Adventures in Carpooling

Me and some people from our work started up a van pool courtesy of a nice little program run by the state. After driving it exactly one week a pickup truck (propelled by a little old lady in an SUV) ran into it while I was stopped at a red light and dinged it up a bit. But the real drama started a week later the TMA picked the van up for repair and dropped of another van. This first replacement had bad bearings and horrible brakes. So I griped. They finally picked it up today and made arrangements for me to pick up a second replacement at the local garage where it was undergoing routine maintenance - along with a comment on the way out that the front passenger side makes a popping sound when you make a hard right turn "so try to avoid doing that if you can". Um yeah. I find out that while that noise could be caused by a number of things it likely is a bad ball joint - which is dangerous if it goes all the way out. Especially if it happens in a big clunky van on the freeway in rush hour traffic. So after kajillion phone calls and e-mails they arranged for a THIRD loaner vehicle that we picked up at the car rental place. A nice Dodge Caravan with a CD player, super comfortable seats, and it rides really smooth. So while we were riding home, you know what happens? The change oil light comes on! And you know what? I don't care. This one ain't going back - the dang brakes work!