It's done!

After a week in the shop (and two days with a rental car), Mom's old Camry - now one of just two cars we own - is ready - for $1,500 less than we thought ($520 for a new water pump and timing belt instead of $2,000 for a (2nd) new engine) (old water pump only lasted for 3 1/2 years). Plus we probably saved $100 or so due to returning the rental car five days early. Yes - our back-up mechanic (when Phoenix Hill's Firestone service center can't handle something too complex) really is Jim Hendrix Automotive. I met Mr. Hendrix (Sr.) today - he had trouble running my credit card through. He said he started the business in 1964 and has since passed it on to his son, also Jim (not Jimi) Hendrix.

I paid but haven't actually picked up the car (it's maybe a block from our house and next door to our counselor). We'll pick it up tonight after returning the rental car (pictured below, early Monday morning, on our first full day with it).

-- Perry

Great news

Jim (aka Jimi) Hendrix Automotive (picture from their Web site above) called today to tell us that it's the water pump - not the engine - that's ailing the car - and that they could fix it today (meaning we could return the rental car today or tomorrow). They called to find out when the timing belt had been fixed last, and Mom helped me find records to show the water pump and timing belt were last fixed three years ago - in December 2005. Fixing all of that will cost $500, instead of $2,000 for finding and installing a re-built engine. Plus renting a car for a day or two will probably cost $100 instead of $250. Now - if we can just raise the $750-1,500 for a lawyer for Vincent (plus making Stephanie's student loan payment for March)!

-- Perry

Bus crash

A morning run of the bus Vincent used to take home from school (#19) mysteriously crashed into some cars - and a house! - barely missing the occupants - in my old neighborhood (Phoenix Hill) - just a couple of blocks from my old apartment (on Madison). Five bus passengers were taken to the hospital. The driver was apparently not drunk. Click on the video section from the "Courier Journal" Web site to see video: http://www.courier-journal.com/article/20090315/NEWS01/903150424

-- Perry

Car news

A mechanic down the street is still looking at our Camry. He thinks it needs a new (or rebuilt) engine and will look for one and look around the rest of the car. He said he personally wouldn't replace the engine. It'll cost about $2,000 and he says the car is worth about $1,000 and who knows if something else like the transmission might go bad next month. We tend to be more conservative about these things and may get it fixed - if he can find an engine. This is the Camry's second engine - this one we got re-built after I drove the car into a flood in 1999. Stephanie reminds us that - although new car sales have hit rock bottom - because some people still need cars - used car sales are actually up, probably pushing up the price somewhat. Unfortunately, we're probably going to have to rent a car next week as I have several errands to run and Vincent hasn't been a reliable dog walker.

P.S. I've already landed the rental car. No car will be needed - but dog walking probably will - while I'm away in Guatemala for a week, at the end of the month. . . . The Kelly Blue Book Web site says the car is worth about $2,500.

-- Perry