BS: Good Used Car?

Subject: RE: BS: Good Used Car?
From: kendall
Date: 02 Dec 12 - 07:18 PM

I have our home insurance and two cars, full coverage for $100.00 per month.Kemper insurance co.

Subject: RE: BS: Good Used Car?
From: Janie
Date: 01 Dec 12 - 10:28 PM

To Bobert - I want the all wheel drive while I got it for my long commute on ice slick country roads early winter mornings, plus, I have more sense when dealing with breakdowns, plus, the Camry has never been smoked in, and why should Son have to breathe the nasty smells from my nasty habit blowing out through the AC and heater vents of the Subaru.

We listed me as the primary driver of the Camry and him as the primary driver of the Subaru, so that is not the issue. I see no reason, however, with me going from a 1997 Subaru to a 1999 Camry on the insurance, for the total premium on the car with me listed as the primary drive to have doubled. The premiums for me in the Camry tripled for both liability and medical coverage.   That has nothing to do with the year or make of a vehicle. Sumpin' ain't right here.

To Ed. I understand the dollars may not add up over the long haul, and kinda have a running debate in my head about that. Thing is, coming up with a large chunk of cash on short notice is hard for me. I have to carry collision on the Camry because I financed it. We chose to not carry collision on the Taurus and when I do the math over the nearly 3 years we had it, that makes sense. We would probably not have gotten a pay out equal to the premiums we would have paid for a new driver (my son will be 19 in a couple of weeks and was/is in a high risk pool.) However, my ex splits the cost of our son's insurance with me, but not for the cost of the vehicle. Son and I personally would have been better off carrying collision on the Taurus in terms of what we are out-of-pocket or having to fiance now, because ex is not contributing to the cost of replacing the Taurus.

I was only paying $95 per year for collision on the '97 Subaru as the primary driver. That was well worth it, imo. This bill I got today has me paying $280 a year for collision on a '99 Camry with me as the primary driver. The collision for the Subaru with Son as primary driver jumped to $377 per year.

I understand the high rates for Son. What I don't get is the huge jump in rates for me. And I am shaking in my boots at what the premium is going to jump to in May, when his accident factors in.

Subject: RE: BS: Good Used Car?
From: Ed T
Date: 01 Dec 12 - 09:27 PM

I would question if collision is worth it on any car valued less than $3,000 to $5,000. As they ge, you can normally find good and cheap parts to fix 'em and you can normally find a cheaper repair shop if insurance is not a factor+If you put in a collission claim, your rates often go up (added through the years) you end up paying as much in increased insurance as the insurance repairs cost.

Subject: RE: BS: Good Used Car?
From: Bobert
Date: 01 Dec 12 - 08:55 PM

Time to turn the Subaru over to the son and just carry the basic state minimum on it...

And save lots of $$$ on insurance...

Plus, why does he get to drive the real car and you gotta drive a clunk??? Clunks are for kids...

Plus, ya'll could have bough an old beater Toyota Corolla clunk for the $1500 you've put in the Subbie and not put a dime in it...

B~

Subject: RE: BS: Good Used Car?
From: Janie
Date: 01 Dec 12 - 08:09 PM

Insurance OUCH!!!!

I was told the rates would not increase for Son as the result of the accident until the May premium was due. Got the bill for removing the 2002 Taurus and adding the 1999 Camry, plus adding collision on the Camry. The bill doubled to a little over $2000 per year. My own safe driver and multiline discounts disappeared, and the rates for me on every line of the coverage more than doubled. Sumpin' ain't right here.


Me and my agent, who happens to be my cousin by marriage, are gonna have to have a talk.

Subject: RE: BS: Good Used Car?
From: Janie
Date: 26 Nov 12 - 11:26 PM

Well....I made the right decision on going for a car for my son instead of for myself. (Not really a decision, it was more a matter of what I found first.) I would have passed the Subaru on down to him if I had found a car for me. The radiator went on the Subaru a few miles from my mother's house Sunday morning as I was headed back from WV to NC. Turns out, the battery was also going bad - though it took awhile to figure out that was what was going on with the anti-theft/alarm system.

Had I bought a car for me and passed the Subaru down to him, I would still be paying for a major portion of the repairs on the Subaru, plus have a much bigger car payment to contend with.

The Subaru's days are obviously numbered. I've spent close to $1500 on it in the last 6 weeks and am well aware I am not out of options in terms of things that can go wrong with everything but the engine - which runs really, really well. Barring something like the transmission going, I think I can keep it on the road for another 6 to 12 months. That will hopefully give me time to position myself to finance a later model Camry or Accord for myself by the time the Subaru dies.

