This has been the worst Friday ever... ;_;

"K-Roll-PorscheTamer" (k-roll390)
06/19/2015 at 19:05 • Filed to: :( Vent

Got pulled over for the first time in 3 years of driving, and now I can’t afford to fix the 944 right now....Just FML. Venting session incoming, just as a warning. Read at your own risks.

Since I work at a local swim club for the summer, I’ve been put in charge of keeping track of the junior tennis teams as an assistant tennis coach. This morning we had an away match at Lifetime Fitness in Rochester Hills(about 30 minutes away) and I was told it was to start at 10:30am. I suck at directions when it comes to going to new places, so I use maps on my iPhone, but Siri and Ford’s SYNC like to troll me often and intermittently; randomly telling me when to turn and such either at the very last minute or right after I turn. As a result, I usually have to periodically check my phone and look at the written directions and map to see if I’m going the right way. More on that later.

Frustratingly, I don’t get there until 11am. Frantically looking for anyone for the tennis match. I end up calling my advisor, who tells me I was told wrong, and that it starts at 12pm and to just wait until then. It’s at that point after hanging up that I realize, “SHIT, I forgot the team lineup!”. So I get back on the freeway, M-59 and speed back home.

Unfortunately, on the freeway I didn’t know that at a certain point, a mile 1/4 before it ends, the speed limit changes from 70 to 55. And at that moment where the speed changes, I had my phone up checking to see what exit was next or where I had to turn next. A cop was sitting just at that 1 1/4 mile point as I drove past him. I saw him so I put my phone down accordingly having figured out where I was going, but then I saw him turn. I prayed that it wasn’t something I did, but it was as his lights came on and he pulled up right behind me. For one, my luck with never getting pulled over ended today, and I was pulled over. There are a series of thoughts going on in my head as my heart is racing, sick feeling in stomach, and my anxiety kicks in to overdrive as I try to keep a cool head. Thought’s such as...

This is it, the end for me!

I’m a dead man now!! (o_O)

I’m going to be shot!! ;_;

This is gonna burn the rest of the money I have NOOOOO!!

Are ringing in my thought bubble.

The cop was actually rather kind, asking me if I knew why he pulled me over; I honestly didn’t know at the time but thought that it was that I had my phone up, it wasn’t that. He got me doing 84 in a 55 and I hadn’t realized that I was going that fast. I think he realized this was the first time I’d been pulled over, as my hands and voice were shaking and I was struggling to keep conversation going. I guess I should be lucky I didn’t get a ticket; probably the only good thing about today.

I finally got home and grabbed the crucial team lineup and got back, at 12:25. By then, the teams had already been sent out in a cluster fuck and since we were missing so many people, it was just FUBAR for me. Felt like such a fuckup and a failure.

After that, I ran to the Munk’s, the shop working on the 944, to see if there was an update on the inspection. They had finished it yesterday, and this is where the second worst part of my day happened. I got the list of things that were wrong, here’s just a few of them, some of which I knew, others I didn’t.

The front struts were completely blown

The Control arm bushings were worn, torn, or completely collapsed on both sides

Excessive wheel bearing play from the front wheels

Brake lines, outer tie rod boots are cracking and ect.

Essentially, Erika has been driving/running on broken legs for months and I hadn’t realized it until then, as I was just thinking worn bushings. :(

The inspection itself will cost me $230, I can barely cover it, but survive it; the cost of the parts and labor to put this all right, not so much. I get an official statement Monday or Tuesday, but I’m looking at roughly $1500-2000 to get her back to 100%, and that doesn’t even include re-tensioning the belts and putting on my new Alternator belt.

It would, and most likely will take me months to get that money, on top of covering the ST’s monthly payments and any other things that may come up in the future. I knew I’d have to make some expensive things at some point, that wasn’t even a question; I just didn’t think so soon, the timing is just shitty for me. At this rate, no matter how many hours I work between my two jobs, I see no possible way i can have the cash ready for repairs by the Dream Cruise, or even by the end of the summer period, that’s just about put a bullet in my summer plans and downright ruined the summer in a big way for me. I didn’t really have much to look forwards to this summer besides enjoying driving my 944. With everyone being busy and working or doing something else, hanging out with friends, or forgetting I exist, again...But that’s not happening now. It would take a miracle to get everything put right, and miracles are bullshit in my opinion; it’d be nice if one happened just this one time. I wish I had more money, and a higher paying job(s), such is life, and life is a bitch.

