A Luxury Moment in the Harsh World of Vehicle Repairs

I’m writing/posting  this from the waiting area at Maita Toyota where my Prius is getting some TLC. Free coffee, wireless, big screen TV and ample seating. This is a luxury moment in my decades of car ownership. These horror stories come to mind.

1963 VW bug stolen from the parking lot at the apartment complex I lived in, circa 1974. Never found. No insurance. The vehicle had just been serviced, mostly by me, the day before it disappeared.

1993 Suburban—my only dance with a big vehicle—blown engine at 50,000 miles—no warrantee.

1979 BMW 521i: major repair every three months for big bucks.

1965 Mustang GTI: muscle car that lost everything in 1970—kingpins, transmission and extreme body rust.

But the winner of total pain is a 1974 Datsun 710 with a blown engine at 36,500 miles—500 miles past the new vehicle warrantee. Dealer wouldn’t budge. Went into hock for repairs.