My new(ish) car!!!

For those of you who don't know how big of a turd my old car was, let me give a little background information.  I previously owned a 1996 white Monte Carlo. It had black leather interior and was a 2 door.

Looks just like the one above. 

It was a good car the first year we had it with minimal problems. The last 2 months is when it really started to fall apart. The wheel barring on the right passenger side broke off and slammed into the rim which also caused the drive shaft to break. Super expensive fix. Then the struts in the rear (both) were bad. I bought the parts to have them fixed an my husband fixed the drivers side. The next day we were driving it and the trans blew out. Great! That was the last straw, definitely not worth fixing it!! After I had just put over $200 into. So I took back some of the extra parts for it and put it towards my new car, a 2002 Pontiac Aztek. 

 

We bought this car that needed some work for $600. All it needed was an engine. Yes, I know an engine is the biggest thing! But, we got a farely good deal on the new engine. We traded my old car plus some $$ for it. 

Over the next week my husband spent day and night taking out the old engine and swapping in the new one. 

This was it on its way out.

It was completely out!

There is the beautiful engine sitting under my car. He had to drag it out from under there. No easy feat, but Casey is extremely strong! 

Next we had to take off the old be out on the new...

Getting the new one (on the right) ready to be put in, while the old one (on the left) has to watch. 

My amazing husband got the new one in and all hooked up farely quick. We also had to replace the drivers side brake caliper and the alternator. She drives nice and smooth. It needs a lot of love still but the only mechanical parts it needs is a wheel barring and new brakes. 

Now for the interior. Can we say gross!!! It was owned by a family with 3 kids. Enough said?? 

 

I can't even begin to explain how sticky and stained and worn down everything was. Nasty! All I can say is nasty. I went through and SCRUBBED everything with Clorox disinfectant wipes. I vacuumed it thoroughly, twice! I carpet cleaned it with our carpet cleaner....sorta! I dumped buckets of water with cleaner all up in it. I drenched it with cleaning products!! If that doesn't clean and disinfect then I'm doomed. 

I put my car seat covers on the front. The seats will definitely be replaced at some point, but for now these will do.  

 

Our plan is to take out the carpet, ceiling carpet, seats, and plastic and replace it with new. We're going to find an Aztek that is being sold for parts that is in good shape and clean and swap everything out.   

If oh notices in the very beginning pictures the grey exterior plastic was faded and worn out. I went through with refinisher and it made a world of difference. 

I still need hub caps for it, that would make it look pretty perfect....from a distance. Ha! it has a lot of scratches on it. But from a far, it looks pretty good. :) 

See, hub caps would make a huge difference. At some point I plan on having it repainted as well. Either a really pretty light green or a gorgeous maroon.