Well, we finally had to put the ’89 Olds out of its misery … at least its misery in our care. We gave the car to an organization here in KC called Cars for Christmas. They take donated cars, junkers (like ours), fix them up and provide them to families that are in need of transportation.

NOT FOR PROFIT ORGANIZATION THAT PROVIDES FREE BASIC TRANSPORTATION TO DISADVANTAGED INDIVIDUALS THAT ARE NOT ABLE TO OBTAIN IT ON THEIR OWN
–Cars4Christmas.com

So we took a day and drove all over the Metro and finally, the last place we went, we found something suitable. Every other place we went to it seemed like they really just didn’t care. Cars weren’t all that clean (yes, we were looking for something cheap), and one car even still had a couple of McDonald’s cups in the cup holders! But I guess that should be expected from the places we were going.

The last place we ended up was actually through a referral from another dealer we had talked with. It seems this salesperson’s husband owned a wholesalership. This place wasn’t easy to find, but their cars were cleaned up just like the big-boy dealers. All their cars run through service checks, and we found more cars that we were willing to test than we did at the other 10 places we stopped by earlier in the day. This place also closes at 4:00 on Saturdays, and we didn’t get there until 5:15, and didn’t leave until after 6:00.

So, what did we end up with? The Abercrombies have taken the plunge into practicality and efficiency, and went with a 1999 Oldsmobile Silhouette … mini-van.

I don’t have any photos just yet, b/c shortly after we made the purchase, it started acting real weird (shifting hard, whining). So, now it’s back at the wholesaler getting checked out. My wife’s only requirements to getting a mini-van were:

1. CD player
2. heated seats

It didn’t have the heated seats, but it did have the remote open/close side doors (actually only one of the side doors are automatic).

Now, we’re rolling with a 1995 Chevy Blazer and a 1999 Oldsmobile Sihouette.

What’s your rig?

I thought I’d go a head and post an update on the old Rust Rocket. Things are pretty low, and Rusty seems to be cranking his final pistons. Here’s the rundown:

• The antifreeze/coolant needs to be refilled every other day or so
• The climate control fan motor is out, so no A/C, heat or defrost/fog
• The rubber seals around the doors are falling off
• The front-rignt headlight has been broken out
• The tires are nearly as smooth as a NASCAR tire
• The windshield wipers don’t work “normally”
• The radio works by sticking a paperclip into the on/off slot
• The windows sometimes roll down … and up
• The front doors freeze shut in the winter. Then after prying open the back doors, crawling into the front seat, and opening (forcefully) the driver’s door – it doesn’t latch shut
• It used to be all white. Now, it’s white with a perfect 6″ rust trim along the bottom
• The latch to get into the hood has broken off, so I’ve rigged up some vice grips to yank on
• It also dies at least once (or twice) a day while driving. Usually at stop lights, and it kind of acts like it’s not down shifting all the way.

Just some little things.