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Post by strat-0 on Jul 26, 2004 17:41:50 GMT -5
Post your car questions! Strat-0, Howe, or anyone else will attempt to field them! Or just talk about things automotive!
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Post by samplestiltskin on Jul 26, 2004 22:34:47 GMT -5
Hey, cool. I’m having serious car issues lately. I have this ’87 Audi 5000 S – it really is a great car, but it’s got like 180K on it and everything’s starting to fall apart. First I had to replace the steering rack, then the brakes, now the CV axle... and Audis are expensive to fix, I’m finding. So here’s my question. I need car insurance coming up August 4th, so I’ve been calling around finding the lowest rates and stuff, and one of them told me my car is valued at about $1700. I figure with 180K miles and as old as it is, it’s just going to keep deteriorating, and I don’t have the money to keep throwing at it. Do you think it would be smarter to like, trade it in for something cheaper to fix like a Honda or a Toyota? I’m thinking about getting a ’96 Civic or something. Maybe 100K on it, 8 or 10 years old.... Do you think that’s a good idea? My parents are going to be really disappointed in me, because they flat out gave me this car, told me “If you take good care of it, it’ll last you a really long time” and they fixed it before they gave it to me and everything... They just don’t understand, this car is going to nickel and dime me to death. I just want to hear from people who know about cars that this would be a good decision. And if it is, should I sell it in the paper or take it to a used car place where I can trade it, or what? I’ve never done this before. My parents just gave me both my cars.  Also, I do want to fix my Audi completely before I sell/trade it, so I can get decent money for it. Aside from the rotors I’m having put on now (replaced the brake pads but didn’t have enough money to replace rotors at the time – this was a few weeks ago, I figure it’s fine to put new rotors on now since it hasn’t been that long since we did the pads..?) and the driver’s side CV axle, I also need to get into my dash and reconnect a wire or something, because ever since I fiddled with the wire to my speedometer (got unplugged when my friend was installing the steering rack) my dash lights don’t come on when I turn my lights on. How expensive is it to have someone take the steering wheel off, get into my dash, and fix that? Stupid Audi... the dash is completely inaccessible unless you take the whole steering wheel off, which is a pain because it’s one of those where you have to have someone push it down for you while you put it back on or else it grinds... already been through that once. Just wondering how expensive it would be to reconnect one stupid wire.... |
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Post by phil on Jul 27, 2004 5:38:13 GMT -5
I miss the days when you could take your car engine out, modify it all you want and simply put it back in ...
GIVE ME BACK CARBURATORS AND MANUAL CHOKE ...Ü...
After almost 9 years and 302 000 KMs(180 000 miles)
We finaly scraped our 1995 Family Ford Escort and bought a 2002 Family Ford Focus ...
This one should keep us on the road until 2010 ...
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Post by strat-0 on Jul 27, 2004 7:49:55 GMT -5
GIVE ME BACK CARBURATORS AND MANUAL CHOKE ...Ü...
Ah, yes - the good old days... The principle and operation of the carburetor was a thing of simple and elegant beauty. They worked great. But alas, they they are not nearly as fuel efficient or clean as injection, so it's right for them to take their place as relics (as far as production lines go).
Samples, your thinking on the Audi sounds right in line to me. Depending on the type of mileage and life the car has had, with 180K on the clock, you are probably getting near the end of its dependable and cost-efficient life. It still has some value as a commodity to the bottom feeders or those who can service it themselves, but you probably want to let it become someone else's project.
Your parents shouldn't be too disappointed - it already has lasted a "really long time." The repairs you had to make are pretty standard fare, but I'd avoid trying to fix everything before you sell it. The rotors were probably a good call - you don't want it to shimmy or pulsate when you stop - not a good selling point.
I can't say about the wire/dash lights. It would be better to get them working. It could be simple or a nightmare. I'd find somebody who knows Audis and tell them what happened. It may turn out that it actually needs a switch instead - you never know. Coincidence is the mother of confusion. (Hey, I just made that up!)
It would be easier and faster for you to trade it, but they're not going to give you much on it. If you want to sell it yourself, you'll need to be prepared to deal with a lot of phone calls and people pulling your chain, and you'll probably have to discount it pretty deeply to get rid of it. But cash is always nice!
The type of Toyota or Honda that you described would probably be an excellent choice for you. Thoses babies routinely rack way upwards of 200k with no troubles. Look at several and be patient. There are several free online bluebook places (Kelly) - I'd do a google and find out what you can about the Audi as well as any prospective replacements.
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Post by samplestiltskin on Jul 27, 2004 9:39:56 GMT -5
Thanks Strat. I think it would be worth the hassle to sell it in the paper and get more money. I'll have to wait a few months before I start getting several big paychecks and feel more secure.
