Car Dealerships

First of all, an update. I bought my Cubs hat and the Cubs have won five in a row. Coincidence?

Things are looking up for the Cubs, but down for my little Dodge Neon. About two months ago my key wouldn't turn in the ignition. It wouldn't move at all. After, seriously, about 300 tries, it did. And then everything was cool for two months. Again, seriously, right after walking out of Big 5 sports where I bought my Cubs hat, my key wouldn't work again. I just tried and tried and finally gave up. I walked 4 miles to my house. I thought I would have to be towed, but the next day I thought I'll try it like 20 more times. On about the fifteenth, it started.

I took it straight to the dealership. First of all, you know how car dealers have a bad reputation? It's deserved. For one reason, they're like vultures. When I drove in, there was a salesman at my car door before I had even fully stopped the car. I'm going out on a limb and assuming its because they want to beat the other salesman to a possible commission. Its like one of those 1950 cartoons where their eyes roll back in their head and are replaced with dollar signs. At least I was able to say I was going to the repair shop so they could back off.

The repair guys said either the ignition was bad or the key was bad. (Even I could have figured that out.) They said keys wear down fastest, so that was the best thing to try. They let me know I had a programmed key and it would cost $160 to get another one made. I don't even know what that means or why it could possible cost that, but I was at their mercy.

So I think its fixed now, although it had gone two months of being alright, so I don't really know if its fixed or just on a good streak. Also, after being told it would be $160 three times, it ended up being $190.

Keep in mind this is my car that has 190,000 miles on it. Neo (her name) and my goal is to get her to the big 200. I'm going to keep pouring money into it if I have to. If need be, I'll cut out the bottom and drive it like the Flinstones car. We'll make it there somehow.