my car is dead. [updated again: i have a new car!]

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Shelly21

Diamond Member
May 28, 2002
4,111
1
0
Originally posted by: conjur
Originally posted by: Shelly21
lol,

I remember when I drove thru Kentucky, I think Owensboro? Seems like everyone there drives a Corvette becuase they were built there.

Close...they're built in Bowling Green, KY...a bit east of Owensboro.

Wow, how do you know so much about Bowling Green?

It's coming back to me now, I was in Bowling Green for the Wachovia Securities branch upgrade. And I drove to Owensboro to see a friend that works for Kimberly Clark. I got the two place mixed up. :)
 

caitlion

Golden Member
Sep 25, 2003
1,441
0
76
Originally posted by: vi_edit
Thing is, cost of maintenance is based on what the owner's manual says. I'd be willing to bet real-life experience will pretty much equal those costs out (esp. if you stay away from dealerships for regular maintenance.) Cost of repairs difference is negligible, imo.

It's all a wash really. One thing that I didn't list was insurance costs. On a yearly rate, the civics and corolla were only like $100 more over 5 years than the Cavalier...which I think is absolutely BS. Hell, in some parts of the country, a Civic is going to have $100 more A MONTH premiums than the cavalier.

my civic is $78/month for full coverage :D of course, thats under my moms bfs name so that its cheap.. my friend also bought a 94 (i think) civic and his insurance is less than his corolla was.. although, i dont think they are really comparable since his corolla was newer. anyway, seriously, look at older hondas. the one my friend just got is very nice and it was only $4900 or something.. and thats with a body kit, lights, exhaust (yeah its a rice burner).. so you could probably get stock for a lot less maybe? i dunno, im not a car person, so i guess i shouldnt really be trying to help you :)
 

Quixfire

Diamond Member
Jul 31, 2001
6,892
0
0
Originally posted by: BUTCH1
Quote"Take a look at the Ford Escort and Escort ZX2. These cars get very high marks for reliability from the brainwashing magazines such as Consumer Reports and J.D. Power, yet they are domestic and very inexpensive. My wife had a 1999, and it was an excellent car. She had no problems whatsoever with it."

I've got a 94 Escort with 131K on it and it runs perfect. Just good, basic maint. and these cars
will last. Engine and tranny built by Mitsubsihi, mazda protege platform and they are cheap to
buy and drive and noone steal's 'em. One thing though, they are Kinda slow...
Being a Ford mechanic for over ten years I too like the Ford Escorts. I have an Escort GT with 186K miles and it runs great. If you are going to consider an Escort try to find a GT, it has a Mazda engine which has proven to be a better engine than the Ford 1.9L.
 

Budmantom

Lifer
Aug 17, 2002
13,103
1
81
Originally posted by: eakers
i've been needing a new car for a little while now but car shopping sucks so much and my car was seemingly good on the inside (the outside has gone to hell) so i was kind of putting it off.

today she won't start. just a little click. it seems like what happened when the starter went on it before but it doesn't matter, this is the last straw for my stanza and i think she is going to car heaven now.

:(

the car has been good to me but i really can't afford an import right now so my next car will be something domestic (or perhaps a hyundai). right now i am looking at cavaliers and sunfires and focus. i want something small.

byebye 1990 nissan stanza gl.

update
mommykins says she wants to share cars for the minimal amount of time.. in other words, i have to buy a car today or tomorrow so it can be on the road by friday.. monday at the latest

ACK.
so much pressure.


Buy some jumper cables, it might be cheaper than a new car....
 

Eli

Super Moderator | Elite Member
Oct 9, 1999
50,419
8
81
let me get this straight.. you're junking your car because all it does is click when you go to start it? :p

Did it ever occour to you that you just need to replace the part that's broken?

It's either your starter, or your battery. It'd be a lot cheaper than a whole new car.
 

Bulk Beef

Diamond Member
Aug 14, 2001
5,466
0
76
You can figure out if it's the battery by simply jumping it. Cost to you - $0. If it is the battery, replace it for ~$50 (as Skoorb said, your car is worth jack if it doesn't work), then you can shop for a new car without the pressure of having to buy one right now.

How old is the battery?

 

Eli

Super Moderator | Elite Member
Oct 9, 1999
50,419
8
81
Originally posted by: sward666
(as Skoorb said, your car is worth jack if it doesn't work)
I wanted to address this in my first post. That's not entirely true. The car is still worth something, even if it doesen't move. At the least, its worth its weight in metal. At the most, its worth whatever salvagable parts + the metal.

Junkyards usually pay 50$ for your car. You do realize they make considerably more than that off it's parts? :p
 

lowtech1

Diamond Member
Mar 9, 2000
4,644
1
0

It could be a poor/corroded contact, low on fluid, or crack cell. Have a mechanic look at it & find out how much it cost before purchasing another car.

As for used cars, the below seemed to be well built:
Crown Victoria
Grand Marquis
Impala
 

Bulk Beef

Diamond Member
Aug 14, 2001
5,466
0
76
You do realize they make considerably more than that off it's parts?
Obviously, everything is worth something to someone, but somehow, I don't see eakers parting out her car. :D
 

Aquaman

Lifer
Dec 17, 1999
25,054
13
0
Originally posted by: Shelly21
Originally posted by: eakers
i've been needing a new car for a little while now but car shopping sucks so much and my car was seemingly good on the inside (the outside has gone to hell) so i was kind of putting it off.

today she won't start. just a little click. it seems like what happened when the starter went on it before but it doesn't matter, this is the last straw for my stanza and i think she is going to car heaven now.

