Welcome to this week’s Reno News & Review.
OK, I’m trying to keep my cool. My car failed the smog test. I took it to my mechanic with a grocery list of problems the car was having with the intention of having repaired what I could afford to have repaired, starting with the reasons it failed the smog test: the catalytic converter and the crankshaft position sensor.
I replay the conversations in my head where I said I expected to spend about $1,000 (although one time I do know that I said $1,500). “If I spend a thousand bucks now, I’ll probably drive this car another five years.” I also know we discussed making the smog problems a priority. But he was able to fix everything except the catalytic converter (which he’d have to send to a different shop). So I still have a red engine light on.
All that allowed me to get a waiver at DMV for the smog problems, but I’m a greenie. I don’t care if the state says I don’t have to pass smog. I want to pollute as little as possible.
The bottom line is $2,300 to fix a bunch of incidentals—the dash lights were dim, the dome light would flicker, the hatch door wouldn’t automatically lock, blah, blah—and a safety issue—some past mechanic screwed up my brakes. Then there was the starter and the rear brakes.
But here’s the thing. I trust my mechanic. I’m not even going to mention his name here for fear of someone getting the wrong idea. But daaammmn, man. There were times in the last couple of years when $2,300 could have cost me my house. That’s not an exaggeration. I’m just fortunate I’ve known the guy awhile so he’s letting me make payments. I’m fortunate my credit is good. I’m fortunate I have a tax refund coming.
But what if I had not tightened my belt to the point my face swells? What if I were out of a job or new in town? My kid has to get to school. I need to get to work.
What if I weren’t so damned lucky? What then?