Rule #1 of owning more than one car: When it rains, it pours. For some reason , when one thing breaks on one car, every other car decides now is a great time to have its own problems. I believe this is a universal law and one that should be urgently studied by our nation's top intellectuals.
For the sake of data acquisition, I present my own case: My daily got hit in a parking lot and needs a new fender, my truck needs new front wheel bearings BADLY, a job that is slowly morphing into a more comprehensive front end job with new ball joints and brakes, my Miata has a bad starter and I just discovered a broken sway bar end link, and my girlfriend's car just needed a front end rebuild.
I've just finished my girlfriend's car, but it looks like it might have a problem in the rear now. I've started the truck, and I'm taking my daily to the body shop for an estimate today. I still have to order parts for the truck and the Miata. And of course, I still have my stock car project that needs work, but I only wrench on that one for fun, so I don't think it counts. I guess that rule #2 is that there's always one more thing to fix.
Duke
MegaDork
2/2/23 12:17 p.m.
GRM community: *the post above*
Also GRM community: NEW CARS ARE FOR SUCKERS
Been there, done that. Its what prompted the wife to have me look at a new car. Rio was making horrible caliper noises so I ordered parts and decided to drive the backup, 06 Sierra. Backed out of the driveway and as I'mwatching the garage door go down my foot slowly procedes to the floor on the brake pedal. Pull it back in and yep, blew a brake line from rust. Wife was already gone to work in the new car so I had to drive the Rio with caliper sticking and rattling for 3 days waiting on parts.
Well, and honestly we do it to ourselves. We always buy one more car than we can handle, and put off repairs because we have another car we can count on. Put off repairs on three cars and SHOCKER all your cars suddenly need repairs all at once. I'm totally guilty of it. Ignoring a grinding brake because I know it's OK and then suddenly it gets much worse when the pad is worn all the way through. Is that the car's fault or mine? Mine, obviously.
dculberson said:
We always buy one more car than we can handle
One more? Well, I messed that one.
wae
PowerDork
2/2/23 1:55 p.m.
It does sort of get to the point where you start to wonder if you own the cars or if they own you....
In reply to Duke :
Lol it's the truth. I thought I had the system beat by owning a reliable car for a daily, but of course reliability doesn't stop people crashing into you.
Of course, I'm looking at selling that reliable daily and buying a 986 Boxster, so once again your point stands haha
One of the corollaries to your rule is that as soon as you get a car sufficiently disassembled on your lift such that it can't be moved off of it, another car will develop a need to be on the lift as well.
And, just to rub it in, the second car's needs will usually be something that's a quick fix on the lift, and a PITA without it.
slefain
UltimaDork
2/2/23 3:23 p.m.
wae said:
It does sort of get to the point where you start to wonder if you own the cars or if they own you....
Does seem like that sometimes.
The first rule of vehicle maintenance is you do not talk about vehicle maintenance.
...and stuff always breaks unexpectedly in the winter time l, when I least want to be laying on the ground under a car.
My 1st rule is that I always have one shop taken care of car. It's usually my wife's car.
my 2nd rule is that I'm not above bringing my garbage to the local shop if I don't have time or the job is just something I don't want to handle. All new stainless brake lines on my suburban for $800. Yes. I'll do that. A new exhaust manifold for $200. Yes. The manifold is $150 from gm.
don't need to be a hero.
