Day 26

I've shared before that I feel incredibly blessed to have two cars now and they are both 100% payed for. What a huge relief to know that I don't have to make a car payment or carry the maximum insurance because there is a lien on the car. The only complication that stems from having two paid for cars is that they are starting to show their age. In years they are not old, but in miles they are both getting up there.

My 2003 VW has just about 130K miles on it now. A couple months back I noticed a ticking noise in the engine. I didn't think a whole lot about it, but figured I would keep my ears on it. Well, since we got the "new" 2002 wagon that Elissa is now driving I have the 2003 more often. Knowing that I want to drive them both until they die I brought it in to have the mechanic check out this noise last week. I got the call back...." it is the cam adjuster and its going to cost "x" to fix." Okay we can do that.....I would rather have a good running car then constantly be worrying about it. Got the second call a couple of days later......"the cam adjuster was bad, but now we have a new noise in the engine. We think it is the turbo going and it's going to cost double "x" to get it fixed." What went from a small ticking noise and a car that drove fine was now double "x" to get fixed and I didn't want to spend double "x". After some thought and chatting with Elissa I decided to spend the money and get it fixed. Better to have the car ready to go and be in good shape.

How is any of this something to be thankful for? At first I was asking myself the same question. I started thinking back over the life of this car. We bought it in January of 2005 with about 25,000 miles on it. We have done really no major work to it other than tires, oil, filter etc. I did put an alternator in it, which was my biggest expense to date. So I have had a car for 6 1/2 years that I have put really no money into and has provided reliable transportation for myself and my family. All the while we have put over 100,000 miles on the car. That IS something to be thankful for.

Today I am thankful for being provided a car that has proved worthy and reliable and that I have had to spend little money on to maintain.