For those that don’t know, Betty is my ‘new’ car. My old car, Lola, was an ‘87 Oldsmobile Delta that I loved with all my little heart. However, as my Grandma was getting a new car, we decided that I would take her old car, since it is newer and “more reliable” than Lola. I gave Lola to my cousin who needed a car.
Enter Betty. Betty is a ‘93 Ford Tempo GL. In the words of Scott, which I have come to find are very true: “Let me tell you a story about Fords. It’s a short one, so listen well… ‘Fords SUCK.’”
Have a summery:
Dec 2005: $500 – transmission service, engine service, tuneup.
Jan 2006 : Car starts stalling WHILE I AM DRIVING. Apparently only does it to me. Mechanic thinks I am crazy until it finally happens to him. I had to have my coworkers push me half a block to the parking lot cause I was blocking traffic. $400 and a week later.. well, nobody has any idea whats wrong with the car. They’ve replaced 10000000 pieces and even took it to the dealer. At least I’m only stalling every few days instead of multiple times a day.
Apr 2006: Rough starting, bad transmission feeling. Meh. Tightened a wire to the starter that was loose and making the car not start on occasion. $50. Car still stalls on occasion, won’t restart for a minute or so. Breaking down on the freeway sucks and merging into traffic going 60 from 0 is scary.
Jul 2006: $422 – 4 brake pads, 2 rotors. Broken motor mount (that was fun, my engine sounded like it fell out of my car when it broke!)
Sunday night: CAR DOES NOT START WHATSOEVER. Hilary jumpstarts me. I drive home.
Monday morning: Car will not start. YAY.
So, with a running count of roughly $1372 in the past 9 months and new problems popping up all the time, I think it’s safe to say I’m probably better off just buying a new car.
It’s good to know about “Fords suck”. I’ll make a mental note about it. And yeah, I think a new car would be better.
XoXo
Gaby
And the car is a Tempo too. I have a friend who had a Tempo it was a piece of crap. Had a mind of it’s own too, and a mean streak. If you ask me it like the car went up for the role of Christine in that Stephen King movie and lost the part to the caddy because, it was too much of a bitch ;)
A new car is a good option. But I prefer this idea. Buy yourself two 1000.00 cars a year and just drive them into the ground. Sure, throw in an oil change but when it comes to fixing a major part or a part with a major cost, junk it. Take and sell it for scrap. The reason behind two cars is most likely when one car starts to act up, you can switch to the other, and between the two, they should provide enough transportation for a year. Economically it works out too. You spend about 2000 a year on your cars. The average new car car lasts for about 10 years, 20 if partts are replaced and and updated and repairs and upkeep are made. A decent car that will last 10 years is about 30-40 thousand dollars (U.S.) The “two car” plan in 10 years will cost you 20 thousand. PLus the cars that are sold for about a thousand are older and are less enviromentally friendly. So you run ‘em and scrap ‘em you’re helping rid the world of two more earth harming vehicles. After 10 years you would have gotten rid of 20 cars, thats about 40,000 lbs. of trash, and all recycled :D
So what do you think?
Oh and the best part, any frustration and stress you feel from issues the cars might cause you, will be melted away when you see it’s crumpling body get crushed then shredded in the scrap yard. See it’s theraputic as well, and it’s like a shrink session but on the cheap :D
Betty is a poop face. :(
I’d love to see them squish Betty :devil:
I’m gonna have to go ahead and say it may be time for a new car.
lol – I’ll have to second that. I don’t feel all Fords suck – we’ve had a few Tauruses and they’re never been to the shop for anything besides oil changes BUT I had a Tempo once it was the biggest piece of crap I’ve ever driven!