Let's go to Bed

[tracker7]

From time to time, I've mentioned my Explorer, Omar.  He's a pretty terrific truck, a first-generation Explorer XLT, able to handle hauling people and a decent amount of cargo alike, good road manners, and very capable for reasonable off-roading and on-lousy-roading.  However, he is 16 years old, with 170,000 miles on the odometer.  In the past few days, one serious problem with that age and mileage has come to be - fourth gear has decided it's not going to work anymore.  While that's not an absolute vehicle-killer, it's the sort of thing that's only going to get worse.  So, after consultation, today, I handed the big guy back to my dad, who will have the resources to either rebuild or replace the transmission, and given the questionable road quality in Casey County, the truck will be good for a winter-use and/or medium-duty towing vehicle.

So, I needed a replacement vehicle, and quickly.  Two candidates were tested - a SW2 and Focus wagon.  The little Saturn was the leading candidate - cars were only 1 year apart in age, about 12000 miles difference on the odometers, but the SW2 was about a grand less costly.  However, another option presented itself, rather unexpectedly.

In 1996, my grandfather decided it was time to replace his existing sedan.  Papaw was never much for ostentation;  comfortable practicality was more his thing.  He was also possessed of a particular sense of humor.  On the day it was time to get the new vehicle, he brought me along, as I was in Liberty for the weekend.

Papaw had always had a thing for red cars, and my grandmother hates the color red.  Papaw, of course, brought home a series of red vehicles for her disapproval.  The first was a Probe GT.  Then a Thunderbird.  The Mercury Capri XR2?  No way - he didn't even get out of the car before my grandmother charged at the driveway to make him go back to the dealership.  So, he picked out something completely sensible, and of a dark enough red that Mamaw was okay with it.  Papaw died a little over three years later, and as my grandmother never learned how to drive, the car was idled, except for a monthly-or-so drive to keep things in working order.

About two years ago, when my grandmother's this-will-be-what-kills-you aortic aneurysm was diagnosed, she started letting her kids know how things were going to be divided up according to her and Papaw's wishes.  It was revealed that Papaw intended for his last car to eventually wind up in my possession.

So, Saturday afternoon, I took possession of the vehicle.  Again, nothing spectacular, but I dig on it.  It's a 1994 Taurus, with barely 80000 miles on the odometer.  Comfortable, good road manners, and highway mileage far superior to the Explorer and somewhat better than the Mustang.  Here is my new pal, Hephaestus:


And, since I'm photo-spamming, a sign with a rather curious typo.  I guess this is where old cinderblocks go to die or something.

Comments

[tragical-mirth.livejournal.com]

Those Tauruses from the early 90s are immortal.

[tracker7.livejournal.com]

Lots of 'em still on the road. They revolutionized American car design.

[impeccablesimon.livejournal.com]

I'm sorry to hear Omar is leaving you for the time being, but I can tell you one thing: as a one-time owner of a 1994 Ford Taurus (mine was white), they are very good cars...and I miss mine dearly.

[tracker7.livejournal.com]

I'm an unrepentant car guy, but the good ol' Taurus has always held a place in my heart. It was a revolutionary car - you can make a good case that design of American cars can be divided into pre-Taurus and post-Taurus.

The engine in this one (3-liter Vulcan V6) is considered one of Ford's best designs. The Taurus owners' club lists quite a few of them with 300,000 miles or more.

Tonight wound up being a pretty good shakedown for this one, and I've found it has the same ... almost-problem as my Mustang - a fairly small fuel tank. Probably larger than the 12.5-gallon tank the Mustang has, but not by a whole lot, I think.

The Taurus Club

[impeccablesimon.livejournal.com]

My Taurus made it well over 100,000 miles, but the previous owner had done little to ensure that the car would continue running once he passed it on. I tried to be kind, but Lolita passed away six years of near-perfect bliss.

The gas tank was smaller than most other cars, but the gas mileage was pretty good (even in-town), and the only complaint I ever really had about that car was with the automatic seatbelt...it would catch on the track and grind away (quite annoyingly) until I pushed on it and freed it up. That only started happening in the last couple of years I owned the car, though.

Re: The Taurus Club

[tracker7.livejournal.com]

This one doesn't have automatic seatbelts, thank goodness. I never quite trusted them.

Transmission shifts were pretty smooth on last night's drive, even under fairly hard acceleration. I'm guessing the highway mileage at about 27MPG, which is a hair better than the Mustang and notably better than the Explorer.

[stacy288.livejournal.com]

Gratz on the new car. We have an older car ourselves and love it to death.


I once had a BF that spent WAY too much on his cars, my God it only takes you from one place to another...

[tracker7.livejournal.com]

Thank ya! I expect the Taurus and I are going to have a lengthy time together.

My brother's got pricey tastes in cars - he's a serious performance fiend, though, and can afford the expense.

Raney Cementary Rd...

[he-who-hunts.livejournal.com]

So... Is it haunted? Please let it be haunted. PLEASE!

Re: Raney Cementary Rd...

[tracker7.livejournal.com]

I don't know - if so, I'd expect there to be freaky concrete monsters animated by restless spirits or something.

There is a haunted home less than a mile up the road from this intersection, though. Some cousins lived there for a few years when we were in high school.

Re: Raney Cementary Rd...

[he-who-hunts.livejournal.com]

Ah... you know, now that I have some friends on my LJ account, I may put up a post asking for local ghost stories and hauntings from everyone's areas. When I do, I'd be very interested in hearing what you have to say!

Re: Raney Cementary Rd...

[tracker7.livejournal.com]

Fire away - I'm no parapsychologist or spiritualist, but my neck(s) of the woods have some unusual stories drifting around.