Sold today
my 1996 Escort Station Wagon. It was not an easy decision. I bought it with
114,000 miles on it, and sold it with 202,000.
This car has taken me, summer and winter, to points as far away as Aberdeen, SD, Marfa, TX, Albuquerque, NM, Dugway, UT, Omaha, NE, much of Western Kansas, and much of Wyoming and Colorado. It has pulled trailers, been used as a light truck, and allowed me to earn money.
As with any high mileage vehicle, I’ve spent some money on it. I needed to fix a few, to me, minor issues, while living with bad syncros in the tranny. Then it developed a peculiar engine problem. The oil wasn’t returning to the oil pan, wasn’t in the coolant, wasn’t in the valve train, and wasn’t leaking. WTF? This, coupled with the list of minor issues, made me question the value of spending up to $1,000 to make everything right. I might add, it doesn’t have a body panel without a dent (none put there by me). The syncros are the deal breaker. At some point the tranny is going to let go. Rebuild kit is around $180 plus labor, and as long as the tranny is out, might as well do a new clutch – more money.
At my age, and with my recent health issues, I didn't want to try to fix it myself.
Put it for
sale on Craigslist and sold it in two days for $400. Filled an 18 gallon tote
cleaning it out. Also, found a new pair of prescription glasses I’d forgotten
was in the car. As my sister pointed out, that is like finding a $100 bill.
I’m not
sentimental about my vehicles, don’t name them, and regard them as tools more
than anything. That said I’m missing this reliable and useful tool.
