OT Febuary Chit Chat

[Sunshine]

I second that if you can afford it, you're gonna need a new one eventually, so get it now while you need it and can use it, no?

[Jeanie Z]

:) I cannot afford to get a new one or even a good used one. I have been withdrawing money regularly from my retirement funds and they have dwindled to almost none.

I have no house payment and no car payment now and just get by. I splurged to save my teeth and will have to hit the retirement again when the last installment is due the 16th.

Jim is going to come on Wednesday and follow me out there to leave my van. I will get Andy to pick me up. I just pray they can get it fixed right and it will keep working. Jeanie :)

[Howie]

Just keep it in mind. You could get a used one, and trade that one in on it, and the payments would be pretty low. But work on your current loans, and get them paid off. We just don't want to see you with no wheels, and your current one won't last forever. Only my Ghia can do that!

[Jeanie Z]

:) Howie a ramp van with all the things on it mine has runs over $60,000.00 now. Even good used ones are over $25,000.00. I was lucky a member of the MS weekly support group I led for eleven years had bought it new in 2000.

When he died his wife let me have it for $5000.00 as that had been an offer a medical supply had given her. I borrowed some money from my Mother and bought it. All the papers showed she had had it serviced every 3000 miles and it only had about 80,000 miles on it. Susan donated the money I paid for it to MS research.

It now has 126,000 miles on it. I never expected the ramp to have problems. I hope it is fixable. Jeanie :)

[Howie]

WOW that's a heap of money. I had no idea they were that much. Speaking as a car person, if you can get the ramp and any other special equipment in good shape, everything on the van can be rebuilt. Engine, transmission, and front and rear suspension. I guess take it one day at a time, the motto I live by!

[Catdancer]

There are after-market ramps available that a good car restoration guy might be able to fit to your van. The one there, after all, was fitted into your van when it was built originally. Sounds like the vehicle itself if in good shape. I'd be looking for a dealer in accessible vans and ask who their supplier is. Your repair guys might be good at car repair, but the lift is beyond their skill level. You don't need a whole new vehicle, just a new lift!

[Parsi]

Someone had suggested to me the site GoFundMe for something. Would that be a possibility?

[Virginia]

Jeanie, would Cat's idea be doable for you? Sounds like a good one if it is. I do hate to think of you being without transportation.

[Parsi]

Howie, are you sporting a yellow Ghia as your avator? Does Pinky know?

[Jeanie Z]

:) The mobility place installs them and is certified as experts in Braun equipment. If they can't fix it I will contact Braun and see what they suggest. My mechanic will not touch the ramp system. I'm sure he could but does not want to.

Tonight I am going through the drive through to get my RX's. Jim is supposed to come tomorrow to help me get the van to them. Jeanie :)

[Cat Dancer]

:) The mobility place installs them and is certified as experts in Braun equipment. If they can't fix it I will contact Braun and see what they suggest. My mechanic will not touch the ramp system. I'm sure he could but does not want to.

Tonight I am going through the drive through to get my RX's. Jim is supposed to come tomorrow to help me get the van to them. Jeanie :)

O

Oh, good! I wasn't aware that you were already in touch with the manufacturer of the lift system. Do ask if a total replacement of the system is possible...while expensive, it certainly would be cheaper than a new van. And you've already spent a lot of money on repairs that haven't worked! Better to put that towards a new workable system. And if you do that, you'd be able to recoup your losses should you decide later to sell the whole van.

[Sunshine]

Ok. This makes sense. Good luck.

[Howie]

Howie, are you sporting a yellow Ghia as your avator? Does Pinky know?

Shhhhhh...don't tell, you know I'll have a new avatar shortly. That's just something I do to keep me busy, look at pictures of all kinds, and save a few for avatars.

[stillstANNding]

Peg,

How's your cellulitis?

ANN

[jendie]

Shhhhhh...don't tell, you know I'll have a new avatar shortly. That's just something I do to keep me busy, look at pictures of all kinds, and save a few for avatars.

I wondered about the yellow instead of pink. It really caught my attention because Tom's new car is yellow, a Kia, not a Ghia.