End of an Era - The Final Episode

1999 Grand Caravan (less bumper)

It was inevitable. The car is old. My time is limited. I don't have the space to work on it.

We had to get rid of the van.

The car we had to buy we found out Mary was going to be joining the family back in '99. The car that could comfortably fit all those car-seats. The car we took on many a happy family trip.

It had fulfilled its purpose.

So many memories.

So many good times.

Sold to the junk yard.

I feel as though I must apologize to the van, though. Were it not of the accidental circumstance of the transmission case being destroyed by the evil muffler, we would still be able to use it for various things, like fetching supplies from the hardware store, teaching Mary to drive, ferrying other people's children to various high school events (e.g. Robotics). And we would have used it for quite a while longer, or at least until we found some young family looking for a cheap, reliable means of transportation.

Perhaps it is best that it end up being parted out. It had a good life, but the body was getting worse (thanks to that Michigan road salt!). And it was going to be a pain to keep maintaining it. We had just put new shocks in the back, but it still needed a new sway bar and some brake work; and I'm certain there were a million other little things just waiting for their chance to go bad.

I'm sad to see it go. It was a great car. And I love vans - but it is not likely that we'll be purchasing another one any time soon.

The kids are nearly all grown up.

Driving in four different directions at once.

Not much interested in family trips, anyway.

It's not cool to hang out with parents.

And they probably wouldn't want to be seen in such an un-cool car.

Good-bye, Grand Caravan! It was nice while it lasted!