If I had a Donkey, it would Break a Leg ....
By GreenMoo
@GreenMoo (11833)
August 19, 2011 2:05am CST
My partner was supposed to be working today. He had a fabulous opportunity to work on a project which really interested him, and earn some much needed money into the bargain.
But last night the truck started playing up, and the radiator cap ended up blowing so high that we're yet to find it. He was very lucky not to get burnt. He's got an idea what's wrong with the truck, and it's pretty serious.
Today he'll have to spend the day getting someone to look at it. We'll have to find a garage, get it towed there and somehow manage to pay for it. We don't have a second vehicle and we live in the middle of nowhere. It's just such a pain. He's not going to be able to work, as he can't get there.
We have such appalling luck with our vehicles. Despite being careful when we buy them, I can't remember the last vehicle we had which we did not eventually sell for scrap. Honestly, I think that if we had a donkey it would break a leg!
Do you constantly worry about your vehicle's reliability? Do you have trouble free motoring, or go through the hassle that we do so regularly? What was your most inconvenient breakdown?
6 responses
@changjiangzhibin89 (17239)
• China
20 Aug 11
Why can't your partner get there? Isn't there regular bus?Granted that you live in the middle of nowhere,you couldn't have had poor transport facilities to such a extent.I think there is no need for you to say "just my luck!".It is the most important that your partner didn't suffered injury.
@GreenMoo (11833)
•
20 Aug 11
It is a 45 minute walk to the bus, which leaves once per weekday. But that bus will drop him about 35 km from where he would actually be working. And if he did manage to make it to the job site, he would have to leave so early to make it back to that single bus that it would hardly be worth him going in the first place.
We are very lucky that the truck failed so close to home, and that my partner was uninjured, as you say. Thanks for your concern.
1 person likes this
@changjiangzhibin89 (17239)
• China
20 Aug 11
Oh ,It is so inconvenient,no wonder your partner couldn't go to work without private car.But then,there is little environment pollution where you live in.
@ElicBxn (64169)
• United States
19 Aug 11
In the middle of a busy street going back to work from lunch...
And I do mean LITERALLY the middle of the street - happily, it was a "chicken alley" and there weren't too many left turn spots right there so I was out of the way...
I don't have the option, I got a newest used car because I can't have my car breaking down - I don't have anyone really to rescue me.
@jillhill (37353)
• United States
19 Aug 11
I bought a brand new one five years ago and so far have enjoyed not having to deal with things like that...but I am sure my time is coming! I Don't worry about it's reliability....like I said it's been good. But as soon as I say something it's probably going to turn around! LOL....I haven't had a bad breakdown in years so can't remember the last time...good luck getting your's fixed!
@p1kef1sh (45681)
•
19 Aug 11
I used to worry all the time about my car's reliability - even more so when I rode motorbikes. Then I was lucky enough to have 4 cars from new and that took a lot of the heat out of the worry. Today I drive a Toyota Prius, service it when it should be and touch wood it has never let me down. Unfortunately I can no longer afford to buy new but it's a dreadful lot of money anyway. I hope that you get the truck going. Will this affect your visitors. Can yoiu get to meet them somehow and get supplies. Maybe a donkey wouldn't be such a bad idea. You could give rides to all those children that roam wild on ther estate!!! LOL. I'll go now before you throw something at me.....
@GreenMoo (11833)
•
19 Aug 11
I´d come hunt you down, but I´ve nothing to chase you in!
We´ve now had the truck towed, but the best garage for the problem was over an hour away by car, so goodness only knows how we´ll get it back again (if we can ever afford to!). A bus there involves an all day journey. Into the city, hang around for hours, then back out again.
Last time I had a car with a similar problem here my car was in the garage for months, quite literally. It eventually went legal ...
Thankfully when I go shopping I normally buy enough dry goods to last us for months, and we have a bar in the next village which sells basic foodstuffs, so we´ll not starve. The worst thing is this job that has had to be abandoned. It was such a superb opportunity, and work is pretty scarce around here.
A donkey is something I was desperate for when we first moved here,and was dissuaded from. I´ve come to the conclusion that a small motorbike would´t be bad thing to have around though.
@katsmeow1213 (28716)
• United States
19 Aug 11
I shouldn't even respond to this because I'll probably jinx myself.
Hubby and I tend to buy older vehicles for cheap. We won't spend more than $3000 on a vehicle. Right now he's driving a 2000 and I'm driving an 01. So far, my car has been okay, no major issues. It has only needed minor maintenance. His keeps breaking down every time we turn around though. Right now the brakes are shot and we can't afford to fix them just yet. But with his father in the hospital still he's able to use his father's car to get to and from work so we're not stuck sharing a car, which is extremely inconvenient since we work opposite hours and all. If I needed to pick him up from work he'd be stuck because he's out at 7 or 9 and I usually work till 10ish.
We've had our fair share of junkers. We went one summer a couple years ago with no working vehicle at all. Both our cars managed to break down at the same exact time and the repairs were too expensive. We ended up fixing one, junking the other, then buying hubby's car.. and a year later we junked the 2nd car and bought my van. Typically our cars only last us about 2 years. Maybe eventually we'll have the credit and finances to get a newer, better car.
@bounce58 (17380)
• Canada
22 Aug 11
Oh yes I do! All the time.
My van really needs to be replaced, as it often costs me an arm and a leg everytime it breaks down, but as of now I can't really afford to have it replaced.
Now that winter is coming up, it is also causing me some stress as I also don't know if the tires are going to hold up. There will be a lot of slippin' and slidin' goin' on!
