TVTropes Now available in the app store!
Open

Follow TV Tropes

Following

The Driveway: COBbies talk cars

Go To

DemonSharkKisame Since: May, 2009
#451: Aug 9th 2013 at 3:22:10 PM

[up]Seems reasonable enough, though if it weren't to family, I'd see if you could get away with an even $1000. As for the rust, has it spread to anything like the frame/other essential parts?

Also, I've come to the conclusion that, while I'd probably have a blast with a Miata, the Civic DX would probably be the safer choice both literally and financially (not that the Miata is unreliable at all, it's just that convertibles require more care than regular cars; also, the Miata is not the kind of car you want to have an accident in). Now if only I could get this van and the Oldsmobile sold...

TParadox Since: Jan, 2001 Relationship Status: The captain of her heart
#452: Aug 9th 2013 at 8:43:38 PM

I'm pretty sure the rust is just in the skin or whatever it's called.

Fresh-eyed movie blog
DemonSharkKisame Since: May, 2009
#453: Aug 10th 2013 at 11:21:55 PM

So it could probably be removed, assuming it hasn't started eating holes in the metal. Given you're trying to sell it, it's not worth the effort though.

And on my car hunt: turns out I have to keep it at $3000 or below, so the Civic (being right at $3000) might not be the most financially-feasible choice given taxes, tags, doc fees and the like. If that Saturn runs well, it might still be an option...

edit: Seems the infamous Saturn oil leaks only really seem to affect SOHC S-series engines (found in the lower end models: SC1, SL, SL1, SW, SW1); the leaks usually start because the SOHC version of Saturn's I4 engine had a defective cylinder head that, over time, would almost always crack between the fifth camshaft journal and fourth cylinder, resulting in coolant and oil leaks. The DOHC engine (found in the upper-end models: SC, SC2, SL2, SW2), however, has a completely different head design and thus is immune to the problem.

edited 11th Aug '13 11:24:31 AM by DemonSharkKisame

TParadox Since: Jan, 2001 Relationship Status: The captain of her heart
#454: Aug 13th 2013 at 10:30:24 PM

My aunt and uncle are going to buy the car. But not until they get their inheritance check. If I can get a day to myself, I'll go ahead and get the title of the new car transferred so I can actually start driving it.

However, tomorrow we're day tripping to Bloomington, the day after I'm helping my brother help a family friend set up for her wedding, and the day after that the wedding happens. And then it's the weekend.

Fresh-eyed movie blog
Nohbody "In distress", my ass. from Somewhere in Dixie Since: Jan, 2001 Relationship Status: Mu
DemonSharkKisame Since: May, 2009
#456: Aug 15th 2013 at 7:00:34 PM

So I finally got an up-close look at that Saturn SC2 today, since I got some extra time to kill: it's in beautiful shape, especially for something that's close to 180k miles. No leaks, creaks, squeaks, or blemishes. Even at this level of mileage, does $2,250 seem reasonable given that it's in great physical condition?

DemonSharkKisame Since: May, 2009
#457: Aug 19th 2013 at 2:56:55 PM

Decided against the Saturn again, 180k is just too much to risk for a used car. Now I'm looking at a '93 Ford Escort GT hatchback with about 140k miles. Only physical defect is a green rear bumper on a red car (it's a "Christmas car" tongue), but it's in otherwise great condition, and it's about $1500. Really tempted, since the GT hatchback is my favorite version of the Escort ever. grin

Madrugada Since: Jan, 2001
#458: Aug 19th 2013 at 3:14:39 PM

Green bumper on a red car means "rear-end crash survivor". High probability of frame damage. You don't want it.

edited 19th Aug '13 3:15:21 PM by Madrugada

Nohbody "In distress", my ass. from Somewhere in Dixie Since: Jan, 2001 Relationship Status: Mu
"In distress", my ass.
#459: Aug 19th 2013 at 4:37:22 PM

I think the foxy lady's advice is something you should give a lot of weight to on this issue, DSK. If there's frame damage you're just inviting trouble buy buying it, however much you may like that particular model.

