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Buying a Shitty Old Car?

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DayMan
Posts: 4704 - Karma: 8,748
Need some advice here. I'm 15, turning sixteen this weekend, and will be getting my license. My original plan was to just use one of my parents cars and it wasn't gonna be a big deal. But, long story short, my dad ended up having to move his car to Florida (where he is working), and my mom now has a job so I can't use her car either. I've been looking through Craigslist and I'm finding a lot of cars for sale that almost look too cheap to be true. Like $800ish for a good-running 1981 Subaru for example. I don't know how trustworthy these things really are... I was just curious if anyone of you guys has had any experience with buying a car like this or any advice for me in the situation I'm in.
Dec 11 2012 10:49PM
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iFlip
Posts: 4543 - Karma: 19,132
Eternal money pit. Don't do it.
Dec 11 2012 10:51PM
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Peach.
Posts: 3879 - Karma: 933
They can be.
Dec 11 2012 10:51PM
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HalfandHalf
Posts: 1216 - Karma: 207
buy a moped if you are on that low of a budget,
car that cheap will have well over 100,000 miles on it and probably runs like crap/ will break down real fast
Dec 11 2012 10:53PM
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Potatoes
Posts: 1131 - Karma: 14
if you spend $800 on a car be prepared to immediately put $1500 into it. not saying it's going to happen, but if you don't have $1500 on standby you have no business buying a crappy cheap car. because if it shits the bed and requires the money to fix it, you're in the same exact spot.... minus $800.

ride a bike
Dec 11 2012 10:56PM
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KravtZ
Posts: 6637 - Karma: 2,629
generally on craigslist anythign that cheap is just a black hole for money which is basiclaly only good for maybe the rolling chasis if that.

