The Saturn

[n0Mad]

My Saturn returned recently and I've been feeling all maternal ever since. :laughing (That's an astrology joke btw in case you didn't get it, and a reference to a No Doubt CD.)

I think Rayne and Chameleon of Beau (or is it Mster Doom?) should open up the DGN Garage or something. M&M Mechanics? You can fight over who gets to be the first M.

[Head Wreck]

me

[Msterbeau]

My Saturn returned recently and I've been feeling all maternal ever since.  :laughing  (That's an astrology joke btw in case you didn't get it, and a reference to a No Doubt CD.)

I think Rayne and Chameleon of Beau (or is it Mster Doom?) should open up the DGN Garage or something.  M&M Mechanics?  You can fight over who gets to be the first M.

Ladies first.

I just thought of something bad. The head might be warped. I'm pretty sure Saturns have all aluminum motors... Ick.

[Soulrev]

If ya start having transmission problems and I'm not in Wyoming feel free to get a hold of me.

[Rayne]

Ladies first. 

I just thought of something bad.  The head might be warped.  I'm pretty sure Saturns have all aluminum motors...  Ick.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Could be, could be ... but then again, could be fine.

Back to the trans though, it very well could be something fixable or workable regardless. I had a dealership once tell me my transmission was going to blow any second. I drove that thing for 4 more years before figuring out the linkage was bad. Just started the thing in neutral everytime and drove it for 4 more years until I got rid of it.

[Crazed Vampyress]

What things (good bad or otherwise) has anyone heard about Auto Auctions?

[soothsayer]

What things (good bad or otherwise) has anyone heard about Auto Auctions?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

That I've heard is very hit and miss.....at the very best. :erm

[sass_in_the_pants]

My two cents...

You might want to call around to mechanic shops and see if they'll buy your car or sell you one. You might have to make alot of calls, but sometimes, they buy old cars, fix them up and sell them. Maybe your mechanic friends could help you out here.

If that avenue doesn't work, I would try buying from a person - look in the newspaper and the Tradin Times. All of their car ads are online, too, I think. When you go to test drive the car, have your mechanic friend go with you and he can give it the once over.

And, I strongly recommend looking at the Consumer Reports used car guide. Several other magazines make their own version and they're all available free from the public library. Some cars just hold up better than others so you'll want to focus your attention on those.

GOOD LUCK!!

Sorry to hear about all of this...

[creatureofthenyte]

My car is a 1993 Saturn. It's white with grey interior. I bought it in the summer of 2002 with 90-something thousand miles on it. It now has ~140 thousand on it and last week it took a shit on me. I had a couple of mechanically-inclined friends try to fix it for me, but there were unsuccessful other than a temp patch job that has the car driving, but doing so very loudly and very badly, not safe at all. Having spoken to a few mechanics and several garages I am told it is going to cost $700 (give or take) to fix the one main problem with the car, and another $200 or more for the minor things going wrong with it. I was then told by more than one mechanic that if it were their car, they would definately NOT put the money into the car because there is a good chance that the things wrong with it are early warning signs that the transmission will be next. Once that goes.... you basically don't have a car.

Its hard to explain the problems cuz i dont know shit about cars, but what the guys working on it said was something about the head gasket, power steering and... some other thing i cant remember with a weird sounding name....

So now i am left with a choice of sorts.

Should I put the money into the car and hope for the best? This will cost EVERY PENNY i have at my disposal, all my savings and i still may end up having to see if a friend can loan me a couple hundred. I am poor people, i make just enough to get by on and not much more. (Plus ive been helping a couple friends out lately who have been staying at my place and thats put even more STRAIN on my finances). If i put ALL my money into the car and it craps out in 6 months, i have no other options. I will be royally screwed.

However if i dont fix the car what choice am i left with? many have said 'get a new car' but if i cant afford to fix this one, where on earth am i going to get the money for a new one? the most i could come up with in the next few weeks is a grand.

