Cars Can Still Find A Way Into Your Heart Even When They Don’t Drive: COTD

One of the greatest moments as a gearhead is that moment when you finally revive that dead car from its slumber. Sadly, sometimes life gets in the way, and that never happens. But some enthusiasts still find ways to enjoy cars that cannot travel under their own power.

Joe Ligo wrote a post about the funny stories that he had to cut from ‘The Last Independent Automaker.’ The subject of radios came up, and Eggsalad had this wonderful story to tell:

RE: AMC radios…

I was living in West Michigan in the late 80s, deep in the country. But as an ex-New Yorker, I was still a fan of Mets baseball. At the time, of course, there was no television (we didn’t even have cable) coverage of Mets baseball.

Way back in the woods behind the house was a dead ’73 Hornet that had been used for target practice. I was bored one day and dragged a battery out back, to try to get the thing running. I put in the battery, turned the key, and the radio came to life! I fiddled with the tuner, and all of a sudden I’m listening to METS BASEBALL!

I’m 900 miles from New York. No other radio would pick that up from where I was. Believe me, I tried.

I spent that whole summer in that car, listening to baseball on the radio. Never once needed to recharge the battery. Never did get the car to run, though.

I’ve been there before. I’ve had cars that were too broken to drive at that moment, but it was still gratifying to sit behind the wheel, turn on the stereo, and just relax. I totally get it.

[Ed Note: I’d like to mention this great comment about William Howard Taft in Jason’s story about the minivan concept called the Gran Van Taft Guy:

I have to believe the Gran Max Taft Guy is an homage to William Howard Taft, the 27th President of the United States, a very large man and the only one (so far as we know) who got stuck in the Whitehouse bathtub.

Taft had a terrible relationship with horses and the presidential coach and coach horses were replaced by motor cars during his term as part of the White House modernization.

Taft was a huge man and it was a real problem finding a horse large enough to support his bulk. Taft was thrown by one of the horses that he attempted to ride shortly before it was decided to replace horses at the White House. It’s possible this was a factor in the decision to replace the White House horses and coach.

Taft had such problems with horses that when he was Governor-General of the Philippines and it was reported that he had taken a 25-mile horseback ride, Elihu Root, a good friend and then Secretary of War sent him a cable, “How is the horse?”

I’d like to think the little Daihatsu van is a good-natured poke at ol’ Willy Howard’s equine misfortunes. Otherwise, I like the Gran Max Taft Guy concept very much.

Meanwhile, Tom McParland wrote about how some buyers pay attention to only monthly payments, and how that can bite them. Read the post if you want to know the wizardry to avoid this headache! Ben also has solid advice:

Pro-tip on loan length: Pay attention to interest rate differences (or lack thereof) between different loan terms. I once took out a 7 year loan because the 7 year rate was the same as 5, but I made payments like it was a 5 year loan. The end cost is the same as if I had just taken a shorter 5 year loan, but if something happens and you find yourself financially distressed you have the flexibility to make the lower 7 year payment for a few months until things get better.

Just make sure you loan doesn’t penalize you for paying early!

Jason wrote about how Subaru marketed the SVX by saying that you’d drive it so fast that you’d get a ticket. LTDScott:

“So we made the side windows so small you can’t pass your license through them.”

Have a great evening, everyone!

Top Image: Mandy