Dear Tom and Ray:
I have a fairly beat-up 1994 Mustang GT 5.0 convertible that has been sidelined since 2004 when it started becoming unreliable. I bought a Toyota Solara, which is going to be paid off soon, and I see the freed-up cash as an opportunity to get my deserving old buddy back into shape. My husband sees keeping the car and spending any money on it as a complete waste of time and cash. I'm concerned about what will happen to our relationship if I start fixing up the car. I estimate $3,000-$4,000 would go a long way toward bringing him back to his former glory. Am I wrong? I need advice and family counseling that only you guys can offer.
-- Cynthia
Ray: Cynthia, one of the keys to a healthy marriage is maintaining a balance between "you guys" as a couple and each one of you as individuals.
Tom: Together, you need to make joint decisions about crucial issues, like where to live, how to raise your children and whether you should get HBO and Showtime, or just HBO.
Ray: But there has to be room in the marriage for each of you to be yourself, too. And we can tell from this letter that this '94 Mustang is part of who you are.
Tom: Right. So, while it's possible for your husband, or even me, to say that it's a piece of junk and a waste of money - and be correct - driving this car makes you happy.
Ray: And if your husband is half the man we think he is, he'll realize that your happiness is a bargain at a few thousand bucks.So, explain to him that you know it's impractical, but it's important to you, and it makes you happy. And if that doesn't work, cut a deal and tell him he can get his Powermatic Model 4224 3-horsepower woodworking lathe for the basement.
(Car Talk is a nationally syndicated column by automotive experts (and brothers) Tom and Ray Magliozzi. Write to them at the Car Talk Web site.)
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