As you may have seen on twitter, I was having car problems. I was driving home from work and my car started making this odd noise. I took it in the next day. Figured I'd get a belt tightened, maybe get some writing done while I was waiting. So they tell me it's the transmission. It could go at any moment. It'd be $2500 to replace it, which is perilously close to the Blue Book value of the car. I mention that, and they suggest rebuilding it for $800. I didn't get any writing done that day.
On one hand, in the last few months I had a variety of belts and fluids replaced. I just sunk a moderate amount of money into it and I'd rather that investment pay off. And it's been a good, reliable car. On the other hand, it's nearly at 200,000 miles. It'll need new brakes sooner than later and there's an oil valve leak. I've got decisions ahead of me.
I've realized that I know very little about cars and less about buying them. I was hoping that I'd have a few weeks to research things when the time came. Upon reflection, I have no idea why I expected that. After a bit of research, it looks like the advice Kimberly gave Brisbane in Spice and Rabbit was pretty good.
I began the week totally unsure of what I wanted in a car (apart from four wheels and goes). So I was totally being hit with too many choices, and it paralyzed me. Seriously. Last time I tried to see a movie on Netflix Instant, I spent so much time trying to pick one that I didn't have time to actually watch the movie. I can't compare seven hundred different things in any meaningful way.
The other problem is that it's a big purchase. I want to feel like I'm choosing correctly. Otherwise I'll spend the next few years wondering if I got ripped off.
On the plus side, after I got over the shock, I got sixteen comics written last week. Why? Because I'd rather write comics than search for cars. I love writing, but You Say it First is going into a difficult phase and I'm always able to find something else I'd rather do. Now I've got procrastination working for me instead of against me.
Anyhow, my father-in-law took a look at it and replaced the transmission filter. It appears to be running properly and quietly at the moment, which is good. Hopefully it will continue running properly far into the future.