There alot of us that are sentimental about our cars. You get a little more attached the longer you own them or the more you work on them. I am not talking just money spent, but time invested and pride in ownership.

I have an old Subaru that is nearing the end of the road. I have been putting it off because I just can't let her go.

I remember the exact day I picked her up. It was the first Saturday in January of 1997. She is/was a '91. I bought her with 112,xxx on the odometer. The body was in great shape and she ran like a top. Nobody believes me but I used to baby her on the highway back and forth from Philadelphia to Pittsburgh on the turnpike and get 31 MPG! Not bad for a 5-spd with AWD. We have been through alot together. Countless trips across the state, hunting, fishing, camping. Not to mention the use of the rear area. The seats fold down nice and flat and I always had a nice blanket in the back. She is a wagon of course, with DARK tinted windows.

Anyway, fast forward 11 years and almost 150,000 miles. I replaced the tranny once, went through a couple of sets of tires, a set of timing belts, quite a few spark plugs, brakes and rotors here and there. Nothing major and she never left me stranded. Over 260,000 miles now and the motor has never been apart or out of the car. She doesn't smoke except for the little bit of oil that drips onto the exhaust from a little leak I have. She starts everyday for me without hesitation. Her body is starting to look a little rough. I did some sorry ass bodywork on her last year, you know, enough to pass inspection. Well, now she is starting to get tired. The roof leaks somewhere around the roof rack, I have to hang a cum rag over the steering wheel when it rains or my seat will get wet. The windshield has developed a crack reminiscent of the Mississippi River and its tributaries. I have an odd knock in the front end somewhere only when I make a left. Now the steering wheel vibrates in my hand when I apply the brake. This is due to the amount of rust on the caliper pistons that I have cleaned and sanded 2 times over the past 3 years. It just keep coming back.

When do I put her out to pasture? I don't think I could stand to see her in the hands of someone else. I don't think I could give her up just for that fact she needs a little TLC. I don't think I could part with the car unless there is a catastrophic event like a motor seizure or a wreck. I am lost and don't know what to do. My cars have sentimental value.

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'08 Chevy Tahoe
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