[billccm]

I'm not sure I understand your question, but I'll answer it this way. I have seen 2006 Sebring Convertibles advertise at Budget Rental Car Sales outlet for $10,999. I have also seen a few 2007 Sebring Convertibles advertise for $14,999 here locally at a Dodge dealer's used lot.

What really blew my mind the other day was a 2007 PT Cruiser convertible for $9,999?!?! (Also at Budget)

The economy is down, and lets face it, domestic brand cars are just an outright bargain in the used market.

It really makes me think; I bought my 1991 LeBaron convertible in Oct, 1990 for about $15,150 out the door and on the road. Here it is 18 years later, and I bet I could get a year old Sebring convertible for the same price I paid for that LeBaron in 1990!

And in closing, although not apples to apples, one of my co-workers just paid $10,000 for a 1998 Accord with 114K miles.

What is the world coming to?

Bill

This post has been edited by billccm: 12 August 2008 - 10:47 PM

[Doug D]

Crow, on Aug 12 2008, 11:10 PM, said:

I just was talking about if investing $2000 will make something as good as somthing 12 years younger,
that had been better taken care of, with the same milage, etc., is it worth it,?

As I always say, "A used car is still a used car.". A used car will never be new, but if you invest wisely you can make it seem near new. It really depends on what satisfies YOU.

I am always on the look out for a decent used car for the right price. I'd love to find another AA body (Spirit/Acclaim) with a decent paint job. I have a '90 (see sig) and while it's mechanically sound underneath (I've spent over $3500 on it in maintenance/repairs since I bought it in '03 for $300) it suffers from paint delamination on the hood and trunk and severe rust on the roof. One of these days I'll invest the time and $$ to take care of it. Well, maybe...... ;)

I think $2K is a low amount. A decent used car is gonna run at least that plus you'll more than likely have to spend at least that to bring it up to snuff - of course, that does depend on what it needs - sometimes you get lucky and find one that needs minimal work for a good price. I spent $300 on my '90 Acclaim and it took another $500 to get it past inspection. I've spent an additional $3000 over the years on maintenance.

Quote

"one of my co-workers just paid $10,000 for a 1998 Accord with 114K miles" <--- now thats insane. a 98 with 114,000 for $10,000, thats like, well, nsane.

Assuming that was a recent purchase, I pretty much agree. My folks have a '97 Civic that they paid about $12K for in 1999.

[maschmit]

Is the transmission leaking from the axle seal? If so the transmission does not need to be dropped to rectify this. Might make it easier but in no way required. 225 to have both done is pretty good if that included the parts and the parts are of reasonable quality. The front motor mount is about a 15-20 minute job if you have the right tools.

[DaveAdmin]

For what it's worth, I track every penny of my car expenses.

Our 40,000-mile-used 300M, purchased in January 2003, has cost us $3,543 in repairs. A lot of that was replacing just about the entire air conditioning system - $1,400 - earlier this year. The original lasted around eight years which isn't bad for the new refrigerant.

Maintenance in that time, including a timing belt with various pieces, added $3,375 and would have been similar on a Honda (unless their timing belts last more than 90,000 miles.) That was preventive of course. That includes oil and tires (73,000 miles - the old ones were cracking with age).

The car cost us $15,000 instead of the $28,000 or so it sold for when brandie-new and came with an 8/80 powertrain warranty (again, it was used.) We bought it from a very reputable dealer.

The 2003 PT was purchased private-sale for $14,500 - a GT model wtih five-speed, I think original price was in the mid-20s. Maintenance on this one was $1,237 since purchase in mid-2005. Repairs were $1,015.

[Dustincoc]

Crow, on Aug 13 2008, 10:30 AM, said:

I cant do a lot of things as im not as mechanicly inclined as alot of folks here, the books and other material ive found on the net are helpful, but is written for someone that has more basic knowledge about various parts than i know the names of ( i know what a lug nut is, but dont have a clue what the heck a cotter pin is), and the processes that you have to go threw seem overwhelming.

This is a cotter pin:
http://hubbard.thomasnet.com/ImgMedium/Cotter%20Pin.jpg

[WSDave]

Quick note: Cotter Pins and Lug Nuts are NOT interchangable. :P

[WSDave]

Doug,

I couldn't agree more. I paid $300 for a 1993 Lebaron sedan, and it even ran great at the time. Especially if you can do the work yourself, $3,500 plus an AA body can get you a brand new engine, tranny, tires, carpet, power seats w/ new covers, all new seals and bearings, exhaust, basically a brand new car except for paint (it could even get you paint if you can paint).

I would much rather spend 4-5 grand and have a perfect (better than new) AA than spend twice that on a used Honda.

I'm reminded of someone here who posted pics some time ago of their Acclaim/New Yorker hybrid. Beautiful job, and far less than anything new.

Dave