But i do know someone who bought a ford explorer in Virginia for 50 bucks off this redneck. Paid off the inspector like 500 to get it passed. Painted it in jurrasic park colors, changes it every once and a while. Drove it across the country and back 3 times.
Dec 11 2012 10:56PM
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DayMan
Posts: 4704 - Karma: 8,748
I have a motorcycle that I will be using in the summer. It just blows when I get out of school at 2 every day and can't go skiing due to the fact that I don't have a ride/car. All my friends that go skiing after school do this thing called skier schedule where they get out at 12
Dec 11 2012 10:57PM
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DayMan
Posts: 4704 - Karma: 8,748
inb4 First world problems
Dec 11 2012 10:58PM
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deleted5
Posts: 14507 - Karma: 13,507
do what i did get an old cop car with 70,000ish miles on it
Dec 11 2012 11:02PM
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Ehh...
Posts: 1897 - Karma: 1,423
As someone who has had shitty cars, its worth it to save up and buy yourself something that will last and that is in good shape. I know if you are anything like me you aren't even going to give heed to this but I'd thought i'd at least tell you from first hand expereience numerous and numerous times. Unless you have to have a car this instance for work or whatever, hold off. Save money because you will drain money into whatever you buy unless you put down at least 3 grand for decent car. maybe cheaper if you can score a good deal or haggle.
Dec 11 2012 11:05PM
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kebbek
Posts: 408 - Karma: 170
Ask a loan to whom you want. If you need a car, be ready to spend 2-3000$. The old 1981 turd isn't a good idea. Good luck.
Dec 11 2012 11:06PM
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deleted5
Posts: 14507 - Karma: 13,507
also if your getting an 800$ car you gotta know what your getting your self into, its a time ticking bomb it will go and when it dose it'll be time to trash it. also if your gonna get an 800$ car you have to be able to know how to do a couple definition quick fixes. other wise save your money and wait to buy a better car.
Dec 11 2012 11:06PM
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dreadyboy
Posts: 2306 - Karma: 34
I got a $700 1991 acura integra. It was dope, came with a sub and tinted windows and nice exhaust. Ricer as fuck. The quarters were rusty so I fibreglass'd and bondo'd them, was gonna paint the whole car, but stopped after getting it all primerd brown. It should have had $1000 of suspension work(had 2 inches of steering wheel play), but it drove fine and I got this super lax dude to pass the insurance inspection. I only had it 8 months till I rolled it, but it was really reliable (starting in -30 with no problems) and super fun while I had it. Everyone thought it was a piece til they got inside and realized it was actually dope as fuck.
Dec 11 2012 11:08PM
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fujarome
Posts: 8630 - Karma: 1,561
Based on my knowledge of how police cars are driven, I dont highly recommend this. But if you're looking for a cheap car that will last a few years at very most...sure, why not?
Dec 11 2012 11:12PM
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kebbek
Posts: 408 - Karma: 170
You got me there but was your car safe?
Dec 11 2012 11:14PM
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grapejuice3000+
Posts: 2132 - Karma: 1,985
garret russel has done it twice, i say follow him and become professional skier
Dec 11 2012 11:18PM
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dreadyboy
Posts: 2306 - Karma: 34
I rolled it a fuckton of times and walked away with a bit of a stiff neck.
Dec 11 2012 11:19PM
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deleted5
Posts: 14507 - Karma: 13,507
wrong ive have 2 and both still work the 04 crown vic ive had is an 04 and now has 129,000 got it at 70,000ish miles and its fine the only thing that has gone wrong with in 5 years is the back sprockets broke. not to be rude but you are wrong it is made to be heavy duty and some of them can run up to 500,000 miles they last forever.
Dec 11 2012 11:22PM
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CheddarJack
Posts: 5203 - Karma: 7,380
Tell me about this skier schedule... Sounds fucking awesome...
Dec 11 2012 11:22PM
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dreadyboy
Posts: 2306 - Karma: 34
But if anyone was in the back seat they woulda been crushed fur sure. Or if I'd hit anything other than a ditch and a barbed wire fence I probly woulda died.
Dec 11 2012 11:22PM
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kebbek
Posts: 408 - Karma: 170
Now that's what i wanted to know. Life ain't worth 1k
Dec 11 2012 11:26PM
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DayMan
Posts: 4704 - Karma: 8,748
You go to school at 7, get out at 12. But by the end of high school you are missing credits if you do it every year so you have to take online classes during the summer. You have be a member of the SSWSC (steamboat springs winter sports club) though which costs thousands of dollars every year... It's sick though if you actually compete and stuff. I wish I could do it without having to do that though, would be sweet.
Dec 11 2012 11:36PM
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DayMan
Posts: 4704 - Karma: 8,748
Fuck this thread hasn't made me very hopeful for getting a car anytime soon haha
Dec 11 2012 11:38PM
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jstemp
Posts: 349 - Karma: 3,833
bought a 93' ranger for 1,500 off of craigslist a few years back. it had over 220,000 miles on it, and she still runs like a top. you just gotta know where to look, DONT BUY FROM THE CITY. Country boys know how to take care of their shit.

Before the '93 ranger, i bought a 92 buick century for $500 on craigslist as well. she still runs like a fuckin champ, i sold it to my dad's coworker, she still drives it to work everyday. if you want proof of the buick, look at the Newschoolers let's see your whips thread. I am the OP of the thread.


spark notes- just be patient, look everyday, you will get frustrated sifting through all the shitty cars, but if you are persistent, you will find a car.


Dec 11 2012 11:53PM
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joshua
Posts: 5046 - Karma: 1,280
If you are mechanically inclined and willing to spend time fixing it when stuff goes wrong, then a dirt cheap car isn't a terrible idea. It may last you many years, or it may die in a month. Its a gamble with cars that cheap, and if you don't really know what you are doing, then I would avoid a car that cheap. (There is usually a reason why a car is $800, you get what you pay for.)

