Do you drive?

Thank goodness you didn't have an accident Polly...whew, a broken brake line...pretty dam dangerous in traffic. I'm not sure how long a pick-up truck is or a Mercury Marque but it sounds long and therefore a horror to park...got a photo? I'm a fairly careful driver but if it breaks down, there ain't much I can do. It's a great little car but with a computer for a brain they don't play up like the older cars so you know what's wrong and can fix it, you have to plug them in to a super brain which tells you what is wrong (and costs heaps on your repair job).

How lucky you are that hubby can fix stuff...that must save you a fortune...good on him. That's a pretty big vehicle...what do you use it for primarily? I wish I had learned to ride a motorcycle...reckon IO won't get another chance. Thanks for joining in.

I'm becoming so distrusting Abbey. I just had it repaired and it's still not right. "Bring it back in they say"...yeah right and you can find something else and I will pay again and so it goes. They say they have to plug it into a computer to find out what is wrong with it...that obviously doesn't work very well. Mine's a small 4 cylinder...a great little car normally. As for my job, I'm not getting my regular calls so I'm in a panic. Maybe everyone is like me....broke.

I think it's the way they operate their business...you've seen those stories about shonky mechanics who find non-existent problems with cars. A good, honest mechanic will always have plenty of business I reckon. Mechanics are a bit short around here and the guy I'm going to is attached to the Holden dealership in the next biggest town. My car is driveable, I just have a problem starting it when it's hot...so far, the weather has been hot in the extreme. With my job as a volunteer driver, I have to sign off on each job that my car is in good working order...I cannot in all conscience do that when I'm having problems so I can't work till it's fixed. . The young mechanic seems to know his business pretty well but on the other hand, I can't see him doing me any favours.

We went through all that kind of thing when we lived on the Gold Coast - couldn't find an honest mechanic for love nor money. After years of trying different ones, we did find one who was straight down the line honest. If he could save us a few bucks one way or the other, he would suggest it - even when it meant less business for him. We rated him so highly, we recommended him to our friends and they are all happy with him too. However, we moved away from that area a year ago, and now have to find another mechanic we can trust like the old one. It may take us a while . . . Finding a decent honest mechanic is like finding a good hairdresser, or a good doctor, etc. When you find a good one - stick to him/her! We try to put a few dollars away every week to cover unexpected things like major repairs on the car, etc., so that we can put our hands on some spare cash when we need it. Hope you get back on your feet (or wheels) real soon.

Ouch! We have a saying in Australia in regards to the bush..."Take nothing but photographs and leave nothing but footprints." In other words, leave the place as you found it, don't take plants, gravel or rocks and take your rubbish with you.

Out on the dirt roads here there are sometimes a lot of gravel and rocks that are piled up that you really can't drive through you have to move it to be able to drive. The plants are more then enough to take, we wouldn't take anything that we wasn't going to plant somewhere they can be seen by all. Oh the highways we don't take the plants.

Driving and maintaining a car is a huge responsibility. If you don't look after it, it will break down. If you disobey the road rules you will be in trouble. It's a big thing to own a car.

Gee, I can't imagine what that would be like - having a vehicle and not using it I mean.

I love my car too Gabs. Unfortunately, it was made in Germany for European conditions...Aussie roads are very different. To me my car means freedom and independence, I'd be lost without it, especially living out here in the middle of nowhere. LOL

She does the gas hadnt thought about the fuel pump as I paid for that.

Your daughter should figure the cost of the vehicle maintenance and running costs into her business...that would save on tax. It's a legitimate business expense.

I'd love a Nissan Pathfinder. I wonder how all the companies keep coming up with all the different names?? I live in the country so for the most part, it's long straight roads with little traffic. It's not bad in the bigger towns either. If someone is sitting on my tail, I slow right down so as to avoid an accident...they either get the message or pass me which is fine by me as I'm rarely in a hurry. I hate going to the city as it's a real rat race on the roads there.

I don't know, but some names seem well thought out while others don't seem to have any thought put into it at all. LOL I live out on the country too, or as close to it out here. LOL However, there is a lot of traffic. So, no matter where I drive, city or country, I might speed up a bit if someone's on my tail, especially if there is no way for them to pass. If I was to slow down chances are they'd ram into me or cut me off and an accident would occur that way and that's the last thing I'd want to happen.

That's a very nice vehicle Cats. Thanks for the photo and the answer to my question.

Hi cats...just what does SUV stand for? I know an ATV is and all terrain vehicle but I can't figure out what an SUV is. I've been too chicken to ask...lol.

This is what my dad has ALWAYS told me, "No question is a dumb question unless you know the answer." Do you see the truth in that? Remember that and never be afraid to ask ANY question that you don't know the answer to. It's a sport utility vehicle (SUV) which is a generic marketing term for a vehicle similar to a station wagon, but built on a light truck. I've attached a picture of my SUV so you can see what it is exactly. Mine is a '05 Hyundai Santa Fe

A mini van sounds like a great idea.

Especially for camping and for hauling things (other than children). :-)

I believe driving gives women a lot of independence and confidence too. I've had a couple of accidents. The worst was a blow-out on a gravel road, I rounded a bend and lost control of the car which went sliding and spinning, straight for a huge tree stump. I don't know how I missed it but I would've been in big trouble had I hit it. Luckily, the car spun around it and rolled on its side....it was a write off. Another one was where a woman rear-ended me on a main road approach. There was no break in the traffic so I pulled up, she kept going, hit me, then realised she couldn't get in either. She abused me saying "You idiot, you're not supposed to stop!". She was in a BIG 4 WD and wearing 3 inch stilettos.... The cops booked her. . More recently, I hit a roo. The car was badly damaged but the roo got away. Sorry to hear of your accident...that would be scary to me and put me off too I think.

Oh, we have public transport...provided you only want to go to the next town, there is the school bus which leaves here at 7:30am and returns at 4:30pm. That sure doesn't work for me. I'm not sure I trust the repairers here. I'm thinking that they are too keen to separate me from my money rather than fixing my car. Why would they fix it when I will bring it back to them again and again cos something is not right? I think it's becoming the Aussie way...ethics are going out the window.

What is a Buick? I know it's a big car in the manner of all US cars but it really tells me nothing. Just as if I tell you my car is an Astra, you are no wiser. Mine is a small 4 door, 4 cylinder fuel injected car that runs on petrol (sometimes with ethanol). When I was younger I would sometimes just get in my car and go for a long, long drive. It was a lovely sense of freedom.

It is a four door car and made in US and the gas mileage is not bad.

Congratulations on your new car. I prefer to buy second hand cars...don't know why. I think if I had a new one and something was wrong with it...that would annoy me no end...you hear so much about problems with new cars these days. I hope things continue to be good with you and your car.

What a good set up you have...all of you travelling the same way each day and you able to go into the provinces on the rough roads...you've got it all worked out. You take care of that car now because if anything happens to it you will all be in a bit of strife. I thought the Kias would be pretty good on fuel...is there much traffic where you are, thereby causing stop / start conditions?

Bummer that your bike was stolen...I guess you don't believe in insurance?

Hello, welcome to myLot. I know that feeling only too well. It's a sense of freedom and independence and I love it. It's also a chance to take in the beauty of the day and to thank mother Nature for the gifts she has bestowed upon us. Brightest blessings to you.

Walking is very healthy. I still walk whenever I can...it feels good to do so.

How sensible of you. I figure $20 a week into my budget for repairs and maitenance and rego and insurance...then there is fuel on top of that. If I have major repairs, it's generally extra which can be a headache.