If I could just take the bus, I would

My car...

His car.

Here we go again.

Seriously.

A little over a year ago I was sleeping peacefully when a banging on my front door woke me.

"Um," said my neighbor, looking sheepish. "Sorry to wake you. But, um, I kind of hit your car."

Yes, yes he did.

To the tune of a new grill, radiator support, radiator, condenser and hood.

It was all handled properly and through insurance and the car was fixed.

But it took a few weeks and it was annoying, because it was totally avoidable. He just backed into my car that was parked in front of my own house.

It also was annoying because I was asleep when it happened. I drive 37 miles each way for work and I park in front of my house and get hit.

So... today, again minding my own business.

This time I was working.

Just working away, editing business stories when my desk phone rings.

Which rarely happens and usually means someone has a wrong number.

"Copy desk, this is Jill."

"Hello. This is security. Do you own a silver Audi that is parked on 5?"

Me, thinking I had left my lights on..."Yes."

"Well, I hate to tell you this, but someone hit your car."

Great. At least the person was there, not a hit and run, which has been done in this parking garage before even though we all work for the same place and should have more common decency than that.

Apparently the owner of the other car backed into the space, got out and went into the building to his office.

Apparently he didn't bother to put the car in park or set the parking brake.

Apparently his car just rolled across the driveway and into mine.

I guess someone else coming into the garage saw his car up against mine and called security. The security guard then tracked down me and the other guy.

I got his insurance information and by the time I called about it 30 minutes later, he had already contacted them.

Yes. This whole thing would be classically comical were it not for the fact that my bumper will likely have to be replaced.

The car is in the shop and...

It turns out it was NOT merely a flesh wound.
The estimate by the insurance guy was to fix the dent in the hood and repaint the area. He came up with a figure of $478.10
But the guy at the auto body shop told me that after they got the car in the shop and got the hood open, they found more damage.
There was damage to the condenser, the radiator and the radiator support.
So they are replacing all of those. Oh, and the grill, which I already knew about.
And he told me that the dent in the hood is not the kind that can just be banged out and repainted.
So I also am getting a new hood.
They had to order the parts from Audi. He said they did that Monday and it would take a few days to get them and then about another week to get the repairs done.
So I am in the rental (a Buick. Yay!) until at least the end of next week they think.
I didn't even bother to ask him what the new total was for fixing the thing.
Since the accident was not my fault and his insurance is paying, I really don't care how much it costs. I just want it done right.

That will be $406.75... plus parts and labor

Well, I got my car fixed.
Apparently one of the four engine coils had gone bad.
Whatever the hell that means.
So the guy tells me that when one goes bad, the others usually follow suit in short order. He suggested replacing them all now.
What the hell? It's only money, right.
So I went for it. I just need my car to be in excellent working order since I drive 70-plus miles a day to and from work.
They had it done in a couple hours and I was on my way to work.
I did a little checking on the Kelly Blue Book site and found out that a car in excellent condition has a trade in value of about $15,475. A car in good condition has a trade-in value of about $14,465.
I think my car falls somewhere in the middle.
It does have a few more miles than the average, but all the service has been done at the dealer and the car itself looks pretty good. There is only one little ding on the passenger side.
Kelly Blue Book gave the private-party resale value as $18,000 and the retail value (what a dealer would resell it for) was $21,450.
I really would like not to have a car payment in all this.
I liked my Honda. It was reliable and good on gas, but the Civic seems a little too small for me now that I have had the Audi.
With gas prices what they are and the drive I do everyday, I don't think I want an SUV.
Anyone have any cars they just love?

No love for Audi today

Piece of shit car.
Broke down on my way to work today.
I was exactly halfway to work when the check-engine light started flashing and the car started shuddering and running rough.
Luckily there was an exit right then and there was a hotel at the end of the ramp.
I pulled in planning to just chill for a minute then figure out a plan.
Then I saw the sign for the rental car place in the hotel.
So I left my car there and drove to work in a rental.
I am going back to get my car tomorrow. I am having it towed to the dealer so they can figure out what is wrong with it.
Seriously.
AAA informed me that, after the great tire debacle of 2007, this was my last free tow for the rest of the year.
Swell.
It's not like it is an old car. It's a 2004 that I got in September of 2003. It has had all its services at the dealer since it was under warranty.
There are 56,000 miles on it. The warranty expired at 50,000.
Of course.
I am seriously thinking about trading it in for something other than an Audi.
But man is it nice not to have a car payment right now.