Does anyone have any suggestions? been in this situation and come up with some genius plan? Maybe you know a place where i could get good money for my beater as a trade in? a place that sells decent cars cheap? someone you know maybe? Ill take any suggestions of any kind at this point. i have to make this decision soon and am at a total loss. all 4 of the cars ive owned in my life kinda fell into my lap at just the right time for exactly what i had to spend and so ive never been stuck like this before... i dont know where to turn or who to ask.

and i really am the stereotypical girl when it comes to cars, if its more complicated than an oil change I HAVE NO FRIGGIN IDEA and im so afraid that ill end up getting ripped off somewhere.... and my CREDIT could not be worse. i believe my credit rating is "if they find out where im at they'll show up with a shotgun"

PLEASE HELP if you can! also feel free to laugh at my pain, really. go ahead, laugh. i know youre thinking 'silly girl, knows nothing! muwahaha!'    its okay, youre not totally wrong.

*sigh*

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I won't laugh at your pain. My first car was like that; I was always puttin money into it to fix something. I am mechanically inclined, and I can tell you that the stuff you mentioned is pretty serious stuff. 140,000 miles on a 13 yd old car ? Sorry dear your car is sittin on the side of its own grave with both feet hangin in. Put it out of its misery and get rid of it. Otherwise, all the money you spend repairing it and keepin it goin could have very well paid a down payment and 1st months payment on a new car.

[The Void]

I have a Saturn myself (1996 SL2) and it is finally having some trouble in its tenth year. i figure that the value of the car is less than $1000 and the problems that need to be fixed would cost at least half that, so it's not worth it for me to even fix.

I am driving it into the ground and it's been having problems since last year. I cross my fingers that it lives until summer. At any rate, if you have the means to make a used car payment, then I would look into taking your $700 and getting into a new SAturn or a new used car of another make.

I've had every problem with cars you can imagine, from head gasket issues, to radiators, to heater cores, and transmission, etc. I've seen a lot happen to other cars I had. Luckily my Saturn has lived a good life thus far.

Good luck with whatever your decision is.

[The Void]

My two cents...

You might want to call around to mechanic shops and see if they'll buy your car or sell you one.  You might have to make alot of calls, but sometimes, they buy old cars, fix them up and sell them.  Maybe your mechanic friends could help you out here.

If that avenue doesn't work, I would try buying from a person - look in the newspaper and the Tradin Times.  All of their car ads are online, too, I think.  When you go to test drive the car, have your mechanic friend go with you and he can give it the once over.

And, I strongly recommend looking at the Consumer Reports used car guide.  Several other magazines make their own version and they're all available free from the public library.  Some cars just hold up better than others so you'll want to focus your attention on those.

GOOD LUCK!!

Sorry to hear about all of this...

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Honestly, for people who don't have a lot of money for repairs I highly recommend going through a dealership and buying the extended warranty. YES, I know it sounds like you're being raped and that it's no good, but if you don't have the extra $500-800 that repairs so often cost even on a car that's only 3 years old, you'll screw yourself even buying a used car.

I'd say eat a little bit of cost that can be rolled into the loan, since the extended warranty is placed in the loan (yes, so they can earn more interest) but hey, it's better than shelling cash out when the big $$$ problems go wrong. If you buy from an individual, you have no backup plan on maintenance and repairs.

Again, this is all based on my experiences good and bad with personal purchases and dealer purchases and that's all I can say.

[The Void]

What things (good bad or otherwise) has anyone heard about Auto Auctions?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Do NOT under any circumstance buy from an auto auction unless you own a repair shop; you will get screwed.

I used to work for an auto repair place and they did buy at auction, but you have to be very wary because what you get is almost always a fixer upper and worse than that could have a cracked frame, which is beyond dangerous and/or was dredged up from a pond after a major accident or cop chase gone wrong.

Anyway, sparing you all the details, unless your mechanic friends go for you, forget an auction and even they can get screwed.

[Head Wreck]

10 years is young for a car!

(looks at my beloved 1988 Peugeot awaiting new tailgate after a hit and run bump)

currntly tempted to save up for new car after detroit visit. mitsubishi gallantys sell cheap (though expensive to run, a bit more practical to the miata -> V6 conversion i wanted to do)