Date: Sat, 17 Jul 1999 00:41:34 -0400 From: <jblankenshipnopsamspring.com> Subject: Re: Picking your poison
> *** What do you drive, and why? *** 1965 Ford pickup.... my mom saw it and told me about it, I wanted to see it, I fell in love with it at first sight and asked my mom if I could get it. My parents tried to talk me into a more expensive car, like a Trecel or a Neon or something, but I wanted a vehicle that would be distinctive and would stand out, so that everybody would know it was me without saying "Is that Daniel? or is it Chris? or is it John?" It worked. The truck suits my personality, and people know who's coming at the very first glimpse of the grill. > Smooth-shifting tranny? Absolutely not... that thing is wild. Half the time, I can't tell what gear its in, because the shifter is out of whack. >Power? Probably the only plus that others would see in my truck. That thing will haul some serious ass.. when it's not broken. I gotta 351 V-8 from 1977 that will do some serious damage, topping 95 uphill in a 35-year-old truck with a rebuilt tranny and 5500 pounds of steel to lug. That's impressive to me, since it's mostly stock. >Handling? Absolutely horrible. No one else can handle the truck. I'm the only one that knows the feel and its capabilities. I also am the only one that can naturally compensate for the right-vearing caused by depressing the brakes. Also, there's no power steering, but that helped me build up my muscles, so now I'm stong. When you're under 50 mph, you can turn the wheel about 10 degrees without affecting the vehicle's direction in the least. Also, you usually have to hold the wheel at a slight angle to keep it heading straight. >Fuel economy? Non-existant. I get about 6 miles-per-gallon highway with that engine. >Comfort? Hmmm... no A/C... but it does have a heater. Seat is only comfortable to me, 'cause I spend all my time there. >Image? I like the image it gives off... stregnth and daring.... kinda redneckish. > Fun-value? Ahhhh yes.... there's nothing better. >Ease of performing basic maintenance? So much room under the hood!! before the days of fuel injection, A/C, power steering, etc. to clog things up. Basic maitenance is a snap. >Resale value? Will be higher than when I bought it, if I ever wanted to sell it, which I never will. This truck is my favorite thing in the world. All my money goes into it. >Customer service? Bought from a redneck with no guarantees... so I wasn't suprised when the transmission leaked out all the extra fluid he threw into it before he showed it to me and had to be rebuilt a month after purchase. My thoughts: No one else would want this truck in its present state, but I think they will be envious at school when I finish getting it buttoned up. I ruined a fender a few weeks ago and will be putting another on. Also, it needs some carburator work. All together, though, I will soon have a perfect truck. It's coming together slowly, and I would never dream of parting with it, even if I get a new car before college (but I probably won't, since I wanna go to school in New York). This truck is my pride-and-joy. Sometimes those who have not seen my speedy driving or have not looked at the size of the engine under the hood will make fun of it, calling it an old piece of crap, but when they do that, I dare them to ride in it with me outside of the city limits. After I drag them down a narrow, hilly, twisting dirt road topping 90, they soon beg my forgiveness, before they become one with the road. So, pretty much everyone respects my truck for what it is, but no one can love it quite like me.
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