All your safe space are belong to Trump
DemonSharkKisame Since: May, 2009
#460: Aug 20th 2013 at 11:13:51 AM

I know, and I took a close look at the car today, and from what I can tell, there's no apparent frame damage. Still, I might want to look elsewhere on the off-chance it does have frame damage...

Madrugada Since: Jan, 2001
#461: Aug 20th 2013 at 2:49:47 PM

Frame damage doesn't usually show. That's the worst part of it. It can be slight twisting or bending of a structural member, or internal cracking of the metal.

drunkscriblerian Street Writing Man from Castle Geekhaven Since: Oct, 2010 Relationship Status: In season
Street Writing Man
#462: Aug 20th 2013 at 3:11:16 PM

Frame damage is like herpes...if you even have reason to suspect, don't go getting in it. :D

If I were to write some of the strange things that come under my eyes they would not be believed. ~Cora M. Strayer~
Nohbody "In distress", my ass. from Somewhere in Dixie Since: Jan, 2001 Relationship Status: Mu
"In distress", my ass.
#463: Aug 20th 2013 at 4:17:37 PM

Fortunately I had swallowed the sip of Coke I had taken a few moments before reading your post, Drunkie. Otherwise, you'd have owed me a new keyboard. tongue

All your safe space are belong to Trump
Madrugada Since: Jan, 2001
TParadox Since: Jan, 2001 Relationship Status: The captain of her heart
#465: Aug 23rd 2013 at 2:15:13 PM

Finally got a day I could go to the license branch to register the new car, so I could get a temporary plate and actually drive it somewhere farther away than the end of the driveway since my mom's cousin took the plate off when he delivered it.

I need a death certificate before the BMV will accept that I own it.

I'd like to be able to drive this whizzbang new car that I'm $5k in debt for...

Fresh-eyed movie blog
DemonSharkKisame Since: May, 2009
#466: Aug 25th 2013 at 5:11:32 PM

Took a closer look at that '93 Escort with a mechanically-inclined friend today, and the news so far is good: nothing appears to be seriously wrong with it. No frame damage/rust/rot or any real sort of evidence it was in a rear-end accident (if anything, it seems the original rear bumper simply came off somehow and was junkyard-replaced; as this thing still has a clean title, I'm inclined to believe it). It starts up and runs fine (no knocks or squeaks, and minimal vibration given it's an early-'90s hatchback), and surprisingly, I fit just fine in it, which I cannot say for the third-gen Escorts. My only real complaints of note are that the stick shift feels kinda notchy and has long-ish throws between gears, and I don't think the radio works (turns on, but wouldn't tune to my knowledge). All in all, not terrible for $1495 IMO.

We also took a look at a '98 Honda Civic EX coupe, and while it was mechanically sound (nothing special for a Honda), and I preferred how the stick felt compared to the Escort (smooth, short throws), there were a few issues that have me leaning towards the Escort: the windshield's cracked, there's a dent in the front-left quarter panel, the driver's door panel is loose (probably work done to replace the power window motor), and the radio will turn on, but the volume does not work (knob is loose). IMO, $2500 is a bit too much for a Civic in that condition ($2000 is the most I would pay for it).

DemonSharkKisame Since: May, 2009
#467: Aug 29th 2013 at 2:32:56 PM

Well, the news is good regarding the Escort: finally got a history on it, and it turns out the rear bumper is the result of a minor incident (previous owner backed into something just hard enough to mess up the original bumper, and replaced it with a junkyard rear bumper from an Escort LX). There seems to be no other problems otherwise, and apparently the mismatched-bumpers thing is particularly common amongst surviving Escort GTs since the LX model vastly outsold it (family-oriented models always outsell sport-oriented ones with almost any car, it's not surprising).

TParadox Since: Jan, 2001 Relationship Status: The captain of her heart
#468: Aug 29th 2013 at 9:02:00 PM

Last week: "Just come back with a death certificate and we can transfer the title."

Today: "Oooh, you've marked down in the payment section that it's an 'inheritance'. Technically we should ask to see inheritance papers. We told you last week you should just write $0 in that spot. We'll just write 'gift' in there so we can move on. Okay, we're going to go ahead and process it, but we're going to call you within 24 hours to ask for paperwork verifying that your cousin who signed the title over to you is in fact the administrator of the Trust."

