Posted by Michelle on December 28, 1998 at 20:37:36:

It was about a month and a half ago and I was heading home from work in my old yellow VW Beetle. The car had not been running real well and the engine was leaking oil pretty good. I had been contemplating a new car purchase but figured I would drive this baby until it dropped. Well.....

It was 4:30pm and had walked out of the store I worked. It was a cool day and I had on Jeans, suntan colored pantyhose, and some 3 1/2 inch red sandals. I got to my car, opened the door and threw my purse on the passenger seat. I then reached down and undid the straps on my sandals on slipped out of my shoes. I then picked them up, tossed them on the back seat and got in the car. I put the car in neutral and started the car. A little pumping of the gas pedal got the car idling fairly well. I flexed my toes a little bit and rubbed my feet together. I had been on my feet all day and it felt so good to be out of my shoes. In fact, this is a daily ritual of mine. Anyway, I put the car in gear and took off down the street. It was doing its usual annoying things, forcing me to work the gas and brake simultaneously when I slowed down. It has had a tendency to want to stall out for a long time. This "heel and toe" driving was just a part of life in driving this little thing.

The freeway apprroached. Not much traffic so I gunned the heck out of the thing. My stocking toes were spread over the bugs aluminum gas pedal, heel high off the floorboard. I was up to around 65 and decided to let up on the gas. Well, it did not happen! The gas pedal stayed floored when I lifted my whole foot off the thing. Needless to say, I was a little scared. I quickly got over to the right hand lane. I then worked my foot under the gas pedal to try to free it. This was not working. I then turned off the ignition, careful not to lock the wheel. I placed my stocking toes on the brake pedal and slowed the car to a stop. I then got out and looked at the pedal. I hit it a few times and it came back up. Strange, I thought to my self. I jumped back in and started the car back up. I engaged the clutch and pumped the gas in and out, testing the pedal. It seemed okay. Maybe it was one of these fluke things? I thought. I then started up the shoulder and worked myself back into the flow of traffic. I kept a light touch on the pedal. I even engaged the clutch and then gave the pedal some pumps. Everything seemed okay. Slow traffic came up and I got in the left lane, and sank my foot back into the gas pedal. I floored the pedal then let up. Still working okay. Now confident, I put buried my stocking foot into the gas pedal. I was up to about 70 and let up. Shit! It was stuck again. I beat my toes on the pedal, trying to unstick the damn thing. I was in the center lane and did not want to shut of the engine. Getting scared again. I worked my way back over to the right. The engine was whining badly. Just as I was about to shut the ignition off, I felt a bad vibration and then the engine quit. I looked back and smoke was billowing out of the back. The engine went. An exit approaced and I managed to get off and then pulled off onto the shoulder. Once stopped, I jumped out, still in stocking feet, and looked over what had happened. I am no mechanic but did not look good. A tow truck saw me and pulled over. I had him tow me to my mechanic. I grabbed my purse and shoes and jumped in his truck.

The engine was shot. It needed a new motor. I made a hard decision. I got another car. It is a little Ford Aspire with a 5 speed. Not a screamer but has A/C and good heat, 2 things the VW did not have. I still have the bug. It is at a friends who is storing it for me. Heck, I think I will save some money and get it back running one day and have a second car. It is to hard to get rid off. I had tears in my eyes when the poor bug gave up the ghost. It was only inevitable I guess.