Priceless

Karl writes:
$13 pesos = $1
$30,000 pesos 1995 Ford Windstar minivan in questionable condition
$800 parts for initial maintenance: oil, air filter, break pads, etc.
$1,000 - labor, rear tire
$1,000 rear shoks
$500 motor mount
$800 labor
$2000 front shocks, transmission gasket and fluid
$1200 labor
$1100 rear brakes, tire
$6,000 engine overhaul. . .
Total investment so far: $44,400
In dollars: $3,415

Retail value in the United States: $250.
Priceless.

Krista writes:
Our junker van that we hoped would get us through the year is in the repair shop, so we have been using taxis and buses for the past few days.  Tonight I rode the bus with Elena to seminary.  When it was time to go home, a brother in our ward asked us if we would like a ride home.  We said yes, and went to his small compact car, which barely seats five, and piled in along with his two daughters, son, wife, and mother.  We had eight people in the car, and the youngest was a twelve year old.
This is not that out of the ordinary in Mexico.  Many of the taxis don't even have back seat belts, and they've never blinked an eye about piling our whole family of seven into one taxi.  A couple of weeks ago we piled twelve people into our van to go to church, but some were kids.  The boys like to jump in the trunk, and Chiara doesn't take up much space if we throw her carseat in the back.  We brought the car seat with us from the states, and it is the only one that I've seen here, although I think I've seen the infant ones (under 20 lbs).