I had been hoping and hoping to write a happy feel-good story, as I have never done that before. But the stars did not align that way. My Sequoia has died, and needs a new motor.
Below is my current thoughts on the matter, but it would be best now to just hit the delete button as it is too depressing to read. Numerous cavers offered me sound advice about my situation with my broke-down Sequoia. I just wanted to say thank you. Although, I was poking fun at myself for being such a klutz, I was stressing out about it all. A series of events unfolded last Wednesday, after my Sequoia first stalled and died. My first decision seemed to have a domino-effect to make it worse. Had I immediately called GEICO and towed the Sequioa to a shop, I might could have fixed it for under $ 2,000. But I put 100% of my faith and money in the road-side mobile mechanic, as I was way too optimistic that it was a minor problem. In hindsight, the mobile-mechanics final efforts to help me may have damaged the engine. He seemed to be trying his best to help me, and I was grateful to him at the time, as it seemed like a good fortune of him showing up, and I was out of options. But paying him cleaned out all my emergency money, and in the end, I had to call relatives for help. Almost all of those relatives, I am on unpleasant terms with. Had the plan been to change the motor, I should have left the vehicle in Mansfield, and focused on borrowing the money. But again, I chose to make the situation worse. I towed it to an expensive shop in Houston, hoping they had a better mechanic with a better option than motor replacement. Anyways, the Sequoia eventually arrived there, and that mechanic charged a 3rd diagnostic fee. He offered 2 options: A used motor with a 3 month warranty, or a new motor with a 3 year warranty. But the problem now, is that he is probably one of the most expensive shops in town, when it comes to hourly labor charges. He did say he could have it back on the road in a week. He also said the labor on the new motor would be far greater. Meaning this repair is going to be around a $ 12,000 nightmare. So my dilemma today, is to borrow money from my mom, and replace the motor, or send the Sequoia to a scrap yard. The transmission has 192,000 miles on it. The brakes need immediate replacement. Several of you said to just junk it. I am 53 and my mom is 70. I love my mom, but I would not want to borrow money from her if I were dying. I already owe her a thousand dollars. She does not have any money, but she has good credit. This problem now appears to be my 2nd biggest mistake in life, but that is only because my memory is so bad. At this stage, I would have been better off to just abandon the Sequoia when it first broke down. I think I already have wasted nearly $ 2,000. I still owe my credit union $ 8,700 on the car-loan. I am going to be in a very deep pickle jar for many years to come. I am just going to have to learn how to live in a pickle jar. Right ?? In hindsight now, buying my beloved Sequoia, was a setback. But I enjoyed it for 14 months. David Locklear
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