REAL EMERGENCY, But The Dashcam Saves The Day!

Originally recorded May 14, 2022.

It so seems that someone else decided to take the life of the 2000 Camry, shattering my dreams of retiring it at 200,000 miles. The wif is OK, that's the main thing.

I have very mixed emotions about this. Plans were to have the car reach 200,000 miles and then retire it to an "around town" car. But then again, it was dead reliable, started every single day in any weather, and took her to work since 2005.

It was indeed getting old and tired. Everything on the car still worked. The A/C blew ice cold, colder than any other car I've ever experienced, and it was never serviced. The car was slow and couldn't get out of its own way, but still had enough power to be perfectly driveable.

I think about what could have been and what is no more. It's not the monetary value of the car that matters. It's the fact that it was utilitarian--it was a fully functioning car. Won't win races, won't win for looks, but got you from point A to point B very safely. The car sacrificed its own life for the sake of the wif.

I think about the ignition coil that was hanging, that xjoe81x and I were going to try to mount up properly. I think about the trunk liner I still have in the garage that I never mounted back in the trunk that I no longer need now. I think about the old parts from that car in the garage that I no longer need that I can throw out. I think about the replacement intake hose I bought that xjoe81x and I were going to put on the car.

I think about the radiator we just put in. And the rear struts that were just replaced. Now all for nothing. That's why I don't feel it's worth it anymore to "soup up" your car, put in a high powered stereo, flashy lights, or any other gadgets. Another driver can come and take that away from you faster than you know what happened.

The residual value on the car couldn't come close to buying a replacement---even a well worn and used 2000 Camry, at least in this day and age. So like I said the monetary value doesn't matter, the car being a car was much more valuable than the residual value.

I wish it didn't have to end this way. I would have preferred if it made it to retirement age, and then be an around town car. And then, in the future, if nobody's driving it, and it's really not serving a purpose, it could have been sold to someone who could use it, given away for free, donated to a good cause, or even just scrapped. Because at that point, the utilitarian aspect of it was done, we would have been done using the car for its intended purpose, and already "said our goodbyes". That's what happened with Old Clanky. After she betrayed me and started clanking, I didn't have much use for it anymore and I bought a replacement car. I gave the car to my dad, and he happily drove that as if he had a brand new car for several years until the engine finally quit. It had served its purpose for me. If the engine didn't quit, my dad would still be driving it. Sure, it was an abrupt end for him in that regard. But he got it knowing that failure was looming, just not on which day it would pick.

And now, finally, I think about the full tank of gas it had (street price of $70 these days), not to mention the inspection I just did on it for this year, another $37. That $107 is a very small price to pay, but still--it was taken away by an irresponsible driver in less than an instant. There is no way to recoup that money. Again, it's not the money, it's the utility. The gas was put in there for good use. The inspection was done because it's required here, but it could have lived most of the year so at least I would have gotten my money's worth. But this guy apparently was more important than everyone else on the road, and for that, it's a loss to me. Still, this is nitpicking, as the wif inside was the prize that I did win. Thank God for Toyota quality.

You can see the wif's reaction on her channel IrishTwist, make sure to subscribe as well!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=peBt92Ka1B0

Видео REAL EMERGENCY, But The Dashcam Saves The Day! канала jaykay18