The Reliability Complex

I had written an entire post yesterday in regards to the fighting game community, and had linked a video by a good friend (who just so happens to be a very good YouTube content creator). That post went into the garbage this morning; and this post is taking it’s place.

When you buy a new or used vehicle, you buy one for a variety of reasons; but mostly it’s what fits your unique situation. But a lot of said focus is specifically towards reliability. When you buy a traditional vehicle (not a electric one), there’s a certain percentage of the vehicle’s price that’s paid over it’s lifespan to fix broken things that happen. That’s not to say that electric vehicles are any better.

We had a friend of my daughter’s visit this week, and part of the reason he came was to look at, and subsequently work on both our cars. Despite being from two completely different manufacturers, they both exhibited the exact same problem. Both are older vehicles, with above average mileage on each. He was able to get my daughter’s car fixed no problem (at least that’s my understanding anyway), and he worked on our car last night, but it still had the same symptoms; and they manifested in a even worse way.

Today started with my grandchildren missing the bus for the second time in as many weeks. I was able to get my grandson Ju to school just fine, but had to come back and pick up my oldest granddaughter to take her to school. And the car broke down at least a dozen times, to the point where I had to let her out on a side street and she ended up walking to school. I felt so ashamed, and I knew she was disappointed in me. So I hobbled the car back home, and here I am; writing this. I feel that in light of everything recent (the cancer diagnosis, money troubles; and now transportation issues); that I should back away.