Almost forgot what an AVEO looks like... (spoiler warning)

[petrified.rabbit]

I wasn't "planning" on selling it. I had $10k in the window as the price, just for fun at the shows, like fishing without a worm. My wife's jetta needed to go, it was a good car, not much wrong with it. But I wanted her to have AWD by winter and during the search she decided she wanted an SUV. So I took her to go look at the touareg and then the Q7 (for the extra two seats).

We needed to trade the aveo to bring the deal over the top. Net trade value for the aveo was about $6000. (We got $10k for both cars, the original single car KBB offer for her jetta was only $4000 because of a carfax issue. Once I offered the aveo, we negotiated $10k for both cars in trade). Since I haven't really driven it in two years it wasn't a usage loss to me, although it hurts a little to get rid of it. I am already looking for my next project.

[XJCasper]

Got a replacement yet?

[serega12]

Wait, what?! You should have messaged me, I would have been on the next plane over with $6k cash in hand. Oh man.... Can't believe you let it go...

[Melveo]

You can still buy it, still for sale for 5k lol

[serega12]

You can still buy it, still for sale for 5k lol

Link please?

[Melveo]

https://pittsburgh.craigslist.org/ctd/6021824943.html
Hope it's still up

[serega12]

https://pittsburgh.craigslist.org/ctd/6021824943.html
Hope it's still up

Looks like it expired...

[Acutteridge]

I know this thread is pretty old, and I thoroughly enjoyed reading both threads to see the completed project.

Incredible.
Just simply incredible work, Rabbit.

Also, sir, (I assume, not to offend) I applaud you working with Special Ed kids.
My son is special needs, as he was born with a pretty severe case of cerebral palsy.
I won't go into particulars, but he is cared for, 100%, by myself and caregivers.

When he was in school, though, I could always tell the teachers, aides, and caregivers who gave two sh*ts, and the ones who were phoning it in for a paycheck.

Reading your posts, seeing the way you spoke about your students, and they way you explained how you would teach your students (push them as far as you could, let them reboot, build them back up with encouragement, and confidence, and they would push past) really stuck with me.

Other than building a bad-ass Aveo, sir, I can say that you are building some bad-ass lives, also.
Which, I'm sure you agree, is much more rewarding.

[petrified.rabbit]

Thank you Acutteridge, as a special education teacher I have seen the same that you describe. I find it to be sad. Today I spent a few minutes repeatedly convincing one of my non-verbal students just to sit up in his wheelchair, "if any pretty girls come in here, they are going to want to see how handsome you are". He sat right up, and then drooped back down. By the end of class I had his sitting almost upright without drooping. It took me most of last year to get him to do that. His aide told me that OT/PT have been trying to get him to sit up for years (his aide was in lunch while I worked with him last year) with little success. He was astonished. It makes me feel good to get such a nice reaction out of such a little difference.

The aveo took 2 years to complete with my students, I think if I had worked strictly on my own I would have done it within a month. It is that kind of patience that wears and burns people out. That is one of the reasons why the car was replaced by the time it was done, for 2 years I was unable to drive it therefore I had already had replaced it with another vehicle.

[Acutteridge]

Wow.
Again, I applaud you.

Those exact things: engagement, patience (most of all: THE PATIENCE), and the need to think outside of the box to work with a special needs individual, are all earmarks of a person with a truly huge heart.

My son just turned 28 yesterday.
And, as I mentioned, 100% reliant on others for care.
So, of course, feeding and other care.
But, like you mentioned with the student in the wheelchair, a moment or two of engagement makes all the difference in the world.

We were having cake, talking with him (my son is pretty outgoing, and gregarious), I was picking up on something bothering him, and he finally told me, when we were alone, that there was a new aide in his group home that doesn't talk, or interact with him.
If you don't at least acknowledge my son loves his Cleveland Indians and Cleveland Browns, he's going to be dejected, and this aide just won't talk to him.

So, as I was leaving I pulled the aide to the side and I mentioned that I respect and understand the commitment it takes to do their job full-time.
But, just say a word or two to my son, and the whole interaction will be 100% different.
My son doesn't do it, on purpose, but if he feels friction with someone, his muscle tightness and spasticity changes completely.
The aide looked at me like a lightbulb just went on.

Thanks again, Petrified.
Keep up the great work with your students.
And your cars, of course.