Rant - Cars

[heyzeus]

I'm facing the issue of wanting to buy a used car for my daughter, who has headed off to college in a small town and could use the independence. But used-car prices are insane right now, and I'm juggling finding something that is safe and maintainable but also isn't the equivalent of buying a new car.

I have a couple of options, but don't know if they'll pan out. One is an experienced mechanic who repairs cars that were in accidents but weren't structurally damaged. I purchased a Nissan Altima from him years ago with only 56,000 miles from him, and wound up giving it to one of my brothers: it lasted many years. But I don't know if the person is still in business.

Another is an option in-state in which the mechanic picks up Nissans, Toyotas, and Hondas at auction and fixes them up. A friend of mine went this route, purchased a Toyota from the guy that had 150,000 miles, and still has the car five years later. And the prices are still very low, although these cars are from the early-to-mid 2000's.

Another challenge is my daughter's height: she's just over 5 feet tall, and she needs to try out the car to make sure she can see properly.

Either way, it's a real frustration.

Can I interest you in a 2009 Honda Accord with only 110,000 miles, and a brand new starter? It does have slight bumper damage from a feral pig encounter. It also has a 6 CD changer that still works, and if there's one thing I know about your daughter's generation, she probably owns hundreds of CDs.

[G. Keenan]

Can I interest you in a 2009 Honda Accord with only 110,000 miles, and a brand new starter? It does have slight bumper damage from a feral pig encounter. It also has a 6 CD changer that still works, and if there's one thing I know about your daughter's generation, she probably owns hundreds of CDs.

Haha, we were doing a mini household purge over the weekend and came across a binder full of CDs from high school. All of this music is now on Spotify, which we pay for, and we don't even own a CD player anymore . . . and yet could not bring ourselves to throw them away. Will repeat this same ritual again in a couple years no doubt.

[TGantz]

I'm facing the issue of wanting to buy a used car for my daughter, who has headed off to college in a small town and could use the independence. But used-car prices are insane right now, and I'm juggling finding something that is safe and maintainable but also isn't the equivalent of buying a new car.

I have a couple of options, but don't know if they'll pan out. One is an experienced mechanic who repairs cars that were in accidents but weren't structurally damaged. I purchased a Nissan Altima from him years ago with only 56,000 miles from him, and wound up giving it to one of my brothers: it lasted many years. But I don't know if the person is still in business.

Another is an option in-state in which the mechanic picks up Nissans, Toyotas, and Hondas at auction and fixes them up. A friend of mine went this route, purchased a Toyota from the guy that had 150,000 miles, and still has the car five years later. And the prices are still very low, although these cars are from the early-to-mid 2000's.

Another challenge is my daughter's height: she's just over 5 feet tall, and she needs to try out the car to make sure she can see properly.

Either way, it's a real frustration.

Can I interest you in a 2009 Honda Accord with only 110,000 miles, and a brand new starter? It does have slight bumper damage from a feral pig encounter. It also has a 6 CD changer that still works, and if there's one thing I know about your daughter's generation, she probably owns hundreds of CDs.

I would absolutely love a 2009 Honda Accord with 110,000 on it. That car will run until the wheels fall off, then the wheels will spontaneously regenerate several times before hitting 250,000. Doesn't get much more reliable than that car. Perfect balance of modern technology but not so many gizmos and electrical parts that it is in the shop all the time.

[heyzeus]

I'm facing the issue of wanting to buy a used car for my daughter, who has headed off to college in a small town and could use the independence. But used-car prices are insane right now, and I'm juggling finding something that is safe and maintainable but also isn't the equivalent of buying a new car.

I have a couple of options, but don't know if they'll pan out. One is an experienced mechanic who repairs cars that were in accidents but weren't structurally damaged. I purchased a Nissan Altima from him years ago with only 56,000 miles from him, and wound up giving it to one of my brothers: it lasted many years. But I don't know if the person is still in business.

Another is an option in-state in which the mechanic picks up Nissans, Toyotas, and Hondas at auction and fixes them up. A friend of mine went this route, purchased a Toyota from the guy that had 150,000 miles, and still has the car five years later. And the prices are still very low, although these cars are from the early-to-mid 2000's.

Another challenge is my daughter's height: she's just over 5 feet tall, and she needs to try out the car to make sure she can see properly.

Either way, it's a real frustration.

