Will Catechize For Car

[Thy Geekdom Come]

We just found out our 1997 Ford P.O.S. (Explorer) has a busted air compressor, which means we can:

[list=1]
[*]Drive around all summer in 115*F with no air conditioning and two young children.
[*]Replace the compressor for $1200 (car's value: $2500).
[*]Buy a new car for an outrageous price.
[*]Buy a used car for a lower but paradoxically more outrageous price.
[*]See if anyone on PM has a car to sell.
[/list]

Who wants to make #5 a reality?

[CatherineM]

I drove a decade in Florida without air conditioning. I definitely feel your pain. We survived by freezing wet wash rags. Just moist so they drip everywhere when they start to melt. We also used one of those plant misters filled with ice cold water.

[Archaeology cat]

I'd give you a car if I could. I'll just have to pray instead.

[Jesus_lol]

[quote name='Raphael' date='18 May 2010 - 09:29 AM' timestamp='1274200194' post='2112802']
We just found out our 1997 Ford P.O.S. (Explorer) has a busted air compressor, which means we can:

[list=1][*]Drive around all summer in 115*F with no air conditioning and two young children.[*]Replace the compressor for $1200 (car's value: $2500).[*]Buy a new car for an outrageous price.[*]Buy a used car for a lower but paradoxically more outrageous price.[*]See if anyone on PM has a car to sell.[/list]

Who wants to make #5 a reality?
[/quote]

my 2400 dollar car doesnt have air conditioning, so i just drive fast with the windows down. makes me miss my motorbike.

[Thy Geekdom Come]

[quote name='Jesus_lol' date='18 May 2010 - 02:32 PM' timestamp='1274207546' post='2112894']
my 2400 dollar car doesnt have air conditioning, so i just drive fast with the windows down. makes me miss my motorbike.
[/quote]
You live in British Columbia. I live in Louisiana. Summer starts in March/April and ends in September/October.

[Brother Adam]

Buy a used car for a lower but paradoxically more outrageous price.

????

[Old_Joe]

CSS here in Lincoln sells used cars.

[God Conquers]

My car is a death trap, I will not put your family in jeopardy.

[Thy Geekdom Come]

[quote name='Brother Adam' date='18 May 2010 - 05:57 PM' timestamp='1274219826' post='2113113']
Buy a used car for a lower but paradoxically more outrageous price.

????
[/quote]
Yeah. The decrease of the quality of the car is disproportionately larger than the decrease in price. For instance, a 2001 Rav-4 for $10k.

[Thy Geekdom Come]

[quote name='God Conquers' date='18 May 2010 - 08:11 PM' timestamp='1274227898' post='2113232']
My car is a death trap, I will not put your family in jeopardy.
[/quote]
Ironically, putting me on Jeopardy might get us the help we need. Maybe I should schedule a meeting with Trebek. He's a Canadian. Give him a call for me.

[morostheos]

[quote name='Raphael' date='18 May 2010 - 10:33 PM' timestamp='1274232782' post='2113289']
Yeah. The decrease of the quality of the car is disproportionately larger than the decrease in price. For instance, a 2001 Rav-4 for $10k.
[/quote]

That is crazy! Are you looking at used cars sold by a dealership or by individuals? Usually you can find a decent car for a lot less than that from individuals - most people sell at just about blue book value or a little below.

[Sternhauser]

[quote name='Raphael' date='18 May 2010 - 08:35 PM' timestamp='1274232917' post='2113290']
Ironically, putting me on Jeopardy might get us the help we need. Maybe I should schedule a meeting with Trebek. He's a Canadian. Give him a call for me.
[/quote]

He's Catholic, too.

~Sternhauser

[Vincent Vega]

Have you considered buying a used car from a rental agency (Enterprise, etc.)? Several of my family members have done so, and got decent quality cars at much cheaper than dealership-used prices.
Perhaps take a look around.

[CatherineM]

My parents used to buy the used salesmen cars from where my dad worked. They had high mileage, but it was all highway miles.

[Thy Geekdom Come]

Actually, the wife found a 2008 Dodge Caliber, once owned by a car dealership, with 36,000 miles and a good Carfax, for $11,888. We can actually afford that on a 60 month loan. We just have to get a couple bills out of the way first.

[Brother Adam]

When we went through Financial Peace University we were taught to never buy a used car because the depreciation is so fast. It loses something like 10% of its value by driving it off the lot. We purchased a '98 Buick with 100k miles for $3,800. We paid it off in 14 months and it should last us the next 5-7 years if it is well maintained.

[morostheos]

[quote name='Brother Adam' date='18 May 2010 - 11:09 PM' timestamp='1274234983' post='2113323']
When we went through Financial Peace University we were taught to [b]never buy a used car[/b] because the depreciation is so fast. It loses something like 10% of its value by driving it off the lot. We purchased a '98 Buick with 100k miles for $3,800. We paid it off in 14 months and it should last us the next 5-7 years if it is well maintained.
[/quote]
Do you mean never by a [i]new[/i] car??

[CatherineM]

If I bought a new car, my father would probably come out of the grave and track me down.

[Brother Adam]

[quote name='morostheos' date='18 May 2010 - 11:42 PM' timestamp='1274236958' post='2113365']
Do you mean never by a [i]new[/i] car??
[/quote]

Yes, that is what I meant.

[Theoketos]

Car debt is ridiculous debt.

I say take a train there...

or by a car that will get you there and back, but thats it. (Less than a 1000 bucks). You then sell it for as much as you can get when you get back into town. You might make money on it.

Watch a few episodes of "top gear" to get an idea of what I mean.

I bought a a truck with 199xxx miles on it. 85 toyota pickup for 2000 dollars. I suspect it would make to LA and back, but I do not have room enough.

We bout a toyota sienna 95, 150xxx for 4500.

I was talking to my wife, If you want I will drive down to Dallas and take you to Wichita if you can pay for gas.

I say by out right a junker. Run it to the ground,