[ratmonster]

I used to drive our 1993 Buick Roadmaster as my daily driver. Loved it. However, changes in status and car ownership over the years caused me to turn my baby over to my wife. And she has treated the car well enough. I do miss driving it, though I prefer the Cadillac.

The Caddy looks nice. The Roadmaster is black primer, trim is coming off, it was rear-ended last year and the back bumper is tweaked. I was gonna sort of "rat-rod" it for fun because it was a little rough. Well now, with 240,000 miles on the odometer, it isn't a rat-rod... it's just a rat.

That's fine with the wife and myself. We don't care that it looks a bit rough, but it's getting to be worse than what we had imagined. Today at the drive-thru window, she rolled down the window and the switch broke. Fortunately, it was raining.

So after work, I got to come home and remove the driver's window switch from the cluster and replace it with the switch from one of the rear windows (it seized four years ago.) All the plastic bits are broke in the driver's door, so now it's held together with tape and oddly-placed screws.

I guess I'm just writing this to gripe. There are people on this board who drive brand new Cadillacs, and I do not envy that they get that privilege. No doubt those people worked hard to get where they are in life, and their nice car is a blessing that they get to enjoy. One day their Cadillac will be older with higher miles, and I'll be the lucky guy who gets to purchase it from them.

Sometimes, if I'm 100% honest, I do wish the Roadmaster could be replaced with something nicer or newer, or even better, I had the required finances to make it right - fix the window that's seized, get the crumbling interior panels replaced, fix the loud and malfunctioning power steering, and replace the battered rear bumper. Then I'd paint it hot-rod black and put some old-school rims on her.

For now, the duct tape is gonna have to do the job!

Nothing wrong with dreaming a little, right?

 

[CadillacLuke24]

I hear ya there. I was ranting a while back about some of the patch-its I have to do with my baby because I can't afford new parts. Once I graduate tho

 

[2manyhotrods]

Ratmonster.....you allow your wife to drive something like that?
Maybe it's time to step up and show her some love by getting her a real nice vehicle.
You'll love her more too when she's gaining new respect in the neighborhood. You'll see a bigger smile on her face, cleaner laundry, love notes packed into your lunchbox, a nice steak dinner laid out for you.
Come on, get a shiny paint, no busted parts automobile for the girl you love!

 

[talismandave]

I hate to say it but I'm with 2manyhotrods on this one.:cheers:

Never hurts to take extra good care of the co-owner of the "Cadillac budget".:rose:

It will also make them more forgiving of the occasional marital mis-step like using the dishwasher as a parts cleaner.:rollingpin:

 

[Hoosier Daddy]

It will also make them more forgiving of the occasional marital mis-step like using the dishwasher as a parts cleaner.:rollingpin:

Wondered why they installed the parts cleaner in the kitchen. You say it does dishes too?

 

[Zl700]

Dishwashers do a nice job on sneakers too

 

[2manyhotrods]

You've heard the saying??

Happy Wife____Happy Life.

I can't afford a brand new shiny $30-$40,000 car currently, but my wife ALWAYS drives a newer and better car than I do.

 

[vfaninva]

^^Smart man.

 

[CadillacLuke24]

That's why I want to get my Silverado before I get married. That way I can say MINE

 

[orconn]

Dream on, Cowboy!

 

[rodnok01]

What planet Luke think he's on... I'm gonna copy and send that comment to him after he's been married a few years. And maybe to his wife...

 

[ratmonster]

Ratmonster.....you allow your wife to drive something like that?
Maybe it's time to step up and show her some love by getting her a real nice vehicle.
You'll love her more too when she's gaining new respect in the neighborhood. You'll see a bigger smile on her face, cleaner laundry, love notes packed into your lunchbox, a nice steak dinner laid out for you.
Come on, get a shiny paint, no busted parts automobile for the girl you love!

I'd like to, trust me. But we get buy (a family of three) on less than $30,000 a year. It's EXTREMELY hard. I know you're just busting my chops a little, which is cool. But I figured I'd go ahead and throw the real reason out there that we drive these old buggies like we do.

If anyone would like to donate a slightly nicer used car my way, I'd accept it with humble appreciation! Outside of that, it's just gonna have to wait until... I dunno... a miracle???

