RE: Food in the car rules

["Jeff Lloyd" <Jeff@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Ummm  Is this strange???  I think there is a medication for someone that
puts that much thought into what they can eat in their car??  maby I'm
strange..

Jeff
'96 Z3 1.9 (with hamburger crumbs and greesey handprints on it)


Hans Conser writes:

This is a bit of a sore point with the wife but here is what I do:

Basic Rule:  No food, and only liquid allowed is water.  This eliminates
many stains, covered container or not.

I do allow food exceptions on long trips, nothing greasy, nothing that
crumbles or stains (no chips, cookies, or hot dogs with mustard).  My
favorite is a protein bar, most don't really crumble and give you good
protein without trashing your car.

A long trip is 700 miles or more.

My wife is pretty good, although she does cheat on long trips when I am
not with her, I find little coke dribbles around the shifter.  Friends
are a little tougher, sometimes on long trips you have to look a friend
in the eyes and say "You know you can't bring that coffee into my car,
right?"

I think the liquids are the worst threat, but I view water as
essentially harmless, it dries and then its gone.  On the other hand, a
good coke spill that soaks through the carpet can cause your car to
rust.

One time we were in a hurry and my friend was hungry and started going
off about why couldn't I be a friend and trust him not to trash my car,
be a friend and let me eat, what is more important your friend or your
car, etc, so I said fine, eat in the car.  You guessed it, two minutes
later chocolate milkshake in the rear passenger footwell.

I recently sold that car for 2K over book, and the new owner was very
impressed by the interior, how clean it was, etc, despite the chocolate
milkshake stain on the rear mat.
My point is that even if you slip occassionally, the overall discipline
of no food and only water will really pay off over time as you will cut
out 99% of the accumulation of crumbs, grease stains, coke & coffee etc,
that most cars get.  This will translate to more value when you trade
the car.

You can tell your wife that you are being thrifty by increasing the
resale value of the car, which you are.

with love from Bozeman,


Hans






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