Our old car was pronounced dead today. Advice please!!!

[davsand]

We drive up to the garage, and the mechanic runs out and says, "I can tell by how it sounds, it CAN'T be fixed. Don't even pull it into the bay!" THAT is how the day started.

Mechanic says $500 for a different 6 cyl engine and about $500 labor to put the different engine in, so he suggests calling it a day on the old Buick Century (1987 was such a GOOD year!) He suggests we go buy another old beater to drive to death.

So, I went car shopping today. I figured out that I can MAYBE part with about $1500 in cash right now, and probably can't get anything financed since I've been self employed (and mostly un-employed!) for the last year. Sadly enough, I'm probably gonna be back in a regular day time job in less than one month--so if ONLY the old car had lasted just a little longer...

Anyhow--what do the wise DUers suggest? Buy another beater? Sink $1000 into a new engine for the old Buick (it looks awful, too, BTW) Give the Buick a Viking sendoff before it goes to Valhalla? (In other words just torch the damn thing!) Sell my house and move to town instead of living out in Boofoo?

Come on, gang, what should I do?

Advice please!!!!


Laura

[Spinzonner]

1. Is it driveable but just not repairable ?

i.e, how did you go car shopping ?

Can you limp along with it for whatever remains before you start a job, even using public transportation or bumming rides. When you have a job you will have more options, especially after the first paycheck.

[davsand]

16. We still have one functional car.

Our biggest issue is that my next job is not in the same town as my husband's--about 20 miles in the opposite direction, in fact. We live in a small (about 120 people) farm town in the middle of the job centers in our area. Mass transit or public transport is not an option. If we lived in one of the major towns it would be for sure--but out here it doesn't exist.

Currently, because I am at home, we've been able to get by with one car for a short time, but with me starting the new job, it really is not gonna be possible for us both to go to work every day without a second car.

The mechanic said the rods are trashed on the old Buick. Throwing a rod is never pretty, but it can actually be dangerous--they can and do go thru the body of the car if it is bad enough. It runs for now--but frankly, it is not safe to drive.

I'm inclined to trust the guy--he's done a lot of work for us over the last six years (hmmm--guess which car most of that was on?) and he's never screwed me over yet. They are not expensive on labor, nor are they out to jack anybody--hell, they've been in business here for over thirty years.

I could ask around and see if I can get some local guy with time on his hands to drop an engine in it--but that takes a fair amount of know how, and some decent shop equipment. I doubt that many guys will take this on unless they do it for a living...

I looked at some of these lots that advertise that they finance used cars, but that sounds like a huge rip off to me. The finance percentages and charges are just huge. Plus, I was most unhappy with the sales guys at every one of them--they kept pushing me to buy a more expensive car.

As for how the car "wants to go" I have to tell you that a flaming Viking funeral seems to be the most likely answer. A couple of years ago this same car had an issue with some Oxygen sensor and it got too hot and caught the carpeting in the trunk on fire. Hubby scared hell out of the local postmaster when he walked in and asked to "borrow" the fire extinguisher.

Thanks, all for your ideas. If nothing else, I appreciate being able to share the "agony of loss" for a bit.

Laura

[Wapsie B]

2. Go for a beater.

Try looking in the classifieds or even some of the dealerships. Around here they've got those in the back row. Don't sink any more $$ into the Buick. If you fix that thing it'll be something else breaking later. Cut your losses on this one. I've had plenty of experience with this same problem this year.

[Ironpost]

3. buy a FORD

buy yourself a ford. I've had them all and the ford always got me home without walking or towing, can't say the same about others. mostly ford owners will sell to a friend if it is not worn totally out. so be carefull. rather have a picture of a FORD as a picture of a GM or?

[PragMantisT]

5. I concur

I've owned several Fords, and they have never stopped for no reason. Most, if not all of the other cars I have owned, have crapped out with no warning.

[UrbScotty]

4. Did it want to be cremated?

Buried at sea? Buried in a casket?

Find out. Then plan as touching a funeral service as you can.

It lived a long life. RIP davsand's car.
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Okay, so that was just terrible, but I had to say it.

[GOPisEvil]

6. Buy an old Toyota beater.

As long as it was fairly well-maintained, it will last forever!

[Kali]

8. for sure

if the toyota is running (or nissan) it likely will keep on running. DO NOT buy a FORD! If you must by American get an old Chevy. Parts are still stocked and they are less expensive. Plus you won't need to buy a freaking special tool everytime you need to do something like on a ford.

signed,
a former Ford Fan

[madrchsod]

7. buy a honda or toyota

go to ebay check on prices of them at 1500.then check locally for a car. you can`t beat a good used honda or toyota. always have your mech. check it out before you buy...

[tooncesj0nes]

10. check out the Consumer Reports product guide..

..at the library for the best used cars..we lost our old car recently..thae Hondas and toyotas were overpriced in our area,..but there are some really good used cars recomended by consumer reports. we found a Geo for $1900 (1995) w 100k miles..it was highly rated by consumer reports - has a toyota engine even..

[1monster]

9. Get a SECOND opinion!!!!

My husband's car kept stalling out. He took it to the dealership and they told him that he needed a new engine which they would supply and install for $5000 for a new engine, $4500 for a rebuilt engine, or $3500 for an engine with 35,000 miles on it.

He took it to another garage and they found that he had loads of water in his gas tank. Repair cost? $7.00 for a can of Dry Gas and $5.00 for a new gas cap (the old one had a crack in it).


I was told that my van had blown a head gasket, but the mechanic who told me that said he didn't do that kind of repair. Took the van to a mechanic who works for the same company my husband does. He listened to the engine for a few seconds and said, "Vacuum hose leak." He fixed it in about one and a half minutes and didn't charge me a dime. The car is running great.

Get another opinion.

[Ksec]

11. Id stick with familiarity

I know what Ive got with my car. I know what Ive put into it. If I took good care of it and maintained it before the engine blew I would go to a boneyard and buy an engine for my car. Depending on your location the prices will differ but with a new beater you dont know what youre getting.

[Kali]

12. normally I would agree

but an 87 buick?

[Unperson 309]

14. I second that!

IF you put good money in when the car was newer. Other than that, after a second opinion and death sentence, ditch it.

Next time, if you can, put good money into a good car and keep it running well.

My 1988 Detroit Dinosaur is still running great! I just chunked $5,000.00 into her for a paint job (complete strip, bare metal finish, basecoat, two topcoats and protective overlay!) and she looks brand new. But then, I've kept the maintenance up. Oil, tires, six month checks, replace, repair, inspect, etc. Got her in 1996 and plan on keeping her *forever*!

Maybe I'll leave her to someone in my will.

309

[solinvictus]

13. Toyota

I've got a 1985 Tercel wagon I bought 5 years ago for $1200 and it's still a daily driver. Go for a used Toyota, Nissan, or Honda compact. Maintenance costs are higher on the Honda, though.

[raifield]

15. Toyotas are immortal

I bought a 1985 Toyota Supra two years ago as my first car, 138k on it, original owner who had done all the maint. when and where you are supposed to and the result is that it runs like a top. No problems with it other than a non-functional AC compressor, but that's what windows are for anyway.

[solinvictus]

17. Me too

no A/C, but it runs and drives well and starts when I need it to. I have put 2 alternators on it in 5 years, but that's because of an external voltage regulator that's prone to go bad.