i can't believe this shit...

so, we took my car to IMsL this past weekend. i tell Carolyn, "i'd trust my LIFE with this car... it will get us there and back no problem..."

Sunday on our way home we were making EXCELLENT time-- just after 40 minutes on the road we even caught up and passed friends of ours who left at least a half hour before us. we stop at Iowa 80, the World's Largest Truck Stop. as we are exiting the interstate, i start smelling burning rubber. now, with the Rabbit i got used to all the weird sounds and smells around me as probably BEING my car... but with the Corrado i don't have to worry as much... until NOW...

at first Carolyn and i assume that it is the stinky diesel bus in front of us, but i'm not completely convinced. then i see white smoke out the front grille. it's me, it's MY CAR...

we park quickly and open the hood. nothing. lingering smell, but no smoke. we are not overheating. maybe it WAS just the stinky bus.

we go eat. shop for truck stop type gifts... after an hour or so we get back into the car and head out. we even see another red Corrado on our way out (and exchange happy waves). so far no problems...

and then quickly the smell returns in full force. Carolyn sees more white smoke out the front on the passenger side. we make an illegal U-Turn crossing the Interstate and retun to the truck stop. there is a hotel very close by. we get a room and spend the night.

call the closest VW dealer in the morning. "How long are you in town?" they ask. "Well," i reply, "we are ONLY in town because of our breakdown." the dealer promises to get us in ASAP and then we call AAA.

the repair was the serpentine belt tensioner (and the smell was the serpentine belt rubbing and failing). $400 later we are back on the road with a new belt and tensioner. they got us on the road by 1:30.

after dropping off Carolyn at home in Chicago, i finally get home from IMsL at 8:00pm. my car repairs for the last three weeks now total $2000.

but at least my kittens are happy to see me.