Glad she's doing better. Hope she gets to go home ofr the holidays... <img src="http://www.arlo.net/ubb/smilies/smile.gif" width=15 height=15>

Blundervibes are a secret weapon worth sharing.Good news is good! (Sounds like a Bushism....huh?) <img src="http://www.arlo.net/ubb/smilies/smile.gif" width=15 height=15>

Bless the blundervibes and all who add to their force!! Grandma is doing great. Saw her on Sunday (still had to gown up--but more to keep germs OUT of her room). She was sitting up in her chair, good skin color, sparkly-eyed, etc. She'll be moving to a nursing home for a couple of weeks--just until she gets her strength back.

Thanks again to all of you.

Pam, sounds like Grandma's on the mend, just in time for Christmas! Glad she's doing well.

Yippee!!!

what a great present for you family! that's wonderful news!

My blundervibe request isn't (thank God) for a friend or relative. It's for my car, or rather, for my sanity.

I decided to buy myself a "new" car 2 years ago... for the FIRST time EVER! Normally I'd only buy a "new" car when my old one died or got hit. This time I was the one making the decision. I bought an 88 Subaru station wagon (some of you may remember it from October at the church).

I've taken really good care of it, changed the oil on a 3,000 mile schedule, replaced a few things, even took care of all the little rust spots and had it detailed.

On Monday, I heard a noise... as it got louder I started paying a lot of attention to it, practicing how to describe it to the service department at the dealership where it was headed for a very minor repair. I realized it was the differential.

Now, the problem: To rebuild my differential will cost me $1,900 (my warranty won't cover it unless I pay an exhorbitant price for the "diagnosis"). To install someone else's rebuilt (with a 30-day warranty) is just $100 less. And with that, if there were something wrong with it, I'd have to pay labor all over again.

I could take that $2,000 and buy another little car... but that's a gamble since I may be buying myself more (or different) problems. The car I have in mind is a 1990 Subaru Loyale wagon with the same mileage as my car.

A new car or a more expensive car is out of the question. I'm a poor college girl living on student loans. I don't have any other income.

If you were in this position, what choice would you make? Votes are being taken at Terrie@w3webdesign.net

Cast your vote for:
a. repair the one I have
b. buy another car and deal with it
c. renovate the kitchen
d. both _ and c

Even if you don't feel like voting, please extend to me (and my car) your best wishes for a speedy recovery.... I need a Xanax now.

Blundercarvibes are on the way, Terrie!

It's a tough call. If you're relatively sure that after this repair, the old one is good to go for a while (thinking a year out) then that is what I would do. If there have been other signs of possible trouble... then trade it for the '90 (but only after you have a reliable mechanic, not associated with the sale take a look at it).

Of course, I've been known to have an engine sieze on me, and a transmission fall out... but that's beside the point! LOL

Good luck!

Thanks, Wyld.... that's along the lines I was thinking, but then I started remembering all the "weird" stuff... like the plug that keeps the water in the radiator (called a petcock)... it blew itself right out of the radiator on my way to take Eric to college for the first time!

Then there were other little odd things. Always worrying that I won't make it to my destination in a reasonable amount of time.

Then again, I did make it to North Carolina (in plenty of time to meet Baldwinville and see Arlo) and I did get to the church on time... although I allowed 2 days for an 8 hour drive.

I'm scared no matter what I do. Any more votes out there in Blunderland?

vibes headed your way Terrie. I usually don't give car advice, but is there any oil in the differential? I had an old ford truck that used to leak, the diiferential would start making noise and I would put 90 weight oil in it and it would mellow out for a while...

Gus

Hi, Goofus. My dealer/mechanic changed the oil on Tuesday, hoping to buy me some time. It didn't work <img src="http://www.arlo.net/ubb/smilies/frown.gif" width=15 height=15>

Do you know a reliable mechanic (who's not going to work on or sell you a car) whom you could pay for checking out both cars and helping with this decision? That person's opinion might be worth a fee. I know it's hard to part with money that way when money is tight, but it could be worth it.

<center><FONT COLOR="#000080">--- Edited 1 times, lastly by Ceashel on Jan 15, 2004 ---</FONT></center>

Car vibes headed your way. Good luck! <img src="http://www.arlo.net/ubb/smilies/peace.gif" width=16 height=16>

Car vibes headed your way ... but I'm kinda like Wyld--I've had bits and pieces fall off all the way home (20 miles having to stop every 3 or 4 to pick up another piece of muffler), had a wheel twist right off (that was fun!), and just a few years ago had to drive all winter with NO HEAT (only barely enough to keep the windshield clear enough to drive). Vibes on the way, but no advice (OR, I could give advise and you do the opposite). Anyway, hope whatever you decide works.

Shelley, I would definitely pay someone to do that for me. Right now, I'm trying to find someone willing to rebuild mine. If I can't find someone, then I'll ask someone to check out the other one. But, either way, all we can find out is:

what the car is like today... not next month... so, it's still going to be a gamble.

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Ceashel:

Do you know a reliable mechanic (who's not going to work on or sell you a car) whom you could pay for checking out both cars and helping with this decision? That person's opinion might be worth a fee. I know it's hard to part with money that way when money is tight, but it could be worth it.

<center><FONT COLOR="#000080">--- Edited 1 times, lastly by Ceashel on Jan 15, 2004 ---</FONT></center><HR></BLOCKQUOTE>