Subject: RE: BS: Good Used Car?
From: LadyJean
Date: 24 Nov 12 - 10:28 AM

I spent most of this summer shopping for cars on Craigslist. You do not want my opinion of that web site, and it's probably illegal to email those words. This having been said, it's the best place to look for cars. BUT

If something listed on Craigslist looks too good to be true, that's because it is. The site is scammer heaven. That good car that is just a couple of thousand less than you expected to pay for it, is somebody's scam offer. They'll ship it to you, just send them the money, yeah right.

Don't answer an ad that doesn't include a phone number. Don't expect the car to look as good as it's picture. (You know somebody tried to sell me a car with half it's front bumper missing!) Do not believe everything you read. I did get my present vehicle on Craigslist. But, it took some effort

Subject: RE: BS: Good Used Car?
From: Jack the Sailor
Date: 24 Nov 12 - 09:39 AM

I have had three of those 100 cars and didn't find them all that bad. Wow! there are a lot of high end brands, Ferrari, BMW, Porche, Rolls Royce etc on that list.

Subject: RE: BS: Good Used Car?
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 24 Nov 12 - 09:23 AM

Skoda in the 80's is a very different beast to Skoda today, Ed. The compant was bought by Volkswagon and build quality went through the ceiling! In addition VW tend to try out any new ideas in the Skoda so they tend to get all the leading edge gadgets and gizmos.

I suggest you take a look a the web site out of interest - Could be an eye-opener. Although if you do decide you want to try one your luck is out. Looks like you Canucks scared them off last time and they never came back! :-)

Cheers

DtG

Subject: RE: BS: Good Used Car?
From: Ed T
Date: 24 Nov 12 - 08:50 AM

Skoda came into Canada in the 80's (along with the Yugo). While inexpnsive, they did not stand up, and many jokes were made on their lack of quality at that time

Subject: RE: BS: Good Used Car?
From: Bobert
Date: 24 Nov 12 - 08:33 AM

Taurus has come a long way since it was first introduced... The early ones didn't last very long because they ate their transmissions and, frankly, weren't built all that well...

They got better and better and are now rated well...

B~

Subject: RE: BS: Good Used Car?
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 24 Nov 12 - 04:20 AM

Are Ford frowned upon in the States? Taurus is made by them isn't it? I have a C-Max 1.6 Diesel that is brilliant. Don't know what the US equivalent is though.

Not seen Skoda mentioned either - Very good reputation here. VW quality witthout the VW price!

Cheers

DtG

Subject: RE: BS: Good Used Car?
From: Ed T
Date: 23 Nov 12 - 10:16 PM

Own any of these Edmunds 100 worst cars?

100 worst

Subject: RE: BS: Good Used Car?
From: gnu
Date: 23 Nov 12 - 05:57 PM

Minds me. One of his old Toyotas... im and is lad was on a nob scoutin mooze. Spotted a BIG bull comin on dark. Pedal down. Broke thae frame 2/3s of the way down ill (Gary, b'y, 'e zays, we don't spare equipment when'rs a job ta do, eh?) and he drove it the rest of the way, rather slowly, of course. They got the bull, got home and went back with another truck and an ATV. 'e, welder as well, welded the frame back up and drove it for a while yet. Been after mooze wit n but only close ta is ome. 'e wanted me ta go "back" wit n on a real unt but I am just a Mainlander sos I couldn't tough it. Eedder dat or I ain't fookin nuts, eh?

Subject: RE: BS: Good Used Car?
From: pdq
Date: 23 Nov 12 - 05:43 PM

"My buddy has a Merc 300D...his truck is a Toyota. He swears by Toyota trucks. And, this guy knows his stuff. He has four journeyman tickets, including heavy diesel."

Last September I finally sold my huge '87 4X4 3/4 ton Suburban for $1200 and bought a rather grody 300D diesel Mercedes for $300. Needed a windshield replaced. Cost $200. Total $500 for a diesel engine with 147K total miles with an ugly car wrapped around it.

This September I sold the Mercedes with 4 days left on the registration so I wouldn't have to pay the fees. A whole years use of a car for less than $300, including an oil change and new windshield.

Put the money into a '77 Toyota mini truck the very next day: $625 and everything seems to work fine. 177K mile on the Hi Lux.

gnu's buddy has good taste. Toyotas and diesel Mercedes.