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Post by Kensterberg on Jul 27, 2004 9:54:06 GMT -5
Samples -- if you're gonna fix the Audi "one more time" before you sell it, here's a suggestion. Fix it -- and keep it. Chances are pretty good you'll get at least one more (fairly) trouble free year from it after you've done that work to it. In that time, start putting aside money to go towards a new(er) car. The next time the Audi gives up on you, instead of taking it to the shop, take it to a scrap yard. You'll probably still get $1,000 or so (assuming the interior and body are both in good shape), which you'll then combine with your savings to buy a new(er) car. It just doesn't make sense to put $500 -- $1,500 into a car that you're gonna sell for $2,000. So if you're gonna fix the Audi, fix it and get some more use from it. If you're gonna sell it, just sell it now and cut your losses. Before you make a final decision, you might consider taking it to a shop that specializes in German cars (Audis in particular) and having them check it out fully. Usually you can get a complete check-up for $100 or less, and that could tell you if it's worth spending any more money on the car now. If you've fixed everything that's likely to fail in the next 10,000 - 15,000 miles or so, then why not keep it for that time? One final point, be careful about certain vintage Hondas with automatic transmissions. I've had several friends with early to middle nineties Hondas (Accords and Civics) that had severe transmission failures around 100K miles. This doesn't affect cars with manual gearboxes (obviously), but I've seen it mentioned on several websites as being a not uncommon problem with the auto boxes. And while Civics are very nice economy cars, you're gonna find a big difference between driving your Audi 100S and driving even the nicest Civic.  |
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Post by samplestiltskin on Jul 27, 2004 10:07:11 GMT -5
I hate driving this car. It's solid, heavy, and reliable, but I hate the lumbering effect of German car design. I like zippy small fast ones like Geos and my last car, an '88 Nova. This would not be the reason I'd trade it though -- that all comes down to nickel-and-dime shit. Damn it, now I've got conflict again. You suck, Ken. ;P
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Post by Kensterberg on Jul 27, 2004 10:13:25 GMT -5
I like zippy, fast, small cars, too Samples. Which is why I've driven nothing but BMW 3 series models for the last seven years (my god, it's been SEVEN YEARS!). Before that, I drove a Porsche 914 for six years, but I finally had to break down and get something with a modern AC/heater system. I just bought a Honda Element, which is the biggest car I've owned since ... well, my parents gave me 1968 Plymouth Fury III when I graduated high school, back in 1983! Which I sold the next year ...
You might want to think about a used BMW 3 series. You can find an early nineties 318 (great fuel mileage, fantastic driver's car) for just a few thousand dollars ... and they tend to be quite reliable. Particularly if you can drive a manual transmission, a 3 is a total blast, regardless of the motor or year. Before you spring for a Civic, take a look around and see what else is out there in your price range. You might be surprised.
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Post by Proud on Jul 27, 2004 10:59:00 GMT -5
do stick shifts suck as much as they're said to?
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Post by PC on Jul 27, 2004 11:03:03 GMT -5
You drive a BMW, Ken? Damn. I drive a '92 Ford Tempo GL (it's red). It's my first car, but still.
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Post by RocDoc on Jul 27, 2004 14:36:09 GMT -5
...as little outlay as possible if you're going to try selling a car which tops out at an $1800 selling price...detail the shit out of it, top off trans fluid and change the oil...unless you've already got a shimmy with braking, leave the rotors alone. Presuming Audi repair prices are like those on my Volvo, big brake overhauls can run 400-700+ dollars, which reduces what you're going to get back to spend on the new one...
We're dumping my wife's 1990 Cadillac while the trans is still behaving....she's had some slippage and weird shifting while being in stop-and-go expressway traffic when going to and from work(8-10 mile distance one way), but since we had some sorta computer adjustments done when a 'check engine' light came on, the trans has prrrretty much been spot on....
But we're seeing Caddy prices here running $2000 to maybe 2500 for these hi-mileage land yachts...and ours already has 122 000 miles on it...but in great shape. A classy midnight blue pimp car is what it is so someone's going to jump it...
So having to spend $700-1000 for rebuilding a trans to make it 'sellable' again would cut our 'take' in half. Fuck that. Clean it up. Sell while it's running well...
We're also sorta hooked on the Buick Rendezvous sta-gn/SUV/mini-van hybrid as her replacement...after someone told us that they're practically giving away Buicks in general in this area...brand new ones. And they ARE cheap! For the LeSabres and Centuries...the good basic cars. With the 3800 motors...
But we're seeing 2002 Renedezvous(es?) going for $16-18K...and these were(IF loaded, If with AWD)35 000 cars when they were new....so they've got 25-50 000 miles on them. Not SO high but we ALSO can extend the warranty for like $1250 so that service would be covered....
...so last night, a car salesman buddy of mine calls to tell me they JUST had a 2003 get traded in by a lawyer who did lots of highway miles running across the state here, to the 'Quad Cities'(Moline/Rock Island/Davenport IA and some other which I forget...), so it's got 48 000 miles but they're the best kind of mileage to have AND they're asking 'just' $17 000 for this AWD car which IS loaded too...Kelley's website is showing a dealer's asking price of $20 230 for a car with this one's features...
WE drove it yesterday, but my wife was ½ asleep and in no mood to be pressured into the deal....for which these guys are going TRY to get us a 3.9 rate which is nearly unheard of for a used car...but we've intimated that we'd like to put this car on a 3.9 credit card rather than finacing at all....but it seems that a high ticket item like this KILLS them with a 2.5% fee that the credit companies will charge them...
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Post by maarts on Jul 28, 2004 8:28:08 GMT -5
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Post by RocDoc on Jul 28, 2004 10:18:40 GMT -5
We bought the Rendezvous last night...I drove around playing Tomahawk's 'Mit Gas' for a coupla hours at ghetto rumm-m-mble volumes....ooooh, what a MASSIVE sound! What? Did you say something? Huh....~ Man, maarts! You said that with SUCH an American accent(and means of expression)just then....  |
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Post by RocDoc on Jul 28, 2004 10:31:33 GMT -5
...and manual transmissions RULE!
It's where you actually DRIVE a car, not just ride in it!
Automatics suck....
~
...and if you're of the 'Oh, they're such a pain in the ass in stop-and-go traffic'...then YOU simply haven't gotten good enough at it....
My group could shift, roll a joint AND drink a beer all at the same time....back in the day. No big deal whatsoever...
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Post by maarts on Jul 28, 2004 16:05:56 GMT -5
Hear hear. Australia is the land of the automatic transmission. Gimme a good fivespeed anytime.
Mind you, here in Oz they think the 'R' on the stickshift stads for 'Racing'.....
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