(no subject)

[geekchick]

As of probably Tuesday evening, I will have a blank check in hand specifically for the purpose of finding a car where more than one of the four cylinders passes a compression test. We who are about to face pushy car salesmen salute you.

Comments

[fixx.livejournal.com]

If you are aware that your car has low compression you have probably already tried compression boosting oil thickening additives. If not I highly recommend this low cost approach. It will be better for the environment while you continue to drive it and cause the car to consume less oil.

As for picking up a good used car, please check out this post (http://polydad.livejournal.com/352123.html?style=mine) by polydad. Though I've only known him a year (met him at a Baitcon) he seems really intelligent and honest so if he says this is a good car, I'd believe him.

[quasigeostrophy.livejournal.com]

Bleah. Good luck with that.

[brian1789.livejournal.com]

Are you going to be looking for a used or new one? Good luck.... (hug).

[geekchick]

Right now I'm looking at new Mazda3s. And a Mini Cooper S, although those are way at the top end of my budget, probably over by the time you add in tax/tags/other random charges. Possibly a Civic Si, although that has the drawback of theoretically offering an automatic, but so far it's been impossible to find.

[brian1789.livejournal.com]

If you're going to buy new... it may be stretching, but I'd go for the Mini Cooper. Life is short. If I was going to be forgoing other future pleasures in order to make payments anyway, I might as well be sacrificing for someting that got my juices flowing... :-)

And I adore you in that userpic! (flutter)

[geekchick]

My main question about the Mini is what the reliability is like. My Protege (which is now the Mazda3) was extremely reliable for almost nine years, I have no idea what repairs on the Mini are going to cost and how often they'll need to be done. Consumer Reports rates them as pretty average I think, while the Mazda and Civic were above average.

[brian1789.livejournal.com]

(nods) Mini is actually a subsidiary of BMW, so I'd expect excellent handling and infrequent, but expensive repairs once out of warranty. I'd drive them all first. In any case, you aren't talking about Dodge Colt or Ford Escort-level reliability issues...

[geekchick]

Of course I'll test-drive them all first. At CR, the Mini got good marks for handling and performance, but the ride and noise were marked "fair" at best. The Mazda3 was okay overall and they say has a decent ride, I suspect it's probably got a lot of road noise though like my Protege does.

In any case, you aren't talking about Dodge Colt or Ford Escort-level reliability issues...

Nope. Not buying anything Ford-branded. Yes, I know Ford/Mazda/Volvo/etc., but I've had much better luck with my Mazda than with anything with "Ford" plastered on it.

[anotheranon.livejournal.com]

New car shopping - major suckage. Lemme know if you need to borrow Vera to use on the salesmen :/

[geekchick]

Indeed. This will be only the second time in my life I've ever gone car shopping. I'll be glad to have Chris along to prevent me from getting walked over and/or talked down to.

I may go look at/test drive stuff tomorrow if I have time to kill, since it'll be reasonably safe (couldn't buy tomorrow even if I was dying to). Another thing in my favor is that I've got until mid-July to take advantage of my loan and my current car isn't dead, so there's no huge rush to buy right this second. Now I just have to keep reminding myself of that. ;)

[brian1789.livejournal.com]

(nods) be prepared to walk out of any given dealership, if they stonewall or keep you waiting "to check with my manager", etc. Bottom line is that dealer cost is typically 88-90% of list, as well as a 3% "holdback" that the dealer gets after the sale from the factory (so they can claim to sell at dealer cost, while still making a profit). Minis are in demand, but have been out long enough that one can get them for below full retail out here. Or use an online car-shopping service... or even send emails to dealers, saying exactly make/model/color and what you're willing to pay (I did that last time, when I bought the minivan). Good luck...

[madbodger.livejournal.com]

Sorry it went that way, but sadly I can't say I'm surprised. Which is why I made the offer I did.
Which stands. Blank check, eh? I know where you can get a good deal on a used Rolls-Royce.

[geekchick]

Heh heh, it's not that blank. =) The Mini Cooper S is at the very, very top of what I can spend, and I think I'd have a much easier time finding a mechanic for it than for a used Rolls.