Re: I need some serious advice about buying a Packard

Posted by Garrett Meadows On 2016/2/23 10:45:55

You make a very sagacious observation about "Old cars vs expenses is directly perportional to your automobile knowledge," is well taken.

Unfortunately, my late father NEVER wanted to be bothered with working on his own vehicle, doing minor repairs around the house, or anything else might have required him to exert a little bit of effort on things he didn't consider that important. As such, he hired everything out. So, I wasn't raised in family where any auto mechanics were done at home. I did manage teach myself to change the oil, oil filter, and air filter in my first vehicle, and that was the alpha and omega of my knowledge of car mechanics. I think my late wife knew more about auto mechanics than me.

Over the years, I have been a sitting-duck when going in to an auto mechanic shop to have my vehicles worked on. If the mechanic told me I needed a brake-job, I said sure. If he told me I needed my transmission serviced, I said sure. I was always afraid of NOT having the work done for fear that something worse might happen later. Heaven only knows how much unnecessary work done my vehicles.

When I lived in Reno, Nevada, I got to know a few guys in the Packard group there; although, i don't think it was an official Packard Club. All those guys were affluent, often had garages devoted strictly to their Packards, and usually worked on their own cars. If not, they always had a good idea of what might be wrong with their cars so they could tell a good Packard mechanic. I often felt like country-comes-to-town when I socialized with that group.

I've pretty much thrown in the towel of ever owing a Packard after considering the advice/guidance I've gotten in these forum responses. But, you know what, that's OK. Often it's the anticipation as opposed to the acquisition of a dream that is the best part.
as always
Garrett M