Otherwise, it's all about finding the balance between cost and reliability. You don't want to spend an arm and a leg for a first car, but you also want to spend enough that you aren't going to be constantly breaking down and repairing stuff. Also, if you are buying used, learn how to drive stick. When I was looking for a car, almost all the good deals were stick shift, b/c no one wants them I guess.
Dec 11 2012 11:55PM
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volvotom
Posts: 2045 - Karma: 712
Look for:
-clean title (person selling it is the owner, not a bank or other lien-holder)
-repair records (timing belt, brakes, etc.)
-salvage title (means the car was once totaled and BAD news).
-mileage
-any major damage
-if you have a repair shop you trust, most will look it over a little money and tell you if they see an major problems, most owners are usually cool with this too

You should be able to find a used camry or accord or civic or corolla for pretty cheap. And it is a crapshoot on maintenance, but if you're paying less than $1000 even a POS that doesn't run should get ~$200 in scrap.
Dec 11 2012 11:55PM
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KrazyistKarl
Posts: 1725 - Karma: 599
buy an old 90s Honda or Toyota, check the front ends on them by steering them side to side looking for play and listen for a clicking sound when turning corners and visually inspect the CV boots to see that they are still intact and not ripped.
Also check for how oily the motor/tranny pan is. Check for signs of burnt tranny fluid or excessively dark motor oil and check the power steering fluid level. Also check for blueish smoke out the exhaust. That covers a lot of the problems those old cars have. Obviously tires are a big thing too.
Dec 11 2012 11:57PM
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jstemp
Posts: 349 - Karma: 3,833
forgot to add.... it would be very helpful if you are mechanically inclined or if you have friends who are mechanically inclined. if you don't know shit about cars, then you would be better off saving your money and buying a nicer car.


RIDE YOUR BIKE.
Dec 11 2012 11:58PM
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Flacker
Posts: 584 - Karma: 1,317
Got my first car for 500 bucks dude just dont be stupid and cheak the car out
Dec 12 2012 12:04AM
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Wallisch_pl
Posts: 5260 - Karma: 1,022

i like cows, they're so cute
Dec 12 2012 12:06AM
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fujarome
Posts: 8630 - Karma: 1,561
ah i forgot the 1 crucial bit of information...

state/town police, or city police car?




there's a world of difference in the way they are treated. State or highway patrols usually take good care because they drive thousands of miles in no time. Town cars are somewhat the same, and they replace them more often.

Major cities usually don't get a chance to resell their cars.
Dec 12 2012 12:49AM
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deleted5
Posts: 14507 - Karma: 13,507
ones a state the other is a town believe it or not because they taxes payers pay for the police costs whenever something goes wrong on the car it gets immediately fixed.
Dec 12 2012 12:52AM
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fujarome
Posts: 8630 - Karma: 1,561
very true of town and state cars.

in the city since there are so many cars and officers can easily drive 2-3 per shift, there's a general disregard for the well being of the car. They get fixed, but things such as bumping curbs, hitting other police cars, and the list goes on and on.

They just get beat to death by daily use. I mean, it's a car that runs pretty much 24/7 and is driven by a variety of people who usually don't care about damaging it.
Dec 12 2012 12:58AM
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deleted5
Posts: 14507 - Karma: 13,507
you forget thats what they are made for and can take it. they have everything in it is heavy duty and it even has a cooling system put in it so it can be on all day and never over heat. http://auto.howstuffworks.com/police-car2.htm and no none of this stuff is taken out of the car after it is sold.
Dec 12 2012 1:05AM
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dreadyboy
Posts: 2306 - Karma: 34
Plus the city's get the drunks that puke/do other nasty things in the back.
Dec 12 2012 1:07AM
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DANETRON
Posts: 6671 - Karma: 137
I buy beaters all the tiime. Got to know what your doing and know how to fix tings when it breaks. Otherwise forget it
Dec 12 2012 1:24AM
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fujarome
Posts: 8630 - Karma: 1,561
I'm not forgetting a thing. I'm basing the treatment/destruction of city police cars based on countless hours spent riding in them. They are beat.

