Got A New Car . . .

Got a new car, an Explorer. My old Mountaineer was beginning to evidence some problems of age. The tranny was acting kind of funny when cold, like the internals were sticking. Time for a brake job. Air conditioner a bit on the weak side, still fine but probably needed a tune up. And, oh yeah, it had 93,000 miles and was gonna be due for the 100,000 mile check up. And these vehicles resale value drop like a rock after a 100,000 miles.

So it was time. Either keep the old one for another 50,000 miles and do all the maintenance or get a new one, at least new to me.

I got a 2010 with 17,000 miles on it. It has extra seats in the back, fold down electrically, rear cooling/heating system (got to take care of the third row passengers). It also has dual heating/cooling system that Judie likes. Tan interior and black exterior (not sure I like that too much, but . . .). Electric front seats on both sides (the old one just had that stuff on the driver's seat), heated seats, passenger side air bags and media control on the steering wheel. It has Sync for the cell phones but does not have the navigation system (I think I can find my way around). Got satellite radio too.

So it is a bit of an up grade to the old vehicle, a bit more modern.

I have already installed my model stuff in the back. That is easily removed and will be removed when the Jacob Morrisons arrive. I am sure grandson Will will be installed in the third row. We shall see.

It has got a funking gas filler. You just push the pump nozzle into it. Kind of hard to add additives if you do that kind of thing. They give you a special little funnel for that.

Basically, it is the same vehicle with more modern accoutrements in it. And all the rest is the same. Except this vehicle is black instead of tan. And it is Ford and not a Mercury or a Lincoln. But that is just fine as they no longer make the Mercury and Lincoln does not make their equivalent to Explorer any more either. So it is a spiffy newer vehicle and I do not have to worry about the 100,000 maintenance routine (new plugs, belts, etc.).