I need help sabotaging MY car!

[catthatter]

Help! With 236,000 + miles on it, my 98 Ford Escort Wagon refuses to die! Any ideas how I can really discreetly sabotage my own car so my husband will give in and buy a new one? He's this close to getting that new car, but this little Escort stills runs well, so he needs a "little help" if you know what I mean. The tinkering needs to be safe (kids and I still use this car daily, but I can certainly "plan" ahead) and hopefully not obvious. He is not a mechanic, but he knows how a car runs and it's common problems. There's got to be something discreet I can do to mess up the engine a little?!

[fredjacksonsan]

Wow, I'd say if it's still running strong at 236K, it's definitely a keeper! I'd want to hold onto it, especially since your husband is aware of the mechanical situation. The cost difference is enormous!

However if you feel that you MUST destroy the engine in a perfectly good survivor car, there are numerous ways to do so. I'd feel guilty suggesting any of them though, since I used to have an old station wagon myself that wouldn't die, which I drove for several years.


EDIT:

OK, after a little thought, here's a suggestion that's better than destroying a perfectly good car.

You can donate your car to many different charitable organizations, and get a tax break on it (if you itemize) based on the value of the car, which YOU set.

You could make the argument to your husband that since you're carting around the kids every day, that the safety of the new car would be greater than what you're currently driving. Suggest things like crash ratings, antilock brakes (if you don't have them on the Escort) and handling of the car you'd like to have.

[BrodyP]

mmmm get a job and buy a new one yourself..

[Cl0ak]

Originally Posted by catthatter

Help! With 236,000 + miles on it, my 98 Ford Escort Wagon refuses to die! Any ideas how I can really discreetly sabotage my own car so my husband will give in and buy a new one?

Be careful what you ask for you might just get it, next car he buys you is going to be a 95 with 300,000 miles. Talk to him and let him know you think you need a new car. If I found out my wife pulled something like that on purpose..she wouldn't be enjoying a new car for a long time, i'd get her a nice moped.

[stieh2000]

Damn, I dodn't even know a Ford escort could last 236k mi. So much for Found on Road Dead

But if want to live up to that accromym, when the car is parked, pull a spark plug, fill the cylinder with water, and put the plug back. The next you go to start it up, the incompressable water WILL cause somthing to break

[Andydg]

Drain the oil and take it for a spin...

[Jimster]

You could always you know.... Get a job and finance one yourself?

[VR43000GT]

Throw a 6G72 into it and it should be done dealing about a week. That has been my experience anyway.

[Jimster]

Seriously though, there are millions of people who would kill to have any form of vehicular transport, let alone one with <500,000 miles on the clock. It's self-centered (Somewhat) American bullshit.

Are you also fat?

[DavidKim91]

wow...
i would kill to have that car..
me being a young kid that desperately needs a car.. lol
and plus.. what is wrong with the escort.. you said it runs perfect and all..
dont kow why you would want to get rid of it

[Toksin]

Oh man, this thread is going to deliver. I can feel it.

[CamaroKid1973]

Don't do it man

[2.2 Straight six]

Nothing wrong with high mileage.

my friend has a Hilux his dad bought new in '92, it did 920,000 miles on the original engine (which still runs strong) before he dropped in a Cummins 5.9, and that's now done over 200,000 miles.

so the chassis' covered some 1,120,000 miles.

[Damien]

Hell if it gets more than 15mpg I'll be glad to take it off your hands and it's still running that well. Sell my jeep, just inc ase anything goes wrong i'll have money. That thing needs to be in a museum!

[taranaki]

Lock him out of the bedroom until he buys you a new one. This strategy worked eventually for my wife - I left the ungrateful witch and she got to choose her own replacement transport [and pay for it].

Not caving in to the lazy cow was the best thing I ever did. if you want a better car, get off your butt and go earn one!