"Oh I tell you you got to be crazy..."
Crazy-Free, The Dave Matthews Band
Today on CAR TALK on NPR, a woman named Rebecca called in and complained about her dad. He was paying for her car, it seems, and as part of the deal asked her to log mileage, oil changes, etc. in a little book. Rebecca decided tracking all these details was silly, and didn't do it. When she reported to her dad that she wasn't keeping up the log, he stopped paying for the car. I had the radio on in the background as I was doing some cleaning, so I didn't hear every detail. But I did hear Click and Click (the Tappet Brothers) say Rebecca's dad was "WACKO".
Now my whole family really likes cars - I guess growing up near Detroit can do that to you. My dad has a classic 1957 Thunderbird that he has restored over the years. I myself have a 1993 Mercury Capri convertible that I only drive on the dryest days of August. It's sweet: sixteen valves, dual overhead cams, and turbo-charged. It's destined also to be a classic, IMHO - the '93 body style was only available for 3 years, just like the classic T-Bird.
From our first teenage beaters (a Cortina and a Bronco) to our latest new car purchases (a Mariner Hybrid and a Rav 4) my family has maintained "little books" logging information for our vehicles.
Prompting my email to The Car Guys today:
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Dear Click & Clack:
I am really really worried after listening to your conversation with Rebecca, broadcast 5/28/2011.
My dad always keeps a book in each car he owns logging mileage, oil changes, tire rotations, new filters,repairs, etc. He's 78 and still does this, even when he's driving his restored '57 TBird in a local parade.
When my parents provided me with a car during high school and college, I also maintained the log. So did all 3 of my sisters, with their respective vehicles. (It takes like 3 seconds for each entry so I don't know why anyone would be inconvenienced by it...)
My sisters and I all graduated from college more than 20 years ago and we have all adopted this practice for our own vehicles over the years. With some convincing, now even our husbands and our driving-aged kids keep track.
While some passengers have raised their eyebrows as we updated our little books, the books have actually been tremendously valuable to us over the years. Examples: (1) purchase/warranty dates when repair paperwork was lost (2) tracking mileage for work and charity trips: the IRS auditor was super impressed!!! and (3) having an amazing record of the vehicle history to show when selling or trading in the vehicles.
Not to mention settling family arguments like do you really get better mileage using higher octane fuel or over inflating your tires?
Granted, we may be a little OCD, but I've never considered us WACKO. Until listening to the show today...
Could you perhaps take an survey of listeners and let us know what percentage also keep such a little book? Depending on the results, we may seek professional help. Or at least start logging in secret.
We're all looking forward to hearing your thoughts!
Thank you,
Donna in Idaho Falls, Idaho
P.S.(Our whole family listens to your show every week & actually discuss with each other. More proof that we're all WACKO?)
P.P.S. (Please reply soon. I am about to select a new health insurance plan and if I need a plan that covers mental health counseling, I'd like to know!)
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I don't know if Tom & Ray will get my note, or if they'll respond to it, so I'm doing my own survey.
Let me know if anyone else out there keeps a "car log"?
And do you think I'm crazy?
