99

[dr_phil_physics]

When Last We Discussed Vehicles...

Last weekend we lost a used vehicle we thought we had a hold on. My used car guy felt bad, but it wasn't his fault and though we had what I thought was a perfectly valid technical claim, we didn't think it necessary to press it.

Something else would come along. We didn't need a vehicle immediately, it was just a good time to be looking.

What A Difference A Week Makes

Just a week after I first asked Dave what he had on the lot, he gets back in touch with me. Found a 1999 Oldsmobile Bravada, full time all-wheel-drive, with only 115,000 miles on it. And yes it had a heated driver's seat. (grin) Dave called in a favor from another dealer and got us a better vehicle than the one we missed, for the same price. Okay, I'll take it.


Of course at the moment we are crowded with four Blazer-class vehicles, because the 1989 S-10 Blazer 2-door 2WD is still here. Able to jump it started, but the battery was too far gone and acted like an anchor on the electrical system -- or the alternator is gone -- every time Dave tried to put it into drive it died. Dave assured me he'd grab it on Monday. (double-grin)

End Of An Era

Of course the 1989 Blazer we've had since it was a puppy. Only vehicle Mrs. Dr. Phil and I purchased new, back in September 1988 -- first of the 1989s. In fact we meant to order the last of the 1988s, but missed the deadline. Public Chevy in Calumet MI asked if we were REALLY going to buy it, when we ordered it, because it was like only the second 2WD Blazer sold in the U.P. and they couldn't get rid of it if we didn't buy it. Of course, in the U.P., if you stuck to the main roads on good snow tires and a locking differential, no problems. If you needed 4WD -- stay home.

The last two years, it's been driven very little. In the last year I'd charge the battery every couple of months and start it up. I suppose we could've been driving it more, but at 295,000 miles, I think we used it up pretty good over twenty years.

In case you think this doesn't help GM, remember if no one is buying used vehicles, it's harder to sell new one. So... what have you done lately to help the economy?

Dr. Phil

Comments

[dandyfunk.livejournal.com]

To help the economy I'll be bringing my '03 S-10 pickup in to get that sensor fixed so I won't have to look at the "service engine soon" light.
I have lots of minor quibbles with the '03 (the last of the S-10's) and this will probably be my last american car.

[dr-phil-physics.livejournal.com]

I think you can have minor/major quibbles with any particular vehicle line or model year. But as they are shipping '09s now, the data point of a '03 might not necessarily be a deal breaker for buying a '12 or a '15. (grin)

Dr. Phil

[dr-phil-physics.livejournal.com]

Oh, and the Car Talk guys like black tape for fixing that light. (double-grin) Though fixing the sensor will probably do better for things like, oh, gas mileage.

Dr. Phil

[dandyfunk.livejournal.com]

I got a reader to erase the message, but it always come back.
Do your S-10's suffer from the no start with wet wires? Got that this morning after sunday's driving rain.

[dr-phil-physics.livejournal.com]

In 20 years, twice we had to replace the distributor cap on the 1989. Not on the 1985, the 1994 or the 1996. One AAA tow truck guy carried a squeeze bottle of WD-40 -- spray a bit of the misted WD-40 and it wicks in through any micro cracks.

Never had any problem with the wiring per se.

Dr. Phil

[dandyfunk.livejournal.com]

Now that I think about it, I park near a tree with some over hanging branches, and I wonder if water falls right over the vent.
Time to get the hedge clippers out.

[dr-phil-physics.livejournal.com]

Ah, clearly GM's fault! (grin)

Dr. Phil