gah.. i screwed up in car buying, what now

[StageLeft]

Originally posted by: suse920
i didnt even know that they made cars without a.c anymore.

The new pontiac soltice has it as an option.

 

[Zenmervolt]

Originally posted by: NeoPTLD
I bought it from a private party,

Apoppin: The OP didn't buy the car new.

ZV

 

[cjgallen]

I drive in TEXAS year round without A/C, deal with it you pvssy

 

[thedarkwolf]

Originally posted by: apoppin

Originally posted by: thedarkwolf

Originally posted by: apoppin

Originally posted by: thedarkwolf
Or you could just sell the focus and buy something car for the same amount with a/c. My damn $800 caravan has working a/c.

Selling a brand-new car will incur a BIG loss . . . . (a couple of Thousand $$$$s)

It wasn't bought brand new

Aftermarket A/C will not dectract from the resale if anything it would add. I wouldn't buy any car without a/c. I wouldn't even bother looking at them. Now that I have had it I will never go back to a car without it unless its a classic.

WHAT wasn't brought brand new . . . i was talking to the OP (evidently HE bought a brand-new Fockus)

Aftermarket AC DOES detract from resale value of a "nice" car.

Uh didn't know you could get brand new cars privat party but okay.

 

[apoppin]

Originally posted by: Zenmervolt

Originally posted by: NeoPTLD
I bought it from a private party,

Apoppin: The OP didn't buy the car new.

ZV

i see . . . 3rd post
thanks

he is considering a new one . . .

in THAT case, it depends on how much he can sell it for as to whether it is "worth it".

(again . . . if i liked it and i lived near the Coast, i'd keep it)
but that just me

 

[flot]

Originally posted by: apoppin
[Aftermarket AC DOES detract from resale value of a "nice" car.

Not necessarily. The kit I put into my wrangler is indistinguishable from factory A/C to any casual observer. It came with the real mopar A/C controls, the only thing that gives it away is the fact that the A/C hoses aren't formed metal and the compressor mounting looks a little odd. But 75% of even the people who change their own oil wouldn't recognize it as non-factory. Nor do I think it is any worse - my kit has been on for 2 years now and is working great.

To the OP: It is a DIY if you are comfortable with the following:
- Removing your entire dashboard
- Removing and draining your radiator
- Disassembling your internal blower box / heat ductwork
- basic wiring, light cutting, etc

In other words, it is a DIY if you have significant mechanical skill. If you are the kind of person who would install your own $2000 car stereo system AND the kind of person that would replace your own radiator, you would be able to pull it off in a day. <-- That does NOT describe very many people.

The shop I took it to to put freon in, when the mechanic saw it actually working he called over the other 5-6 guys to check it out - apparently I was the first person ever to come in with a DIY system and have it work.

Edit: You *could* piece this together from factory parts, but again you'd probably end up at ~1000 or so. The only way you would want to do a junkyard pull is if the system is 100% intact on the wrecked car - if air gets into the system for any length of time, there are at least a couple parts that need to be replaced, and at that point you're better off going new.

 

[apoppin]

Originally posted by: flot

Originally posted by: apoppin
[Aftermarket AC DOES detract from resale value of a "nice" car.

Not necessarily. The kit I put into my wrangler is indistinguishable from factory A/C to any casual observer. It came with the real mopar A/C controls, the only thing that gives it away is the fact that the A/C hoses aren't formed metal and the compressor mounting looks a little odd. But 75% of even the people who change their own oil wouldn't recognize it as non-factory. Nor do I think it is any worse - my kit has been on for 2 years now and is working great.

i believe you are quoting an 'exception' . . . i mean[t] usually

edit: r&r'ing a radiator [or even a big audio install] is a piece of cake compared to installing an a/c.
:thumbsdown:

 

[geno]

Can you find the necessary A/C parts used from another Focus, maybe something that's been in a wreck and the parts are still in good shape? Should be MUCH cheaper than buying a kit I'd think

 

[apoppin]

Originally posted by: geno
Can you find the necessary A/C parts used from another Focus, maybe something that's been in a wreck and the parts are still in good shape? Should be MUCH cheaper than buying a kit I'd think

as the poster above me said it has to be INTACT and PERFECT. . . . hard to find.
(but ideal)

 

[flot]

