Car drama...

[libnnc]

Here's the dealie-o

We have three cars that are all paid off. My SO commutes from Winston-Salem to Charlotte every day. Her car is a 2001 Impala that she HATES (personal vendetta against GM...long story). My car is a 1993 Eagle Summit wagon that is beginning to crap itself. We also have a 1999 Miata (stick shift--I can't drive it) just paid off--really cute car.

Should we...

1. Sell the Miata, buy a hybrid for SO, keep the Impala for me to drive.

2. Sell the Impala, buy a hybrid for SO, keep the Miata for me to LEARN how to drive.

3. Fix the van. Keep the Impala. Keep the Miata. (And in the meantime learn how to drive it so I'll have a back-up).

4. Fuck it. Sell all three and start with two new cars from scratch.

Keep in mind, the last thing SO wants is a car payment.

I don't know what we should do.

[Hand]

1. Don't have any suggestions, but I LOVE that pic of Molly! nt

[Oeditpus Rex]

2. Depending on what the Summit needs

I'd dump the Miata. From a purely financial standpoint, that'd be the best option. (I'm guessing insurance on the Miata is highest of the three.)

My sister and BIL have had a Summit forever, with only one semi-major problem. They're apparently built pretty well.

[libnnc]

3. I think the starter on the Summit is beginning to go

It has a fairly new battery and it's slow starting. It's never acted up like this before. It just turned 168,000 miles a few weeks ago. Aside from adding oil every couple of weeks, I've never had a problem. We bought it new, I've never missed an oil change or a timing belt change. I had some transmission work done on it about 50,000 miles ago. It's been a great car.

[Oeditpus Rex]

4. It needs oil every two weeks?

That's a sign of a major problem — worn rings or valve guides, or both.

Starter's not really a big deal. If you have a shop do it, it shouldn't cost more than $200 or so. (That doesn't mean it won't, but it shouldn't.)

[libnnc]

5. I have to add a quart about every couple of weeks

sometimes only once a month. I've gotten more than my money's worth out of it.

[TheMightyFavog]

6. Give the Miata to me.

I even know how to drive stick.

C'mon, you know you want to.

[Book Lover]

7. 1) No matter what, learn how to drive the Miata

Honestly, it is *not* hard to learn how to use a manual transmission. You already know by feel how and when a car shifts - using a manual tranny means only that when the engine whines, you have to make the shift.

2) Sell the Summit now, before it dies on you and you can't get rid of it.

3) Sell the Impala and buy a used Japanese commuter sedan (avoiding new car depreciation).

[libnnc]

9. agreed. We won't get more than $1,000 for the Summit as it is now

I must learn how to drive a stick. It's just stupid of me not to be able to. Then that could be my primary car for a while and SO can get the commuter car she's been wanting.

[LostinVA]

8. EWWWW -- WS to Charlotte? I'd kill myself

85 is worse everytime I drive on it.

[Droopy]

10. Sell the Summit

You drive the Impala. Your SO drives the Miata, but you should learn how to drive it as well.

[AlCzervik]

11. you should learn how to drive the miata no matter what you decide on doing

also if you buy new vehicles stick shifts are almost always less money than automatics, plus imo manuals are more fun to drive.

[Kali]

12. If you were me you would keep dumping tons of money into old broken down vehicles.

My advice is don't be me. Learn to drive the stick - it is a skill that might come in handy someday whether you keep the Miata or not.