The Van is Dead... Bummer!

Just when you think things are going smooth in life, there is often something that comes around the corner you did not expect... and whoosh, the air is taken out of your sails.

We are really a spoiled lot. Our culture and way of life almost demands that a couple have 2 vehicles. We often work at different times. We are involved in different things at church. Kris has her Pilate's... I have my bible study, etc. When we have had a car in the shop for some repair, we really struggle on the schedule, making sure that we coordinate our activities.

Last week our van died. It was almost 9 years old, but it looked great! We have everything on it that we need and want. It as relatively low mileage. It has new tires, battery, on-board computer, power windows.... we felt, what else could go wrong. It will last another 100,000 miles. It was going to continue to be our trip car. But no.....

Last week James and Jen we driving the van home from a Trivia fund-raiser evening at our church. Kris was riding home with me... (2 cars, because of our schedules). The van suddenly lost power . We caught up with them and I managed to get the van to our favorite car repair place.

Our mechanic JR spent a week trying to fix the poor puppy. The computer codes gave him a start on what was wrong. We put in a new manifold injector, but the thing would not idle. It is bad news when your mechanic calls you and says, "we have to talk.... in person!" Bottom line, the wiring harness burned up... a short somewhere along caused the wires to literally melt and fuse together. The problem is that a wiring harness itself cost about $1700, then it can take up to 12 plus hours to install it test all of the numerous electrical sensors. His last job similar to this cost about $5000. Then there would be the problem of what else in the electrical system got fried because of the obvious electrical surge. It cost me over $1000 to come to that conclusion.

Clearly, no matter how attached you are to a material object, no matter what the emotions are, you have to be real. The blue book value of the van is only $3500 or so. If we put $5000 into it, it had better last a real, real, real long time, and give you a lot of pleasure.

One option was to purchase another "junked" van and use it for parts, and do it myself...NOT! This is something that my good friend Scott would have loved to tinker with, and spend countless weeknights playing with, but I feel very confident that his wife Shari would have hated to have him spending time on, and would have cursed me endlessly.

So, the van is dead... bummer. Got to find a new van. I read somewhere that a very sizable number of minivans are bought by empty-nesters. As Kris and I have debated on what to do, we have come to the conclusion that we too will get another minivan. They are just too practical and comfortable on the road. Also, that way others can continue to enjoy taking road trips with us.

So, the hunt for a new minivan is on. Make your reservations with us soon. Tickets are available.