Subject: RE: BS: Good Used Car?
From: gnu
Date: 23 Nov 12 - 04:55 PM

Never heard about that, JtS. I did hear about the GM "candyshafts". Heard it up close and personal. When I had my Impala (78?) with a 305 V8, I changed out the oil for for summer with STP (50). Purred like a kitten when it was cold to warm. Otherwise, it was still a KNOCKIN under load, even with High Test! And, no, messin with the timing didn't help.

My last Ford, a 1998 small V8, spark knocked a week after I bought it. They said they could set the timing back 1 to 2 degrees or I could use High Test... don't ask me if I was pissed off to no end! I said, yeah, set it back and put that on the work order and that will extend the powertrain warranty as long as I own it. They weren't happy either when I said that. They did it. I set it back and used High Test. I wouldn't do that today with the prices of gas as they are.

Subject: RE: BS: Good Used Car?
From: Jack the Sailor
Date: 23 Nov 12 - 04:38 PM

Wasn't there a issue with GM putting Chevette Trannys in Impalas?

Subject: RE: BS: Good Used Car?
From: Ed T
Date: 23 Nov 12 - 04:26 PM

Early rear wheel GM cars were excellent.

Based on frequent comments I received from Taxi drivers, who drive cars very hard and long, I would avoid 'em until 2005-2006 or so, . Failed automatic transmissions and front end problems were big $ issues. Some of the tranny problems resulted from over-heating in frequent and heavy use. I have been told that life can be extended, somewhat, by installing a transmission fluid cooler.

I never heard bad things about GM trucks-except that they were gas hungry critters. I suspect that has improved recently, as with other vehicles.

Subject: RE: BS: Good Used Car?
From: gnu
Date: 23 Nov 12 - 03:47 PM

Oh! Yeah! Janie... glad to hear of your success and I DO hope you update us from time to time on how things work out with the new ride.

Subject: RE: BS: Good Used Car?
From: gnu
Date: 23 Nov 12 - 03:44 PM

My buddy has a Merc 300D (or a 220? can't recall), late 70's I think. Over 400k, ten years ago, and it runs like a charm. And talk about HUG! 80mph around the Codroy Valley in NF (think, up/down/curves) and it felt like 50mph in a Ford/GM/Christler. I'll never forget... he said "Watch." and cranked the AC full tilt... SNOW! And I was very impressed that it didn't have disposable filters.

Alas, his truck is a Toyota. He swears by Toyota trucks. And, this guy knows his stuff. He has four journeyman tickets, including heavy diesel.

Subject: RE: BS: Good Used Car?
From: Bettynh
Date: 23 Nov 12 - 03:21 PM

Kendall, the Car Guys agree. :::sniff::: I miss them already.

Subject: RE: BS: Good Used Car?
From: kendall
Date: 23 Nov 12 - 03:10 PM

There are some cars that just don't hold up. Yugo, for one. I was talking to a guy who just bought a Yugo and I told him he could double its value. When he asked how, I suggested he fill the gas tank.

Subject: RE: BS: Good Used Car?
From: Jack the Sailor
Date: 23 Nov 12 - 11:54 AM

I have put 200 k miles on my Saturn SL1. Still runs great. But with 263 k miles on it, parts do wear out.

Subject: RE: BS: Good Used Car?
From: kendall
Date: 23 Nov 12 - 11:15 AM

Our 99 Chevy venture has over 100 thousand miles on it and it runs like a Rolex. It rides like a Cadillac and I have spent almost nothing on it. The 06 Impala has 55 thousand miles and is as good a car as we have ever had. (I've owned three Mercedes, & two Volvos)

Beat it if you can.

Subject: RE: BS: Good Used Car?
From: Bobert
Date: 23 Nov 12 - 09:11 AM

Yeah, if ya' like push cars, Capt'n...

B;~)

Subject: RE: BS: Good Used Car?
From: kendall
Date: 23 Nov 12 - 07:50 AM

You can have your rice burners. Our two Chevrolets suit us just fine.

Subject: RE: BS: Good Used Car?
From: frogprince
Date: 22 Nov 12 - 11:20 PM

Good grief, Dorothy; I can't believe how I scrambled my 'rithmetic, or I would have known that had to be the same car. I just realized what happened to my head: it feels so much like I've known some of the folks there far longer than less than four years, that I was thinking the fest year we went to was before 2007. And that's at least as much because of the way I feel about said people now as it is because of my fade into senility.

Subject: RE: BS: Good Used Car?
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 22 Nov 12 - 03:16 PM

Congratulations, Janie! Such a relief, I know!


