so what do you suggest I do in today's economy...

[PostmodernProphet]

I have been driving this 1996 Chevy Astro that I bought in 2005 for $5k when it had 105k miles.....I've been putting off repairs because I was thinking about getting something different this summer.....transmission is iffy....needs at least a valve job maybe replacement, heater fan doesn't work, windshield is broken....it's currently 13 years old and has 160k miles on it....today the water pump died......I'm not willing to spend what it would take to fix everything on it.....I figure since I got use of the car for less than $2k a year, it owes me nothing....

so I had been thinking about getting a used F150 around 75k to 100k miles, but when I went on the internet today I found that the same guy I bought my Astro from has a 2003 Astro with 106k miles for $4665....I could take the leather seats from mine, which are in near perfect condition and put them in the 2003. as well as the fiberglass body kit...basically a 60k mile upgrade and most people wouldn't know it was a different car (would gain AWD out of the trade as well).....

I could get either for cash, but with a quarter of the people in town on unemployment for the next who knows how many years is it time to throw an extra $10k into a car?......

[Mr. P]

I have been driving this 1996 Chevy Astro that I bought in 2005 for $5k when it had 105k miles.....I've been putting off repairs because I was thinking about getting something different this summer.....transmission is iffy....needs at least a valve job maybe replacement, heater fan doesn't work, windshield is broken....it's currently 13 years old and has 160k miles on it....today the water pump died......I'm not willing to spend what it would take to fix everything on it.....I figure since I got use of the car for less than $2k a year, it owes me nothing....

so I had been thinking about getting a used F150 around 75k to 100k miles, but when I went on the internet today I found that the same guy I bought my Astro from has a 2003 Astro with 106k miles for $4665....I could take the leather seats from mine, which are in near perfect condition and put them in the 2003. as well as the fiberglass body kit...basically a 60k mile upgrade and most people wouldn't know it was a different car (would gain AWD out of the trade as well).....

I could get either for cash, but with a quarter of the people in town on unemployment for the next who knows how many years is it time to throw an extra $10k into a car?......

I wouldn't do the F-150 for a couple reasons. If you like the Astro, change the seats and donate the old one to charity for a tax credit next yr.

[emmett]

I have been driving this 1996 Chevy Astro that I bought in 2005 for $5k when it had 105k miles.....I've been putting off repairs because I was thinking about getting something different this summer.....transmission is iffy....needs at least a valve job maybe replacement, heater fan doesn't work, windshield is broken....it's currently 13 years old and has 160k miles on it....today the water pump died......I'm not willing to spend what it would take to fix everything on it.....I figure since I got use of the car for less than $2k a year, it owes me nothing....

so I had been thinking about getting a used F150 around 75k to 100k miles, but when I went on the internet today I found that the same guy I bought my Astro from has a 2003 Astro with 106k miles for $4665....I could take the leather seats from mine, which are in near perfect condition and put them in the 2003. as well as the fiberglass body kit...basically a 60k mile upgrade and most people wouldn't know it was a different car (would gain AWD out of the trade as well).....

I could get either for cash, but with a quarter of the people in town on unemployment for the next who knows how many years is it time to throw an extra $10k into a car?......


Put a water pump on the old one and drive it until the wheels rot off of it!

[PostmodernProphet]

Put a water pump on the old one and drive it until the wheels rot off of it!

the trouble is, it is very close to the point where the wheels rot off....if I spend a couple hundred bucks for a water pump, I pretty much have to spend another thousand or more to fix everything else wrong with it.....then it makes more sense to spend the whole 4600 and have a car with fifty thousand less miles on it.....

[5stringJeff]

Take the F-150.

[PostmodernProphet]

this is why democracy sucks.....people have different opinions.....

[manu1959]

buy the used astro and donate the other car to charity......and f150 will kill you in gas compared to the astro.....

[Abbey Marie]

I drove an Astro once. I hope never to drive one again.

F-150, P.

[hjmick]

Get a bicycle. :D

[manu1959]

I drove an Astro once. I hope never to drive one again.

F-150, P.

he likes his astro.............

[Abbey Marie]

he likes his astro.............

He asked for opinions...


(We interrupt this thread for an important question):

How the heck have you been, M?

(We now return to our regularlly scheduled thread).

