Our sad car saga Part 2

What came next was the circus of lies and/or excuses:

I was sick.
I was visiting my sister.
The electricity went out.
The weather is too cold.
I had to fix my relatives car first.
I have to wait for someone else to grind down the valve.
I'm finished and I'll bring the car tomorrow (heard this one several times).
The car's finished and you can come get the car (except the car was locked in his garage and he was conveniently not around when we scheduled to get the car).
I didn't get your messages.
I didn't get your letters.
I didn't think you wanted you wanted your car.
I couldn't work because the weather wasn't sunny.

And so it went until April. Then, we took the next step...