End of an era - TravelPUNK Backpacker College Student Budget Travel Message Boards!

**omisan** · 06-02-2006, 04:51 PM

For the last 4 years, I've racked up 65,000 miles, put in $3500 of repairs, and spent god knows how much on gas and insurance for my baby. She's been with me through thick and thin. Through 3 ski seasons, three different types of tire chains, transporting bikes, snowboards, skis, luggage, furniture - you name it. She's been on countless road trips, earned one speeding ticket, and one parking ticket.

Well, yesterday was the final undoing. Cranking some music on the way into work and mindlessly blowing down Interstate 280 at quite an unreasonable velocity, the water pump went out, and I didn't notice the overheating or the frantically blinking radiator light. Unfortunately, that cracked the cylinder head, and it's simply not going to be worth $1500 to resurrect her.

So now, I say goodbye to my dear, sweet car. My overland travel companion. The beast of burden that got through snow that felled many a 4x4, passed impassable roads, and made my 100-mile-a-day commute a joy.

From next week on, I'll be commuting by a combination of train and bicycle. Going from my gasoline and speed addiction to a more environmentally responsible - and ultimately cheaper - way of getting around. It's gonna be really weird not having a car at my beck & call, but I'm hoping it'll be good...

G'bye, my lovely red beast. It's been... real.

**Brookers13** · 06-02-2006, 05:01 PM

that was beautiful omi

**aliz** · 06-02-2006, 05:14 PM

so touching. rest in peace omisan's car

**florencia9699** · 06-02-2006, 07:18 PM

Wow.. for all those trips it's in perfect state!

thatgirlwholaughs · 06-02-2006, 07:42 PM

but she's so pretty! i feel your pain. the last car of mine my sister totaled while i was in europe. she (my standard '99 black mustang gt) was a speed demon...and i suppose, in the end, it was the speed that killed her... not nearly as cool as your volks, but i was still heartbroken. i have also replaced my traveling habits with that of the local bussing and my bike. and despite her lack of ticket-worthy speed, i think i might be over the mustang, and now pursuing a relationship with my bike.

**bluepea** · 06-02-2006, 10:29 PM

Thank goodness it wasn't a jeep wrangler though!

**expatben** · 06-03-2006, 01:12 AM

I feel for you Omi and I know you find this hard to believe but one day you will find a new car and although it won't be the same, you will love again.

**space virgin** · 06-03-2006, 02:20 AM

I really liked that car.

*sigh* So sorry for your loss, but yes, you will fall in love again.

**lauren313** · 06-03-2006, 03:06 AM

Aww, I'm sorry you have to get rid of your car!

Someone hit my car over Christmas, and I had to get rid of her. I feel your pain!

**Rozza** · 06-03-2006, 04:45 AM

May we have a moment of mourning for Omisans car.

.

I Declare that from hence forth, June the 3rd is Omids Car day. A day where we remeber a car, that only a handful of us would have ever seen

olivebeard · 06-03-2006, 05:28 AM

At least yours died in combat. I have a 95 Saturn SL2 that braved tank trails (theres still a 1/4" of greasy sand on top of the engine to prove it) that still technically runs, but we'll be dumping it off on someone for $150 or so. Its like selling your pet when it gets too old or something.

May she rest in peace, bro.

**Joker** · 06-03-2006, 10:01 AM

Vaya con Dios, VR6.

(Hey, Omid, betcha you could sell it on Vortex! :D )

**omisan** · 06-03-2006, 12:35 PM

Thanks, guys... to quote Vinnie Jones in Lock Stock & Two Smoking Barrels, "It's been emotional."

Joker - I thought about selling it on Vortex, but my mechanic's buying it instead. That way I dont have to worry about towing, the repairs he'd already started working on before discovering the cracked cylinder head, nor having to let my baby go to strangers. Also, I know Jorge will love her the way I did. He's always drooled over her when I went in for oil changes & such...

Must... learn... to... let... go...

**Rozza** · 06-03-2006, 01:22 PM

Dude, Hope this will get you by...

The motorised Penny-farthing

**Joker** · 06-04-2006, 12:20 AM

Umm, Omid, wanna buy a 1.8T and swap it in? I'll even let you have the car that surrounds it for the price of the motor! :D

Time to pick up an A2 16v GTI. I'm sure you'd have some fun with that (and not have to put premium in!) !!!

**omisan** · 06-04-2006, 02:34 AM

Heheh.. I'm gonna stick to a bicycle for now. Although I think the Penny Farthing might be a bit much for me. Maybe I'll think about getting a car again when the winter weather comes along...

**space virgin** · 06-04-2006, 02:36 AM

^ And when snowboarding fever hits.

thatgirlwholaughs · 06-04-2006, 11:58 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by space virgin@Jun 4 2006, 03:36 AM
^ And when snowboarding fever hits.*

[snapback]124112[/snapback]

hehe, the deadly SB fever. so contagious too...

**omisan** · 06-05-2006, 10:07 AM

Trust me, SB Fever is better than crabs. *scratch scratch*

Did the full commute for the first time this morning. Not bad at all! Except for the miserable gigantic overpass between the last train station and work. Uggggggggggggh.

**SuDz** · 06-05-2006, 10:17 AM

I know how it can be giving up a car that you just always loved. I had to do it once and tried about two years ago to get it back. It had been in a car accident and crushed at the local junkyard. I had tracked it down by owners after me and by the VIN number I was able to get in my search. I felt defeated once I found out what happened. This was about 5 years after I gave it up.

Long live the Delta.
It was a 1984 Oldsmobile Royale Brougham Delta 88 Coupe.
The last of a dying breed.

SuDZ