[manu1959]

He asked for opinions...


(We interrupt this thread for an important question):

How the heck have you been, M?

(We now return to our regularlly scheduled thread).

ya so....yours is wrong....

sent you a pm so as not derail the thread.....

[hjmick]

he likes his astro.............

So did George Jetson.

[hjmick]

Okay, seriously...

Do you have the money to spend on a new/used car? If so, why are you worried about other people being out of work? What does their lack of a job have to do with your need for a new car or your ability to afford it?

[manu1959]

so far noone has taken this the direction I had hoped it went, that is....a discussion on spending money in the current economy.....it's what we are supposed to do you know.....spend money...but should I be spending money on a new car when so many folks are out of work?.....

won't putting some of your money in circulation help whoever you give it to.....

or you could just go give it all to a homeless shelter.....

[PostmodernProphet]

so far noone has taken this the direction I had hoped it went, that is....a discussion on spending money in the current economy.....it's what we are supposed to do you know.....spend money...but should I be spending money on a new car when so many folks are out of work?.....

[hjmick]

Wow, that was weird. My post #14 should be after your post #15 as it was in direct response.

[manu1959]

Wow, that was weird. My post #14 should be after your post #15 as it was in direct response.

mine did the same thing.....

[hjmick]

so far noone has taken this the direction I had hoped it went, that is....a discussion on spending money in the current economy.....it's what we are supposed to do you know.....spend money...but should I be spending money on a new car when so many folks are out of work?.....

Let's try this again...


Do you have the money to spend on a new/used car? If so, why are you worried about other people being out of work? What does their lack of a job have to do with your need for a new car or your ability to afford it?

[hjmick]

mine did the same thing.....

We're magic!

[manu1959]

We're magic!

californians are like that......

[Mr. P]

so far noone has taken this the direction I had hoped it went, that is....a discussion on spending money in the current economy.....it's what we are supposed to do you know.....spend money...but should I be spending money on a new car when so many folks are out of work?.....

Considering yer a real estate attorney and the housing/real estate market is in the tank...NO! Buy used so you have transportation to the new bridge or road project job while chasing the ambulance.

[hjmick]

californians are like that......

Neg reps to the first person who calls us fairies!

[Mr. P]

We're magic!


californians are like that......

Not magic, you two Left Coasters are just backwards! :poke:

[avatar4321]

so far noone has taken this the direction I had hoped it went, that is....a discussion on spending money in the current economy.....it's what we are supposed to do you know.....spend money...but should I be spending money on a new car when so many folks are out of work?.....

whether you get a new car or a used car you sprending money. Someones going to get paid. so you should do whats best for you. Thats what captalism is about.

[hjmick]

I'm still confused about what the job status of others has to do with how you spend your money...

[manu1959]

I'm still confused about what the job status of others has to do with how you spend your money...

christian guilt.......

[PostmodernProphet]

christian guilt.......

?????.....non-Christians don't have guilt?......

[Abbey Marie]

From an article on the best cars for $10,000:


2004 Ford F-150
Why we like it: A longtime class and sales leader, the F-150 remains more than viable, even at five years old. Depending on configuration, reliability scores range from acceptable to top-notch. Frontal crash-test scores are excellent. Although side-impact airbags weren't offered — and the F-150 was never tested for side impacts — its larger size and higher ride height somewhat mitigate this. Antilock brakes were standard.
http://autos.yahoo.com/articles/autos_content_landing_pages/867/The-Best-Cars-for-10-000

[Mr. P]

Hey that F-150 has lots of room in the back to carry cash for gas too..

@12mpg that's a deal!

*Sarcasm..OFF.

[PostmodernProphet]

I live three miles from work, all city driving.....F150 v Kia saves me less than $100 a year

[Mr. P]

I live three miles from work, all city driving.....F150 v Kia saves me less than $100 a year

assuming that's the ONLY place you ever drive to, walk or buy a bike..DAMN what's the problem!??? :poke:

[Nukeman]

3 miles to work..... I would be riding a bike!!!!! anything less than 8 miles and i would bike it. unfortunately for me I live 28 miles from work..... If your that close buy the bigger vehicle if that is what you want, not like its going to kill you on gas or anything. Heck buy a bike for work and the F150 for the weekends.......