R.I.P the first car of my life

The sad morning

The dense fog hugged everything around me, dampening life as it blocked out my ability to sense the surrounding. Giving the day a hint of seriousness and sadness as if life itself was weeping. It’s strange that I am feeling at a loss. Especially so when it is for an object, but I can’t help it. When I thought about the fact that I will no longer see this car ever in my life again, I felt ashamed. I must be cruel for discarding it after it has rendered my family a decade and a half of service.

Its history

It’s had a good life though. Our family took care of it with all the money we can until I became the sole owner of it. Now that I think about it, I am the one who did the most damage to it in its life span. Having crashed it twice throughout its life time, damaging the tires and transmissios severely. It explains why I have so much problems in those areas near the end of its time.

Some statistics to remember it by: Toyota Camry V6 LE gray 1992

• Fuel economy: 17 mpg
• Automatic transmission
• Power window, power doors
• ABS
• Average cost of gas per month: $120
• Traveled 325,000 kilometers
• Onece side impact in Ottawa by a van
• Once rear ended in Ottawa by a van
• V6 engine (still in perfect condition)
• Fed it Premium gasoline all throughout its life except for the last 2 years when gas is above 1.00/liter
• Transmission completely changed when it’s 5 years old
• Air conditioner died from rust due to lack of use
• Tires replaced
• Rear caliper failed and replaced
• All the suspensions died
• Rear load balancer steel beam rusted completely
• Starter died (on the final day to be traded in)

It has been both a mentor and a great reliable ride for me… well as reliable as it liked. Now that I think about it, it has been reliable on occasions that were NOT critical. But I still have to admit that it was there with me on every steps of my life.

• When I was 16 and learning to drive
• The car that was used to transport me and my meager belongings to my dorm
• Drove my first date around in it
• Drove to my first dance competition in it.
• Had my first car accident in it

It did have a habit of failing at the most crucial moment too. A quirk in its personality that is part of its charm

• The hand break locked up on the day of my driver’s license test.
• The battery died when we were ready and packed to go to a competition
• The starter refused to do its job on the last day of its life when I was going to trade it in

Other than these worth mentioning events, it has provided me with reliable services especially during the harsh Canadian winter. Watching it slowly die in the past 2 years has been memorable. Now that it is gone these memories somehow provides me with warmth. I am glad that I get to drive it in its last two years of life. In dying slowly, it forced me to learn the principles of car maintenance and repair so that the next one won’t suffer as badly as it. The most important lesson that it taught me is the relationship between rust and its longevity. When I decided to junk it, its outward appearance is still pristine, however, the underside tells a different story.

The nail in the coffin is of course, the load balancer. Due to record snowfall for the past two years, it was constantly in touch with either snow or salty slush while parked. The compacted snow in the parking lot accelerated the process by grating off the layer of rust proofing material that’s supposed to protect all metals.

Thank you for the services you’ve rendered dear ol’ car. I will remember you.

November 06, 2008

Causalien out.