Dear Tom and Ray:

I have no car problem. My wife, Elaine, is the problem. She has many driving quirks. I'll name the three I consider most annoying. The speed limit on our road is 35 mph. She goes 35 the moment she gets to the end of the driveway. I told her to start slowly, and drive gently, at least until she gets to the light, which is about half a mile away. She says that logic applied to cars in the Model-T days, but not anymore. Her second quirk is that most streets in our town have speed limits of 25 to 35 mph. She drives at the full speed limit even if there's a red light a block ahead. She won't let up on the gas until she's a car-length from the light, then she slams on the brakes. When I tell her to slow down sooner, she says that with disc brakes and ABS, there's no need to slow down before you stop. Finally, the third quirk is the most annoying. She cuts her right turns so close that she always drags the rear right wheel over the curb. I told her to swing out to the left to avoid dragging the rear wheel over the curb. She says with front-wheel drive, she does not push the wheel over the curb, but pulls it over, so there is no harm in that. She is stubborn and will never change. What do you suggest I do? -- Cy

Tom: Wow, Cy! She sounds like a beast! We're usually sympathizing with wives about what animals their husbands are, but your wife sounds like a real knuckle-scraper! What a burden you have to bear, Cy.

Ray: Needless to say, every single one of the driving behaviors you describe is bad for the car. But she doesn't believe you, so I don't know why she'll believe us when we say it.

Tom: And since she's stubborn, Cy, it sounds like you have only one choice. You have to become a saint. That's what my wife had to do.

Ray: Mine, too. So smile at her, buy her a new car every two or three years when she wrecks the one she's got, and hope you'll be repaid in your next life. You have our sympathies, Cy.

Stop the madness! You can stop driving like a knucklehead, and you'll help your car in the process. Learn how your driving habits can harm your car in Tom and Ray's pamphlet "Ten Ways You May Be Ruining Your Car Without Even Knowing It!" To order, send (check or money order) to Ruin, P.O. Box 536475, Orlando, FL 32853-6475. You can also order online.

© 1997 by Tom and Ray Magliozzi and Doug Berman Distributed by King Features Syndicate, Inc.

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