My Personal Car Disaster

[Jeff Lebowski]

ha. "the best way to save money is to buy one thing and make it last as long as possible." yes, I would agree with that financial expert.

Smarty pants.

The point is, a lot of people think they are going to be ripped off with repair bills or will have to sink a lot of money in maintaining an older car. Yes, the repair costs increase with time, but it is still more economical overall to drive it as long as you can stand it.

[Omaha 680]

I guess you have to be a lawyer to afford car payments for your entire life. We haven't had one for years and we never will again if I can help it.

We also had a car die in the past few weeks: my wife's spectaculary 1994 Mitsubishi Diamante. Because I have been working out of town during the week, we have avoided finding a second vehicle. I was seriously considering getting a scooter (yes, a scooter) for commuting when I'm back in Omaha for good, but I don't think that would be too good in the winter. We do have use of a junker my parents have sitting around so we can theoretically put off finding a second vehicle until that one dies. I hate car shopping.

[Viking]

I guess you have to be a lawyer to afford car payments for your entire life. We haven't had one for years and we never will again if I can help it.

We also had a car die in the past few weeks: my wife's spectaculary 1994 Mitsubishi Diamante. Because I have been working out of town during the week, we have avoided finding a second vehicle. I was seriously considering getting a scooter (yes, a scooter) for commuting when I'm back in Omaha for good, but I don't think that would be too good in the winter. We do have use of a junker my parents have sitting around so we can theoretically put off finding a second vehicle until that one dies. I hate car shopping.

I don't understand the obsession with nice cars. The wealthiest person on this board doesn't have a car that cost more than $20k

[CardiacCoug]

I don't understand the obsession with nice cars. The wealthiest person on this board doesn't have a car that cost more than $20k

Nice. You know everybody's net worth and/or income and what car everybody drives? Impressive. I missed that thread I guess.

[Jeff Lebowski]

I don't understand the obsession with nice cars. The wealthiest person on this board doesn't have a car that cost more than $20k

LOL.

How do you know you are the wealthiest person on the board?

[Moliere]

I don't recall a single time we have been stranded somewhere with a broken vehicle and we have never had to call a tow truck. Lucky, I guess.

Funny that someone who's never experienced serious car trouble hours from any reasonable place would not understand the phobia of having a car breakdown.

[CJF]

Yes, I am speaking of the typical case where there are multiple cars in the household. If someone is routinely driving across the Nevada desert, it would probably make sense to drive the newer car. But for most of the typical driving around town, a well-maintained older car has very low risk.

We drive most of our cars about ten years. I don't recall a single time we have been stranded somewhere with a broken vehicle and we have never had to call a tow truck. Lucky, I guess.

I have a 2002 that runs beautifully. In fact, I'm just as confident in driving that car as our 2011. I've thought of selling the 2002 a few times. I probably need to just do it, but it has been and will continue to be a great running, comfortable car.

[mtnbiker]

Funny that someone who's never experienced serious car trouble hours from any reasonable place would not understand the phobia of having a car breakdown.

Well, I've had a car break down in the middle of nowhere, and I agree with Lebowski. I had the alternator go out on my '97 Expedition just a few miles south of Gap, the little crossroads on the Indian reservation between Page and Flagstaff. And the wind was blowing about 40 mph. We have tow coverage on the car, so we called the insurance company and they sent a tow truck from Flagstaff, almost 70 miles away. It wasn't that bad, but I wouldn't want to do it every trip.

[Uncle Ted]

Well, the engine definitely overheated. And lost compression. I don't know what caused it, but apparently the oil had water in it.

Having oil in your water doesn't necessary mean that your engine is completely shot. You could have a cracked head which would be a lot less than replacing the block, etc.

So there wasn't any warning that the engine was overheating?

[clackamascoug]

Personally - I want you to get a new car. The thought of you driving a Kia Spectrum haunts me, and if you repair the engine, you will have a Kia Spectrum running on it's second engine. Please buy a car that matches my already high esteem for you.

[clackamascoug]

I don't understand the obsession with nice cars. The wealthiest person on this board doesn't have a car that cost more than $20k

The wealthiest person on the board would also never make a statement like that. However, I can safely say that the least wealthiest person on the board drives a "rig" worth more than $20k.

[falafel]

Having oil in your water doesn't necessary mean that your engine is completely shot. You could have a cracked head which would be a lot less than replacing the block, etc.

So there wasn't any warning that the engine was overheating?

They said the head wasn't cracked.

The AC wasn't working. I guess that was an indication. But I just thought the AC wasn't working.

[falafel]

Personally - I want you to get a new car. The thought of you driving a Kia Spectrum haunts me, and if you repair the engine, you will have a Kia Spectrum running on it's second engine. Please buy a car that matches my already high esteem for you.

I don't think I can afford that car.

[Moliere]

Personally - I want you to get a new car. The thought of you driving a Kia Spectrum haunts me, and if you repair the engine, you will have a Kia Spectrum running on it's second engine. Please buy a car that matches my already high esteem for you.

Clack gets to the root of the issue. Don't put a second engine into a Kia.

Falfy is a lawyer right and his wife works? Why are you driving a Kia?? You are obviously loaded. Time to upgrade.

[TripletDaddy]

Clack gets to the root of the issue. Don't put a second engine into a Kia.

Falfy is a lawyer right and his wife works? Why are you driving a Kia?? You are obviously loaded. Time to upgrade.

maybe falafel is the wealthiest person on this board.