Perhaps the reason our soft, cuddly, loving companions whose customary demeanor hints at deep spiritual wisdom tend to dismember and consume their freshly-killed prey in front of us is to remind us that everything has a place in the natural world

It sounds like you at least got your moneys worth out of your car. When I commuted 100miles a day, I went through many $100 cars. Probably around 20 of them in 6 years. It's amazing how many more miles a car can be driven after someone gives up on them.

Then after I started working much closer to home, I bought a truck. It was after this I realized a very valid point. Trucks are built more solidly and built to last. The tradeoff is gas mileage. I pay much more for gas, But maintenance and major repairs have been nil. The only consistent repair I have had to do on every truck I have ever owned is the clutch. I always seem to buy trucks with the original clutch in it, And after 250K miles they just kinda disintegrate no matter how nice it was driven. The last one I replaced came out in a pile of dust and pieces But that is to be expected after 253K miles

Anyway, Good luck finding a new hoop-dee--You just have to look for them. I actually used to look for them in the country--It's easy to tell if a car never moves on roads you drive every day, Especially in the winter time. People don't shovel out cars that don't run or don't get used. Or if a car suddenly appears in the back yard of someones house. Usually that means they have given up on them and don't know what to do with it yet. Sometimes they go pretty cheap.

My best all time deal was back in 1997. I was delivering phone books, And out in the country there was a 1991 Buick Skylark parked under a tree in someones front yard without license plates on it and covered with about 2 years of dust. So I knocked on the door and gave them their phone book, And I asked them what they were doing with the dead car in the yard. He told me the transmission was bad in it, So I asked him if he wanted to sell it. I got it for $150.

The car had 170K miles on it, And the transmission wasn't bad in it. The electronic Torque Converter Clutch had a sticky solenoid and stuck on when it was hot, Thereby locking the transmission into overdrive, And killing the engine when it was warm whenever coming to a full stop. It worked fine again once it cooled off. So I unplugged the wiring harness to the TCC(1 simple wiring clip under the hood in plain view), And drove the car flawlessly until it had 280K miles. Then the engine finally went, so I used all the good parts left on it on the next car and sent it on it's way.

But I don't even look anymore--I'm happy with my chevy truck(with a new clutch ) And my Jeep Cherokee. High miles but dependable units!

My current ride (99 Jetta diesel) has been awesome, I wouldn't trade it till it croaks, but it was no cheapie - I bought it new. On the other hand, I just rolled over 202K miles and I still drive it 80 miles per day. So I think I'm getting my dough back out of it.

Camy, maybe you should look for an old VW Golf diesel. I had an '82 in high school (called a Rabbit here, tho) and I think that didn't croak until about 250K...then it sat in the driveway for 2 years until my dad and I rebuilt it. Damn near indestructible engine. But I like them cuz they're kinda dorky...they remind me or a nerdy teenager for some reason.

OK, I'm gonna stop before you all think I'm a diesel nut. It's a coincidence, I swear.

-Dez