Originally posted by: apoppin

i believe you are quoting an 'exception' . . . i mean[t] usually

edit: r&r'ing a radiator [or even a big audio install] is a piece of cake compared to installing an a/c.
:thumbsdown:

Not really. Like I said, I did it. All that was involved was:

1 - remove radiator
2 - install condensor in front of it
3 - run hoses from condensor to compressor
4 - remove serpentine belt
5 - install compressor and new belt
6 - replace radiator
7 - run hoses through firewall
8 - Unbolt dashboard from firewall
9 - Remove air director box
10 - Install evaporator inside box
11 - replace air box
12 - replace dash
13 - replace control head
14 - misc here and there
15 - have system tested and filled

It really was not that difficult. Steps 1-6 are basically what you would go through if you were replacing a radiator and an alternator. Steps 7-13 are not all that different than doing a "real" stereo install of amps/speakers/hu with heavy gauge power wire. (in other words, lots of dealing with interior panels and getting through the firewall, etc) It just takes a bit of time and cleverness.

I have removed the dash entirely from a few vehicles, and while you have to be patient and not stupid, it is not impossible. Actually, now that I think about it, I removed the whole interior of my last car while I was doing a stereo install. Again, you just have to label things carefully and try not to lose too many parts.

HOWEVER... like I said.. not an "Average" DIY project.

 

[funboy6942]

You are upside down already in the car for thousands so you may as well just put the ac in it OR fore go the AC and run 75 with all the windows down. Ac is over rated anyway and sucks up more gas

 

[Muadib]

Originally posted by: NeoPTLD
I sold my clunker Mazda(which have decided to cost me $800 in repair bill only about 6 months ago gah) and I got a Focus which I'm satisfied with except for the lack of A/C.

What now? pay $1900 to have A/C installed by an aftermarket installer, or trade-in this beast for a new Focus with A/C?

Which will leave me better off financinally if I'm planning on keeping it for say 3-4 years?

You haven't given enough info for anyone to give an knowledgeable answer. What are dealers offering to give you for the Focus? Is it about what you paid for it? If it is, why on earth would you keep it?

 

[cavemanmoron]

Originally posted by: NeoPTLD

Originally posted by: her209
Why didn't you get an A/C?

I'm in Oregon. I thought I could get by without it.. boy was I wrong. I bought it from a private party, so really not too much to lose to trade-in and they have a $2,000 incentive on new Focus right now.

if you can afford the New car,go for it.

The insurance should only be a little more.

 

[Eli]

LOL.....

 

[apoppin]

Originally posted by: flot

Originally posted by: apoppin

i believe you are quoting an 'exception' . . . i mean[t] usually

edit: r&r'ing a radiator [or even a big audio install] is a piece of cake compared to installing an a/c.
:thumbsdown:

Not really. Like I said, I did it. All that was involved was:

1 - remove radiator
2 - install condensor in front of it
3 - run hoses from condensor to compressor
4 - remove serpentine belt
5 - install compressor and new belt
6 - replace radiator
7 - run hoses through firewall
8 - Unbolt dashboard from firewall
9 - Remove air director box
10 - Install evaporator inside box
11 - replace air box
12 - replace dash
13 - replace control head
14 - misc here and there
15 - have system tested and filled

It really was not that difficult. Steps 1-6 are basically what you would go through if you were replacing a radiator and an alternator. Steps 7-13 are not all that different than doing a "real" stereo install of amps/speakers/hu with heavy gauge power wire. (in other words, lots of dealing with interior panels and getting through the firewall, etc) It just takes a bit of time and cleverness.

I have removed the dash entirely from a few vehicles, and while you have to be patient and not stupid, it is not impossible. Actually, now that I think about it, I removed the whole interior of my last car while I was doing a stereo install. Again, you just have to label things carefully and try not to lose too many parts.

HOWEVER... like I said.. not an "Average" DIY project.

i KNOW how . . . and i wouldn't do it . . . . i "could" rebuild a transmission [i wouldn't] i HAVE rebuilt my cars' rotary engines several times successfully . . . [piece of cake for me . . . "most" mechanics wouldn't even attempt it]

no it's not "impossible" . . . IF you are a mechanic.
:roll:

 

[RossMAN]

WTF didn't you buy a car with a/c?

