So I turned 117,000 miles today. That’s 1000 miles in just 3.5 weeks. Crazy talk, right? Maybe, but it’s also $485 income! During those miles, I filled up three times at about $45 per fill-up. So I take away about $350 from that, right?
It’s actually time for another oil change. The 900 had about 111,000 miles on it when I bought it in 01/2006. I promptly changed the oil, and it took me until 01/2007 to drive 3000 miles and I changed the oil again. Now it’s been just 4 months and I need to change it, though since I used full synthetic it can probably last a while longer.
Yesterday when I was loading my test equipment in to the car to drive to Burlington, I saw two crows fly off of the house, then I heard a “plink-plink” sound of something hitting the car. It was the biggest bird-crap attack ever. All over the roof, hood, windshield, and passenger side of the car. It’s very fortunate I wasn’t hit. I had to get out the hose and wash the car right then.
This morning while waiting for some data sheets to print before leaving home, I cleaned the cassette player with the demagnetizer, then with cotton swaps dipped in IPA. It really plays much better, much less underwater-sounding. I’ve also discovered that commercially manufactured cassettes are playing back better than the classic “mix tapes” I’ve been listening to. Talk about a blast from the past… I made those tapes all before 1996, so the newest ones are 11 years old. The oldest ones are from 1990 or 1991. I actually found a recording of my first radio show on KDUP 860 AM, the station of the University of Portland. I played Four Non Blondes, Madonna, Joe Jackson, and Ugly Kid Joe, among others. I was laughing the whole way up to Burlington.
I seldom see other Saabs, but today I saw several. On my way to lunch, a realtor was stopped on the corner of Josh Wilson and Farm-to-Market Road, putting out an Open House sigh, in her black 9-3 convertible, but the top was closed. Since I was at the stop sigh stopped with my window open, I told her that her car looked great, but that she should open the top. She merely said “thanks”. Then on the way home today just south of the Everett rest area I was coming upon a black ‘98 900 5-door in the carpool lane, and I saw a classic 900 4-door in the right lane. The passenger in the ‘98 saw my car, looked it over, and gave me a “thumb’s up” and a nod. I so seldom get any Saab driver acknowldegements, I was pretty excited. Evidently it doesn’t take much.
Tonight Ani drove the 900 to a school meeting, as her car was parked in. That’s the second time in the past week or 2 she has driven it. I think she likes it. The 900 makes a statement.
I’ve been thinking of commuting in the 900 in terms of “motoring”, rather than just commuting or driving. Every trip is an adventure. As long as the road is open and the weather is nice, it’s a great day to motor in the 900. Enjoy!
