So DH was on his way to a work holiday party on Sunday evening and he calls me to say that he's broken down on the side of the road a few miles from his destination (about 45 min from home). His engine light had been going on and off and he was totally going to take the car in the next day to get it looked at. Well, he got the car towed to the repair shop and I went and picked him up, then he took my car to try again to make it to the party (I wasn't feeling so great so I was content to have him go have fun and then I went straight to bed).
So yesterday afternoon DH calls me at work to tell me that the engine was COMPLETELY shot. And, as it's a 1995 Volvo wagon, to replace with a new engine would be $15,000. Yehright. We already knew the car was on it's last legs, we just didn't expect it to happen yet. It's not really worth it to us to try to find a spare engine on Craigslist... so we're looking to get a new (used) car.
Glad it happened now and not in the spring with baby on the way... though now we have only the one car (we might be able to borrow from family) and so I need to drive him to work til he gets another set of wheels.
Oh, and DH feels terrible about it, so I don't belabor the point, but it was sort of an "I told you so" moment as well. When I realized that his engine light had been blinking (for apparently a couple of weeks!) I suggested he go put some oil in the car pronto, even though he was planning to get an oil change, at least enough to tide him over til he could get to the repair shop. Well, that was last Monday, and on Saturday he still hadn't done it and, guess what, he was delayed coming home from work because his car was making more noise so he hunted around to find an open gas station to put more oil in. But apparently it was too little too late, and the car crapped out a day later.
It might not have been the lack of an oil change that did the car in, but it sure didn't help.
Is it WTF Wednesday yet? :P

Re: RIP DH's car :(
Yikes Kiki, sorry to hear that! It is good that it happened now, and you can look to find a car that will be reliable and fitting for your sweet family :-)
It's WTF Wednesday in just under 2 hours!
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ugh! sorry about the car.....men should always listen to their wives
we are smarter and they wouldn't need to hear "I told you so!"
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It is now!!!!! Sorry to hear about the car. I know it's a sucky situation on every level - I've been there. My camaro broke down on I-94 during rush hour on my way to do a branch audit last Christmas. I was also 45 minutes from home. Mike had to come pick me up off the side of the freeway, bring me back to my home office & I had the car towed to a Firestone close to home. My mom came up to my work an hour later and brought me her car to use until they fixed mine.
Hope everything works out and you're not down a car for too long!!
Blessing in disguise I guess, that you get to take care of it now sans-baby rather than having DH break down on the side of the road with a 2 month old in there!
Meanwhile, my check engine light has been on since the week before the wedding. Yes, in April. Womp womp...
eek. That is always tough. Its amazing how annoying cars can be.
Sorry that this happened to you guys!
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Yeah, seriously!
It's kind of funny in a way, especially the fact that I know more about cars than DH does. But yes, he really should listen to me! I'm glad we have a clear reason to go car shopping now though...
Thanks for all the well wishes, everyone! And Rachel, GO GET THAT CAR LOOKED AT!
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kikijbird ~ Erica (aka Kiki) & Paul ~ 24 April 2010
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