Truck Buyers Beware

lawn psycho · 01-10-2010, 06:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dave R

I prefer a stick too, and my two daily drivers (car and motorcycle) have manual transmissions. I also drive stuff until it reaches the magic $750 (seems to be the minimum price of a functional vehicle) value on craigslist, boats excluded.

When was the last time you bought a used car? Good luck finding a vehicle that can pass a legitimate inspection for $750 that does not need mechanical work. Hats off too you if you can do it.

Dave R · 01-10-2010, 07:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lawn psycho

When was the last time you bought a used car? Good luck finding a vehicle that can pass a legitimate inspection for $750 that does not need mechanical work. Hats off too you if you can do it.

I bought a used car in 2006. It was a year old. I sold my 14 year-old car for $750 a week later. It ran fine and had passed inspection 2 months prior. I realize I probably could have got more for it, but it was easy to sell at $750. It had pretty bad rust on the body seams between the rockers and the floor pan, which was fully disclosed to the buyer. I did not want to be in an accident in it.

VitaBene · 01-11-2010, 06:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lawn psycho

When was the last time you bought a used car? Good luck finding a vehicle that can pass a legitimate inspection for $750 that does not need mechanical work. Hats off too you if you can do it.

LP, I think Dave meant he keeps his rides until he figures he can only get 750 for them on Craig's List then he buys another year or 2 "new to him" vehicle. Sounds like a good plan to me.

lawn psycho · 01-11-2010, 07:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by VitaBene

LP, I think Dave meant he keeps his rides until he figures he can only get 750 for them on Craig's List then he buys another year or 2 "new to him" vehicle. Sounds like a good plan to me.

I think it's awesome if he can do it. I tried for a few years to get smaller junkers for the summer months to keep the miles off my newer vehicles and save gas. Never had any luck with the super cheapos as I seem to end up with cars that are continuos money pits so I abandoned the efforts.

Maybe if I drove fewer miles I could get by doing it.

Dave R · 01-11-2010, 11:24 AM

I don't buy old or worn out cars; those are the ones I sell. I have no problem buying new or nearly new, I just keep them for more than a decade and sell them when they reach the point of diminishing returns.

My 1999 Durango could last 20 years; the body, frame, and drivetrain have been remarkably robust, except for rust on the body seams at the rocker panel/floor pan and the front bumper, both of which I took care of early and keep a close eye on. The brake lines were crappy from the factory and I replaced all of them. It does not rack up many miles becuase I do not commute with it.

My 2005 Matrix will hit 100,000 miles today and has never had a failure. I expect a good 10 to 15 years from it.

My 2001 Kawasaki Ninja ZX9R has just under 80,000 miles. I expect it to go 100,000 before it will need new valves. The rest of it has held up well and I intend to get a complete cylinder head for it for <$100 rather than change valves, when the time comes. I think I could get 20 years out of it.

01-11-2010, 11:24 AM	#5
Dave R Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Posts: 2,985 Thanks: 246 Thanked 744 Times in 444 Posts	I don't buy old or worn out cars; those are the ones I sell. I have no problem buying new or nearly new, I just keep them for more than a decade and sell them when they reach the point of diminishing returns. My 1999 Durango could last 20 years; the body, frame, and drivetrain have been remarkably robust, except for rust on the body seams at the rocker panel/floor pan and the front bumper, both of which I took care of early and keep a close eye on. The brake lines were crappy from the factory and I replaced all of them. It does not rack up many miles becuase I do not commute with it. My 2005 Matrix will hit 100,000 miles today and has never had a failure. I expect a good 10 to 15 years from it. My 2001 Kawasaki Ninja ZX9R has just under 80,000 miles. I expect it to go 100,000 before it will need new valves. The rest of it has held up well and I intend to get a complete cylinder head for it for <$100 rather than change valves, when the time comes. I think I could get 20 years out of it.