Car situation

[Flea_Man]

<p>Alright, I'm sitting here very pissed off. Here's my situation. </p><p>My dad got me my first car the other day. It's a 92 Mercury Topaz. It's got 90,000 miles on it, the paint is peeling off, it has a broken shoulder seatbelt, and no airbags. It's pretty much a death machine. I mean, one collision and I go through the window. However, it is my only form of transportation. I don't want to take a bus to go to work. Do I keep a car that can probably kill me if I hit a deer, or do I sell it and try and get another car? What should I do? </p>

[Hottub]

<p>You wouldn't get $500 if you sold it. So that's out! </p><p>Man up, and drive the free car! Hell, I drove a 63 Coupe de Ville for almost 3 years. Loose lap belt, and airbag? C'mon!! Fuck it! Drive the car. Work hard, save some bucks, establish your credit and in a year or two, get a sweet ride!</p>

[Alice S. Fuzzybutt]

<p>My current car is the first one I've ever had with airbags and I've survived til now. Suck it up and drive it.</p><p>EDIT: You may have to get the seatbelt fixed. Depending on where you live you may not pass inspection.</p>

<span class=post_edited>This message was edited by Alice S. Fuzzybutt on 5-23-06 @ 9:15 PM</span>

[SatCam]

I hope you're an organ donor

[cupcakelove]

Do what I did with my first car, drive it until the muffler falls off.&nbsp; Nothing will make you laugh harder than the sight of your own muffler rolling down the street in your rear view mirror.&nbsp; And your car sounds really cool from then on.<br />

[Don Stugots]

my first dozen cars were bombers, suck it up its a part of life

[torker]

<p>get in the trunk and die</p><p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <img height="112" src="http://www.stressfactory.com/comics/otto.jpg" width="76" border="0" /></p>

[Hottub]

<strong>Alice S. Fuzzybutt</strong> wrote:<br /><p>My current car is the first one I've ever had with airbags and I've survived til now. Suck it up and drive it.</p><p>EDIT: You may have to get the seatbelt fixed. Depending on where you live you may not pass inspection.</p><span class="post_edited">This message was edited by Alice S. Fuzzybutt on 5-23-06 @ 9:15 PM</span> <p>Umm, uhh, Pet? Are you up to date on your recall notices? Hyundai airbags&nbsp;have a&nbsp;history of non-deployment. (much like me on a Friday night after a few beverages)</p>

[cupcakelove]

I just noticed you said your dad bought you the car.&nbsp; Just be happy you got anything.&nbsp; I, like all my friends growing up, paid for my first pos car, and a few people I knew didn't get cars until college.<br />

[Alice S. Fuzzybutt]

<p>Hyundai airbags&nbsp;have a&nbsp;history of non-deployment. </p><p>Oops. I guess I'll have to wear a helmet. </p>

[LimeJohnny]

<p>Worrying about airbags with your first car is not only ungrateful, but it is a little <img width="104" height="54" border="0" src="http://forums.probetalk.com/images/smilies/icon_sgay.gif" /></p><p> </p><p>My first car was a 1974 Plymouth Scamp. It bottomed out every five seconds and its steering was loose, but it ran and I was happy as hell to finally have transportation.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Definitely get the seatbelt fixed before you take it out.&nbsp;</p>

<span class=post_edited>This message was edited by LimeJohnny on 5-23-06 @ 9:32 PM</span>

[Flea_Man]

<p>Well the reason I care about an airbag alot is because I know it saved my friend's and my sister's life. Plus it's just good for re-assurance. The main thing I'm worried about is the seatbelt though. The shoulder part doesn't work at all. I almost hit a deer on the way home (that's Westchester for you) and braked so hard my head hit the steering wheel. Last thing I want is to be a downy cause I didn't have a working seatbelt. Anyone know how much it is to replace one? </p>

[Hottub]

<p>that's Westchester for you</p><p>Fix the belt, buy a wedge, and drive the damn car! Your mechanic should be able to do it for next to nothing.</p>

[Flea_Man]

<strong>Hottub</strong> wrote:<br /><p>&nbsp;</p>that's Westchester for you <p>&nbsp;</p><p>Fix the belt, buy a wedge, and drive the damn car! Your mechanic should be able to do it for next to nothing.</p><p>What'll a wedge do? </p>

[Hottub]

<p>What'll a wedge do? </p><p><br /></p><p>Since you took my bait, and even know what a wedge is..</p><p>No more advice for you! Good day, sir!!!</p>

[Alice S. Fuzzybutt]

<p>I'm a girl, have no idea what a wedge is, and I want to know what it does. </p><p>Spill it.</p>

[Marc with a c]

<strong>Hottub</strong> wrote:<br /><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Since you took my bait, and even know what a wedge is..</p><p>No more advice for you! Good day, sir!!!</p><p>he's from wedge county. </p><p>keep the car don't get in an accident.</p>

[FUNKMAN]

