argh

while driving to indy on saturday my car was acting weird. it wouldn't shift quite right, no acceleration, etc.

if i drive it real gently then it's fine. but if i step on it the car does nothing.

(and not being able to drive like a maniac is simply unacceptable. i actually couldn't pass someone on the freeway. how humiliating.)

i was thinking "transmission rebuild."

and then i was thinking "$2000."

and then i was thinking "hmmmm, new saab..."

so my car is in the shop. i've rented a car to drive in the interim. i was all excited about renting a car--cool, i'll rent something fun. my choices for last minute rental yesterday afternoon: monte carlo or buick lesabre.

well, i won't drive a buick on principle. so i'm stuck with the monte carlo. so much for something cool and unusual for me.

the good news / bad news problem is this: apparently my first problem isn't transmission related. it's my catalytic converter. apparently the baffling inside it is corroded and disintegrated, which blocks exhaust airflow. quite simply, my car is choking. it can't exhale. and thus it can't inhale properly. and that screws everything else up too.

so they're fixing that. parts aren't available 'til late today, done tomorrow afternoon.

only then will they be able to diagnose my transmission.

it's good news if it's just the exhaust system...i'll get off (relatively) cheap. if it's the exhaust and transmission problems...well, that new car option is looking better and better...

discipline, brian, discipline.