30-09-2003 02:18									#1
	MrFun needs car advice . . . Support Apolyton, buy GURPS/ Alpha Centauri

I have a 1988 Chevy Celebrity that I obtained from my mother about four years ago. But don't laugh at me, damn you!

Anyway, I have two major problems with my car -- one, the floating meter that measures how much gasoline I have in my tank is WAY inaccurate -- it will cost me $830 for the repairs.

Second, my car's entire brake system needs to be replaced -- and that will cost me about $380 for those repairs.

Now, considering the piece-of-sh*t car I have in the first place, I know that these repairs will be more than what my car is worth.


I already paid an entire semester of monthly rents on my student apartment with a small loan, and now I live off of about $820 every month with no utilities to pay for -- already paid for those too.

The past year, I have been thinking off and on about buying another, MUCH BETTER used car. So why should I get these EXPENSIVE repairs if I can just pay for a better used car?

Could I afford to do this? I would pay maybe $500 a month on a used car, just to get it paid in a shorter amount of time.

But I'm also looking in the range of $5,000 to $7,000.

Thanks for any help.

	30-09-2003 02:26									#2
	Support Apolyton or Terrorists Win

get a Subaru. our 91' Legacy hasn't let me down yet. (we have it for 2-3 years or so ) *knocks on wood*

	30-09-2003 02:28									#3
	Lose 30 kilos (of popups)

Get you a Toyota Tacoma pickup.
My '96 has never failed me.

	30-09-2003 02:32									#4
	Support Apolyton, buy Civilization 2

A pickup truck??
A pickup truck??


Oh, and I do know a friend who got a used 2000 or 2001 car for about $7,000.

So I thought I could try to find something around that price for a 2000 or 2001??

	30-09-2003 02:41									#5
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Buy German or Japanese.

	30-09-2003 02:43									#6
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Japanese is cheaper, and has got cheaper spare parts. Reliability is similar ( in both cases, the cars are reliable ).

The costs vary, of course.

	30-09-2003 02:43									#7
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Do you have any friends who know how to fix cars? (probably a stupid question)

	30-09-2003 02:45									#8
	Support Apolyton, buy Civilization III: Complete

One gal who is a friend of mine has a boyfriend who knows how to fix cars -- and he and I are friends, too.

But he does not have the major tools that my repairs would entail.

I'm just about ready to say "fvck it" with this car I have, since the past year, I have been thinking of buying a used 2000 or 2001 car.

	30-09-2003 02:49									#9
	Increase the size of your Attachments

Definitely time to move on. I buy American, but that's more of a personal problem.

in your situation, a Honda Civic, Toyota Corolla, or Nissan Sentra would be the best samll cars. If you can move up in class a bit, the Accord and Legacy are good calls.

My mother in law drives Honda Civics and has gotten at least 150K miles with no problems on the 2 she's had...

	30-09-2003 02:51									#10
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UGH -- one of my other friends said that Honda is utter KRAPOLA.

	30-09-2003 03:01									#11
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Toyota Tacoma (ahem, another plug) is assembled in the USA.

	30-09-2003 03:02									#12
	Support Apolyton, buy Civilization III: Complete

My real advice is to suck it up and get a real car.

Free financing for 5 years is easy to get on a new car, but you'll pay 7 to 10 percent financing someone else's problems.

	30-09-2003 03:03									#13
	Support Apolyton, buy Galactic Civilizations: Deluxe Edition

quote: Toyota Tacoma (ahem, another plug) is assembled in the USA.

Still, gay men don't drive pick-ups. Though I know a gay guy who drives a 89' Ford Bronce... Last year they made the hard top convert... I think. Nice car, apart from it being a Ford...

Get a hybrid you pansy.

	30-09-2003 03:05									#14
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I've got an '89 Honda Accord that just passed 220,000 miles. It is, of course, falling apart now, but all in all it's lasted a long time.

I'd recommend against a 2000 or 2001 used car if you're only spending $7k or so. Remember, there's a reason why such cars are cheap, even when they're new.

Go for something in the early- to mid-90s.

	30-09-2003 03:07									#15
	Support Apolyton, buy Galactic Civilizations

quote: Originally posted by Japher Still, gay men don't drive pick-ups.

BIG deal.
Here's probably his one and only chance to be a trend-setter, and not a follower.

