well, I was afraid of that

[geekchick]

Time for a new engine in my car, to the tune of more than the car is actually worth at this point. My decision now is: 1) drop the money to replace the engine and fix the leaking exhaust manifold into this car and keep driving it; 2) buy a beater for about an equivalent amount of money; or 3) suck it up and just go hunting for a new car and hope to get $250 or so for trade-in on my poor little Protege.

It's not completely unexpected news, but I was hoping that wasn't going to be the answer.

On the positive side, after the last couple of days I can recommend Ferris Automotive. You wouldn't think a mechanic would recommend buying a new car rather than giving them a several-thousand dollar job. I wouldn't anyway, not based on previous experience with different mechanics. Now I'm kicking myself for not having gone to them first.

Comments

[wolfy.livejournal.com]

Ugh sorry to hear. Seem not to be the day for cars / trucks.

Though there has been a happy note on this day. I just got something in the mail that you will be getting an email about :)

[wolfy.livejournal.com]

I'm not too sure about getting new, you could get a fairly good used (2000+) for good money if you shop around. Ya you could be buying someone else headache but new cars can also be a PITA and $$$$. Think about the long term, how long did your car last you? getting something in the 2000+ area may not be a bad thing. I'm sure with gas prices so high the dealers are waiting for those people that want out of the gas hog SUV's and in to something better on gas.
And waiting with itchy palms.

Have C start getting parts / putting the other MR2 back together for you. Heh call it a labor of love :) (or insanity)

[geekchick]

Have C start getting parts / putting the other MR2 back together for you. Heh call it a labor of love :) (or insanity)

Won't do any good, since I can't drive stick. =)

[wolfy.livejournal.com]

I could take this places...

[geekchick]

But you won't. Right?

[(Anonymous)]

I'll think about it. :)

[wolfy.livejournal.com]

ugh silly LJ login me out.

[geekchick]

Heh. =)

How's your truck? Sounded like there wasn't much damage done.

[wolfy.livejournal.com]

bumper is a little dented and out of place.

I'm more worried about her a few days from saying she hurts.

[brian1789.livejournal.com]

Assume that any used car below $10K will have deferred maintenance equal to its purchase price, if not more. I've learned this the hard way... I'll cosign a car loan if that'd help.

Sorry about your 626... I have fond memories of driving through the countryside with you, holding hands with greenery outside and the sunroof open... :)

[geekchick]

It's a Protege, not a 626. =)

The mechanic's advice was to look at getting a used car for about the same amount replacing the engine and exhaust manifold would cost, and in the meantime just keep pouring oil into the car and drive it until it dies. May not be very long, since only one of the four cylinders passed the compression test (although the car drives really well for something in such bad shape). I may see if there's a shop around here that caters to *ahem* young men and their Civics, since they'll be completely set up to do an engine swap with no trouble and look into getting a used engine if I can. I think it makes more sense to wait and save up for a downpayment and buy something I really want. We'll see.

[asetwoman.livejournal.com]

Car troubles are teh suck! Sorry to hear all this.

[geekchick]

Yeah, they are. But this car gave me almost no problems for more than nine years, so it's been a good run.

How's the puppydog doing?

[asetwoman.livejournal.com]

She's good. :) Hasn't started her treatment yet, gets her stitches out next week. Thanks for asking!

[n5red.livejournal.com]

I will point out that if you were interested in visiting Texas, you could probably find an older car at a reasonble price that wouldn't have any RUST!

New Mexico and Arizona are also good places to look, but I don't live there...

[geekchick]

Heehee! I'd also have to drive it back, and I'd been craving a road trip. I could even swing through Memphis and visit my family.

[quasigeostrophy.livejournal.com]

Blech. *hugs* I can highly recommend, if you have to go down the new car route, the new Honda Civic. Much as I loved the Subaru, this thing has some zip and gets awesome mileage.

[geekchick]

If I go new, I'm really trying to figure out how to swing a Mini. They start around $20K though, which is a bit of a steep payment. =/

[quasigeostrophy.livejournal.com]

Heh. We went under $20K for the first time in a while with the Civic.

[madbodger.livejournal.com]

Happy to go car shopping with, if you like.

[geekchick]

I'm hoping to avoid it for a while if at all possible, but I'll let you know when it's time.

[plaidsheep.livejournal.com]

waaaaaaahhh!!! poor old car.

I've been looking at cheap new Japanese matchbox cars... the Toyota "Yaris" and one called "Fit" from Honda. There's also the basic Scion model too. All can be had for under $15K (the Fit goes for around 10). I would figure payments on something like that couldn't be all THAT bad. Not that I have any credit mind, you.

Anyway, sorry to hear about the car. This sucks indeed.

[geekchick]

Yeah, I really want a Mini, but payments on a $10K loan rather than $20K (with the interest rates I'm likely to get right now) are much more tolerable.

The car gave me almost no problems for more than nine years, so it's been a good run. I'm not 100% convinced the recent damage wasn't made worse by my last mechanic prior to Ferris, but I can't prove anything either way.