Dean: The car you met is the one I have. Bumper stickers do not move. I would like to remove some old ones and put on the pristine new ones I purchased at the Peace Resource Center on Earth Day in Balboa Park, San Diego. Delighted to find some favs, esp Well Behaved Women Rarely Make History for the driver's door. As others die off, I have some terrific replacements. I love watching people read my car, a moving political statement.

Subject: RE: BS: Good Used Car?
From: mg
Date: 22 Nov 12 - 02:14 AM

I vote for giving the Subaru to the son, buying an Avalon if possible, because the Shores of Avalon has been going through my head and trusting the mechanic more than some stranger on Craig's list.

Subject: RE: BS: Good Used Car?
From: Ed T
Date: 21 Nov 12 - 07:46 PM

'99 Camry-Good choice. Should last you for a very long time.

Subject: RE: BS: Good Used Car?
From: Janie
Date: 21 Nov 12 - 06:14 PM

What was really nice was turning the rental in 5 days early. Recouped a heap of expense.

Subject: RE: BS: Good Used Car?
From: maeve
Date: 21 Nov 12 - 07:28 AM

Congratulations, Janie.

Subject: RE: BS: Good Used Car?
From: Bobert
Date: 20 Nov 12 - 10:49 PM

Great...

Looks like we'll be back here in a year or two to get mom squared away...

I'd still give Sean the Subaru and you take the Toyota...

B;~)

Subject: RE: BS: Good Used Car?
From: Janie
Date: 20 Nov 12 - 10:46 PM

Bought a car today. For my son. '99 Camry in very, very good condition, according to my mechanic. At a fair price, again according to my mechanic, from a private owner.

Had lots of good, helpful advice and comments from you folks on this thread that helped guide my thinking, and I thank all of you. I also especially thank pdq and Bobert for some behind the scenes research, comments, legwork, guidance and advice.

Mudcat Community in action, all the way around.

Something to add to my list of thanksgivings, come this Thanksgiving.

Subject: RE: BS: Good Used Car?
From: Janie
Date: 18 Nov 12 - 06:51 PM

Bobert (bless him) is doing a lot of on-line research and locating for me, and also looking at some cars down his way. He is too far away to do any legwork locally. He has narrowed the search for me up my way, but the distance issues noted above still make it difficult for me to follow up with what he is finding, given my work situation.
In addition to Bobert, my sister is looking over on the Eastern Shore. I trust both of their judgements enough that if they found something and said they would buy it for themselves under the circumstances, I'd buy it sight unseen, given my difficulties with time to look. Both of them are more car savy by far than am I, and probably much better negotiators.

Otherwise, no, maeve. It is a good thought. I just don't have that kind of local social network.

My mechanic is also looking. Said it was possible he might find something quickly, but it could be a month or more.

Sis has offered the use of her "truck" - an old Suburban, I think, that she has to be able to tow her utility trailer for gardening purposes or riding lawn tractor repairs. It is a gas hog, but cheaper than renting every other week, which is what I am otherwise faced with. Just have to figure out when my son and I could drive up to the Eastern Shore to get it. A borrowed vehicle would definitely take some pressure off.

Subject: RE: BS: Good Used Car?
From: maeve
Date: 18 Nov 12 - 05:47 PM

Janie, is there anyone in the general area you could trust to look over good possibilities on your behalf? That would free you up to only look at the few real possibilities. Thinking....

Maeve

Subject: RE: BS: Good Used Car?
From: Ed T
Date: 18 Nov 12 - 05:29 PM

Just some thoughts:

If private, ask if there is an indoor public parking garage nearby the vehicles (for an example a parking garage), where you could look them over in the light?

If small dealer, explain your situation to a salesperson/or the owner, with info on the vehicle you seek, - if they know you are not a "tire kicker" they may offer to show you a vehicle during off hours, or on Sunday?

Subject: RE: BS: Good Used Car?
From: Janie
Date: 18 Nov 12 - 05:12 PM

Pardon the virtual panic attack. Taking deep cyber-breaths.

Subject: RE: BS: Good Used Car?
From: Janie
Date: 18 Nov 12 - 05:11 PM

This is turning into work and a real time crunch. I live in one rural area and work in another rural area 40 miles away that is truly remote. Can't take much time off work and still get the job done. Plus I have the private practice and can't responsibly reschedule those clients in order to look for a car on weekends. Most cars I'm seeing, be they privately offered or at dealerships, are far enough away that I can't get there before dark and/or just before closing time. Also work most Saturdays in my private practice, and most dealerships that sell older cars in my price range are closed on Sunday.