This all is just depressing for me, I guess I’m supposed to be optimistic and hope for the best, but even that seems like a bit much to do. I reckon something will sort this out or something will happen and things will be better, whatever that might be....Here’s some optimism:

Yeah! Optimism!! Now I just have to get through work for another hour, faking every smile as people come into the store..

DISCUSSION (29)

CB > K-Roll-PorscheTamer
06/19/2015 at 19:10

That sucks, bud. As for your summer being ruined? You might just have to improvise, but I don’t think it will be as bad as you think it will be. Just try to chill out tonight and figure out a plan tomorrow.

K-Roll-PorscheTamer > CB
06/19/2015 at 19:12

I literally have to save every cent I have, and it’s not much at all. No more relaxing night drives for me, the only non-important expense I can think of. ;_;

And I’m going to do what I do every day now. Get up early in the morning, and go to work, then go home and sit around alone and do nothing trying to figure out where I went wrong in life even though I’m only 19 and am too young to even ask myself that but I will anyway because I’ve nothing better to do.

CB > K-Roll-PorscheTamer
06/19/2015 at 19:13

Night walks or night bicycle rides could be an alternative. Or ask your parents if you can take out the 911 every once in a while?

themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles > K-Roll-PorscheTamer
06/19/2015 at 19:13

Step 1) talk to the guys and let them know you’re on a budget and will need to do the work on your own. They understand.

Step 2) Ask the mechanic who did the inspection for any further insights they saw. Maybe any hints or tips if they worked on 944s before

Step 3) RockAuto.com and ebay are your friends. Get a partslsit, and check thigns off as things end up on sale

Step 4) Get the tools, get the parts, get the pizzas, and have a good old fashioned Wrench Weekend! Invite friends or oppos over and have a hoedown on the 944. I’ve done my fair share, including my own Fiesta and the old bierwagen. Hell we did coilovers, brakes, and some engine work on a 98 jetta in about 8 drunken hours. How hard can a 944 be when I’m sober?

K-Roll-PorscheTamer > CB
06/19/2015 at 19:14

That’s in the shop too, and I’m trying to pay for that as well for Father’s day. I’ve overextended myself and I’m reaping the stress of work and life and lack of funds all together with no breaks.

And I forgot how to ride a bike...

TheD0k_2many toys 2little time > K-Roll-PorscheTamer
06/19/2015 at 19:15

its sucks but you bought an 80’s car. that stuff is basic maintenance. Only bad thing about older cars. Hopefully you have a better weekend and have fun

K-Roll-PorscheTamer > themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles
06/19/2015 at 19:20

They already know I’m on a budget, I got some leeway on the price of the inspection but there’s no way I can possibly get the work done at the shop within my budget. The shop is Porsche/Euro-specific shop, and the 944 mechanic is a friend of mine who’s worked on them for years, I got the full rundown on what’s up and what should be a priority.

I could maybe try doing the work myself as I had done before with the belts and cam gasket, but like with most things, I’d be working at it alone as always; and all this is overwhelming for me honestly. Everyone else is always busy or doing something else when I need help most; just my shitty timing I reckon.

K-Roll-PorscheTamer > TheD0k_2many toys 2little time
06/19/2015 at 19:20

I’ll be trying to..

CaptDale - is secretly British > themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles
06/19/2015 at 19:21

Step 4 is a great idea. That way you can wrench on your car and have your buddies over that you may not have seen in a while.

themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles > K-Roll-PorscheTamer
06/19/2015 at 19:21

Also, there’s like 5 german car junkyards on the west side of the state. I can browse for some 944s and see if they might have the front suspension in decent enough shape. I almost bought some junkyard coilovers for my jetta since I found a donor that was hit in the side. 100$ for all 4 corners.

