 3/8 inch thick steel bumper was curled around and poking through my left front tire like a shovel blade.
I've bought two cars new off the show room floor, and one that never made it to the floor, the 14th 1993 Dodge Intrepid ever sold in Indiana (it took two months before the DMV had excise info and I could plate it), it was on a ramp in front of Western Dodge in Marion Indiana September 3rd 1992, they got it in that afternoon.
I've driven Penske and U-Haul and rental cube vans, Pontiac, Chevy, Hyundai, Toyota and Chrysler rental cars. At 15, with just a learners permit drove a 30 foot 12 speed delivery truck when my Uncle slipped a disk in has back while I was with him.
But I've never had to pay a deductable or had an insurance claim, or repair.
This is a new experience for me. I upgraded my rental Chevy Aveo (speck) offering this morning at Enterprise, Jenni thought I'd get a Nissan Versa after looking on the Enterprise web-site, instead I got a bigger speck or should I say Spec-tra. A smallish Kia Spectra four door with a lot of pep, side curtain airbags, bright vacu-florescent displays and three inch thick, barely padded, cloth seats that are hard. Harder than Chuck Norris after bitch-slapping a Kodiak Bear for half an hour hard. It will take about a week for my Mädchen to get out of her re-hab, about a week to fix what I did in less than five second lapse. About a week to make me whole again too. 'Til then I will ride in quiet psuedo-comfort instead of walking, and long for my baby and her handling, poise and power. I will long for my cruising and cruise-control my on board computers and my leather seats, my sun-roof and a car I can drive all day and not feel tired, cramped or unsafe in.
I guess I am spoiled even after all those trials and tribulations behind the wheel because I can not imagine a single drive of more than twenty or thirty miles in this tiny but efficient econo car.
Bis dahin bin ich nicht fahren Ich bin Reiten.
(Until then I'm not driving I'm riding.)
Chuck Pace © 2008 | |
Facial
02/25/08 07:41 AM | Permalink
Today I have an appointment at the Performance Collision Center on 421 at the edge of Zionsville. I will be dropping the Mädchen off for her facial reconstruction from the bump and still run incident of a week and a half ago. She gets a face lift, I get a rental car and PCC gets my deductible. I have been reluctant to give her a bath in the last 10 days because it would most probably wash away pieces that I want to keep. She will be getting a new hood, bumper and grill. New side markers and headlight doors. I feel really bad for putting her through all of this, she didn't deserve it. Now a new phase of her life begins, and mine too.
Rental Car: The insurance company told me they would cover $20 per day for a driver while my Mädchen Machine was in metamorphosis. They also told me that Enterprise (which has an office and facility right inside of PCC) has a $16.99 offering. I opted to pay and additional $4.19 per day to not drive a Chevy (Speck) Aveo, and will soon be seeing what the additional $4.20 puts around me and on the road.
I will keep you posted my friends.
Chuck Pace © 2008
Rental Car: The insurance company told me they would cover $20 per day for a driver while my Mädchen Machine was in metamorphosis. They also told me that Enterprise (which has an office and facility right inside of PCC) has a $16.99 offering. I opted to pay and additional $4.19 per day to not drive a Chevy (Speck) Aveo, and will soon be seeing what the additional $4.20 puts around me and on the road.
I will keep you posted my friends.
Chuck Pace © 2008
Push Comes To Shove
02/15/08 07:20 AM | Permalink
Well I told you about the early needs of my Valentines day. The later day needs changed after I bashed in the front end of Madchen following my wife to her auto repair guy. I had Charlie with me because our two appointments were 1 hour and 30 miles apart. One and a half blocks from the repair center Jenni stopped at the light at Jefferson on 10th. The problem with the truck (Li'l Darling) was that it needed a carburetor adjustment it would not idle when warm. So the technique to keep her running is to left foot brake and right foot nerf the gas while stopped.
Harm and Foul
Meanwhile in the Madchen 1 spot back. Charlie who was later diagnosed as 70% blind now and will be totally blind in 6 to 12 months was on his retractable leash in the passenger seat with just enough lead to move comfortably on the seat as we came to the stop behind Jenni. The light changed and the brake lights went off in front of me, at the same time Charlie tried to jump out of the seat into the foot well and got his backside into the floor well but had hid head and neck at the front of the cushion because of the short leash. As I looked down I heard the sound of peeling out as Jenni in the truck had over gassed as she released the brakes to drive and instead of moving the already accelerated accelerator activity caused her wheels to find no purchase on damp pavement. At less than 10 mph I smashed into her solid steel truck bumper with my hood, grill and bumper demolishing them in the process. I buckled the hood and caused between the two estimates I got later that same day off, $2900 to $4000 in damage to my baby.
More to come as the process goes on.
I've had better Valentines days. I hope yours was swell and less stressful.
Harm and Foul
More to come as the process goes on.
I've had better Valentines days. I hope yours was swell and less stressful.