Having to rent a car for the next week to take some strain off, (We are driving 160 miles 3-4 days a week to get both me and my son to work in opposite directions, and that means I also can't stay late at work when I need to. Weekly rental is expensive, even with Enterprise. Would much rather be putting that money toward a car payment. ARRRGHHH!

Subject: RE: BS: Good Used Car?
From: Janie
Date: 15 Nov 12 - 10:12 PM

Well, I've had two Tauruses (1987 and 2002) and one Sable (1993.) The price was right on all three - free. Hand-me-downs from parents and nephew. All had less than 100,000 miles on them at the time. None of them made it to 200,000, although the 2002 might have, just barely, if son hadn't wrecked it. Good cars for free and comfortable rides, but not long-lived. (used parts are easy to come by, though.)

My head is spinning from reading Craigs List ads for the past 3-4 nights. The prices for older used cars, especially the Toyotas, boggles my pea-brain.

Subject: RE: BS: Good Used Car?
From: pdq
Date: 15 Nov 12 - 08:48 PM

But please, whatever you, Do Not, Oh Please in the name of all that's holy,
DO NOT buy a Mercury Sable.

Trust me on this.


The Mercury Sable and Ford Taurus are essentially the same car(s).

Transverse engine, transaxle, Ford V6 (head gasket problems), and another awful Ford transmission design. It costs $3000 to fix a tranny problem.

"Car from Hell" is fair.

Subject: RE: BS: Good Used Car?
From: Ed T
Date: 15 Nov 12 - 06:41 PM

Some Jetta models are made with similar quality to Audi - buyer beware when they get old, as one thing after another breaks.VW

Subject: RE: BS: Good Used Car?
From: gnu
Date: 15 Nov 12 - 05:58 PM

Problems with the E80 tranny, lg? A lot of Fords had (have) problems with that. And brakes.

What is it with Ford and brakes? Maybe such problems have been fixed bit I wouldn't know. My truck is 3 years old and I try to drive it at least a few miles every day to keep all four disc brakes from rusting... ya can't get them turned here anymore... only replaced... $$$!

Subject: RE: BS: Good Used Car?
From: lefthanded guitar
Date: 15 Nov 12 - 05:33 PM

My old Toyota got over 200, 000 miles on it. Toyota seems like a well respected car, judging from the postings here.

I haven't owned a Jetta, but I've ridden in a couple, and they seem like good cars.And brand isn't everything, sometimes it's the luck of the draw and how the car was maintained.

But please, whatever you , Do Not, Oh Please in the name of all that's holy,
DO NOT buy a Mercury Sable.

Trust me on this.

Subject: RE: BS: Good Used Car?
From: frogprince
Date: 14 Nov 12 - 11:12 PM

Hey, Dorothy: Were you able to transfer you sticker collection from your old car to the new one?    :)
                  Dean

Subject: RE: BS: Good Used Car?
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 14 Nov 12 - 06:52 PM

You know, Janie, I lived with used cars for many expensive years. When the current one was iffy at 4 pm on a Friday and I had to drive from Central Ontario to southern PA on Sunday, I took a walk through the local Chev lot. My wonderful mechanic had "fixed it" to get me to PA but I was getting tired of this. Shoot! I did not think anyone would be at the dealership at 6 pm on Friday but...If I can finance it OK.

I could and did - and realized I had been spending more on repairs than I now spent on car payments.

My current car is a 7 year old Scion XA, bought new and recommended by my engineer/car nut son (49). I love it and have had only routine maintenance for 7 years. Hope it lasts forever - my life time!

Subject: RE: BS: Good Used Car?
From: Gurney
Date: 14 Nov 12 - 12:44 AM

One of the problems (here) with the older Honda is that they seem to be easier than most makes to steal. I understand that newer ones are harder to steal than most, Honda reacted.

Subject: RE: BS: Good Used Car?
From: Bobert
Date: 13 Nov 12 - 09:40 PM

Geo Prizm is the same exact car as a Toyota Corolla...

B~

Subject: RE: BS: Good Used Car?
From: Ed T
Date: 13 Nov 12 - 09:16 PM

IK forgot the Prizm - An early Toyota GM (joint) project if I recall correctly.

Subject: RE: BS: Good Used Car?
From: Elmore
Date: 13 Nov 12 - 08:44 PM

I love my 1995 polo green Geo Prizm. It's starting to look it's age, but then, so am I.