60,000 Miles & There Goes the Warranty

G says I'm driving my van until it can't go anymore. That's another 10 years in his opinion, give or take. It is five years old and the last payment was made in May. There are those out there who trade their vehicles every couple of years, and usually almost always have a car payment. I'm not one of those people. I like to pay it off and get the satisfaction of driving it around for at least the same number of years it took to claim it all as mine, if not more. So I calculate another five years before it loses life completely and I am forced to buy another vehicle, one that will be far more improved and likeable than the one I am driving now, which was all the rage back when I bought it in 2000.

So of course, once I hit the magic 60,000 mark, things started to break. I'm sure they didn't come up with that number because it sounded nice, but more because that is when the automibile industry and all its affiliates make a large part of their profits, in the "replacement" category.

Back in late summer, the driver side window went. Had it been under warranty, I would have expedited that vehicle to the garage for repair as soon as possible. But of course, I had exceeded 60,000 miles, and I despise paying for things like that, things that are more than likely a quick fix but that which would cost me much more than I would want to pay. So, the power switch started hiccupping now and then. I'd press the button to have the window go halfway down, and it would go all the way down. I'd press it to go up a little, and it would go all the way up. Gradually, the hiccups became more frequent and more challenging, until I got good enough to work that magic button to my advantage, thereby buying time before I'd be forced to take it in for a "replacement".

Fast forward to New England winter and the days where I used to be able to negotiate the button in drive-thrus. By now, I was having to get out of my vehicle to do banking transactions, pick up prescriptions, and indulge the boys in their favorite fast food. The window's function is much more appreciated this time of year than say, when I would be forced to do these things in nicer weather. Still, getting that window fixed is not on my list of priorities, and I could live with it broken for as long as I had to. How often would I have to go through toll booths anyway? So what if I have to open the door to do that transaction. There are worse things.

I decided to take a chance last night and went through the drive-thru for the boys' dinner. If I handled the button gently in getting the window down, surely I could do the same in getting it up. It may require me to shut the vehicle off while at a red light, but once I turn it back on, the window would automatically go up, as it has proven to do so many times before.

But I lost the gamble. The window wouldn't budge. The cold brisk wind blowing in my hair was oh so refreshing as I drove home. My attempts to get it up before I headed to work were futile once again, so I was forced to park it with the window down. Thankfully, it wasn't snowing or raining and even better, I was given the opportunity to go home since it wasn't busy, and go home I did, that cold wind blowing on my face once again. It is only 5 miles, so my face barely had time to get numb.

This morning, I went out early to try to work it. A screwdriver, even two physician's clamps, couldn't persuade that window to go up. I conceded to the damn window and returned back inside to tell G I had to take his car and maybe if he had time, he might look at the window and get it up. Naturally, having turned the vehicle off then on again, did the trick, and up it went, even after all the jostling and banging I did to the button.

I promise I will not touch the button again. I will continue to avoid drive-thrus. And I will still keep getting the window fixed off my priority list. I can live with it. Because it's not under warranty and I can think of many more things on which I'd rather spend my money. It's only 5 more years, give or take. How bad could it be?