Some of the great features of the cars were.
- Brake failures. Apparently, we had multiple brake failures. Thankfully, the worst brake failure occurred when all of us were crammed in the car along with the Towers and as we were going down a hill on Wasatch Blvd the brakes went out. Luckily, the hill was followed by a steep incline so we were able to stop. After a short hike to a stranger's house to make a call for help we refilled on brake fluid and away we went.
- Power Steering failures. It's always fun trying to turn the car without the appropriate fluid.
- Windows that wouldn't roll down. One freezing night I stopped at the Pepperwood guard shack to tell them I was there for a visit and the window fell down into the door. Later, dad was able to shimmy the window back up but we were not able to roll it down. Ever. Not even when pulled over by police officers telling us to roll the window down.
- Astro Van adventures. This was not a hand me down. It was the family car and we considered it a great privilege to load it up and drive friends wherever. These rides were generally limited to late night shenanigans, drive bys (our friendly term for stalking), and group dances.
- Radio signals. The most unique feature of the Buick century was the radio antennae that went around the windshield. It was unique because the radio would only work when we were going north or south. Every time you turned east or west -- static.
- Got a dollar? You've got a car. -- Matt actually bought my Grandpa G.'s car for a dollar and then drove it across the country to get it home. Who let's a 16 year old drive a car from Mississippi to Utah? Later, the car was sold to Michelle's boyfriend for a dollar. Once he got it to his house Michelle had broken up with him and the car broke down in his driveway. Too bad so sad Jerk. You've got to love life's little ironies.
- Windshield wiper malfunctions. After college mom and dad helped me get into my first real car. I certainly drove this car into the ground. It was good to me up until that last year and then everything that could go wrong with it did. It finally died on me a couple of days before Christmas late one night outside Barnes and Nobel in Sugarhouse. Good news -- new car. Bad news registering a car in December. The first real repair I had to do on the Mercury Tracer was to fix the windshield wipers. Somehow, something got mixed up with the wiring and once the windshield wipers were turned on they wouldn't turn off. In fact every time I accelerated they would go faster. I went through a lot of wiper fluid that year until I earned enough to pay for the $700 dollar repair. Little did I know that was just the beginning of the end for the little green car.
Well, Christmas Eve dinner was followed by a round of musical instruments and songs, with a few presents opened. Everyone was off to their respective homes by 6:30. It was a great night and we had a lot of fun. The next morning Mom, Dad, and I braved the blizzard in Herriman, the rain/snow in Sandy, and the blue sky in Midvale to stop by and deliver gifts on Christmas Day. It was fun seeing what everyone received. The best was watching dad rock out to guitar hero. He only got 23% but he didn't care. The only thing keeping him from the air guitar finals is hair and a bad knee. Otherwise, he'd be able to compete with the best of them. Hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas. Got good car stories? I'd love to hear them.
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