I got my license two days ago, but the Mav just got insured an hour and a half ago. So I go on my merry way, my first time driving alone (and in the least reliable car my family owns, but my own car), and I go to the gas station, where the attendant tells me to "get a less s***ty car" because I was having difficulties filling up, only having used gas cans for that car in the past. I try to prove her wrong about the car and... the battery's nearly dead, I crank it till it slows, and I'm stuck. I had a nice guy in a Jetta diesel jump me (we let it charge for a while) and through a few combinations of choke on and off and throttle open and closed, it starts after a couple tries. I was stuck for 45 minutes. What a start to my driving career.
It could be worse! The first time I took my mav out I put a foot long dent into the passenger side door, Which I still haven't fixed because there's a brace on the inside that doesn't let me work on it. (it's been 3 years now) Don't get too stressed out though, half the fun is fixing these cars. And the value of mavericks will only go up with age, now that attendant probably drives a 10 year old Kia who's value will only go down in age. Heck she sounds like my ex gf! And she moved to Everett after moving to WA lol
I'd suggest that you could have replied that you would be buying gas at "a less S****ty gas station", if that is what she calls customer service, and she might look for a job that she is better suited for. ... what an idiot! Most companies have pretty good customer service training for their employees ... it is just that it doesn't sink in with a few of the denser ones. Had an experience lately that I probably could have had a clerk fired for ... I barely decided to let her live. Still not sure why ... Fact of the matter is that gas pumps used to be a LOT slower ... you can only crank a new pump about 1/2 open with a lot of old cars. Some guys have swapped a later Mav gas filler neck in, and reported good results. Do a search here for some details. I am leaving mine alone ... it is part of the charm of the car. You can go to most parts stores and they will check your charging system for free. I would take advantage of that... you might just need to clean the battery terminals (I would anyway, prior to testing it, and make sure your cable ends are snug on the terminals). If the car needs something, the test will point the right direction, rather than just throwing parts at the car ... I did that once as a young guy ... replaced the alternator, regulator, and battery and still had a charging problem ... broken wire ... 25 cent fix. Testing it would have saved $100 at the time. Congrats on your first day of solo driving. Being an eventful one, it will evolve into a fond memory ... kind of like when my buddy and I got his Mav really stuck off road ... for hours ... didn't seem funny at the time. It's hysterical to me now.
Stuff like that makes for great stories and great memories later on though. My first time driving alone (without a family member but my best friend Greg was with me), I was in my Maverick and tried to be cute by taking off hard and shifting manually. I went 1-2 the 2-drive and missed drive....went into reverse. It made a bang and killed the engine. I went into panic mode since I was stuck in traffic, was trying to start it in reverse so it wouldn't crank. FInally I gained my composure and got it restarted in park. I behaved for awhile after that.
Three stories for ya here. 1) (this one ain't a mav one, but a first time one)First time I ever met Dan who evolved into my closest firend. We drove 30 minutes out of town to where an old gold mine was. We drove over steep gravel roads, during the dead of winter (2.5 feet of snow) in a 2005 Mitsubishi Lancer Ralliart. The car didn't quite make it up the hill, it slid down side ways. We pulled a tow rope out of the back, hooked it the trunk latch loop, and made two loops in it. We preceded to drag the rear end of the car down the hill, then we'd push the front end down the hill, until we moved the car about 50ft down a hill sideways, broke the front wheels free, and in a mad dash of chasing down the car and not getting stuck again we jumped in and drove off.... He sold the car not too long after. 2) I've had my maverick since 6th grade, granted I haven't driven it or worked on it for more then two years now... But the day after I completed my 5.0L swap I was meeting dan at a local car hang out place. We hung out and when i was leaving, my car wouldn't start. Now the ricer pricks down there were kind enough to give me a jump, the whole time mocking my 5.0L and thinking that a WRX is the most god sent awesome car that could ever rot on planet earth. After I finally got it running and they heard it they actually asked if it was fast. "Kinda" i said.... We raced... My car is now Madison-'The Ricer Dicer'. (That's a WRX and a fourth gen Camaro with the 350, i think... they learned what a real car is like) 3)The first time I drove my car further then around the block... My drive shaft fell off... It fell off. It fell off. In the middle of an intersection.... Talk about fun... It takes time. My car isn't 1/3 of Mashori's, i don't even have 1/4 of Bryant's knowledge, but I have the desire, that's all ya need. (maybe money two...) And You're car will be exactly what YOU want it to be.
**** happens.... my first drive alone, in my old honda wagovan the alternator belt disintegrated, PITA roadside repair in a cramped honda engine bay.... i still don't have plates on my mav, so no problems with it yet.
