My father at 89 years old passed away Sunday. He loved to write. I'd like to share a poem he wrote, I hope you appreciate it.:
A personal computer for some is a pain
while for others it’s a wonder
and can even entertain.
The thought though that leaves
me confused;
is why a higher price
for cars when,
in the factory computers
are used?
It seems to me that the computer
would shorten the amount
of man hours lost;
and that would reflect back
lowering the cost.
But my car in ‘59, a nice 4 door
Galaxy model.
With 3 speed and overdrive.
The most grievous thing it had
was a sticky throttle.
So 10 years later I bought another
for about a thousand more
and it served me well with not one
single computer on board.
When did it happen? The computers I mean;
for $5000 in ‘75 I bought a car
and it was a dream.
Then all of a sudden they were
15 thousand or 30
and nearly every mile
you had to worry.
It’s the module for the fuel
or maybe for the lights
or well it could be the
onboard computer “oh yikes”.
In ‘49 no computers in the factory
or in the car;
and it cost less then $3000
no matter where you are.
When the computers came
the price took a jump
But now for 4 times the price
all we get is junk.
They say that they’re really
better built today.
But mine hasn’t run steady
long enough, for me to say.
So buy yourself an old junker
I’d say;
an old 60’s or 70’s Toyota
would serve better any day.
Buy it cheep or haul it
from the dump
as long as we still have Trump.
It takes a good steady economy
to keep all the car parts in stock
then all you need to worry about
is a good enough mechanic and
to get him on the clock.
Then you’d have a good car with
no computer or modules
to go bad.
That they can’t make one
like that any more
is so sad.
My Diesel van from ‘87 is about
the last
with no computers on board,
and if I want, I’ll keep driving it,
until it’s as old as a ‘Cord’.
But economy is the theme now they say
and their constructed to produce it.
Well my ‘59 got 23 mpg and a
model A got 22. I think that
pretty good, don’t you?
Besides purchase price is
what hits you.
In a whole life of driving;
and a whole lot easier to see,
than all that daily scheming
and devising.
Addendum (I see I have more paper so:)
About a lifetime of driving and
all the vehicles my wife and I have known.
We’ve had Fords, Chevys, and VW’s; an
Audi, a Plymoth, a Suzuki
and a Subaru.
One thing for sure; they all are
fine, when they are new.
Maintenance is the key and it starts
every morning before you turn the key.
Check out the water with all liquids
and the oil.
If you don’t do it, that nice new car
will just spoil.
I know they make cars saying
low maintenance or none.
But a ruined engine for weak
antifreeze is no fun
Get in the habit that’s what it’s all about,
Honey, I’ll be ready in a minute
I just have to check the car out.
I once heard a good saying
and I’ve layed it on Henry Ford,
when he made the Model A.
“If you want this car to last
a life time,
Then check the liquids every day.”
John R. Gill