 

[dchavezo]

I'd like to, trust me. But we get buy (a family of three) on less than $30,000 a year. It's EXTREMELY hard. I know you're just busting my chops a little, which is cool. But I figured I'd go ahead and throw the real reason out there that we drive these old buggies like we do. If anyone would like to donate a slightly nicer used car my way, I'd accept it with humble appreciation! Outside of that, it's just gonna have to wait until... I dunno... a miracle???

I hear that. Times are tough. Whatever you can do the keep those puppies running man. The polish and paint is nice if it can happen but as long as its reliable, that's a win in my book

 

[2manyhotrods]

I think we gotta take up a collection for rat monster.
Maybe we can raise enough to get a AAA-card for his wife to carry or maybe donate a few gallons of BCC shiny paint and a sprayer so they cay maintain a level of dignity while lumping around town.
Let give the folks a hand.

 

[ratmonster]

You guys are alright, you know that? :yup:

We'll get there one day. I'd love to get her to drive my car at least once, then she'd fall in love and have something pretty to drive. I don't really care if I drive the ugliest thing in my state, as long as I can manage to have a little fun with it. I'd like her to have nicer wheels. She's a great lady, she's put up with my triflin' butt for over 15 years... yeah, she deserves better. But like I said, we'll get there! Her dream car is a Scirocco, and I was willing to put my hearse dreams on hold to find her one, but I couldn't find one in good shape and running in my budget. Hopefully in the future.

 

[talismandave]

Hang in there bro, life is a wild ride.
Been up and down and every which way myself.
A strong back, two able hands and a willingness to tackle and learn whatever it throws at you will get you further than a high priced lifestyle will.
When we closed on our first house, a duplex actually at 26, we had a balance in the checkbook of $48.00 to last the next 2 weeks.
3 mouths to feed and a 4th on the way.
The water heater went out the next day. Plumbers wanted $400.00! A call and quick loan of $130 from mom and I told the wife, "Well, I guess I learn how to install a water heater.":noidea:
Went on to ten great years there. Many happy times.
Since have lost the house and the wife, but still know how to sweat pipes.:thumbsup:

Life, God for some, gives you and teaches you what you need to know when you need to know it.

 

[ratmonster]

That's the thing - a hard road teaches you a lot. I'm not actively looking for anyone to say "poor guy" or anything. I could have made different choices in life and maybe had it easier. Then again, I know several people with college educations doing the same kind of work as me - maybe because there isn't much demand for their skill, or they don't want to move further away from "home" to fill another spot, or their helth went to pot.
My thing is, I'm an open book. I'm honest, and I'm not afraid to say "I need help" for the sake of myself or my family. It takes humility, which it took me a LONG TIME to figure out! Thankfully, God has always helped me find a way (don't worry mods, that's as far as I'm going with that one. ) Being willing to say "Hey, I'm drowning here" has kept my head above water. Also, I'm not ashamed that I don't make much money, or that I'm not "successful" by Wall Street standards. Money isn't everything, though it does make things easier sometimes. But I work hard at what I do, I do it honestly, and my 13 year old son looks up to me like I'm some kind of super-hero. So, the purse strings are tight, but I'm still driving a Cadillac, and I'm good with that.

 

[2manyhotrods]

You guys are alright, you know that? :yup:

We'll get there one day. I'd love to get her to drive my car at least once, then she'd fall in love and have something pretty to drive. I don't really care if I drive the ugliest thing in my state, as long as I can manage to have a little fun with it. I'd like her to have nicer wheels. She's a great lady, she's put up with my triflin' butt for over 15 years... yeah, she deserves better. But like I said, we'll get there! Her dream car is a Scirocco, and I was willing to put my hearse dreams on hold to find her one, but I couldn't find one in good shape and running in my budget. Hopefully in the future.

Scirocco is a great car to drive. I had one to use for about 2 weeks to drive in the course of my business back in the late 80's.
The one I drove was white with black cloth bucket seats and it was a stick. I thought it peculiar that it had cloth, not leather.
It was a great highway cruiser with a load of power.
I was driving back and forth to the Cape and making a lot of other trips around Mass. and R.I. Loved every minute of time behind the wheel in that car.

I haven't seen a Scirocco on the market place in years but I'm sure members of this forum will keep their eyes open for one for you and her.
We do have heart.