Whilst we're getting all emotional, and making excuses for getting rid of our birds.....
I got my first 35th just after leaving Parris Island in late 95. I had it 8-9 months, and had what I image was as slowly leaking HG, but I was young, nieve, and coudn't find anyone to diagnose the problem, so I had to get rid of it.
I'm throwing myself at ya'lls mercy here, so brace yourselves.... I traded it in on a 96 grand prix, not only did I sell the 35th, I traded it it for a GM. I should have been shot. But I guess I could have done worse, and bought a lancer wid a big wing on the back
I had the grand prix about 6 months, there is only so much gutless 4banger that a guy can handle. so then I began the search for another SC... Not may SCs in Yuma AZ, so I ended up with a dodge intrepid. I had the one with a 24 valve 3.5, so it was actually reasonably fast for the size car it was. But still missed the SC! The SC was the only car I knew of that I was really ever satisfied with.
In 2000, I finally found another 35th, and drove it a little for 6 months or so, but by then we had a son, and the wife had traded in her silly little 2000 cougar for a Lincoln Towncar! Don't get me wrong, that car was awesome! But my wife somehow ended up with my 99 F150 ext cab, and I ended up with the towncar, so then we had 3 cars, and couldn't really afford to keep all of em registered, maintained and running, so I sold the towncar, and tore into the list of stuff the 35th needed done; which was mostly cosmetic, cept motor mounts.
Been driving it for 3 years now, some 120+ mile days 2-3 day a week when I was in school, in addition to 50+ miles a day to and from work. The 35th recently began to have ABS probelms, and I began a round of mods and such, so its been down for a about 2 months now, and it's driving me MAD!
Funny thing is, I always read alot people here consider the SCs to be unreliable, but I have only had my SC strand me once, and that was a water pump.
Sure a 15 year old car requires some upkeep, but I always think of the other option of a 300-400 car payment! Maybe some of you guys just can't keep form squallin' tires all over the place, and beating on your cars??? But I've been known to "open up the carbueretor" ever now and again
But I find this car to be very reliable if you keep up maintanence!
Anyways, enough rambling, I am definately in for the long haul! I don't know how many I'll have, but I will eventually need another one so I can properly restore the 35th, and have it garaged, and drive it on Sundays.