<strong>SatCam</strong> wrote:<br />I hope you're an organ donor <p><img height="321" src="http://rds.yahoo.com/_ylt=A9iby6GmyHNEAHIBDJujzbkF;_ylu=X3oDMTA4NDgyNWN 0BHNlYwNwcm9m/SIG=12au2023m/EXP=1148525094/**http%3a//www.sentex.net/%7emwandel/organ/organ_today.jpg" width="394" border="0" /></p><p>&nbsp;</p><p><strong><font size="2">Get the belt fixed right away(very important)&nbsp;and drive it.</font></strong> </p><p>Good Luck with your new/used car. If i was there i'd throw some money on the floor!</p>

[MadMatt]

<p>Get the belt fixed and don't drive like a retard.&nbsp; </p><p>Based on your last O&amp;A appearance you're one step away from a &quot;downy&quot; anyway, so don't worry about the airbags <img src="http://www.ronfez.net/messageboard/tiny_mce/plugins/emotions/images/tongue.gif" border="0" /></p><p>Seriously - The belt is definitely important, but the airbags are a push.&nbsp; Decades of drivers did just fine without them.&nbsp; Just be sure to drive sensibly.</p>

[Flea_Man]

<p>btw its those type of those automatic seatbelts where when you open the car, it moves forward; and when you close it, it comes over you. Well this one doesn't move at all so I have to literally pull it over me, and it has no grip at all. I'll take it to a macanic tommorow and see if he can fix it. </p><p>If he can't cause its such an old model, should I sell it? Or should I try and redo the whole seatbelt situation and get the manual clicking ones? </p><p>btw sorry if I sound like a douche about this. It's my first car so I'm trying to be careful. </p>

<span class=post_edited>This message was edited by Flea_Man on 5-24-06 @ 12:59 AM</span>

[PapaBear]

It will probably be too expensive to have the mechanical one fixed, and they suck anyway. You can probably have normal seat belts installed fairly inexpensively. It's a good idea to replace old belts anyway... broken or not.

[landarch]

<p>Just use your lap belt and drive the thing.&nbsp; Those mechanical belts are supposed to be loose fitting like that and so what it doesn't move.&nbsp; My first car was a '74 volvo 144.&nbsp; I got it for free and abused the shit out of it.&nbsp; At the time I hated the car because it was ugly, old, and too &quot;unique&quot;--the cool kids drove new trucks to school, etc.&nbsp; Still, I was a little sad when I got rid of it 2 years later and now, wish I could find one to keep in my garage as a toy.&nbsp; </p><p>My wife's cousin, on the other hand, is trying to decide whether to give his 17&nbsp;yr old daughter the old (2004) Audi, or keep it for himself and get a newer BMW for her.&nbsp; My wife and I are split on this one, as she says &quot;wow, lucky kid with the new car&quot;.&nbsp; I say instead &quot;that poor kid will never experience the joys of driving an old beater&quot;.&nbsp; Later in life those fun stories of escapades in junky cars (will it start today? &nbsp;where did my bumper go?, etc.) won''t be there for her.&nbsp; They are the happiest memories I have.</p>

[JustJon]

<p>&nbsp;</p><strong>Hottub</strong> wrote:<br /> <p>What'll a wedge do? </p><p><br /></p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Since you took my bait, and even know what a wedge is..</p><p>No more advice for you! Good day, sir!!!</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>That's because it's a sub if it's cold, hero if it's hot.&nbsp;</p>

[walking joint]

<p>just use the car and stop complaining.&nbsp; or better yet, just sell it and get the $300-500 and use that money for the bus...oh wait, you don't want to do that either.&nbsp; i didn't even know my first car had seat belts or air bags.&nbsp; i just wanted to drive and look cool...at least i got the driving part down.&nbsp; </p><p>if i was your dad i'd be pissed if you sold it...i'd at least make you give me the money you got for selling it.&nbsp; there is something about your post starting with: &quot;Alright, I'm sitting here very pissed off&quot; that really bugs me.&nbsp; did you cry to your dad and say its not fair that the other kids got nicer cars?&nbsp; </p>

[angrymissy]

<p>Here's my advice:</p><p>Suck it up spoiled brat, or buy your own car.&nbsp;</p>

[Flea_Man]

<p>Update: </p><p>Paid for&nbsp;new seatbelts for $250. Airbags are several thousand dollars so fuck that. That's the end. </p>

[Flea_Man]

btw no, I'm not spoiled in the least. I don't think asking for working seatbelts is a big deal. My dad doesn't even know I changed the seatbelts or that there was a problem in the first place.

[PapaBear]

<p>IMO people were being too hard on you. Congrats on the new seatbelts.</p><p>Now, remember...</p><p><img height="280" src="http://www.dot.state.co.us/TrafficSafety/Images/NewClickitLogo.jpg" width="185" border="0" /></p>

[FezPaul]

<p><strong><font face="courier new,courier,monospace" size="2">Don't sweat it Flea, Page 1 of this thread had me laughing my ass off.</font></strong></p><p><strong><font face="courier new,courier,monospace" size="2">It's like when people make a big deal about B. Spears driving around with her baby in her lap.</font></strong></p><p><strong><font face="courier new,courier,monospace" size="2">Us old farts never got near a car seat, rarely if ever, got buckled in, and an air-bag was what our Dads called Walter Cronkite.</font></strong></p><p><strong><font face="courier new,courier,monospace" size="2">Your concerns our perfectly normal for a person of your generation.</font></strong></p>