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Landers may need a new car

18,933 670 October 3, 2010 at 01:53 PM in Autos
I really didn't want to purchase a new vehicle, but the fact that my car may cost me about 1/2 or more than the value of it to repair and I own it outright, I may end up j ust buying a new one.

I'm looking used, but not opposed to new if the price is only a little bit more than what it would cost for used.

I'm looking to try to stay in 7-10k range, but could go a little more if the car was newer and the cost was only a couple thousand more and I could keep my monthly payments reasonable.

I'm looking at maybe Mazda 3 or similar. I'd like a Sedan, but am open to a small SUV. I don't want a coupe since i carry my hockey gear with me a lot and transporting that in a smaller coupe is inconvenient.

Any suggestions on vehicles to look at?

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Joined Jun 2005
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shhaggy
10-04-2010 at 06:49 PM.
10-04-2010 at 06:49 PM.
Quote from zzyzzx :
Yeah, a set of tires and a starter (that you paid way too much for) is always more expensive than a whole used car.
Confused
A) Who said anything about a starter? I never had a starter go bad. I get parts at near cost from a friend that owns an auto parts shop. It's still irritating have to change something new every couple of months, especially the electrical parts that are all starting to go bad now. I'd rather spend $5k on a newer car that will last me a long time than slowly approach that cost over 3 years with significant time and energy spent keeping this one running.

B) Once again, you miss the point. It doesn't matter what the cost is compared to another car, the point is that I'm only extending it's life until it either needs another major repair or until it dies completely for a limited amount of time. A newer car will last me MUCH longer.

Quote from Iaaaiws :
Eh, I just bought a 2001 GMC truck with 150,000 miles on it to run back and forth to work with to avoid racking up a bunch of miles on my 2010 Escape. I don't anticipate any major repairs being necessary in the near future and even with a worst-case scenario where I had to drop in a new engine for a few thousand I'm still into the thing for a fark of a lot less than the 30K plus this truck would cost new.

About 7 or 8 years ago I bought a 1989 Chevy truck that used to be a delivery truck for a local Auto Value store. It had about 410,000 miles on it and I all I ever had to do to it in the two plus years I had it was change the oil and put in gas. I paid $400 for it and would probably still be driving it except I had it parked at a friend's shop and a smokestack fell on it while they were pulling a car off of the roof (long story).
Who said anything about a new car? I'm talking about dumping a car that's beginning to cost a lot in maintenance with a newer but used car at a reasonable price. If that point never comes, great. But you can kinda tell when it is coming, and if you're anything like me, you ignore it just a little bit too long to the point where you've spent money that you probably shouldn't have on it and driven it to the point where it's not even saleable (sellable?).
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Last edited by shhaggy October 4, 2010 at 06:54 PM.
Joined Dec 2004
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shuriken
10-04-2010 at 06:54 PM.
10-04-2010 at 06:54 PM.
Quote from Landers :
It really depends on what happens with my car being diagnosed tomorrow.
what was wrong with it? Big Grin
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Joined Jan 2006
Piece of work
> bubble2 18,933 Posts
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Original Poster
Landers
10-04-2010 at 06:55 PM.
10-04-2010 at 06:55 PM.
Quote from Iaaaiws :
Eh, I just bought a 2001 GMC truck with 150,000 miles on it to run back and forth to work with to avoid racking up a bunch of miles on my 2010 Escape. I don't anticipate any major repairs being necessary in the near future and even with a worst-case scenario where I had to drop in a new engine for a few thousand I'm still into the thing for a fark of a lot less than the 30K plus this truck would cost new.

About 7 or 8 years ago I bought a 1989 Chevy truck that used to be a delivery truck for a local Auto Value store. It had about 410,000 miles on it and I all I ever had to do to it in the two plus years I had it was change the oil and put in gas. I paid $400 for it and would probably still be driving it except I had it parked at a friend's shop and a smokestack fell on it while they were pulling a car off of the roof (long story).
This I'm considering too.. Dropping a couple thousand on a daily driver that I can use for the next couple of years and instead of adding more debt, get rid of it.