Can I interest you in a 2009 Honda Accord with only 110,000 miles, and a brand new starter? It does have slight bumper damage from a feral pig encounter. It also has a 6 CD changer that still works, and if there's one thing I know about your daughter's generation, she probably owns hundreds of CDs.

I would absolutely love a 2009 Honda Accord with 110,000 on it. That car will run until the wheels fall off, then the wheels will spontaneously regenerate several times before hitting 250,000. Doesn't get much more reliable than that car. Perfect balance of modern technology but not so many gizmos and electrical parts that it is in the shop all the time.

You're not kidding. I have a hard time selling this car for all of these reasons. We also have a recent CR-V and the touchscreen monitor is glitchy AF and the car burns through batteries because of the demand on the electrical system. I'm tempted to just drive my old Accord until it, me, or both of us die.

[sighyoung]

I agree with TGantz: hold onto that Accord if you can. It should last for years. Otherwise, out of self-interest, I would lie and tell you that it is like driving anthrax on wheels and you need to get rid of it for a song, and since I have a death wish I would take it off your hands for few hundred bucks because I'm such a kind soul.

Accords are some of the cars that do work well for shorter people, too.

I think I've reconciled myself to either spending more than I wanted for a used car, or actually waiting in line for a new car and, once I get it, giving my 2013 Honda Civic with 80,000 miles to my daughter. But I really hate the idea now that I'm plowing lots of money into my retirement account, and I'm a few short months away from finally being an empty-nester.

[heyzeus]

I agree with TGantz: hold onto that Accord if you can. It should last for years. Otherwise, out of self-interest, I would lie and tell you that it is like driving anthrax on wheels and you need to get rid of it for a song, and since I have a death wish I would take it off your hands for few hundred bucks because I'm such a kind soul.

Accords are some of the cars that do work well for shorter people, too.

I think I've reconciled myself to either spending more than I wanted for a used car, or actually waiting in line for a new car and, once I get it, giving my 2013 Honda Civic with 80,000 miles to my daughter. But I really hate the idea now that I'm plowing lots of money into my retirement account, and I'm a few short months away from finally being an empty-nester.

You're a good dad. You're doing what's best for your kiddo, even though it's gonna cost you. And I will absolutely sell you by 2009 Honda Accord, but you have to travel to Austin to get it and have a beer or three with me. That's the price, sorry.

[TGantz]

I agree with TGantz: hold onto that Accord if you can. It should last for years. Otherwise, out of self-interest, I would lie and tell you that it is like driving anthrax on wheels and you need to get rid of it for a song, and since I have a death wish I would take it off your hands for few hundred bucks because I'm such a kind soul.

Accords are some of the cars that do work well for shorter people, too.

I think I've reconciled myself to either spending more than I wanted for a used car, or actually waiting in line for a new car and, once I get it, giving my 2013 Honda Civic with 80,000 miles to my daughter. But I really hate the idea now that I'm plowing lots of money into my retirement account, and I'm a few short months away from finally being an empty-nester.

That's interesting because I feel like they are comfortable for above average sized folks too. My 6'6" brother has one, other brother at 6'5" has one, and I (6'4") had one. Nothing was more comfortable than my Crown Vic. It was like sitting on a leather couch while driving a jet engine with no torque.

I would gladly take that Civic too, although it is NOT for tall people. I looked like Mr. Incredible in my wife's Civic.

You can't go wrong with Civic/Corolla or Accord/Camry. If you have to have an SUV, Rav4 (my current car) or CRV's are usually identical engines to the Camry/Accord in a different body.

[GeddyWrox]

Obligatory

[heyzeus]

I guess I cursed myself by posting in this thread. This morning I was taking the kids to school and stopped at a stop sign, and for unknown reasons the woman in a Highlander who was stopped in front of me threw her car in reverse and slammed into me. Her real windshield was fully frosted over so she couldn't see (or hear my horn?).

Anyway, the bumper of my sweet '09 Accord now looks like it's about to fall off, and that sucks.

[CardsofSTL]

I guess I cursed myself by posting in this thread. This morning I was taking the kids to school and stopped at a stop sign, and for unknown reasons the woman in a Highlander who was stopped in front of me threw her car in reverse and slammed into me. Her real windshield was fully frosted over so she couldn't see (or hear my horn?).

Anyway, the bumper of my sweet '09 Accord now looks like it's about to fall off, and that sucks.

You can fix that with wire hanger and duct tape.