And yes, that really is my poor little minivan. It happened yesterday around 5:30. Got out just before the driver's seat went up in flames. -.-;

Oh wow! Glad you are were able to get out of there. Were you hurt?? 

No, I stopped the car and got it off the road and away from other vehicles, grabbed my cellphone and got out. As I was walking, very swiftly, away, the driver's seat started smoking and went up like a birthday cake's candle. I was on the phone with 911 for approximately 2 minutes. I took that picture right after I hung up, and then called my mother to let her know what had happened and that I was fine, then called my aunt to do the same. The only problem I had was very warm shoes for about 15 minutes after I got out. If I'd had my canvas sneakers on, I might have had a problem, but I had on my workshoes, which are rubber Frogs by Shoes for Crews (very comfy).

The worst part is that I was in the process of moving back in with my mother. I'd left a lot of stuff at my old roomies' place for the winter, and was slowly working stuff into my mom's basement as I had time. Had a bunch of minor stuff in the back of the van, most of it books, tax forms from the past few years, ETC. Had some old drawings in there, too, and one of my favorite pairs of shoes in the passenger seat.

And, of course, my mother's medication, which I had just picked up from the store. -.-

/Jamie
there's your problem!
/Jamie off

glad your ok!

Yeah! The problem seems to be that it was on fire! ;)

Luckily, the gas tank was full, so it didn't explode.

Glad you're okay!!  You have any idea what happened? (other then yes the car went up in flames LOL!!)

Whew, that was a close one!

HUGS

Glad to see you got out alright!! My gosh...

Laurie

We're not sure, but it started under the driver's side dash. I'd just checked the oil levels not too long ago, so we dunno. Could have been a gas leak, or a sudden short that caught the rubber tubing on fire, ETC. In the end, the entire front of the car went up in flames.

I'd say that was a little car trouble! Glad you pulled over and got out right away. That was too close for comfort. 

Quote - /Jamie
there's your problem!
/Jamie off

glad your ok!

LoL.

Good thing you got out in time.  Repairs are going to be costly.  Redoing the interior alone might run you a grand or two.  I say call it a manufacture's defect and make the dealer replace the car.  ;)

You'll need a new battery... probably.  The electrical will need work if wires or computer chips melted.  I wouldn't be surprised if the spark plugs are gone.  You'll probably need some new hoses, belts, and probably headlights.  New filters.  If the fuel tank caught on fire, that'll need to be fixed.

And you'll probably need a drink when the auto insurance rate hike comes in.

I wasn't being serious, Winterclaw. ^^ Unfortunately, we got the car third-hand. My cousin bought it used, and when she retired it, she gave it to me and my mother back in 05 or 06. We had comprehensive insurance on it, so that should help, but I honestly don't know how I'm going to replace it. -.-

I know, I was just hypothesising a little.

Hopefully the insurance company will give you a check to get another used minivan.  Or you could win the powerball.  It's just as likely.  :o

I say the best thing to do is find a used car that'll run for really cheap and save up a little cash before you go looking for something else.  It's the interest payments that cost you in the long run.

I do not want another minivan, that much is for sure. I want a car, or possibly even a little Vespa style scooter or something. Something that gets more than 15-20mpg.  I was doing more damage to the environment than my co-worker's hummer!

And definitely a used car. Frankly, with my luck with vehicles, I don't trust myself with a brand new car!

I'm both a hot rodder and a full-time firefighter and arson investigator. That vehicle is not worth repairing.  Trying to replace a thoroughly fried wiring harness (heat causes shorts, which cause more heat...)  is by itself too much damage.  The sheet metal will be distorted due to heat expansion and it will have lost it's hardening, on which late model vehicles depend.  Then consider trying to get rid of the smell, even if you replace every stitch of interior upholstery and plastic.

~edit~  Ooops.  Crossposted while I was composing my thoughts. ^^  Never mind.

I wouldn't worry about fuel MPG too much in terms of environmental damage... the ethanol blended in to the gas lowers your MPG a little.  If anything I'd worry about my wallet every more.  ;)

Frankly I'd go for safety and survivability first; you're more likely to be hurt or killed in a car than by a gun or a plane crash.  But if you want to go with environment, there are a number of good choices.  Just don't go with the prius, it's actually worse for the environment than some other fuel efficient vehicles, it's ugly, and the only thing going for it is it's popular. 

Like I said, I'm thinking something small that I can get around in safely. I always called the van my little tank, and, occasionally, the Invisivan (since folks seemed to not notice it. How do you NOT SEE a big white van coming at you?) which explains several of the minor dents seen on it.

Not worried about what the new vehicle looks like, too much, as long as it doesn't make people run screaming at the sight of it. (It WOULD be nice to have a car I could use on a date without feeling embarrassed...)

Also, Seachnasaigh, thank you guys so much for all that you do. If the fire department hadn't arrived so fast yesterday, I'm pretty sure the van would have exploded, possibly hurting someone else in the process, which would have made a horrible situation a million times worse. :(

wow.  I thought that I had bad luck with vehicles.  Glad that you are okay.

--Rebekah--

Quote - ...

Not worried about what the new vehicle looks like, too much, as long as it doesn't make people run screaming at the sight of it. (It WOULD be nice to have a car I could use on a date without feeling embarrassed...

I've had my little 97 Geo Metro since the day we bought it new. In all this time it's just now having a few problems, but up until then ran like a little champ ;o). Got between 30-35 miles to the gallon too. It's a small car, but not bad looking overall. We got a 4 door because it would save us on insurance ;o).

Laurie

 Whoa Khrys! You were damn LUCKY to get out in time! Poor car! And poor you of course! What a nightmare!

I'm glad you're ok! Cars can be hard to be without (and I hope the insurance will cough up!) but it's still just a thing. Better to lose that than your life!

Khrys, glad you were not harmed.  As for insurance claim, find out what they would give you, you may be better off not claiming it IF its a chargeable accident.  Jan

I don't think it's any sort of chargeable accident. The car failed on its own, so it's a mechanical failure, and to top it off, a catastrophic one. Simply put, without help from the insurance company, there's no way I could even afford to get a cheap used car, right now. I've been trying to get myself out of debt for the last six months, so every spare penny has gone into paying on my credit cards.

Just got off the phone with the insurance company. They'll pay up to 600$ for a rental, total, 25$ a day. This day started WAY too early, since I barely slept, but at least stuff is moving finally.

I certainly agree with you when you have a good insurance company and it appears that you really do have one.   Jan

Hopefully they stay good! They're working with me on the rental, since the place they wanted me to go was a good 45-60 minute drive. Just looking forward to having a vehicle, even a temporary one, to drive again!