K-Roll-PorscheTamer > themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles
06/19/2015 at 19:24

Well at this point, I’d just like brand new struts, I see no point in getting used ones, since the one’s I have are literally dead. And then I might as well replace all the worn out stuff with new stuff since I’m already doing so....Such a hurdle I’ll have to jump over.

themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles > K-Roll-PorscheTamer
06/19/2015 at 19:24

Or you just aren’t asking Oppoland. THere’s like 2 dozen in the detroit area alone. Another half dozen or so on the west side. Yamahog has a jeep, I have a hatchback, dwhite has......his personality, JKER is always on a bike so he’s useless (zing!) but we can even haul some parts from here and there if we find them.

TheD0k_2many toys 2little time > K-Roll-PorscheTamer
06/19/2015 at 19:29

make the most out of it. it beautiful outside. go take a walk and blow off some steam. or work on a vehicle. I have 5 to work on...

K-Roll-PorscheTamer > themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles
06/19/2015 at 19:30

Admittedly I’m not really asking any particular Oppos, I’m not good at asking for this kind of help really. :(

Would you like to help? If I end up trying to do this myself?

themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles > K-Roll-PorscheTamer
06/19/2015 at 19:36

Iagree, unless you can get very low mileage stuff for cheap. KYB GR-2s are 80$ each for your 944. Before shipping. In westland, there’s a junker who has brand new front struts for the Koni sport suspension for your car. I’d offer 100$ for the pair. If not, then walk away, but give it a try. CHeck this link out. Look at the first listing.

For mounts, I would definitely go new over used. You don’t save enough money and mounts can wear away just as badly due to age as use.

Also, for about 60$ you can get the bigger 23mm sport sway bar from a junkyard near my place. If you don’t have one, let me know. Rears aren’t that expensive either. But I think for parts you might only be out 300-500$ all said and done. Labor is the cost of about 2-4 pizzas and maybe a minikeg of beer. So about 100$ and a weekend.

See if you can do an odd job or two off craigslist like help people move or detail cars or something and get some free cash going. If you let Oppo know, some of us can probably volunteer a few hours over a weekend and help you get it working.

K-Roll-PorscheTamer > themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles
06/19/2015 at 19:47

My car doesn’t have Koni suspension though...

I’m not sure what size sway bar I have, I’ll have to check and see.

The rear is actually in good shape according to the inspection so I’m not concerned with the rear as much as I am with the front. I reckon I could try limping the car home and giving it a go. If I could do it for $3-500, THAT would be the miracle, but I cannot do it by myself.

themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles > K-Roll-PorscheTamer
06/19/2015 at 19:48

make a thread and see the response. 5$ says you get a handful of us interested. Unless it’s the weekend of the dream cruise, I probably can. Just do a generic “If I asked for help, could a few oppos bring tools down some weekend in July/August?” thread and see what happens. Stef might even show up and you can be jalopnik famous! Just........jsut make sure you don’t pull a me.

themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles > K-Roll-PorscheTamer
06/19/2015 at 19:49

It *can* have a koni suspension ;)

ANd like I said, write up a parts list and price it all out. Top to bottom. Rockauto.com and ebay.com to start. But then don’t be afraid to ask around.

K-Roll-PorscheTamer > themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles
06/19/2015 at 19:50

And then I’ll need to have an alignment too, I can’t do that can I?

themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles > K-Roll-PorscheTamer
06/19/2015 at 19:55

No. That’ll be about 80-100$ after the fact at a legit shop. But a 944 is simple enough a firestone place will be fine. Just make sure you trust them.

K-Roll-PorscheTamer > themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles
06/19/2015 at 19:56

I’ve never been to one. I guess I’ll throw a dart at a map and give one a try huh.

