A book or story that is currently contemporary would be aware that Bush is president, that people are dying in a war in Iraq that has been going on for some time and that American Idol is influencing music being played on CD's or by downloads.
But just how long can your expect these tailbone-saving gadgets to last? The short answer? Experts recommend replacing shocks every 50,000 miles (80,467 kilometers), but a great deal depends on how you treat your vehicle's suspension. Are you logging all those miles on the placid interstate, or are you off-roading on winding dirt roads through the untamed wild?
Gas shocks look identical to hydraulics, but when you compress them and let go, they quickly return to their maximum length. On the car, gas shocks do the required damping with ease and add a constant force to the springs, keeping them from sagging. I found the front shocks for about $30 apiece (KYB brand) at the local imported car parts specialist, but they did not have the rears, and could not even order them.