Good luck selling it without a/c, I wouldn't pay $1900 just to install a/c.

How much did you pay for the car?

 

[flot]

Originally posted by: apoppin
no it's not "impossible" . . . IF you are a mechanic.

Last time I checked, I'm not a mechanic. In fact adding the a/c encouraged me to start changing my own oil. I may tackle brakes next, but there are some things I'm just not confident playing with.

I'm not sure why you're arguing with me, as I'm just giving an honest opinion of the work involved, and like I keep SAYING, I wouldn't recommend it to anybody, but it was still surprisingly easy.

This is like trying to convince a mechanic how easy it is to build your own computer.. :roll:

 

[JulesMaximus]

I didn't know they made cars without A/C...

 

[apoppin]

Originally posted by: flot

Originally posted by: apoppin
no it's not "impossible" . . . IF you are a mechanic.

Last time I checked, I'm not a mechanic. In fact adding the a/c encouraged me to start changing my own oil. I may tackle brakes next, but there are some things I'm just not confident playing with.

I'm not sure why you're arguing with me, as I'm just giving an honest opinion of the work involved, and like I keep SAYING, I wouldn't recommend it to anybody, but it was still surprisingly easy.

This is like trying to convince a mechanic how easy it is to build your own computer.. :roll:

NO! . . . YOU are arguing with Me . . .
:roll:



i am ALSO giving my own opinion.

Perhaps you were just just lucky . . . i dunno. Most mechanics would rate the 'difficulty' of a complete install of an aftermarket A/C as "high". Brakes are - by comparison - "easy".

i am not a mechanic by trade . . . i just gave an example - i have done five 13B rotary rebuilds without any problems . . . . easy for me [no idea "why"] but MOST mechanics wouldn't "touch one". I have also completely gutted the interior of my current car to do an audio install - no problem.

Strange you should give that example . . . i like to think of building computers as a less messy and small-scale version of working on my car. . . . i would think it would be easy for a "mechanic" [if he likes PCs].
:shocked:

 

[digitalsm]

Oregon. Pfft. I live in Texas, and my AC has been broke for two years... Wuss...

 

[Vic]

Live without the AC. You only need it like 10 days out of the year.

 

[NeoPTLD]

Paid: $7500
Trade-In value per KBB: $7,000

New ZX5 (current 2 dr is PITA anyways...) with A/C after incentive rebate $13,400

So, which would leave me in better position 4-5 years from now when I sell it?
spend $6,400 on a brand new one or spend $2,000 on A/C install?

 

[apoppin]

Originally posted by: NeoPTLD
Paid: $7500
Trade-In value per KBB: $7,000

New ZX5 (current 2 dr is PITA anyways...) with A/C after incentive rebate $13,400

So, which would leave me in better position 4-5 years from now when I sell it?
spend $6,400 on a brand new one or spend $2,000 on A/C install?

paying cash?

if not, better figure in the interest.

you are in a 'no win' situation. it will cost you either way. IF i lived where you do, i wouldn't bother for the short Summer you do have [i know Washington is getting record temps but it's all relative.

You might consider picking up a cheap car w/AC just for the hot days [sub$1000; if insurance isn't too bad] .. . .

 

[NeoPTLD]

Originally posted by: apoppin

Originally posted by: NeoPTLD
Paid: $7500
Trade-In value per KBB: $7,000

New ZX5 (current 2 dr is PITA anyways...) with A/C after incentive rebate $13,400

So, which would leave me in better position 4-5 years from now when I sell it?
spend $6,400 on a brand new one or spend $2,000 on A/C install?

paying cash?

if not, better figure in the interest.

you are in a 'no win' situation. it will cost you either way. IF i lived where you do, i wouldn't bother for the short Summer you do have [i know Washington is getting record temps but it's all relative.

You might consider picking up a cheap car w/AC just for the hot days [sub$1000; if insurance isn't too bad] .. . .

Yes, cash.

I'm only looking within the two options I specified. I'm not looking for any other options, including getting a beater with working A/C. I need a car that will run reliably and not fall apart and that isn't going to happen with a ghetto cheap car. Since not everyone lives on the ranch, space constrait is a real issue, so second car is out of option.

 

[sniperruff]

i'd just keep the car for a few years and trade it in/sell it. no AC is not really that bad, and i had to endure new york city traffic.