Quote from shuriken :
what was wrong with it? Big Grin
Still waiting to hear back. laugh out loud I'll let ya all know as soon as I know.
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Last edited by Landers October 4, 2010 at 06:55 PM.
Joined Aug 2010
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coulditbeSatan
10-04-2010 at 07:09 PM.
10-04-2010 at 07:09 PM.
Quote from Landers :
Then add in an EGR valve, O2 sensor(s), catalytic converter, clutch, etc... I'm glad your car only needed a started and 4 tires. Must be nice.
I will share with you how my dad would reply to that...."Well if you woulda changed your oil and filter every 3,000 miles none of that sh!t woulda happened!" laugh out loud
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Joined Jan 2006
Piece of work
> bubble2 18,933 Posts
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Original Poster
Landers
10-04-2010 at 07:10 PM.
10-04-2010 at 07:10 PM.
Quote from coulditbeSatan :
I will share with you how my dad would reply to that...."Well if you woulda changed your oil and filter every 3,000 miles none of that sh!t woulda happened!" laugh out loud
Roll
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Joined Mar 2007
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> bubble2 4,744 Posts
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square_one
10-04-2010 at 07:11 PM.
10-04-2010 at 07:11 PM.
i kinda like this [nissanusa.com]. from the commercials anyway...
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Joined Jan 2004
Here's to the future
> bubble2 25,141 Posts
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Iaaaiws
10-04-2010 at 07:37 PM.
10-04-2010 at 07:37 PM.
Quote from coulditbeSatan :
I will share with you how my dad would reply to that...."Well if you woulda changed your oil and filter every 3,000 miles none of that sh!t woulda happened!" laugh out loud
laugh out loud

Speaking of oil, I had to add 8 gallons of oil to my work truck engine today when I fueled up. Yep, 32 quarts low. That's the amount to bring it up to the full mark on the dipstick from the add mark. OMG
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CrazyCatJade
10-04-2010 at 08:27 PM.
10-04-2010 at 08:27 PM.
OK, so I was scrolling through the lounge fast, and there was a thread above this about a cat running away. My brain read it as "Landers married my cat."

I just thought I would share.
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Joined Sep 2009
L10: Grand Master
> bubble2 7,138 Posts
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zzyzzx
10-05-2010 at 07:00 AM.
10-05-2010 at 07:00 AM.
Quote from Iaaaiws :
About 7 or 8 years ago I bought a 1989 Chevy truck that used to be a delivery truck for a local Auto Value store. It had about 410,000 miles on it and I all I ever had to do to it in the two plus years I had it was change the oil and put in gas. I paid $400 for it and would probably still be driving it except I had it parked at a friend's shop and a smokestack fell on it while they were pulling a car off of the roof (long story).
Long story please. I'm curious as to how a car ended up on a roof. Pics if possible.
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Joined Apr 2008
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discoverEdeals
10-05-2010 at 07:26 AM.
10-05-2010 at 07:26 AM.
OP,

Don't spend 7-10k on a used car that is going to be in the same state as your current car in a few years. Either get something nearly new or old. The "-in-between" rarely turns out to be the sweet spot your looking for, you can run into just as many issues as your current car irt repairs. For you, I'd suggest an old merc diesel. Unlike the garbage VW diesels they are actual real, substantial cars. They run forever, have classic styling, and you won't be driving the same generic car as everyone else.



http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Me...499wt_1183
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Joined Dec 2004
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> bubble2 22,408 Posts
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shuriken
10-05-2010 at 07:31 AM.
10-05-2010 at 07:31 AM.
Quote from CrazyCatJade :
OK, so I was scrolling through the lounge fast, and there was a thread above this about a cat running away. My brain read it as "Landers married my cat."

I just thought I would share.
did not know he was into that. Big Grin
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Joined Jul 2003
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> bubble2 4,318 Posts
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tightwad
10-05-2010 at 03:48 PM.
10-05-2010 at 03:48 PM.
I love all the advice saying not to spend $1K to fix a car that is otherwise paid for. Instead, spend $300 a month for a new car....so in 3 months, you have a car that still has to be paid for, instead of a paid off car. 3 months later you have spent $1K for the new car, vs very little if anything on the existing car.

Sure, at some point you might want to cut your losses, but I would base it on the accumulated repairs needed, and nothing regarding regular maintenance....tires don't count, you wear them out with either car.

How many miles on your Jetta? That would be my determining factor. When the miles get high enough that the accumulated repair potential is high, I would opt for a different vehicle...but I HATE paying monthly to drive a car that is depreciating nearly as fast as I am paying it off...if not faster. And don't even consider leasing a car.
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Joined Dec 2004
L10: Grand Master
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shuriken
10-05-2010 at 04:06 PM.
10-05-2010 at 04:06 PM.
did u get a diagnosis yet? Stick Out Tongue
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