Transitions
Apr 25th, 2008 at 9:07 pm by Susie
Picked up my new car tonight. (It looks just like this, only without the kayak and the dog. And the bikes.) It’s a ‘98 Subaru Forester, and I’m buying it on the installment plan from a friend who’s moving to New England.
The ride home was quite delightful (even if I did have to drive through the Hellmouth at one point, which was surreal). The front end is tight and it drives like a dream. It’s not quite as cushy a ride as the Infiniti G20, but it’s more fun to drive.
I still have to sell the other car. So far, no takers even though I’ve priced it well under the Blue Book value. It’s got a new exhaust system and I’ve rebuilt the whole front end.
It needs to have the transmission seals redone ($125, which is not a big deal). The real problem is, I bought it with a bad odometer/speedometer. I thought it would be a simple matter of replacing a cable, which goes to show you how old the cars I drive typically are.
Oh no, it’s a computer “module” that’s only about a hundred bucks. But with labor, it’s estimated at $350-400 because the entire dashboard has to come out, which is why I’ve learned to get along without it. (I think that’s why my friend had trouble selling it in the first place.) Arghhh…
Any mechanics out there who want to buy a decent used car?
what kind and how much?
Taking a wild guess here larry…Infiniti G20. Dunno how much.
I’m asking $1500. It’s a 1995 G20 in good (not great) shape. Minor rust, a few dings but a very nice-looking car.
You’ll like the Forester. Decent mileage and an all around good machine. When I saw the dog and the kayak, I knew something was wrong.:-) So, now you are driving a car that is two years newer than one of mine and 9 years newer than my other one. I had an Outback from 2000 but sold it when it got to 120,000. I liked it but don’t miss it. I haven’t been willing to look at a newer car because there are none with decent gas mileage that I like a lot. Janice has a 2003 diesel Jetta that is OK, but not my cup of tea, except for the mileage. The Toyota hybrid is very, very cool and if they had one in a two door coupe, I’d bite, probably. Anyway…..
Gug
Folks, this discussion perplexes me. You want to buy and keep a car for about 20 years. We have done so several times.
First check something like Consumer Reports for the most reliable used cars. So far my wife’s 94 Honda Civic has almost 200K miles, except for a new radiator no major repairs. My 87 Mazda pickup has 263K on it. One new radiator and one brake cylinder is all - engine has never been cracked. Both cars will likely run for several more years.
Fad and fashion costs money. Maybe it’s just the old hippie in me but you can approach this logically if your goal is to save money in the long run.
It’s very unpatriotic to drive cars with 100k or more miles on them.
Especially if they get good gas mileage.
I drive a 1997 Geo Metro 4-door which I bought from Budget Rent-a-Car with 13K on it in March 1998. In the ten years since the mileage has gone all the way up to 48K.
Island living.
Aren’t there HS (or CC) shops which could use do that repair in the classroom and save you some $$??
congrats on the new car Suzy, drive it in good health and hopefully prosperity!