Looks like I'm in need of a new car

[Kenny_McCormic]

I was just cruising to career center Friday and the Camry died on me in the middle of nowhere, wouldn't start, figured it was the alternator (had a battery light at start up for 3 days). Got it home, charged the battery, cranked funny and barely ran, so I had the old man look at it.

Dad: You hear that?

Me: What? This god awful noise?:Starts engine, it makes the nastiest mech. noise imaginable for a few seconds and then dies:

Dad: Rod bearing, son. Nothing else in the world sounds like that.

Dad: The engine is ****ed, lets drop the pan, I bet its #2.

I then danced around the driveway yelling ****! for a minute.

Dropped the pan and it was full of metal, dropped the balance pack and there was a big pile in the #2 area.

FML, I didn't get 3000 miles on that car. Maintained it religiously, used WIX oil filters, Castrol GTX oil, good stuff.

I looked at a rotted out Lumina today, was sort of a letdown as it was listed as a Z34 car but turned out to be a Euro(and holy), some dumbass told the owner otherwise. Real dealbreaker was the ABS was bad, windshield was in need of replacement, and it didn't have OD(3 speed). They were asking $600.

Might have an old Subaru Wagon lined up for $1000.

 

[freakboy]

**** that sucks!

 

[Doc Sprocket]

I feel your pain! I havent had my Montana even a year yet, I'm ready to burn it. Paid $2400 safetied and smogged, (thought it was a good deal) and everytime I turn around, it gets worse. I've changed the oil like clockwork, every 5000k (3000mi). Lately, I've been getting a scary-@ss valvetrain clatter at startup that lasts from 1-5 minutes. I just changed the oil and filter again this morning 'cuz it's scaring the life outta me. Don't know if I've got a sticky lifter or what. Got a mystery coolant loss- No puddles, nothing in oil, exhaust doesn't smell like it. Rotted out muffler (okay, not that big a deal, but add it to the list). Phantom power drain, battery won't hold enough juice for more than about 18hrs to start the engine.
Complicating matters further is the fact that next month I've gotta pass another emissions test to renew my plates- I'm freaking! And although I do have a second vehicle, driving my Durango to work every day would break me in fuel! And let's not talk about the abuse to the truck itself!
Yeah- I feel your pain!
(What was that about t|ts or tires!?!?)

 

[Kenny_McCormic]

Why the **** did it have to die right before a packed week? ACT and MME this week, gotta go to Ann Arbor Friday and Saturday for FIRST robotics competition. Got to go to FIRST meeting Wednesday and Thursday night. Most of this requires a car.

I better get Monday off school!

 

[newrider3]

Might be different in your area, but if you check Craigslist closely enough, you can find cheap old cars in way better condition than cheap newer cars. I <3 the fact that my truck is the age it is; just old enough to have avoided any sort of computer. New parts are cheaper than sh!t, and I can walk into the local scrapyard and throw a rock and hit like 6 of them that still have good everything for the taking.

 

[Kenny_McCormic]

I have been living on craigslist, and under a 1990 F-150 helping with a new clutch(my cut is $100). I am going to have nightmares about the rust and dirt under that truck, there was a huge pile of sand on the T case skid plate.

 

[newrider3]

Cleaning before beginning to work on something is always nice too...

 

[Kenny_McCormic]

Winter, no running water outside.

 

[modelengineer]

That sucks dude.

Whatever you get make sure it has a manual transmission.

 

[Kenny_McCormic]

A stick would be cool, but in my price range, well, beggars can't be choosers. Made $100(brand new bills! consecutive S/Ns) today helping with a clutch job on a 90 F-150 5.0, **** I fell like a redneck right now, we did burnouts at 8:00 PM to break the clutch in.

I have a guy begging me to let him have the Camry for $260, its the only offer I have and I'm waiting to see what else I get offered.

 

[Kenny_McCormic]

Gonna be looking at a $500 1990 Sunbird with a clutch that will not disengage this sunday. My mom does not think I can handle a manual for whatever reason. Something about it being a distraction? How the hell does she think I got that Camry to stop all winter?

 

[Linksep]

In my personal utopia everyone would be forced to take their drivers test on snowy roads in a RWD manual tranny car. If you can't handle that you're a danger to the public and shouldn't be on the road in the first place.

 

[NJOHC]

I dont drive yet but Im already looking for a car since Im into this stuff. It will be stick. I dont even want to learn in an auto.

 

[Kaptain Krunch]

I dont drive yet but Im already looking for a car since Im into this stuff. It will be stick. I dont even want to learn in an auto.

If you plan on taking drivers ed, chances are your gonna be stuck driving automatic for a while. I plan on driving an automatic during my drivers test too, just to take some stress off haha. However, after that i'll be usin my truck, which is manual of course.

 

[EagleTalons]

If you plan on taking drivers ed, chances are your gonna be stuck driving automatic for a while. I plan on driving an automatic during my drivers test too, just to take some stress off haha. However, after that i'll be usin my truck, which is manual of course.

That's what I did! Saved me some stress, but the guy was still a total jerk. I think its a job requirement for them.

 

[Linksep]

I dont drive yet...

I plan on driving an automatic during my drivers test too...

God do I feel old... I'm on my 10th vehicle (to be fair 2 were motorcycles).

 

[Kenny_McCormic]

I got myself a beat to hell and back 1998 Mirage with a 5spd and 220K(engine has been rebuilt or gone though or something) for $600.

 

[Kenny_McCormic]

It goes down the road!

Super tint job!

200mph rated, NASCAR approved adhesive strips hold on the bumper cover and seal the trunk. I will probably glass it later.

No tach=PITA!

I added a blanket seat cover.

5 speeds of Japanese fury to choose from!

I wonder why the tires are so bald? (and why one is worse than the other)

Because for a beer can with a motorcycle engine it can lay rubber pretty good!!!(pic taken next day, it put down a good stripe on one side, and half a stripe on the other).