	30-09-2003 03:24									#16
	Support Apolyton, buy Alpha Centauri

I drive a Nissan Almera. Get something small like a Toyota or Honda or whatever. I like my Japanese cars myself. I wouldn't buy a US piece of sh*t. Or French. Damn I've had hell with a certain little French car And before you tell me that British cars are sh*t too...I'm not going to argue with you on that

	30-09-2003 03:30									#17
	Support Apolyton, buy Galactic Civilizations

I would dump that Chevy immediately- you've already paid more than the Car's value in repair and that's no good.

If you're going to spend 5 to 7k, definitely go with the honda and/or toyota. Mid 90's models of either have plenty of mileage left. But make ABSOLUTELY SURE the car has been serviced at a dealership, and the seller has all maintenance records. The import dealers insist on having the scheduled maintenance for these cars done on time- it will add years of life to the vehicle.

	30-09-2003 03:32									#18
	Priorities Support Apolyton buy from Amazon

Brakes are important. I would do that. Gas meter - who cares? You have an odometer and can estimate the amount of gas left. You should also fill up before you go too far. Big deal.

Even if you buy a new car, you want to be able to sell the old car to someone else don't you? (trade in). If so, you will want to be able to say that the brakes are in good shape.

	30-09-2003 03:46									#19
	Support Apolyton, pre-order Civilization IV

fixing old cars sometimes are more expensive than getting another one especially when you have a mechanic that will tell ya that this and that needs replacing. In the end you will end up replacing the car one part at a time. If it has over 180,000 miles on it you may be wasting your time. Be sure that if you do get a used one, please have someone check it out. It may cost about 30 bucks to get someone to look at it, but it will be worth it in the long run. If you know someone you might even get them to look at it for free.

	30-09-2003 03:48									#20
	Help yourself to an AD-FREE life

quote: Originally posted by Japher Still, gay men don't drive pick-ups.

But cowboys do.

	30-09-2003 03:58									#22
	Remove this text

As I said in the other thread, a propane torch is quieter.

	30-09-2003 04:01									#23
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Not all pickups are diesels ya know.
I wouldn't have a damned diesel.

	30-09-2003 04:07									#24
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Imports are the way to go.
I suggest you go to a reputable local import dealer (ask around) or check on the internet. Many of them have web sales sites now, where you can browse the cars and negotiate price before even going in there.
Buy a Honda or Toyota sedan, preferable a Civic or a Camry.
Hire a "mobile mechanic" to check it out for you...most metro areas have these independant inspectors for a charge of about $50 or so. They can discreetly inspect the car before purchase.
Check the fluids, hoses, tires, wear and tear, etc. If the inside is beat to ****, the driving was probably rough as well.
A little 4 cylinder truck or sedan will drive to the moon and back with little maintenance.
If all else fails, Sloww can ride you on the back of his pony.



Check out specific cars at www.epinions.com for how other people have liked them.

Feel free to PM with questions...I have been around cars my whole life, both in sales and repair, and know a thing or two.

	30-09-2003 04:12									#25
	Avatar Enlargement: We've got the solution

My (ahem, shameless plug again) Toyota Tacoma is a 6-banger.


Or fine. Ask Sneaky. He does probably know what would be a good 2nd choice.

	30-09-2003 04:20									#26
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I would buy a V6 Tacoma in a second, if it were practical. But don't you think anything more than 4 cylinders would be wasted on the likes of Mr. Fun?
My Nissan PU and my '99 4Runner were two great cars.
Now I make do with a 03 MPV (minivan, god help me) and a '56 Chevy.

	30-09-2003 04:49									#27
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I flat get it on the highway.
Mr Fun would be like Mr. Toad's Wild Ride.

	30-09-2003 04:59									#28
	Suffering from ads?

I got myself a '96 Camry a year back. Great car. I'd recommend a used Camry (or a Corolla after '95) any day. Cheap and reliable.

	30-09-2003 07:06									#29
	Help yourself to an AD-FREE life

real men don't need gas guages.

just keep your tank topped off.

Why would you spend $800 for a stupid gas guage

We never had cars with working gas guages when I was a kid . Of course we were really poor.

Now brakes on the other hand, are a necessity. But it shouldn't cost more than $200 for one set of brakes.

	30-09-2003 07:32									#30
	Lose 30 kilos (of popups)

quote: Originally posted by -Jrabbit My real advice is to suck it up and get a real car. Free financing for 5 years is easy to get on a new car, but you'll pay 7 to 10 percent financing someone else's problems.

Even with my $800 monthly income, I doubt I can afford to buy a brand-new car and pay it over a period of five years.

Or can I?