Time has come today! [Time! Time! tik . . . tok]

“Check Transmission” light went on when I started the car on Friday, stayed on, then went off and I drove away normally. Saturday – nothing – no indications. Sunday, I get about two blocks down the hill and it starts flashing. Pulled off the road – it went off – then came on again briefly and then off again.

Consulted the Owner’s Manual. “You can drive it in ‘Manual Mode’ [using the shifter] but don’t drive extensively” thus avoiding damage to the transmission. There’s a suggestion to take it in for “service” . . . or “maintenance” – whatever.

When I delivered the vehicle to the shop, driving it out of my garage and across town, the light never came on, the tranny was working smoothly.

The repair shop and its owner inspire confidence, even for that old GMC tranny which has served for 90,000 miles since a replacement in 2004. I really expected to get more from it, and there may still be hope. But the repair-shop owner – as I said – has no misgivings.

So – you say – why not just junk it? It’s a “sunk cost” problem which I let fester. Over the last four or five years, if something needed fixing, I had it fixed. No different here.

I’d been planning to acquire a newer vehicle. I’d already made plans with my bank and investment advisor to get pre-qualified for a car loan. I planned on moving $30,000 from my investment portfolio, half of which was earnings over the last 14 months. Put in the orders, and that’s all done now – on both counts.

I’m going for a test-drive Saturday in a RAV4 Hybrid at the Toyota dealership. But I don’t like the way they do things. You HAVE to use Toyota Financial Services to get their “speshul Dee-ul”. With their interest rate at least 1 to 1.5 points higher than my bank’s. They don’t include the sales tax in their calculations – a matter of about $3,000. CARMAX, on the other hand, puts it all together for you. Well, CARMAX is right across the street from Toyota, so . . . there . . .

Meanwhile, I’m going stir-crazy without wheels, stranded at home (mostly) – my cousin is getting my groceries or ferrying me to the dealership this weekend. This will test my patience and endurance.

I figure the best strategy is to wait until the Trooper comes back. Maybe make my Turkey Day visit to my Bro near Reno. Maybe even RENT a car to make that trip. And – take my freaking time on this business.

Thoughts anyone? I’m just going to keep the old Trooper as a backup ride. Why not?