mi kar he iz still ded from fire

[jazzfish]

"You've got a hole in your oil pan big enough to put my fist through," says the mechanic. New engine needed. $1100. Or I can get a new car. I really am about sick of this one: not so much for the mechanical failures as its inherent car-nature. White and boxy and clunky, and only not-uncomfortable because I've made a special point of learning how to sit in it. Crappy stereo, bad speakers. Bah. To the left, if it's what I got then it's what I got.

I'm looking to spend no more than $5-6K, and want something small and reliable. Ideally I'd like a three-door Saturn, or a Del Sol or a Karmann Ghia. Suggestions for places to look around here? (CarMax does not really believe in my price range, thanks.)

(Also, jedibfa is way cool for driving up to H'burg to retrieve me on his official Day Off. Also also, mrstickman and rbandrews for being willing to do so, though later.)

Made it to work just a bit late, in a rental car (light brown Chevy Cavalier; one on the list of cars I DON'T want). Have to be at work at quarter of ten in the morning. Dead bulbs in one of the two fixtures in my room (the one over the bed, not over the desk) and in my reading lamp, so half of my room is all DARKNESS AND TRIP OVER THINGS AND DIE.

But my computer is not dead. At least not right now.

Comments

[ranchonmars.livejournal.com]

Check out places like Hertz and Avis. They sell off their rentals; you might be able to find one for cheap. It might not be the prettiest, but running well and being comfortable are more important.

There's a guy down in Roanoke who takes cars that have been totalled by insurance companies due to body damage (mine had been backed into a tree), fixes them beautifully, and sells them back off; I got my car under blue book value from him a few years ago. He's great and stands behind his work. I can try to find his number for you, I just remember his first name is Mike.

[jazzfish]

I'm a bit nervous about utterly rebuilt vehicles: I'd rather only have to worry about the insides falling apart, and not the whole thing. (Which isn't to imply that he does bad work; just that if the work needs to be done there's the possibility of him missing something, and rebuilt isn't as structurally sound as not-rebuilt in any case.)

Checking the rental car morgue may work out, though. Thanks.

[mikailborg.livejournal.com]

Rain's GEO Tracker was a rebuild, and held up to our honeymoon trip to Disney, as well as plenty of fandom-based driving. Come to think of it, it was driven here from Portland, and later back again when her mom traded a Grand Prix for it.

Can't argue, though, with the fact that re-built isn't as sturdy as not-rebuilt.

[tango.livejournal.com]

How soon do you need said vehicle?

[jazzfish]

Sooner rather than later. Yesterday would be ideal. I can probably wait a few days before giving up and telling them to fix the engine; I'd like to have the car in my possession by NLT, say, the end of next week.

[jazzfish]

Nevermind. Within the next month will work, since I'm going ahead and fixing Glyndwr.

[anterus.livejournal.com]

Ford Escort is very reliable. Friend of mine says he'll replace his when it dies, but it just hasn't DIED. Heh. Worth a look.

[jazzfish]

*nod* Escorts are on the Short List. I borrowed Consumer Reports' Big Book Of Used Cars from work and pulled about ten make&models that I don't object to and they list as reliable: Escort, Prizm, Protege, Echo, and some I'd never heard of like Mercury Tracer and Hyundai Tiburon.

[laughin.livejournal.com]

Avoid Shelor Motor Mile please! :)

Honda Civics are reliable too. Check out kbb.com to see how much you should be paying for what you want.

[jazzfish]

Lord, yes. I decided after about a year in B-burg that I'd never support anyone with radio ads that were that annoying. :)

For some reason I didn't want a Civic but I can't remember what it was. I think it was looking just barely out of my price range on average.

Ooh, bluebook online. Very cool. (Sadly, my car is only worth about $900 with an engine installed. Dang.)

[narquelion.livejournal.com]

My (now Dave's) Prizm has been fairly reliable. To be specific, we've had to replace the alternator ($200) and the exhaust manifold ($100). And a headlight cover ($30) after a 35mph spin into a highway barrier - some cosmetic body damage, but nothing else. Which fully describes two parking lot fender-benders. In sum, for the $7500 my parents spent on it (new, but on "please God take this away already, we have model year N+2 coming in" sale), well worth it. (And you note, I don't defend the skateboard beyond saying it was quite useful in solving our problem, which apparently is one that no one else has.)

I suppose that was the purpose of your calls a day or so ago. Oops. When we got out of the theater we guessed that you (like vt_komainu a few days previously) needed rescuing from ennui on a long drive, and assumed you'd found it by then.

[jazzfish]

Heh. Yeah, I was desperately casting about for anyone who might possibly not object to a trip to H-burg, and whose company I wouldn't object to.

On an unrelated note, I have belated Xmas stuffs for you and Dave, and will get them to you at some point.

[platypusgirl.livejournal.com]

Krys drives an Escort.
I drive a civic - they fog up badly (especially if it rains, gets cold fast, or if there is a guy in the car - for some reason guys put off more heat.)

I used to drive a shadow - it's biggest problem - I drove it into the ground (212,000 miles and it went out in a big cloud of smoke - cracked cylinder and blown head gasket, i'd just replaced the thermostat....)

good luck!

[anterus.livejournal.com]

Dishsoap can fix the fogging problem. It's a known solution to fogging problems in helmets. Might not work so well for windshield. Dunno.

[platypusgirl.livejournal.com]

i definately know fudgesicles don't help the problem.

[anterus.livejournal.com]

This doesn't surprise me. Tried it, I presume?

[platypusgirl.livejournal.com]

not intentionally, but yes.
that whole depth perception thing. That windshield is a lot closer to the steering wheel than you think when you're holding a fudgesicle.

Escort

[rbandrews]

My mother has a 1998 Ford Escort. It's not a bad car, I guess, but really more go-kart than car. It is scarily small and underpowered.