From CAA’s website.
It Just Keeps Going
It’s been exactly one year sitting 3 levels underground, it was never started once.
Replaced the battery, oil change, I turned the key and amazing.
If you see Mario at the Willowdale Canadian Tire say hi for me, nicest guy.
I picked up the keys, climbed inside and from the parking lot called CAA… “so I’m covered when we hang up?” Yes. Turn key.
We’re back in business.
I’d forgotten what is was like to drive something I’m so familiar with, knowing the nuances.
Below is the sum total of everything that glows inside my car.
So little compared to cars today, eh. The stereo has been broken for years, no music at all.
172,280 miles* = 277,257 km
Now that we’re flying around again, I’m all conflicted about crushing it. I think I can eek out a little more from it, use it as a drop car till the spring, and crush it then. I am having serious attachment issues with this thing, so dumb, it’s worth nothing.
* the Canadian Explorer drove an American car
It's Time to Crush my Car
I spent a large chunk of last week, dealing with my car. It’s been in a friend’s extra parking space underground, in North York.
It hasn’t moved since December 30, 2011.
The electrical has been going for a long time. Half the windows don’t go down, I saw it arc once, blogged the problems before: The Studio Lives and Been Car-less for 2 Weeks Now.
Called CAA, who towed me to Canadian Tire.
It’s no longer a car, it’s now a money pit.
Came to terms with it Wednesday night.
Here’s an email I sent a friend, sums it up well.
(click to enlarge)
This is the 10th car I’ve said goodbye to; it’s not that.
I sat inside, got chocked up.
Because look, so beautiful.
I’m not attached to much material stuff (remember when I gave away all my belongs last year), but this is making me sad.
I invented my show in here, “The Canadian Explorer”:
driving around celebrating Canada, my studio is my caaar
Here’s the theme song I wrote, sums it all up in 0:18.
3 years, 80 episodes, 1,000 good stories, and the best internet training ever – that’s where the attachment is coming from.
Oh well, back to the bottom line in my above email.
Stay tuned for a good crushing video.
Get a Roadside Assistance Plan
If your car breaks down, what’s the plan to move an immovable hunk of metal?
New cars are not immune… flat tire / out of gas / missing keys … It’s like buying a feeling almost… that wherever I may get stuck, I dial a number and a helpful truck and driver just, show up.
Favourite line:
[what do you do when] a car stops, and turns into a giant, immovable mass of metal, for which you’re responsible?
A correction:
Second last paragraph, first sentence, it says “used cars are not immune”, but that should say “new cars”
The 2 Types of Roadside Assistance Plans
Check with your dealer for details, but as a general rule:
Dealer Roadside Assistance
- tows you to nearest dealership
- covers your vehicle
Auto Club Roadside Assistance (eg. CAA)
- tows you to wherever you ask
- covers you the person, so even if you’re driving a friend’s car, you’re still covered
Mini-cover, third down.
CAA has saved me so many times, I have a blog section just for them – CAA
***
Back to ‘Keri on Driving’ – Index
I've Been Car-less For 2 Weeks Now
Here lies the studio beneath my buddies cel tower. Not putting a RIP anywhere, not giving up hope.
Two weeks ago the horn started going off by itself. Like, three times a minute. I’d drive past people with both hands in the air, smiling while it honked at them.
Halfway to my destination it started to stutter, and I could see the electricity arcing under the steering wheel.
Swapped some fuses around, and broke one with my knife, which is normally used to open the glovebox. It’s all class around here. The passenger windows don’t go down, which really highlights the exhaust leak.
Much as I like adventure, this happening is no longer funny. Plus I’m out of tows.
When I do get new car, I’d consider another VW. I was ridiculously hard on this thing, and it always performed. The heater is still really hot. And the ergonomics, ahhhhh yes to those.
CAA to the rescue.
If you’re driving without CAA, I’m shaking my head at you right now.
The average tow costs minimum $100, annual membership isn’t much more than that, and I’ve never met a CAA driver I didn’t like. And I’ve met many.
Then Suzy came and rescued me roadside, complete with a hot homemade meal.
My bff is better than your bff.
This is the longest I’ve been without a car in 10+ years.
Le sigh.