They're definitely not your average car but they are far from the ideal car to own.
Dec 12 2012 1:24AM
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SkiinTrigga
Posts: 212 - Karma: 89
I dislike you. You are not cute.
Dec 12 2012 1:28AM
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volvotom
Posts: 2045 - Karma: 712
Another tip I forgot, if there's no mileage listed, it's too high, don't bother, move on
Dec 12 2012 1:40AM
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mmallender.
Posts: 5805 - Karma: 936
definitely agree.


i worked in the service department of a ford dealership that serviced the north vancouver rcmp cruisers, and some of them were pretty damn beat. one of the mechanic's friends bought an old one and he was in at least once a month fixing shit. a fair number of the cruisers had to be brought in on tow trucks for various problems, and while yes, they did get fixed well, after seeing so many come through the dealership, i wouldnt even consider buying one, although i could say the same about most fords in general haha.
Dec 12 2012 2:55AM
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theblackrod
Posts: 2162 - Karma: 575
find '91-'93 honda accord, have mechanic look it over for no super serious things to attend to. cop said honda.

I've boughten two of them, sold the first one because i found one with 114k (A '92) and it is in mint condition.

You just have to be smart about what you buy, and have a general knowledge of cars
Dec 12 2012 9:10AM
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CrotchKiller
Posts: 9037 - Karma: 6,943
Take the buses dawg.
Dec 12 2012 9:42AM
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Laurent.
Posts: 10056 - Karma: 25,313
A friend of mine went 3 years trough university buying 250 euro cars.
Whenever they broke down he could usually sell them for the same price for parts..etc..

Some lasted a week others lasted months.

Then he bough an old Volvo, that was 8 years ago, it's still running without needing a single repair.

Volvo= Unparrelel Automotive supremacy. Volvos are actually harder than diamonds. They're made out of a material called Volvonium, mined in the mountains of Sweden by hard-working Nordic Gnomes. After the materialis melted by launching it into the sun via herring-powered rocket, the molten Volvonium is allowed to cool slightly, and is then beaten into shape by Mjolnir, the hammer of Thor.


Click for larger image
Dec 12 2012 9:54AM
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LiquorLanch
Posts: 1909 - Karma: 1,046
Where does on purchase an older police car?
Dec 12 2012 12:45PM
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Shukovski
Posts: 470 - Karma: 433
Click for larger image


But still when you drive even a Volvo in a brick wall it will crumble.
Dec 12 2012 1:02PM
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Laurent.
Posts: 10056 - Karma: 25,313
Only slight safety crumble to stop the occupants dying from the extreme deceleration is allowed, but nothing stops Volvo.

Not even an 80 foot cliff:


Dec 12 2012 1:05PM
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last_tango
Posts: 2635 - Karma: 2,665
Bought a 96 legacy with 300k miles and sold it after 350k. It had original everything and all I HD to do was change the oil and put in a new battery. I might end up buying it back
Dec 12 2012 1:13PM
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volvotom
Posts: 2045 - Karma: 712
Awesomeness. My first car was a POS 740. That car was soooooo slow. Now I have a S40, but want a xc70 or xc60
Dec 12 2012 1:19PM
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DayMan
Posts: 4704 - Karma: 8,748
What about something like this? http://rockies.craigslist.org/cto/3473113864.html
Dec 13 2012 12:28AM
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LiquorLanch
Posts: 1909 - Karma: 1,046
I don't know much about cars but 224k seems a bit risky money wise in the future.
Dec 13 2012 7:07AM
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DockEllis
Posts: 1131 - Karma: 1,745
Go test drive it. It's also a good idea to take to a mechanic you're familiar with and have them take a look at it. Ask the owner if they have the service records to ensure it has been routinely cared for. Also, timing belts usually need to be changed every 100k and that can cost a pretty penny. Just something to think about if it's overdue. I have an infiniti with 245 and haven't had hardly any problems with it.
Dec 13 2012 9:12AM
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