AntiLag > K-Roll-PorscheTamer
06/19/2015 at 20:37

I was in a similar situation, minus even having the Porsche, and my daily was a super shitty V6 dodge magnum with awd and no sway bars even manufactured by anyone to be installed so I could mitigate some of that ridiculous body roll. I was miserable. 20 years old, working 8-9 hours a day in a warehouse with no A/C in LA heat. Barely making enough to pay rent and take my girlfriend out every once in a while. Then... some dude in an F150 spontaneously decided to do a U-turn from the right lane and smashed into me. Now I’m in an NB Miata and feeling a lot better about life, and things in general. Things can change very quickly. You just gotta keep your head up, and try not to let the bullshit pull it down. Trying to keep up with a 944 at our age with the kind of jobs we have seems crazy to me though! You’re a trooper dude.

AntiLag > K-Roll-PorscheTamer
06/19/2015 at 20:44

I say sell the 944 for what you can, and get a motorcycle or a dirtbike to play around with over the summer. You’ll have a ton of fun, meet new people, and I doubt the 944’s will go up in price much in the near future, should you decide to sell the bike and get back into a Porsche when the money situation is looking a bit better.

DrScientist > K-Roll-PorscheTamer
06/19/2015 at 20:46

1) im usually not a proponent of used parts, especially suspension, and never tires.

BUT, 944s are frequently set for track duty, and as such, there may be some reasonably used second hand struts. scour ebay, craigslist, and the rennlist classifieds

2) bushings are typically not a signficant outlay. id be surprised if theyre more than $50 for all that you need

3) repacking the bearings may require tools and equipment you dont have, but you may be able to ask a friendly mechanic, machine shop or vocational school to use their equipment for an afternoon

4) brake lines will be difficult with no experience. but start pricing out the parts, check rennlist and renntech. there is likely a diy sheet. study, and keep your eyes out for sales or coupons or whatever.

5) tie rod boots are small pieces of plastic, maybe $10

6) “ect” is actually spelled “etc.” it is an abbreviation for the latin et cetera , which means “and other things.” so also, including “and” before “etc” is redundant.

also, dont confuse with et al. which is the abbreviation for the latin et alia. which means “and other people.”

sorry, pet peeve.

K-Roll-PorscheTamer > AntiLag
06/19/2015 at 20:49

Getting a bike or motorcycle for myself is more of a deathwish than driving an old Porsche; and I’ve tried both to different extents. And selling the 944 would be the greatest failure I’d ever commit to myself for my life and sanity. I’d be stuck driving my reliable and boring AF ST...

MM54 > K-Roll-PorscheTamer
06/19/2015 at 20:52

Sorry to hear that, rough day. If it’s any consolation, just remember - things have a tendency to work out for the better.

Where are you located? None of those parts sound outside the scope of a couple weekends in a garage/driveway in terms of labor, an the aftermarket is good (please don’t be like my one friend who let himself get ripped off for every little thing on his 944 by thinking he HAD to use OEM parts). If you’re not too far I’m always down to help on a car.

AntiLag > K-Roll-PorscheTamer
06/19/2015 at 21:39

Bro, you have an ST. That’s fun car that you can totally learn to hoon with. Whether it’s Fiesta or a Focus, both of those cars can be a ton of fun. Take it to an empty field, and master lift off oversteer. Find the Colin McRae within you.

Justino6969 > K-Roll-PorscheTamer
06/19/2015 at 23:20

You didn’t get a ticket for 29 over?! Count your lucky stars, kid.

aquila121 > K-Roll-PorscheTamer
06/20/2015 at 00:44

Man, you dodged a huge bullet by not getting a ticket for that 84 in a 55 mph zone. That’s all kinds of lucky, and otherwise your funds would be in even more dire straits. Think about that for a while, and hopefully you’ll be able to relax a little more about this whole situation. Secondly, you said you knew some stuff was wrong with the 944, so of course that’s going to cost some money—but it’s not the end of the world, it just moves back that wonderful day when everything’s fixed. Keep hard at work and maintain some added patience, soon you’ll be rewarded with some positive ends. Also, you’re still on the young side, most jobs suck and pay shit at that point in life. There’s all kinds of time to work towards your goals and have fun. If you can get the car back to where you want it by the end of winter, that could be great, and in the meantime, go hang out at some car stuff to keep your spirits up.