Obituary for a Car

A 1993 Ford Taurus was taken off of life support and allowed to stall peacefully on February 4, 2006 at a wrecking yard in St. Mary's, OH on Aqueduct Rd. It was 12 ½ years old with over 366,000 miles on its first and only engine.

This Car had just one owner and two drivers. It is survived by a 1993 GMC Jimmy, a 1994 Ford Ranger, and a 1996 Ford Taurus, which is currently awaiting a donor transmission. It was preceded in death by a 1973 Ford Pinto, a 1984 Ford Escort, and a 1987 Ford F-150. There is also a 1988 Ford Ranger in the family believed to be still running in Florida, driven by a retired preacher.

This Taurus had a very exciting life, residing in Rockwood, MI, Columbus, OH, and Finally, Wapakoneta, OH. The car had been driven in at least 15 different states and 2 Canadian Provinces. It has survived various bouts with recalls, vandalism, water pump failures, brake failures, and anonymous fender-benders.

One of it greatest accomplishments was driving through a flooded viaduct on Southfield in Lincoln Park, MI without stalling or floating away, despite the headlights being under water. It has also taken some people to various hospitals for emergency care. The sedan was even involved in giving an Amish person a ride back to his farm in northern Indiana after he stayed late to finish rehabilitating a chicken coop. It was commended with a State Farm 10-year accident free discount, the highest one offered.

The car received only three tickets. One for a parking violation in Michigan, one for expired tags in Michigan, and one for doing 75MPH in a 55MPH zone in Indiana. The speed limit on that road is now 60 MPH.

In recent months it had been suffering with a leaky gas tank, several sensor failures, excessive brake fluid consumption, bent rims, cracked windshield, and the early stages of transmission failure. After a recent bumper transplant, it was thought it might live a few more months. However, when it was last taken to be serviced, the mechanic opened up the hood and just closed it right back up. It was determined in a final test drive that the overdrive in the transmission had failed, an engine mount was broken, the suspension was shot, and the terminal vehicle reeked of a hemorrhaging radiator fluid.

Since the owner had the car listed as an organ donor, several other cars will live because of the few healthy parts that could be transplanted. Some lucky '93 -'95 Taurus owners will receive its alternator, battery, tires, muffler, front bumper or SRS airbag, as these were all healthy enough to extend the life of others.

Donations can be made to the fund to fix Rick's transmission, Wapakoneta, OH.