But hey, I can finally drive the damn thing.

Fresh-eyed movie blog
DemonSharkKisame Since: May, 2009
#469: Sep 2nd 2013 at 9:02:05 PM

[up]Yay, legal snafus! tongue

As soon as I get some pics taken of my Oldsmobile, it's being put up on Craigslist for about $800. Also, as much as I want to sell my van before I possibly move down near Fayetteville, I might have to hang on to it for a while longer. Gah. :/ Also, I found the reason for my driver-side door handle issues: there were two recalls involving the very same issue (handles can come loose, making the doors hard to open). At least that would explain why my van's title never mentioned anything about an accident.

And while I'm on the subject of car buying (when am I not, at least as of late): I'm somewhat torn between that Escort I've mentioned, and a '96 BMW 318ti the place has for $2495. I'm very much aware that BMWs, like most Germanic cars, are very expensive to fix if something breaks, but at the same time, they're built a lot better than most other cars to begin with (though the Escort holds together fine on account of it being mostly Mazda-built that generation). Notably, the 318ti will run just fine on regular-grade gasoline, I'm just worried about it being a money pit.

DemonSharkKisame Since: May, 2009
#470: Sep 5th 2013 at 7:24:19 PM

So my van is currently locked up at a nearby Food Lion parking lot. Why? The right-rear tire's gone completely flat. Had to walk a mile and a half home... not fun. Really wishing I could just get rid of the thing for something that wouldn't cost me an arm and a leg to maintain...

TParadox Since: Jan, 2001 Relationship Status: The captain of her heart
DemonSharkKisame Since: May, 2009
#472: Sep 8th 2013 at 7:16:18 PM

Finally, a Honda CRX in my area that hasn't been totally molested (only modification is the swap for 14" Civic wheels vs. the stock 13"). $2200 seems a bit much IMO, but it is getting hard to find relatively-stock CRXs around here...

edit: Finally got my van back! Got a $30 used tire, and while the tread on it is very low, it was enough to get me home. Never thought I'd actually be happy to drive that thing.

edited 9th Sep '13 3:05:41 PM by DemonSharkKisame

drunkscriblerian Street Writing Man from Castle Geekhaven Since: Oct, 2010 Relationship Status: In season
Street Writing Man
#473: Sep 14th 2013 at 6:28:24 PM

DG and I changed the spark plugs in my car today. It won't fix all the problems but it does make the thing more drivable. Next up is an 02 sensor swap...hopefully that will fix the rest of the power problems my poor little Golf has been having. I might have to clean the fuel injectors but hopefully not.

One thing swapping out the spark plugs did seem to correct, however, was the misfiring piston. One problem down, one to go.

If I were to write some of the strange things that come under my eyes they would not be believed. ~Cora M. Strayer~
DemonSharkKisame Since: May, 2009
#474: Sep 20th 2013 at 11:39:12 AM

Hnnnnnnnnng, dat Ford Taurus SHO. It's the 3.2 liter automatic version, and apparently the seller's willing to trade for "a domestic minivan of similar mileage/value". Hmmmmmm... smile

Also, TParadox, ironically enough, there's a '93 Plymouth Acclaim for sale right down the street from me for about $900. I'd need to take a closer look at it, but in your experience, was the Acclaim any good?

edited 20th Sep '13 11:54:19 AM by DemonSharkKisame

Nohbody "In distress", my ass. from Somewhere in Dixie Since: Jan, 2001 Relationship Status: Mu
"In distress", my ass.
#475: Sep 21st 2013 at 5:46:00 AM

That Acclaim isn't necessarily bad, but it's kinda mediocre. Also, early to mid 90s Mopar paint jobs are prone to serious bouts of paint cancer (fading, peeling, and flaking off), which could be a turn-off if it's for more than a temporary ride while saving for something less weaksauce.

edited 21st Sep '13 5:46:45 AM by Nohbody

All your safe space are belong to Trump

Total posts: 719
Top