:(

the car has been good to me but i really can't afford an import right now so my next car will be something domestic (or perhaps a hyundai). right now i am looking at cavaliers and sunfires and focus. i want something small.

byebye 1990 nissan stanza gl.


Get a year old Hyundai Tiberon, It looks cool on the outside. :)


Actually that is the moist stolen car in Canada :D

Cheers,
Aquaman
 

Aquaman

Lifer
Dec 17, 1999
25,054
13
0
I would get a used civic or corolla very very reliable. I still am driving my first car 1990 Civic Si :D Still going strong :D

Cheers,
Aquaman
 

conjur

No Lifer
Jun 7, 2001
58,686
3
0
Originally posted by: Shelly21
Originally posted by: conjur
Originally posted by: Shelly21
lol,

I remember when I drove thru Kentucky, I think Owensboro? Seems like everyone there drives a Corvette becuase they were built there.

Close...they're built in Bowling Green, KY...a bit east of Owensboro.

Wow, how do you know so much about Bowling Green?

It's coming back to me now, I was in Bowling Green for the Wachovia Securities branch upgrade. And I drove to Owensboro to see a friend that works for Kimberly Clark. I got the two place mixed up. :)

Well...I only live about 90 min. north of it and drove by it countless times on vacations to Florida or business trips to Nashville. Oh, was in a bowling tournament there once, too ;)
 

Eli

Super Moderator | Elite Member
Oct 9, 1999
50,419
8
81
Women & cars are so silly. No offense. Most men would pick their choices, and then weigh them for a week before making a decision. Here, you've gone from a "dead" car to a new car in less than 24 hours.. LOL!

You remind me of my brothers girlfriend with this thread. No patience to wait for a good deal and/or find exactly what you need/want. I guess it's not a bad thing.. just, different.

You can sell your car for a lot more than 100$.

If it ran fine before the starter went out, then it is no big deal. Don't let them rip you off like that.

Congrats on the new car though. :) I hope it serves you well. How much was it?
 

mAdD INDIAN

Diamond Member
Oct 11, 1999
7,804
1
0
Originally posted by: Eli
Women & cars are so silly. No offense. Most men would pick their choices, and then weigh them for a week before making a decision. Here, you've gone from a "dead" car to a new car in less than 24 hours.. LOL!

You remind me of my brothers girlfriend with this thread. No patience to wait for a good deal and/or find exactly what you need/want. I guess it's not a bad thing.. just, different.

You can sell your car for a lot more than 100$.

If it ran fine before the starter went out, then it is no big deal. Don't let them rip you off like that.

Congrats on the new car though. :) I hope it serves you well. How much was it?

the funny part is that they will spend hours or take even weeks to decide whether they should buy a certain watch or clothing item. But a car? that's done in 24hours!
 

Cyberian

Diamond Member
Jun 17, 2000
9,999
1
0
Originally posted by: iamwiz82

Those reports are biased, no matter if anyone proclaims otherwise. For example, poor gas mileage is a mark for JD Powers, hence the reason the H2 rated so poorly. I dont trust the American public to be particularly bright, as they haven't proven themselves yet :p
Maybe the reports are biased, but why would they be biased in favor of any one segment?

Foreign/Domestic
Large/Small
Sedan/Coupe
Red/Blue

 

Joemonkey

Diamond Member
Mar 3, 2001
8,859
4
0
Originally posted by: conjur
Originally posted by: Shelly21
Originally posted by: conjur
Originally posted by: Shelly21 lol, I remember when I drove thru Kentucky, I think Owensboro? Seems like everyone there drives a Corvette becuase they were built there.
Close...they're built in Bowling Green, KY...a bit east of Owensboro.
Wow, how do you know so much about Bowling Green? It's coming back to me now, I was in Bowling Green for the Wachovia Securities branch upgrade. And I drove to Owensboro to see a friend that works for Kimberly Clark. I got the two place mixed up. :)
Well...I only live about 90 min. north of it and drove by it countless times on vacations to Florida or business trips to Nashville. Oh, was in a bowling tournament there once, too ;)

it's a more south than it is east, but anyway...

i would recommend a late 90's sentra, my $.02

edit: not that it really matters, since she has a hyundai now!
 

d33pt

Diamond Member
Jan 12, 2001
5,654
1
81
haha..hey when your hyundai's battery dies i'll buy it off you for $150...
damn chicks.. so dumb
 

Eli

Super Moderator | Elite Member
Oct 9, 1999
50,419
8
81
Originally posted by: d33pt
haha..hey when your hyundai's battery dies i'll buy it off you for $150...
damn chicks.. so dumb
Hey now, that wasn't very nice. I didn't say that... It was just a casual observation. I didn't even mean for it to be a blanket statement, although it obviously was.
 

iamwiz82

Lifer
Jan 10, 2001
30,772
13
81
Originally posted by: Cyberian
Originally posted by: iamwiz82

Those reports are biased, no matter if anyone proclaims otherwise. For example, poor gas mileage is a mark for JD Powers, hence the reason the H2 rated so poorly. I dont trust the American public to be particularly bright, as they haven't proven themselves yet :p
Maybe the reports are biased, but why would they be biased in favor of any one segment?

Foreign/Domestic
Large/Small
Sedan/Coupe
Red/Blue


because America is biased. People look for faults when they hear something is bad. Oh, ford vehicles will lose their tires all the time, DCX cant make a tranny, BMW and Nikasil. It annoys me. Look at any car thread here and you will see a dozen people knock a certain brand because of what they have heard.
 

yllus

Elite Member & Lifer
Aug 20, 2000
20,577
432
126
Babe! Good choice. :) I test drove that puppy as a '02 model, it was great but we opted to bleed a little more for the sake of Nissan and get the Sentra.