T-Hoe is BACK!

We took T-Hoe to Mick the Mechanic on Monday afternoon. He was supposed to be home Tuesday afternoon. Nope! Which was bad for me, but good for T-Hoe, since it means more work was being done. Hick gave Mick a list of what he wanted checked/fixed. We knew it would be expensive. Hick looked up the average cost of only replacing struts on a Tahoe, and Google said it was around $1,500. We all know that T-Hoe needed more than just struts. Here's what he got:

Front Struts (2)

Rear Shocks (2)

Front Rotors (2)

Rear Rotors (2)

Front Brake Pads (1)

Rear Brake Pads (1)

Sway Bar Link (2)

Oil Change (1)

Plug Wires (1)

Spark Plugs (8)

tax [$154.62]

labor [$875.00]

The grand total for T-Hoe's makeover was $2,683.27. Again, we were not surprised. I have money set aside for such incidentals, so we're not headed to the poorhouse. I won't even have to pry any of Hick's less-than-$300-a-month salary from his gnarled hard-working hands. It's covered. Paid by check and a trade.

Yes. That's right. Hick did some bartering. "I have a couple things at my shop that Mick wants to trade for. They're worth $1,675.00. So I wrote the check for the rest. Now we owe ME the $1,675.00."

Hmm... why am I suspicious that Hick is making money off the battered carcass of T-Hoe?

Anyhoo... T-Hoe drives like a dream! The steering is firm and not meandering. When I hit a bump, it's a little jolt, not sailing like I'm in The Perfect Storm. At the stoplight, T-Hoe hums nicely, rather than choking like he's about to die. As I'm coming down the hill by Mailbox Row, T-Hoe slows smoothly, not with grabby, whiplash-inducing jabs.

Oh, and T-Hoe seems to have GROWN TWO INCHES! I noticed that when I got out at the Gas Station Chicken Store. It seemed like forever before my foot touched the ground getting out. I wondered if I'd parked differently, over a dip in the pavement. But no. The same thing happened over at 10Box. And in the garage at home. It takes a little more effort to hoist myself up onto the running board when getting in.

Anyhoo... I am relieved to have my T-Hoe back, in much better health than he was before.