Farewell, Old Friend.

[music man]

Originally Posted by alanmcorcoran

Failed attempt at humor above. Didn't make sense to me either, but we've been over it.... and over it and over it.

Part of the problem I think is that I don't have an innate ability to buy things cheaply and have them work out. I know other people have this ability (to find incredible bargains), but, within limits, I generally find the more I pay for something, the less trouble I have with it. I know this is neither rational or logical but ever since I have had this attitude, life has generally been a lot easier for me. Probably just dumb luck, but whatever the reason, I stopped looking for $2000 cars a long time ago. That being said, I think if Jonathan puts his mind to it, he'll make it work. If you have more time than money, your approach to solving problems is going to look different.

In the late seventies, I drove a moped for three years, in real winters too, and everyone I knew thought I was crazy. But with a suspended driver license, no ability to afford insurance or car payments, no money for campus parking (and, no space for campus parking) it was the only way I could figure out how to get to school and my job short of walking. My first one got ripped off, and I actually borrowed money to buy a second (cheaper!) one. I don't remember what happened to that one... I suspect something not good. I am grateful I don't have to choose between a decent car and a motorcycle and I hope I retain that option for as long as I can ride/drive.

(I also lack the ability to sell used things to third parties at a decent price and without entanglements. I can remember more than one of my "pre-owned" sales from when I was at "Garage de France" coming back to the dealership on the back of a flatbed.) (Yes, the name of the dealership was "Garage de France." It does not exist anymore, but it lived on Rt. 13 in Ithaca for many years. Peugeot, Mercedes, Datsun [Nissan.] Dude that owned it's first name was Jacques. French? Probably.)

With some people(Okay Me) whether to buy or not to buy and look for 2,000 dollar cars (or motorcycles for that matter) is not a choice, it is a survival skill. I personally wish I had the money so I didn't have to look for cheap transportation that I have to worry about and work on all the time, but I don't so I don't have a choice. I don't know Jonathan's money situation(nor do I want to) but I am assuming since he seems like he has a fairly good head on his shoulders, I would imagine despite the confusing way he put what he was doing, He has a very good reason for it.

If I thought I needed to to make my not so well oiled of a machine of life go smoother, I would sell my bike to somebody right this second, or this computer I am typing on or my T.V. or anything else I own, without a moment of regret, because that is life. I have went from having everything I have wanted (besides 10 million dollars) LOL, to having literally nothing but the clothes on my back, to having everything I wanted again so many times, that I have accepted it as reality. So I would say that when he sold his bike he thought he needed or had to for the good of his family, and as far as I am concerned there is no other explanation needed.

Later

[jonathan180iq]

I think the Man of Music nailed it.
To be honest, I didn't think this thread would cause such a detailed conversation. I expected you guys to come in here and tell me how life simply can't go on without me around or something sweet and tender like that. Then I would surprise you guys by telling you I hadn't really sold the GZ and your lives would return to a state of peace, only to be shattered again when I confessed of my lie.

I don't know how else to state the reason that I sold the bike. But I do think some of you are jumping ahead of my statements to assume that my intention was to sell the bike for both a car and a scoot. The fact of the matter is that I sold the bike for a car. Period. The fact that I found a decent enough car for a cheap enough price that I am able to get something with two wheels is a bonus. If I couldn't have done that. I wouldn't have.

I don't buy $1200 scooters. Those chinese bikes that non-mechanical people bought back in the summer and are sitting alone now in their front yards are selling between $600-$1000. Also, the GZ was worth a little more than $1500.

So, I found a nice, plush '85 Saab for $850. It had some problems like idling high and overheating at redlights when the A/C wasn't turned on. For all of $8, I have fixed those two problems, which were associated with each other. So my previous statement about the car being too much of a hassel was a bit premature. As long as I get a decent radio tuner in there, it's going to be everything I wanted... totaling $858 dollars.

So, that leaves how much money left over? Money that is not relegated to other things? Plenty.

I haven't purchased a scooter yet. If do, great. If I don't, not so great but not the end of the world. At least that money is available for one and it's earning me interest in the meantime.